Jasper the cat: Tributes to three-legged feline hospital greeter

Hundreds of staff and patients have paid tribute to Jasper

Tributes have been paid to a three-legged cat who was well known for greeting patients and staff at a hospital.

Jasper, a ginger tabby, "worked" as a senior liaison officer at Bassetlaw Hospital in Nottinghamshire, which was across the road from where he lived.

He visited on an almost daily basis and could often be seen sitting on his own chair, where he waited for a fuss.

His owners put him to sleep, aged 15, on Tuesday following an illness.

Owner Amber Walker-O'Brien said Jasper had been visiting the hospital - run by the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - for at least 10 years.

Jasper was hit by a car while crossing the road to get there, about six years ago, and needed to have his leg amputated, but he still carried on visiting the hospital.

'Touched so many'

Mrs Walker-O'Brien created a Facebook page to keep track of Jasper, and hospital staff would often update his family on his whereabouts.

Hundreds of people have commented on a tribute posted by the hospital trust, and Jasper's owner said this was comforting.

"It's amazing," Mrs Walker-O'Brien said.

"It has really helped me and the kids to see that he has touched so many people."

The hospital is raising money to have a bench and plaque in Jasper's memory, and more than £500 was reached within the first hours of an online fundraising page being set up.

Jasper was the runt of the litter but lived to 15 years

Mrs Walker-O'Brien adopted Jasper exactly 15 years before the day he died.

He was the runt of a litter of cats that one of her former colleagues found at the bottom of her garden.

"She sent me a picture and she didn't think the little one would live," Mrs Walker-O'Brien said.

"I said I would have the little one rather than him going to the cat rescue.

"For the runt of the litter, he didn't do a bad job."

She said Jasper was "very, very loving", and "wanted cuddles and hugs and things all the time".

"He was quite intuitive and would sit outside the maternity door [at the hospital] waiting for all the unsuspecting pregnant women to come," she said.

Jasper had to have his leg amputated after being hit by a car

Jasper was so well known that Mrs Walker-O'Brien's husband was referred to as "Jasper's dad" rather than by his real name when he went to hospital for a sprained ankle.

Adam Tingle, from the hospital's communications team, said: "Jasper really loved the attention and came almost daily.

"Due to his location preference, parents-to-be going for scans and other appointments often saw him every time they visited the hospital, and he often greeted them as they left with their newly-delivered little one.

"He was just a really special little cat, and everyone will miss him."

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