Huge cat visits Waikato Hospital patients in pram

One day a week a fluffy ginger fur-ball visits patients in Waikato Hospital in a pram pushed by his owner Gill Ballard.

It may seem a little extreme to push a cat in a pram, but Fergusson is no small kitty; weighing in at 10.5kgs, Ballard is no longer able to carry him around the wards.

Fergusson is a four-year-old Maine Coon, one of the largest domestic breeds of cats, with some males known to grow to more than 15kgs.

"We got Fergusson when he was a kitten, he was 156grams when he was born, now he's ten and a half kilos. He has another year to grow, so he'll probably put another kilo on I think," Ballard said.

Fergusson, also known as the gentle giant, has been visiting patients at Waikato Hospital's Older Person's and Rehabilitation building for two years now. 

His volunteer work was recognised by hospital staff and he was nominated for a Minister of Health Volunteer Award.

"Fergusson is a therapy cat and he will go and visit patients. We quite often come to the old person's rehab but we will go to other wards if doctors or nurses request us, if they see us in the corridor," Ballard said.

"They just love him They can't believe what they're seeing because of his size.

"A lot of people tell me that he's the most beautiful cat they've ever seen. And they're just overjoyed to see him, he's a break in their day and it's just something new to talk about."

Doreen Cornwall is a patient at Waikato Hospital. 

She has cats at home and has missed them "dearly", interacting with Fergusson has provided respite from her hospital room.

"He's gorgeous, I love him as he is. I've never seen a cat like it, as big as he is," Cornwall said.

"Come and talk to me, come and sit on my knee Fergusson."

Cornwall asks if Fergusson can go home with her, she is smitten.

"He loves to cuddle into them and if a patient can't have him on the bed, he will sit on my knee and just put his paws on the edge of the bed and put his head down as if to say, 'come on, stroke me I'm waiting'," said Ballard.

"It seems like he has a sixth sense. As soon as we put that harness on he seems to know that he is working and he doesn't move. He is as gentle as a giant."

Fergusson is an ex-show cat, so it's nice to have people here telling us how nice he is instead of having to pay a judge to say the same thing, Ballard said.

"We will keep volunteering as long as we can, as long as I am able to bring him around."