Dave the Cat, the feline that was adopted by the England team during the 2022 World Cup, has finally arrived home in the UK.
The stray tabby cat became England’s unofficial mascot in Qatar, after regularly joining the players during dinner at their Al Wakrah hotel base throughout the tournament.
Manchester City duo Kyle Walker and John Stones took a particular shine to their new friend and pledged to bring the cat back to the UK if Gareth Southgate’s men won the World Cup.
The Three Lions, unfortunately crashed out at the quarter-final stage, with defeat to France. However, despite their elimination, the players kept their promise and arranged for pet rescuers to start the transfer process.
The two-year-old cat, given the name ‘Dave’ has now arrived in the UK, with a spokesman for the Qatar Animal Welfare Society stating: ‘VIP Dave, the England football team cat, has arrived safely into the UK to start a new life.’
Dave the cat the feline adopted by the England team in Qatar has finally arrived in the country
Man City duo Kyle Walker (left) and John Stones (right) took a shine to ‘Dave’ during the finals
However, it is unclear at this stage which of England’s squad will be housing the famous feline now it’s completed it’s journey from Qatar to the UK, with Walker and Stones the front-runners to give Dave a home.
Kalvin Phillips, 27, declared the puss England’s mascot. Fellow City star Phil Foden, 22, and Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, 28, are also said to be big fans.
However, Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson won’t be a contender after he made his feelings known about cats, and wasn’t a fan of him roaming around the hotel.
Yet, earlier this year, Walker revealed that with his and Stone’s busy schedule’s Dave’s new home could be with England’s head of security.
Telling Sky Sports when asked about the animal’s future: ‘Tony, the head of security, he was leaving – that was his last tournament. Me and John, as parents, decided that Tony would be a great adopted dad for Dave.’
Dave charmed the City duo after gate-crashing their evening meals whilst on World Cup duty, and were seen across social media feeding their new pal.
The cat has been vaccinated and neutered and is now ready for his new life in the UK
Dave The Cat sported a red and white bandage to treat an abscess on his front paw in Qatar
Walker told the FA’s official media channel at the time: ‘He was just there one day so we’ve just adopted him, me and Stonesy.
‘John named him Dave. Dave is welcome to the table. Some people really don’t like the cat, but I love him.’
It was Stones who gave the cat the name Dave, who has since been cared for by the Qatar Animal Welfare Society (QAWS), microchipped, vaccinated and neutered, ready for his new life.
The cat made further headlines in Qatar after scrapping with a fellow moggie and having to have his paw bandaged after the fight.
His wound from the scrap turned into an abscess and had to bet treated by vets and given antibiotics to heal. The injury was then given a special bandage in England colours to keep the are clean.
