Dave’s coming home! England’s adopted World Cup mascot ‘Dave the Cat’ has arrived in the UK to start a new life… with Kyle Walker and John Stones among the favourites to take him in
- England’s adopted cat ‘Dave’ has arrived in the UK from Qatar to start a new life
- The feline became England’s mascot after gate-crashing their evening meals
- Kyle Walker and John Stones are the front-runners to house the famous feline
Dave the Cat, the feline that was adopted by the England team during the 2022 World Cup, has finally arrived home in the UK.
The stray tabby cat became England’s unofficial mascot in Qatar, after regularly joining the players during dinner at their Al Wakrah hotel base throughout the tournament.
Manchester City duo Kyle Walker and John Stones took a particular shine to their new friend and pledged to bring the cat back to the UK if Gareth Southgate’s men won the World Cup.
The Three Lions, unfortunately crashed out at the quarter-final stage, with defeat to France. However, despite their elimination, the players kept their promise and arranged for pet rescuers to start the transfer process.
The two-year-old cat, given the name ‘Dave’ has now arrived in the UK, with a spokesman for the Qatar Animal Welfare Society stating: ‘VIP Dave, the England football team cat, has arrived safely into the UK to start a new life.’
Dave the cat the feline adopted by the England team in Qatar has finally arrived in the country
Man City duo Kyle Walker (left) and John Stones (right) took a shine to ‘Dave’ during the finals
However, it is unclear at this stage which of England’s squad will be housing the famous feline now it’s completed it’s journey from Qatar to the UK, with Walker and Stones the front-runners to give Dave a home.
Kalvin Phillips, 27, declared the puss England’s mascot. Fellow City star Phil Foden, 22, and Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, 28, are also said to be big fans.
Although Jordan Henderson won’t be a contender after he made his feelings known about cats, and wasn’t a fan of him roaming around the hotel.
Dave charmed the City duo after gate-crashing their evening meals whilst on World Cup duty, and were seen across social media feeding their new pal.
Walker told the FA’s official media channel at the time: ‘He was just there one day so we’ve just adopted him, me and Stonesy.
‘Dave is welcome to the table. Some people really don’t like the cat, but I love him.’
The cat has been vaccinated and neutered and is now ready for his new life in the UK
Dave The Cat sported a red and white bandage to treat an abscess on his front paw in Qatar
It was Stones gave the cat the name Dave and has since their meet cute in Doha has since been cared for by the Qatar Animal Welfare Society (QAWS), and has now been microchipped, vaccinated and neutered, ready for his new life.
The cat made further headlines in Qatar after scrapping with a fellow moggie and having to have his paw bandaged after the fight.
His wound from the scrap turned into an abscess and had to bet treated by vets and given antibiotics to heal. The injury was then given a special bandage in England colours to keep the are clean.
A source close to the Three Lions said that if the players could not decide who will take Dave home, a member of the FA’s backroom staff will take care of the feline.
