Ann Widdecombe’s cherished cat has been discovered safe and sound following worries about its well-being in the aftermath of the suspected murder of the former Reform party politician.
Widdecombe, aged 78, passed away last week in what authorities suspected to be a deliberate assault at her secluded residence in Haytor, Devon, where she resided with her feline companions. Counter Terror Police, now leading the investigation, reported that inquiries were ongoing subsequent to the apprehension of a 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
While awaiting further developments in the investigation, it has been disclosed that Ms. Widdecombe’s cat was located safe and in good health. Journalist Peter Cardwell shared on X (previously known as Twitter) this morning that the late political figure’s cat, Aloysius, had been found safe and well. He mentioned that concerns for the cat’s safety led to a swift removal of the small ginger feline from the premises right after Ms. Widdecombe’s demise.
According to Cardwell, he received this information from the Cloud9 Management team, who assured that “Aloysius was swiftly removed from the scene, safe and well cared for, with Ann’s family to decide on long-term arrangements. Rest assured, he is displaying his usual assertive demeanor!”
Known for her fondness for cats, Ann had owned several over her lifetime, with Aloysius making an appearance alongside her in a broadcast with Jeremy Vine. She had expressed concerns for her pet’s safety following plans to increase the population of birds of prey in the UK earlier this year.
Widdecombe’s admiration for felines was well-documented, and she once mentioned in 2002 that her home felt incomplete without them. Describing her feline companions at the time, she told the BBC, “When I moved into a house with a garden just over two years ago, my home felt incomplete without a couple of furry, purring companions, so we got Carruthers and Pugwash.”
The former MEP had a penchant for giving her cats unconventional names and once remarked to a student filmmaker in 2009, “I believe cats should have amusing names. None of their names were chosen for any specific reason.”
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Counter-Terror Police, confirmed that Widdecombe’s death was a targeted and brutal attack, but he refrained from speculating on a motive, stating, “I don’t want to rule anything out.” He also clarified that the incident has not been classified as a terrorist act.
While the counter-terror authorities are handling the case, the police chief stated outside Scotland Yard that the alleged murder has not been categorized as a terrorist incident.
