Billy the black-and-white cat is a sociable little guy, and while he enjoys spending time with his owners, he also loves nothing better than exploring his local neighborhood in Hackney, London.
Billy’s owners, Olga Shipunova, 29, and her partner Zack King, 37, are used to their little explorer being away for long periods of time- but when Billy came back with a note attached to his collar one day, the last thing they expected was to become pen-pals with a stranger!
Zack shared the whole story onto his Twitter account, zack_a_king, and if this perfectly doesn’t highlight the few positives that have come out of being in lockdown, then we don’t know what will.
A few months ago my girlfriend @ogildy noticed something on Billy’s collar – a folded note, wrapped in cling film and attached with a wire tie pic.twitter.com/J8DqRooqa0
— Zack King (@zacharyking) January 2, 2021
After Zack and Olga read the first note, simply signed ‘your friendly neighbors,’ they decided that it would be fun to write back. They popped the note back onto Billy’s collar, and like the obedient mail-cat that he was all-too-happy to be, he went straight out of the door and delivered the note.
From this point on my girlfriend and an unknown neighbour became penpals, all through an oblivious feline postcat pic.twitter.com/YePkb9EVhk
— Zack King (@zacharyking) January 2, 2021
The penpals shared everything from pictures of Billy when he was a baby, to recipe tips to try out and snacks that Billy is allowed to be fed. Despite being complete strangers, Zack and Olga chatted to their new penpals as if they were old friends.
Anyone who is a friend of Billy, is a friend of them.
He really was the last of the litter to be homed. Here’s a pic of him wonkily greeting us at @GoddardVets Plaistow back in September 2019 pic.twitter.com/Jc1tLb7u4C
— Zack King (@zacharyking) January 2, 2021
At one point, Billy was even upgraded to his very own mailbag! Sadly, it wasn’t long until he had lost it- but it was handy while it was around.
Development 1: the neighbour had sorted him out with a proper mailbag pic.twitter.com/EHksj5Xr2R
— Zack King (@zacharyking) January 2, 2021
Billy is truly a one-of-a-kind cat. “He is feisty, curious, and independent,” Zack told Bored Panda. “He’s friendly but affectionate on his own terms.”
Being the great explorer that he is, Billy is often out of the house for long periods of time. “He has a cat flap so he comes and goes as he chooses,” Zack explained. “He has no timetable—sometimes he will be gone for a whole day or a whole night (he likes to mix things up). The only real trouble he makes is with the local mouse community. However, as he usually brings them back alive, we have humane traps so we are able to set them free again.”
When asked if Zack and Olga have plans to meet their neighbor once lockdown restrictions are lifted, Zack doesn’t feel the need.
“To be honest, with modern communication all being online, it’s nice to have some mystery and intrigue,” Zack explained.
We think that a cat postal service is a great idea during lockdown- a time where many people may be feeling lonely. Does your cat go away for long periods of time, or do you find that you have a resident cat visiting your house every so often? Why not attach a note on their collar, and see if you get anything back?
Check out Zack’s Twitter to see the whole thread.
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