The end of an era: Last feline from Parliament Hill cat colony dies

After putting his name furrward for prime minister and bringing joy to millions of people, the last feline from the beloved former cat colony on Parliament Hill has died.

Coal Taurozzi was with his owner Danny Taurozzi and his younger, adoptive brother Winston when he was given veterinary assistance in dying on Tuesday following a long battle with cancer, according to Danny.

Coal had just turned 17 on Canada Day, and suffered a sharp decline in health this week.

"He was a gentle cat with a heart of gold," Taurozzi said. "He was nice with everybody. He was not aggressive."

Coal, with his jet black fur and bright green eyes, for years greeted millions of visitors to the most powerful political grounds in Canada.

He was dumped as a kitten on Parliament Hill and grew up in the cat colony, where he was cared for and fed by volunteers.

Cats were brought to the House of Commons in its early years to deal with rodents. By the 1950s, their hunting skills were replaced with other pest control methods and they were banished.

Volunteers then took care of the mousers, gave them names and built them a tiny village on a slope behind Centre Block for protection.

At its height, the sanctuary had more than 30 strays that devoured close to $7,000 worth of cat food every year paid for by donations, not the federal government.

For politicians, the cats were stress relievers. The felines were even given unofficial, informal RCMP protection.

The sanctuary was also a popular tourist attraction. The Department of Canadian Heritage said Hill guides still get questions about the cats to this day.

"Americans absolutely loved it when they came and visited the cats," Danny said. "[They'd say], 'We wouldn't have that in Washington!'"

The sanctuary eventually closed in 2013 amid concerns about the animals' welfare. All remaining cats were adopted, including Coal who went home with Taurozzi.

In the years that followed, Coal acquired a large social media following and even ran for prime minister in the 2015 federal election.

Coal captivated national attention once again last year after his owner launched a fundraiser to help pay for his costly medical bills.

Coal had a rare and aggressive cancer called salivary gland carcinoma, which later spread to his lungs. He was also fighting arthritis and kidney disease.

Taurozzi had pet insurance, but it didn't cover Coal's full medical bills. He said Coal's medical care cost more than $30,000.

He raised more than $15,000 through a Go Fund Me campaign, which helped extend Coal's life and gave him the best medical care available.

He said he's thankful to everyone who donated, and wants Coal to be remembered as a Canadian symbol of compassion.

"It was a special thing to have cats on Parliament Hill," Danny said.