02/01/2026
An incredibly sad day today as we said goodbye to our friend Debbie and we thank everyone that came to the service and gathering to pay their respects to this amazing lady. The service was beautiful and the Celebrant, Nancy, was wonderful, as was our Lynn who spoke on behalf of Feline Network. Thank you also to those that have made a donation to Feline Network in her memory.
Many of you reading this will have known Debbie well, but there will be lot of you that only met her in passing or didn’t know her at all. So what was she like?
Debbie was a strong and fiercely independent woman. Some may even say fierce. She certainly knew her own mind, was often blunt and never afraid to speak out, but that just reflected her honesty. She could be stubborn but she also had a dry and wicked sense of humour. She loved colourful clothes, animals (especially cats and giraffes), daffodils, 80s music, Simon’s Cat, Candy Kittens, black coffee, rosé wine, ginger wine and people watching.
Debbie had her fair share of heartbreak over the last few years, losing three close friends Neil, Owen and Spencer, her dear Mum and several of her beloved cats. She wasn’t outwardly emotional and couldn’t do with people crying, but she grieved in her own way, never complaining or feeling sorry for herself. She had her health issues too and was often in great pain, but again she just got on with it, never looking for sympathy or pity. She wasn’t religious but was spiritual and the clock in the shop actually stopped at the time of her passing. Who knows if the Rainbow Bridge is really a thing, but if it is, she would have had a very warm welcome. Just before the service, there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky above the crematorium🌈
Despite her tough persona, she had a heart of pure gold, reflected in her work in cat rescue over several decades. She worked abroad in her earlier years and then with other rescues in the UK before setting up Feline Network Cat Rescue in 2009. Debbie did everything she possibly could to help cats, and if she couldn’t help, she’d call upon her vast connections amongst the cat rescue community. She had a special affinity with the oldies and FIVs and went out of her way to inform, educate, dispel the myths and find loving homes for such cats. It’s clear from the many comments on our post when we announced her passing just how loved, appreciated and well respected she really was.
Debbie, you were vibrant, unique, a true angel and will never ever be forgotten. We thank you for everything you have done and your contribution to the world of cat rescue. Run free and fly high with those that you have loved and lost. You will be truly missed😿
