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The Hampton family and their cats

'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

Monday 08 September 2008

Every night, kelly hampton cooks her seven hairless Sphynx cats a roast chicken, bathes them, dresses them in pyjamas and tucks them into their four-poster bed.

Meanwhile her long-suffering husband Toby, 34, a window fitter, is left to prepare dinner for himself and their two children, Jake, six, and Elle-May, four.

Kelly says: “Of course, my kids come first, but the cats are easier to please, more affectionate and won’t grow up and move away. And they definitely come before my husband – he doesn’t mind though.”

Unemployed Kelly first bought Shadow four years ago. Zippy, Maisy, Tabatha, Puzzle, Tango, and Maddy have all followed, costing a whopping £1,000 a time because they are such a rare breed.

Now, she spends her life tending to their every need. She cooks them fresh salmon or tuna for breakfast, then takes them for a walk either on a lead or in a special cat buggy, similar to a child’s pushchair. She’ll also stop in at the local pub, and order them half a pint of milk each.

But it’s at night that events take a more peculiar twist. Kelly bathes each cat in the bath, before dressing them in specially designed cat outfits, including pink hoodies and chenille jumpers that she buys on eBay. “I pat them dry, cuddle them, put them in their bed clothes and kiss them goodnight,” she says.

Although dressing animals is considered cruel by animal welfare experts, Kelly is defiant. “You wouldn’t send a newborn out with no clothes on and I think it’s the same thing – they shiver when it’s chilly.”

Kelly, 31, has even redesigned the upstairs of her four-bedroom home in Trowbridge, Wilts, to accommodate her pets. They have a specially decorated room complete with a gold four-poster bed, animal-print sheets and cuddly toys.

Over the last few years, Kelly’s spent around £20,000 of Toby’s earnings on her pampered pussies – their food alone costs over £2,000 a year.

Toby says: “She definitely spends more time with them than me. But I don’t mind – even though they do cost a fortune. Last year I wanted a new car, but I had to put it on hold because the cats needed things.”

Kelly adds: “I don’t believe my kids are missing out. At weekends, we tend to do things the cats can be part of – like going to the beach – as I don’t like to leave them for more than five hours at any one time. But the kids understand.
“I love the attention I get when people see the cats on their leads. I’ve never had any bad comments, only strange looks!”

An RSPCA spokesman said: “Dressing up animals has the potential to cause them significant stress. We advise against it.”


Words by Lisa Woollard


See Kelly on First Cut: Pussies Galore, Friday 12 September, 7.35pm, C4

Readers CommentsReaders Comments

Posted by Bryony Saunders

RE: 'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

i think this lady is selfish

Posted 09/09/2008 16:25:39

Posted by fusspot1983

RE: 'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

oh my god!!! i know this woman!! 8 months ago i was her neighbour!!

although i would not normally agree with dressing up animals like babies, they do not have any fur and are indoor cats, so she likes to take them out for a bit of a change of scenery,plus from what she has told me about them,they can lose their body temperture really quickly so need to be kept warm,i dont think she uses them as a fashion statement. i think this article has made her out to be really bad and only caring about her cats when in fact she dotes on her family, yes in a sense i think her life does revolve around the cats,but not in a bad way.

Posted 09/09/2008 18:27:41

Posted by scarlett

RE: 'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

this woman is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wat more can i say apart from they look like skined rats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! be a mother to your real children!

Posted 10/09/2008 14:54:43

Posted by nicki27

RE: 'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

I think this woman is very selfish. Her husband is out working and isnt allowed to get a new car which he has worked hard for cause the cats needed stuff. If they are so expensive to keep she should get up off her arse and get a job herself to pay for them. All i can say is poor husband and kids, she should be a real mother to them.

Posted 10/09/2008 16:01:58

Posted by fusspot1983

RE: 'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

This story is VERY exagerated! as i have said i know this woman and all i can say is dont believe everything you read.
for instance in this article it states she is 31 when infact she is actually only 24.
I know for a fact that her and her husband take it in turns to feed the children good home cooked meals.
i know for a fact that her children and husband come first.
and i know for a fact that the article failed to mention that these cats are also her full time job as she breeds them and shows them, with her husband and children just as involved.

Posted 10/09/2008 21:14:24

Posted by Jacqui0121

RE: 'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

I think they're gorgeous. This type of breed needs a lot of care and attention. If the kids aren't going without what's the harm?

Posted 12/09/2008 17:22:25

Posted by cerise08

RE: 'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

it's kind of selfish but then again everyone accepts and doesn't mind she's caring to animals which is good but maybe she should think more of her kids too.

Posted 16/09/2008 22:32:25

Posted by Alfiemoomoo

RE: 'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

I think the family all gain a lot of pleasure from these cats. Animals are very theraputic and great stress relievers. This family can spend their money which ever way they choose! I'm a pet lover my self and no amount of money would be too much where he's concerned. If you can afford to indulge your pets then that is a personal choice.

Posted 22/09/2008 22:02:29

Posted by Shannonbabes_ox

RE: 'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

i love cats to bits. but i love ones with fur!! and to have a husband AND children is just ridiculas! And they come before her husband. she needs to get a life!

Posted 25/09/2008 16:12:33

Posted by saffy

RE: 'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

I have 3 cats and they are my fur babies but think this woman has gone too far for goodness sake get a life woman your nuts BUT it nice to hear how cats are loved and not another cruelty story we so often hear

Posted 30/09/2008 17:37:29

Posted by sphynxmad.webs.com

RE: 'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

what can i say?
this women isnt crazy at all... she is just a lover or sphynx who is devoted to her cats and would do anything for them! i would rather be treated like that if i were a cat than i would if i was a cat on the streets !
so her cats should consider themselves LUCKY! i would.

xx

Posted 05/10/2008 11:36:33

Posted by georgielea33

RE: 'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

love get a life look after your kids and put ure husband first they look like rats they should be let free they do not need 24 hour care i mean dressing them up how pathetic someone should call the animal aid for goodness sake there cats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! stop gettin attention cus no 1 is intrested.

Posted 06/11/2008 18:52:01

Posted by georgielea33

RE: 'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

cerise08 grow up of course the kids need care have u got vegtables 4 brains

Posted 06/11/2008 18:54:08

Posted by Ashlee

RE: 'I've spent £20k on my pussies!'

erm,,,this is a bit weird coz really ur choosing animals over your family,,,it kinda makes me feel sick,,,u remind me of a lady with a room full of dolls for god sake lol but if thats what you want go for it

Posted 20/03/2009 12:09:19



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