A popular Bedford content creator is raising funds for a local rescue charity in memory of his beloved cat Basil, who unexpectedly stole the on-screen spotlight.
Mike Jeavons, known for his popular YouTube channel where he tests out everything from fad diets to “as-seen-on-TV” gadgets, is paying tribute to his cat, Basil.
The much-loved companion sadly passed away at the age of 16 after spending nearly a decade with Mike and his family.
Basil quickly became the unofficial star of Mike’s YouTube channel, which has over 140,000 subscribers, regularly photobombing filming sessions and demanding attention from viewers across the globe.
“After we got Basil, he made it his aim to constantly interrupt every time I decided to film, almost like he was demanding to be put on camera,” said Mike.
“Which was weird, because when I then showed him, he’d act completely apathetic. He was a total diva.”
But Basil’s charm wasn’t just limited to YouTube.
When Channel 5 approached Mike to star in a documentary about eating Subway products for a week, producers specifically requested extra footage of the scene-stealing cat.
“In fact, my wife was cut out of the show, but they made sure to include footage of Basil,” Mike joked.
Following Basil’s passing, fans flooded the channel with condolences, with some even revealing they had named their own pets after him.
To honour his legacy, Mike has launched a GoFundMe campaign for Stray Cat Rescue, the very charity where the family adopted Basil ten years ago.
The fundraiser has already smashed expectations, bringing in nearly £3,000 toward its £3,500 goal to help give other rescue cats a second chance at a loving home.
“I think people could also see how loved he was, and people have also been sad for my wife and I.
“He was a huge part of our family, and we miss him so much.”
You can donate to the Stray Cat Rescue at Mike’s GoFundMe campaign here.
