William, owned by Sarah Jackson
Emotional therapy cat is how Sarah’s daughter Amber, 11, describes rescue moggy William. Aged five, Amber was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, which means she finds some sounds overwhelming, and stroking William’s fur and listening to him purr soothes her. In February this year, William lost a leg which has made him and Amber even closer as they navigate the world from their unique perspectives.
Sarah says: “William, who is two, loves being outdoors, exploring the allotments behind our house but he returned one morning with a huge gash on his side. He had dislocated the knee on his right hind leg very badly and vets had to amputate.
For the six weeks of his convalescence he stared mournfully out of the window and, as soon as I let him out, he was over the fence and away. He’s so resilient and there’s a lesson for Amber there, I’m trying to help her understand that a setback need not be a catastrophe. Amber and William have similar personalities. Both are scared of loud noises, extremely clever and sporty and don’t like me telling them what to do. They’re a team. Amber finds comfort in stroking William and he loves to be stroked, especially in the places he can’t reach to scratch since his accident. He helps Amber’s confidence so much and completes our little family.”
