Cat survives a month is trapped in her dead owner's Shrewsbury home on toilet water after police failed to spot her

Nibbles, a cat whose owner died in his Shrewsbury home between 9 and 10 October, spent roughly a month alone in the locked, fly-infested property after West Mercia Police officers entered but overlooked her. Stray Cat Rescue Team West Midlands eventually freed her after a friend of the deceased reached out to them when neither police nor the RSPCA took action.

Nibbles kept herself alive by chewing through a dry cat food bag and drinking from the toilet.

The rescue team has described the evidence of a pet's presence — cat trees, litter trays and toys — as 'glaringly obvious', and has lodged a formal complaint against West Mercia Police.

West Mercia Police say the active complaint prevents them from commenting; Nibbles is now in the care of volunteers, recovering from 'the trauma she has endured'.