A 28-year-old woman from Wrecclesham, diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, has spent thousands of pounds and walked nearly 100,000 steps in a desperate search for her missing cat Sparky.
The cat vanished on February 5, soon after Lauren French faced her own health crisis and the loss of her beloved aunt.
Sparky, she says, was more than just a pet—he was her best friend, a constant source of comfort through some of the darkest times in her life.
Lauren was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic and progressive disease of the nervous system, just prior to her cat’s disappearance.
The distress of her diagnosis was compounded when her Aunt Ruth, who had been her steadfast supporter, passed away after a long battle with cancer.
“Ruth was more like a mum than an auntie,” Lauren said.
Her aunt had helped raise Lauren and supported her through some traumatic incidents in her childhood.
But just weeks after Ruth's death, Lauren's world was further shaken when Sparky, the cat who had been her emotional anchor, vanished.
Despite being microchipped, neutered, and easily identifiable due to having just one eye, her feline has not been seen since.
Undeterred by her condition, Lauren has relentlessly pursued every lead in her search for her cat.
She has distributed more than 1,000 flyers across her village and walked nearly 100,000 steps in the process, all while battling the debilitating symptoms of MS.
“Now, living with MS, I’m facing chronic pain, fatigue, nerve damage, vision loss, and the terrifying possibility of losing my sight in the near future,” Lauren said.
“Losing Sparky on top of everything else has pushed me to the edge. Sparky isn’t just a cat to me; he’s been my lifeline through an incredibly difficult time. He’s not just a pet—he’s my best friend, my lifeline, the light that’s guided me through the darkest time of my life.”
Despite her exhaustion and the toll MS has taken on her body, Lauren continues to search for Sparky, even though her legs are failing her.
“I’m so tired my legs just can’t take it anymore. I have done nearly 100,000 steps and I have limited mobility,” she said.
If anyone has seen Sparky or knows his whereabouts, they are urged to contact the hotline at 0800 432 0340.