Black and White London Safe House Cat Wins National Award for Cat of the Year

Have you ever met a feline superhero? Not a fictional one like Black Panther or Catwoman, but a real-life cat who works to save people's lives every day? If not, you're about to.

Meet Marley. Marley is a seven-year-old, long-haired, "moggy" cat who lives in London, England. On the surface, Marley may look like your typical pet feline, but make no mistake: he's not your average house cat. On September 18, Marley the marvelous moggy was awarded the prestigious title of National Cat of the Year for his "incredible gift of empathy."

While Marley is technically a house cat, he doesn't live in just any house. The sweet-natured black-and-white cat resides at London's Caritas Bakhita House, a safe house for women who have been trafficked, enslaved, and exploited. The Caritas Bakhita House offers its residents a safe place to heal from the unspeakable traumas they've endured, and Marley has assisted many of them along their healing journey by sitting with them, cuddling with them, and being a safe, affectionate presence in their daily lives.

Related: Cute Video of Therapy Cat Picking Out Her Glasses Is Winning Hearts

"Often Marley placing a paw on our guests' legs is the first kindness they've experienced in years," Karen Antiss, head of Caritas Bakhita House, told the BBC. "He has this incredible gift of empathy and has assisted many, many women along the road to recovery."

According to Antiss, Marley is a rescue cat whom they adopted from an animal shelter four years prior. Before that, Marley had lived with a family who owned another cat that bullied him. Antiss told the BBC that she believes Marley can recognize and empathize with his guests' trauma because he himself has suffered, too.

"Initially he sits really close to see how the women respond. Then he gently puts a paw on their leg, letting them know they're not alone," Antiss described. "We had one guest who was so traumatised she didn't speak to us - only to Marley - and because she trusted him, over time we were able to reach her."

Marley was chosen from four finalists to be 2024's "National Cat of the Year" by Cats Protection, the UK's leading cat charity. Along with his title, Marley won a trophy, a £200 pet store voucher, and international renown. But Marley hasn't let his newfound fame get to his head. The kind-hearted kitty is content to continue his duties as the safe home's resident therapy feline, along with serving as their unofficial "staff supervisor, a security guard patrolling the grounds, and chief gardener."

How Therapy Cats Comfort People

While many still hold the belief that cats are inherently cold, unemotional animals, this couldn't be further from the truth. Though cats are less emotive and more independent than dogs, they have a great capacity for affection and work as wonderful therapy animals.

According to US Service Animals, therapy cats offer stress-free emotional connections to those who are depressed, anxious, traumatized, or otherwise in need of emotional support. They're calm and low maintenance, but they enjoy physical contact, can become emotionally attached to their humans, and are even able to sense when a person is feeling negative emotions and in need of a cuddle. Cat animal therapy has been associated with a myriad of benefits, including improvements in cardiovascular health and relief from depression, anxiety, and even dementia,  according to Purina.

By being a gentle, calm, and affectionate friend to his guests at the Caritas Bakhita House, Marley has helped many women on the road to healing. We couldn't think of a worthier candidate for National Cat of the Year!

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