Sixteen-year-old Spiff, now called Spooky, arrived with us in January in a heartbreaking state. Her fur was severely matted, she seemed withdrawn, but welcomed head rubs with warmth. It was clear she had once been a cherished companion. We were told she’d been spayed and had recently had a health check. She came from an elderly couple who could no longer care for her.

Spooky is a striking black cat with one white whisker and a small white patch on her chest. Her silky, medium-length coat didn’t quite suit the name Spiff, so we temporarily renamed her Spooky.

We took her for a full dematt and health check. The vet noted some tartar on her teeth, removed it, and advised us to keep an eye on them. So home she came – half bald but purring and affectionate. She began to eat well, loved lap cuddles and became a gentle soul who we thought might be rehomeable, especially to someone who adores affectionate older cats. We waited for her coat to grow back.

Then things took a sudden turn. Spooky stopped eating and was sick a couple of times, with traces of blood. Fearing a dental issue, we rushed her to the vet. There we discovered that during her previous visit, a junior nurse had failed to pass on that her back teeth were in a bad state and needed further treatment. While reviewing this, the vet also noticed some strange lumps around her uterus and referred her to a senior colleague. After further checks, they were concerned enough to schedule emergency surgery over the weekend.

We soon understood why Spooky had occasionally flinched when picked up. We had assumed it was due to old age aches, but what they found was truly shocking.

Spooky had never been spayed. She was pregnant, but the embryos had never developed and had mummified inside her. Her uterus was filled with toxic fluid. Without surgery, she likely wouldn’t have survived much longer. We had no idea how long the pregnancy had been there – possibly years. The vets were baffled. In their words, they had never seen anything like it in a cat of her age.

She underwent a full hysterectomy and returned to her foster carer, along with a vet bill close to £2,000, even after a charity discount. And that wasn’t the end – she still needed major dental work.

Despite everything, Spooky kept her spirit. She wanted cuddles, comfort and love. So we booked the next surgery. After her dental, she began eating again, but a strange clicking sound from her jaw persisted. Another vet visit followed. No clear cause could be found, but at least the dental had healed well.

Then, out of the blue, she stopped eating again. What followed was deeply upsetting.

A batch of donated clay-based cat litter was used – not her usual kind. It clung to her paws and, in trying to clean herself, it ended up in her mouth. She began frothing and was again sick with blood. After urgent research, we discovered that the scented additives in many cat litters are toxic to cats. We were devastated. These types of products are widely sold, but they pose a serious risk. We now warn everyone to use only unscented litter.

Another emergency vet visit confirmed what we feared. Spooky’s body was giving up. Her heart, liver and kidneys were no longer functioning as they should, and the toxins had likely pushed her too far. We made the painful decision to say goodbye.

She had been through more than most cats – and humans – endure. Yet throughout it all, she gave nothing but love and trust. Several people had expressed interest in adopting her once she had recovered. Sadly, she never got that chance.

Spooky’s story is one of resilience, neglect, compassion and heartbreak. It’s a reminder of why we do what we do – and why every single cat deserves dignity, care and love, no matter their age.

Please consider supporting our work or adopting an older cat. Spooky may be gone, but her story will stay with us always.