Family cat who became an Internet sensation dies aged 19

A family cat who hit the headlines and totted up over 125,000 Facebook followers due to his unusual colourings, has passed away.

Owner David Platt, from Morley, announced yesterday that 19-year-old Scrappy had died, resulting in almost 7,000 messages of condolence on the moggy’s personal page.

Mr Platt said: “At 3.45pm, sadly Scrappy passed away peacefully with dad and grandma by his side. He spent his last hours with dad and grandma. We are both heartbroken and will never forget him. He leaves a huge legacy behind him. Rest in peace Scrappy.”

With over 125,000 followers on the social media site along with videos on You Tube and over 127,000 followers on Instagram, Scrappy became an Internet sensation because of his unusual colourings.

Scrappy was pure black until he reached seven years of age...

The markings were due to a skin condition known as vitiligo, which, from the age of seven, made his black fur gradually turn white, giving him a unique and stunning marble effect coat.

Vitiligo is a condition usually more common in humans and incredibly rare in cats, but made the 19-year-old a hit with animal lovers across the world.