Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Emma Grimshaw

A&E cat which makes regular visits to see patients banned from Southmead Hospital

For almost a year a cat has been wondering into Southmead Hospital's accident and emergency department and making himself comfortable among patients.

Kolo has become so popular in the waiting room that people have even set up a Facebook page where they can share photographs of their encounters with him.

Some of the tabby's favourite penchants is napping in the filing baskets and lounging on the reception desk.

But after Kolo's last visit on Sunday evening (May 12), hospital bosses have said he is not allowed in A&E.

Helen Blanchard, North Bristol NHS Trust nursing and quality director, said: “The cat is not welcome in our accident and emergency department and we will be stepping up our efforts to ensure it no longer comes into the building.”

What have the owners said?

Bristol Live spoke to owner Vikki Gillies last year when she said:

"We live right by the A&E entrance and our back garden backs onto the hospital. He always used to stay in during the day and go out at night through his cat flap.

"We just started getting people saying he was at the hospital and he kept appearing on lost and found pet sites where people were wondering if he was lost.

"At Christmas I had a call from a vet in Henbury saying they had him there. It got so frequent with people thinking he was lost, I just thought it would be really funny to put all the pictures of him together on one page."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.