New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s cat Paddles has died after being hit by a car near the Labour leader’s Point Chevalier home.
A ginger and white female rescue cat, Paddles found fame last month after a mystery Twitter account was created in her name. Paddles had a polydactyl abnormality which meant she had extra claws that looked like thumbs. The cat’s Twitter account claimed this was the reason she was able to tweet: “Have thumbs, will tweet,” her profile read.
Ardern took to Facebook this morning to mourn the loss of her pet. “To anyone who has ever lost a pet, you’ll know how sad we feel,” she wrote. “Paddles was much loved, and not just by us. Thanks for everyone’s thoughts. And on behalf of Paddles, please be kind to the SPCA. They found her before we did, and we will always be grateful for that.”
The mystery tweeter behind Paddles’ account posted this morning that Ardern’s husband, Clarke Gayford, was calling for people to donate to the SPCA. “Just spoke w Paddles’ Dad,” the tweet reads. “If you would like to remember Paddles you are most welcome and encouraged to donate to the NZ SPCA.”
