Cat dumped in box is now living the high life

Charlie enjoys looking down and watching cars from the windows of his new home

An abandoned cat who clawed his way out of a taped-up cardboard box is now living the high life in his new home.

Charlie was left in the box outside an RSPCA branch in Derbyshire with just a tin of tuna to eat.

Nobody wanted to adopt Charlie because he has Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), meaning he cannot go outside or mingle with other cats.

However, he has now been adopted by an animal lover who lives in a flat - where Charlie loves looking out of the big picture windows.

'Loves nuzzling'

"Charlie jumps on to the window ledge and I see his head move from side-to-side like in a tennis match as he watches birds and cars," said his new owner, who did not wish to be named but lives in South Yorkshire.

"I have also made Charlie a den with a blanket over the side of my sofa and he chills in there for hours with a paw sticking out, giving the game away.

"He is very companionable and loves nuzzling and having his cheeks stroked."

Charlie's new owner said his "picture and sad story drew me in"

Charlie was adopted from the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire branch of the RSPCA after his new owner read an article about Charlie's ordeal.

He had been abandoned outside the centre in March but a new home had still not been found for him five months later.

"A friend in Chesterfield sent me a link to the BBC article about Charlie, else I would never have seen it," his new owner said.

"My last cat was a little black cat so Charlie's picture and sad story drew me in."

Charlie likes to chill in his den "for hours" with his paw sticking out

Steph McCawley from the centre said Charlie's journey had been "full of ups and downs".

"The day we discovered him in the box, to the cat we all fell in love with, was worlds apart and he was an absolute joy to care for," she said.

"When we had the news that someone had come forward to offer him the perfect home we were over the moon.

"It's strange not having him greet you in the morning, but we can't tell you just how much it warms our hearts to know he has everything he is ever going to need."

The RSPCA said it took longer for black cats like Charlie to find homes.

The same branch currently has a "shy" black cat called Roy who is looking for someone to take care of him.

"We have many more rescue cats like Charlie who are also looking for their happy ending, and we'd encourage anyone who is thinking of adopting a cat to visit our website," said Ms McCawley.