A woman has married her cat in an attempt to stop landlords from forcing her to give up her beloved pet. You can see her talk about the unusual wedding here:
Deborah Hodge tied the knot with moggy India in a ceremony in a park that was presided over by a legally ordained friend.
The 49-year-old wore a tuxedo, while her feline bride donned a bow tie and a gold lamé outfit for the occasion.
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Hodge, a single mum, said over the years landlords have forced her to rehome two huskies and another cat - something she’s keen to not have go through again, prompting her to come up with the rather unusual plan.
She opted for the ‘marriage’ as a way to show future landlords that she will not be separated from India.
She said: "I had nothing to lose and everything to gain so I married my cat! I recited vows under the universe that no man will ever tear myself and India apart.
"I set out my intention that I would never be separated from the animal I adore. I can't be without India. She is truly a sensation, she is so friendly and amazing.
"She is fundamentally the most important thing in my life after my children.
"By marrying India, I need any future landlords to know that we come as a package and we cannot be separated under any circumstances as she is as important to me as the children.
"I refuse to be parted with her. I'd rather live on the streets than be without her."
Hodge unfortunately lost her job last month, and is now concerned she may be evicted from her home in Sidcup, London.
The mum-of-two said she’s ‘terrified’ of losing her cat so opted for the marriage to show that she and her pet ‘come as a package’.
"I'm terrified of losing India,” she said. “I can barely leave my house with anxiety over what the future holds and I'm just desperate not to lose my cat.
"Although some might think it a stupid idea, I wanted to be able to show physically, by holding the ceremony in front of my friends even though they thought I was bonkers that I am very serious.
"I had a group of friends there for the ceremony - they all think I've gone bats**t crazy but we all had a lovely day. My kids weren't there on the day, they just think that Mummy has lost the plot!
"We lost Siri and Starshine and then Jamal and I do not want to lose another beloved pet. I vowed in sickness and in health, in death do us part, and I meant it."
Topics: Sex and Relationships, UK News, Weird, Cats
Claire Reid