'Nurse' Smokey swaps hospital duty for farm life

Garry and Anna Simmons have adopted Smokey, the Waikato Hospital cat. Photo / Christine Cornege

A cat that has spent most of its life comforting sick and dying patients at Waikato Hospital - only to be asked to leave because of his own health issues - is enjoying retirement.

Smokey, a 16-year-old tabby with 649 friends on Facebook, has said goodbye to the hospital wards he has long frequented, for a new life in the countryside.

The friendly grey cat adopted the hospital as his home 12 years ago after following his former owner to work.

Smokey had been known to lie with patients in their final hours, and his comforting presence helped to regulate one patient's heart rate.

But he had to step down from his role after he too became ill. Smokey has triaditis, an inflammation of the bowel, pancreas and liver.

New owners Garry Simmons, a hospital attendant, and Anna Simmons, a staff nurse, fell in love with Smokey when they started work at the hospital after moving from England.

"When I first saw the cat about three years ago I thought I was seeing things," said Mr Simmons. "I remember saying to someone, 'I could have sworn I saw a cat walking down the corridor just before'."

Smokey is still sick but appears to enjoy his new diet of low-fat kibble and life at the Simmons' rural property.

"He seems to be content," said Mrs Simmons.

"He just gets up and does whatever he feels like. He sleeps in the bath, plays with the chickens and has made friends with a pukeko.

"I think Smokey knew when people were down or were sick and he would just go and sit with them," she said.

"There was one woman who couldn't move anything and Smokey just sat with her.

"She could feel his fur against her hand. It brought tears to her eyes."