A beloved cat who has called a Sheffield shopping centre’s roof home has come to a fork in the road.
Roofi, an 11-year-old tabby has lived on the rooftop of Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre in Sheffield for the last 10 years.
“Nobody owns her,” says Sheffield resident Gemma Evans, whose sister-in-law works at Crystal Peaks and who registered the stray under her name so she could see the vet.
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Thanks to Gemma, her sister in law and other staff who have patiently socialised Roofi, the stray has gone from hissing and spitting at them, or running away, to a cat who has a good and happy life living on the centre’s roof. She patrols the centre and keeps pigeons at bay, reports The Star. She now also “loves a good fuss”.
Gemma said: “She’s part of the Crystal Peaks work staff family now. I’m told security check up on her often. She’s such a loving cat who just wants a fuss.
“None of us have any idea how she ever got up there, but I don’t think she’s ever come down. It’s her patch. There’s shelter on the roof and this one spot that is always warm. She’s been quite happy.”
However as Roofi enters her senior years, her health has taken a turn for the worse.
Gemma said: “Last week, my sister-in-law found Roofi’s leg was bent and really badly swollen, and she was limping.
“We took her to the vet and paid with my own money for a check up and to see if they could drain her leg. But when it was all blood, they said it’s likely to be a growth.”
Gemma has launched a GoFundMe page to cover the cost of Roofi’s vet bills as she prepares herself for two possible outcomes.
Ideally, Roof’s leg can be treated and she can return to her rooftop home. However if she can’t, then Gemma wants to give the puss a good send off.
“I want to pay for her to spend a few days warm and safe eating whatever she likes before she’s put to sleep,” said Gemma.
“If there’s some left over, I would love to get a plaque remembering her. Not many people in Sheffield know about her but she’s very special to some at Crystal Peaks.
“I just want to either get her better or give her a good send off.”
So far, Gemma has raised £205 of her £900 target. To donate, visit gofundme.com
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