Amanda Holden Expresses Guilt Over Family Pet Issue
Television personality Amanda Holden has openly discussed feeling "so guilty" as she seeks professional assistance to resolve a troubling family issue involving her pets. The 55-year-old Britain's Got Talent judge recently expanded her family by rescuing a cat named Bolt from the Greek island of Corfu, where she was filming her home renovation series with comedian Alan Carr.
New Addition Sparks Household Tension
Holden explained that she named the new cat Bolt because he was "super quick" and capable of climbing over the six-foot fence at her luxurious Surrey home. Bolt now joins the family's existing pet cat Muffy, along with dogs Minnie and Rudy, in the household she shares with husband Chris Hughes and their daughters Lexie and Hollie.
The problem began when Muffy, the family's 16-year-old cat, expressed clear displeasure about the new arrival. Holden had previously revealed that Muffy "made her displeasure heard" about another animal joining the family, but the situation has escalated significantly in recent weeks.
Professional Intervention Required
The television star disclosed that she has brought in two animal behaviourists to help Muffy adjust to the new family dynamic, but unfortunately these interventions have not produced the desired results. The situation reached a particularly low point when Muffy urinated on husband Chris while he was in bed.
"She weed on Chris the other day, she jumped on the bed and she weed all over him, full bladder," Holden revealed during an appearance on Heart Breakfast radio show. "She's got no kidney infection, nothing. We know it's spite."
Ongoing Behavioural Challenges
Holden described how Muffy's behaviour has dramatically changed from that of a "beautiful serene princess" who was perfectly housetrained and never required veterinary attention, to a cat who now engages in spiteful elimination. The family has been forced to implement new rules, including no longer allowing Muffy on their bed due to trust issues.
"Now we can't have her on the bed because we don't trust her," Holden confessed. "She's doing it out of spite, we Googled it because we ruled everything else out."
Hope for Peaceful Coexistence
Despite the challenges, Holden remains hopeful that the cats will eventually learn to coexist peacefully. She expressed her desire for them to be able to "pass each other" without hissing, though she acknowledged that Muffy currently reacts aggressively whenever she sees Bolt, tearing "down the stairs like an Olympian" to confront the newer cat.
Holden has scheduled another animal behaviourist consultation for the coming week, determined to find a solution that restores harmony to her household. She emphasized her affection for Muffy, describing her as the "absolute queen of the house," which makes the current situation particularly distressing.
Background on the Rescue
Earlier this year, Holden shared an Instagram post showing Bolt adjusting to his new surroundings. She wrote about how their "lovely rescue from Corfu is settling down" while noting that "Princess Muffy has deigned to come downstairs a few times and sniff about but is still making her displeasure heard!"
The television personality used the opportunity to highlight the issue of stray animals, encouraging her followers to consider donating to registered UK charities that support shelters in Corfu. Her connection to the Greek island deepened through filming "Alan and Amanda's Greek Job," the fourth renovation programme she has created with Alan Carr.
