MALTA – Yesterday was a bleak day at the University of Malta after the most beloved feline on campus meowed his last meow.
Gigi was just one of several cats on campus, yet unlike his furry compatriots, he preferred mingling with students and staff rather than with other cats and indeed, turned the Student House into his de facto home.
Students and visitors of the University of Malta campus had grown accustomed to the sight of the friendly ginger cat just sprawled across the Quad benches or sometimes lying regally on the counters of shops in the Student House building.
The cat has become something of a mascot for the University campus and he won the hearts of students over the past years for his enviable ability to fall asleep anywhere he pleases, as well as his availability for cuddles from stressed students pulling all-nighters on Campus.
Such was his popularity that Gigi even has his own Gigi Appreciation Page!
The cat was cared for and given much attention by students and staff alike and student organizations and University students have taken to many modes of social media to share the sad news of Gigi’s passing.
Such was Gigi’s popularity that his “response” to questions aired by student media organisation Insite during the ‘Humans of UOM’ initiative collected more Facebook likes than any other participant.
“We will never forget all the times Gigi covered our notes and laps full of fur and interrupted most university common room events,” Insite stated in a Facebook post.