Pocket, Massey Welly’s iconic campus cat, to be rehomed

After 10 years of beanbag snuggles, temptation treats, sunbathing, and running from students, Massey’s iconic campus cat Pocket is being rehomed.  

Pocket was recently diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism, and will need medication twice a day. As a campus cat, she is left alone every night and over the weekends, without staff to tend to her thyroid condition.  

After much discussion with those who have cared for her over the years, the decision was made that the best thing for Pocket, as she enters the later stages of her life, is to be moved to a quiet, loving home.  

Pocket is moving in permanently with a Massey staff member who knows her well, and understands what a special cat she is. 

Pocket will be leaving campus tomorrow, so give her some extra love before she goes.  

Then on Friday is her graduation party! From 12-1 in the CoLab with kai and a raffle fundraiser.  

Pocket’s diagnosis came about a month ago, when staff arrived on campus and found a large gash on Pocket’s back leg. When she taken to the vet for stitches, her condition was discovered. 

While her leg wound healed, she stayed at a staff member’s home to be kept inside 24/7. After a decade of having an entire campus to roam, you’d think she would have gone stir crazy. 

The reality was quite the opposite. Pocket loved being warm and cosy indoors, with consistent company, and showed no desire to be outside.    

Pocket has been a star figure of the Wellington campus since arriving mysteriously in 2014.  

When she turned up, then Massive editor Morgan Browne grew very fond of Pocket, and it wasn’t long before food bowls were put out.   

Since then, she’s had advice columns in Massive, featured in the magazine’s mural, students have sold art of her at Massey markets, and she even has her own Instagram account with almost 1000 followers.  

Her legacy will live in student and staff’s pockets for a long time.