A surreal event occurred in a London city park in April 2022: a woman married her cat. The wedding took place for a specific reason.
The practice of some landlords inserting a no-pets clause in their lease agreements is well-known. However, for Deborah Hodge, a 46-year-old Londoner, this type of clause has come with a heavy price that she’s no longer willing to pay.
After having to get rid of many pets to be able to rent an apartment, this woman had enough. Thus, she found an innovative way to circumvent her landlord’s ban: she married her five-year-old cat India on Tuesday, April 19th.
The New York Post reports that the ceremony took place in a lovely park southeast of the British capital. Furthermore, the pair both wore tuxedo-style outfits for the intimate ceremony.
A few friends of Deborah’s came to show their support, one of them even officiated the civil union. Of the wedding, Deborah Hodges told the New York Post:
“I had nothing to lose and everything to gain, so I married my cat! I refuse to separate myself from him. I’d rather live on the street than be without him,”.
An automobile accident in 2020 resulted in the feline losing a limb. Therefore, India is now even more reliant on Hodge than before.
Through her gesture, this devoted cat owner hopes that her landlord will not force her to leave her home.
Heartbreaking separations
A few years ago, the Briton lived an absolute nightmare when she was forced to separate from her two huskies, Siri and Starshine when a landlord threatened eviction.
Hodge’s former feline friend, Jamal, was also evicted from her flat five years ago, Deborah painfully recalled the separations:
“It absolutely broke my heart. Your pets become part of your family, and it was just absolutely devastating having to say goodbye to them.”
This time, Deborah Hodge is committed to keeping her pet India at all costs. She said to the newspaper:
“I swore to love him in sickness and in health until death do us part, and I meant it,”
The reaction to the bride’s choice of groom
If some friends applaud Deborah’s commitment to saving her cat, others disapprove of what they see as crazy. Likewise, her children were equally unimpressed by the prospect of their mother marrying a cat.
In their minds, they just assumed their mother had gone off the rails. Yet, Deborah felt that a wedding was an excellent way to prove to her landlord how intent she was to keep her puss.
One way or another, may they live happily ever after.