George Osborne's cat injured by car

Chancellor George Osborne’s pet cat Freya had to be taken to the vet after being injured when she was hit by a car on Whitehall.

Fri, 08 Aug, 2014 - 01:00

But a Downing Street spokeswoman stressed the wandering feline, who went missing earlier this year, was not seriously hurt in the accident on Thursday night.

The news came as cat enthusiasts around the globe celebrated World Cat Day.

Freya the cat which belongs to Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne walks over red carpet laid for the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah — (Matt Dunham/AP)

It is understood Freya was “clipped” at the Ministry of Defence end of the street, but it is not yet clear whose car was involved.

She had to be taken to the vet, but is recovering and expected to be on her way home soon. The Chancellor was said to be “grateful” for all those who helped in the wake of the incident and will pay any bills himself.

In May, the cat was chauffeur-driven back home after turning up frightened and lost in Vauxhall. She was found by homelessness outreach worker Kate Jones who identified her from the tag on her collar.

Freya The Chancellor's cat sits on a table in a room in Downing Street prior to a meeting between Prime Minister David Cameron greets the Emir of Qatar — (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

Ms Jones, who works with Thames Reach’s London Street Rescue, said she had lots of experience helping the homeless in London – but that it was the first time she had helped a cat find shelter.

Freya spent the night on Ms Jones’s pillow before being collected by Downing Street officials. She had somehow travelled south of the river and at least 1.5 miles before being found.

Ms Jones later posted a picture of the cat with a note to remind Mr Osborne that while she had been given shelter for the night in this instance, most homeless people are not so fortunate.