Coal, the final member of the iconic parliamentary cat colony, dies at the age of 17 due to cancer after decades of delighting tourists and locals alike.
Coal the Cat: The Last of Canada’s Parliament Felids Passes Away
Coal the Cat: The Last of Canada’s Parliament Felids Passes Away
A beloved feline figure that enchanted visitors to Parliament Hill is no more.
In a heartfelt farewell to the last surviving member of Canada’s renowned parliamentary cat colony, Coal has passed away at the age of 17. The charming feline, a fixture outside the Centre Block in Ottawa, succumbed to an aggressive form of cancer that had spread to his lungs, requiring veterinarian-administered euthanasia earlier this week.
Coal's journey began in the makeshift cat colony established decades ago, where he was believed to have been abandoned as a kitten. Along with several other felines, Coal made the untamed bush behind a wrought-iron fence his home, surrounded by makeshift shelters reminiscent of the nearby Centre Block. Danny Taurozzi, his adoptive owner and a dedicated volunteer for the colony, recounted how the cats would occasionally engage with visitors, who flocked to see the furry inhabitants alongside the stunning landscapes of Parliament Hill.
Over the years, the colony evolved into a must-see tourist destination, drawing attention not just from locals, but also notable dignitaries, including the Dalai Lama and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The end of Coal's life marks the conclusion of an era for the feline assembly, which once flourished in the shadows of Canada's political heart.
Coal's journey began in the makeshift cat colony established decades ago, where he was believed to have been abandoned as a kitten. Along with several other felines, Coal made the untamed bush behind a wrought-iron fence his home, surrounded by makeshift shelters reminiscent of the nearby Centre Block. Danny Taurozzi, his adoptive owner and a dedicated volunteer for the colony, recounted how the cats would occasionally engage with visitors, who flocked to see the furry inhabitants alongside the stunning landscapes of Parliament Hill.
Over the years, the colony evolved into a must-see tourist destination, drawing attention not just from locals, but also notable dignitaries, including the Dalai Lama and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The end of Coal's life marks the conclusion of an era for the feline assembly, which once flourished in the shadows of Canada's political heart.
