Seaham, UK – Zoe Downs cared lovingly for a stray cat for two years. When the animal was fatally struck by a car, she wanted to give him a dignified farewell – but a tragic mix‑up at the vet clinic changed everything.

The cat named Bells was a constant part of Zoe's daily life. She fed the animal, which she had once found on the street, three times a day.

Zoe also bought toys for the cuddly cat and even set up a little sleeping house for it in her own yard.

Unfortunately, their time together was short‑lived: On October 13, Bells was hit by a car. His body was then taken to the Seaham veterinary practice, as the BBC reported.

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Zoe's wish: If the original owner of the cat did not come forward, she wanted the animal's body back so she could bury Bells in her yard.

On October 21, she finally received a body from the practice and buried the cat at his favorite spot. But about 15 minutes later a shocking call arrived: Zoe might not have buried Bells at all, but another feline.

According to lead vet Susan Turner, the practice had taken in two similar dead cats within a few days. Both had been labeled in the cold room simply as "stray cat black and white," making it impossible to identify them correctly afterward.

Turner admitted the mistake and explicitly apologized to Zoe for the emotional distress it caused.

The bizarre situation proved especially painful for Zoe. Over the past two years, she and her husband had formed a close bond with the cat.

"He practically lived here, and we bonded with him, and we had toys outside for him and a little house for him to sleep in," she told the BBC.

"We wanted to put him to rest in a place that he loved. I'm heartbroken."

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To be able to give the second deceased cat a proper farewell, she asked the veterinary practice for the release of the remaining body. This request was denied.

Susan Turner emphasized that such an incident had never occurred in the practice before. In principle, deceased animals are only handed over to their rightful owners.

Nevertheless, the practice remains responsible even if an owner contacts them at a later date.

The team has since acknowledged the mistake and taken steps to prevent similar mix‑ups in the future.