Tributes pour in for beloved Bus Stop Cat 'brutally kicked to death'

Missy a 13-year-old ginger cat was found with a fractured skull, broken jaw and had all her teeth knocked out

A fundraising page has received nearly £3,000 in memory of the cat (Craig/JustGiving )

People are raising money in memory of a cat, beloved by a Hampshire town for greeting commuters at a bus stop, who died from brutal injuries after allegedly being "kicked to death".

Nearly £3,000 has been raised in memory of Missy, a 13-year-old ginger cat, after she was found at the weekend with a fractured skull, broken jaw and all her teeth knocked out.

Missy was famed in Havant for frequenting the same number 39 bus stop on Dunsbury Road, cuddling up to passengers and letting them stroke her while they waited for the bus.

Missy’s owner, Richard McCormick, noticed she was bleeding from the mouth after returning home last week.

#LeighPark We continued to appeal for any information whatsoever on the vile and brutal attack on Missy, the Bus Stop...

Posted by Spotted Portsmouth on Sunday, 31 January 2016

He took the cat to the vet where she was subsequently put down due to the severity of her injuries, The Telegraph reports.

The 72-year-old retired railway worker said: "On Friday, I called her in for her dinner and she stumbled into our back room.

"My grandson went to get her out and he said she was bleeding from her mouth.

"She had a fractured skull and her jaw was broken in two places. All of her teeth were knocked out.

Mr McCormick’s daughter, Karen Wells, said her parents were “distraught” after the incident.

“She was a very friendly cat, so friendly that sometimes my dad couldn’t let her indoors because she liked getting all the fuss outside.

“My parents aren’t taking the news very well. They are distraught.”

Both Mr McCormick and his daughter suggest the cat may have been attacked. Mr McCormick said it appeared the cat had been given a “kicking”, while Ms Wells claimed "somebody has kicked her or done something".

A Hampshire Police spokeswoman said the cat’s injuries were “consistent with an attack”, however, they added all possibilities are being investigated.

The RSPCA said a road traffic collision cannot be ruled out.

The vet investigating the incident also said the injuries could be consistent with a traffic collision. An updated statement is expected on Wednesday.

Flowers laid at the bus stop for Missy, the bus stop cat, who had to get put down due to individuals' fracturing her skull and jaw in Leigh Park.

Posted by Spotted Portsmouth on Sunday, 31 January 2016

On Monday the stop was filled with tributes form saddened commuters, accustomed to seeing the cat before their journeys.

One bus driver left a tribute for Missy saying: "Thank you for lifting my spirits every time I stopped my bus, you always made me smile."

Tributes also flooded in on social media in memory of the cat.

Craig Cockram, who created a Just Giving page in honour of Missy, which has so far received £2,980, said: "We would like to raise as much money as possible for a plaque and the remaining monies going to charity for the 39 bus stop cat.

"This poor cat which was loved by many who just sat on a seat on the 39 stop in Dunsbury Way Leigh Park, loved to be stroked and have the attention. It was the most trusting cat."