The owner of the Cameron's carpark's furry favourite has spoken about the impact Derek had on many people
The owner of a beloved cat who became a familiar feline friend in a Co Antrim town has spoken to Belfast Live following his death.
Derek the cat first wandered into Lorna Evans' life about 13 years ago when the 12-week-old kitten, who had been abandoned in Cameron's carpark in Ballymena made his way into her neighbour's garden. As many cat owners say, cats choose their owners - and Derek quickly became a part of the Evans family. While adored by Lorna and her daughter Helen, Derek was merely tolerated by the household's other cat, Josephine.
Unbothered by the rivalry, Derek preferred spending his days back at the car park, where he became a well-known and much loved figure among shoppers and workers alike. Over the years, a small house was built for Derek in the car park, turning Derek into something of a local celebrity. The house is due to be removed this week as tributes continue to pour in on social media for the popular feline.
Lorna said: 'Derek's passing has left a huge hole in our lives. Derek was just not our cat, he was my baby. He was also my daughter Helen and Josephine's brother too. Since Derek died, Helen, who lives in Western Australia now, and I have done nothing this week but cry down the phone.
'I had to make the very difficult choice of putting Derek to sleep last Monday, May 4. He was very sick, and, heartbreakingly I knew it was time for him to leave this world. He could hardly breathe.
' Lorna described Derek as a cat who enjoyed the comforts of home but never lost his love for the car park where he had become so well known. 'He had his own chair and foot stool at home where he slept,' she said. 'Quite often, he sat on the sofa or window sill. If it was very cold he slept beside us in bed.
He'd insist on putting his cold paw on our faces and purring loudly. The purring was like a snore.
'But despite all of that, once Derek got his own house in the car park, he loved being there. When it got really cold and freezing outside, he would still lie on his chair or foot stool beside our coal fire but then go back out to his own wee house. Someone kindly lined the floor of his house with sheepskin bedding. We used to joke that Derek had carpeted his house and would be soon renovating his kitchen.
'Derek was most happy at the carpark. It would have been cruel to try and keep him at home permanently. God bless everyone who loved Derek as much as we did. We are eternally grateful for all of the kindness shown to him over the years.
Thank you to everyone who has left flowers at Derek's house. We appreciate everything beyond words.
' For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
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