Ann Widdecombe's beloved cat Aloysius has been confirmed alive and well after concerns for its safety were raised in the wake of the former Reform politician's suspected murder.
Widdecombe, 78, died last week during what police believed was a "targeted attack" at her secluded home in Haytor, Devon, where she lived with her cats. In an update on Tuesday, Counter Terror Police, who took over the investigation this week, said enquiries were continuing following the arrest of a 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Cat Found Alive
As investigators wait for the investigation to progress before they provide additional information on the case, it has been revealed in a parallel update that Ms Widdecombe's cat had been found alive and well.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, this morning, journalist Peter Cardwell said the late political heavyweight's cat Aloysius was discovered alive and well. He said following concerns for the animal's safety that the small, ginger cat had been "removed from the scene very quickly" after Ms Widdecombe was found dead.
The journalist said he was informed about the development via her managers at Cloud9 Management, which said: "Aloysius was removed from the scene very quickly. He is safe, well cared for and Ann’s family will decide a long-term plan. Rest assured he is being his usual bossy self!"
Widdecombe's Love for Cats
Ann, a lover of cats, had several throughout her life, and once featured Aloysius in a broadcast with Jeremy Vine in which she said she was scared for the small animal's safety after plans to increase the number of birds of prey in the UK were announced earlier this year. She hoisted a life-sized paper portrait of the beloved cat during the show, after which Mr Vine gave her a shock by comparing it to an - also life sized - cutout of an eagle.
Widdecombe had a well-documented love of cats, having had several during her life, and said in 2002 that her home seemed "incomplete" without them. Speaking about her cats at the time, she told the BBC: "When, just over two years ago, I moved into a house with a garden, my home seemed incomplete without a couple of furry, purry companions and so we acquired Carruthers and Pugwash."
The former MEP had also spoken about her love for giving cats unusual names, having once told a student making a documentary in 2009: "I think cats should have hilarious names. None of their names have been picked for a particular reason."
Investigation Continues
Counter-terror chief CPT Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor confirmed on Tuesday that Widdecombe died in a "targeted attack" he described as "brutal". But he refused to comment on a possible motive, telling reporters during a news conference: "I don't want to rule out anything out." While counter-terror police are investigating the incident, the police chief said outside Scotland Yard that the alleged murder "has not been declared a terrorist incident."
