A "MIRACLE" cat who was dumped in a Kidderminster bin store has died two years after finding his happy ending with devoted new owners.
Asher captured hearts after he was saved by bin men in the Horsefair area of the town - they initially thought his lifeless body was a fur hat.
The elderly cat was cast aside in a Peppa Peg fabric toy box with a cot piled on top of him, in what was branded a "calculated, premeditated and abhorrent act of cruelty."
Volunteers from Stourbridge and District RSPCA branch were advised to put Asher to sleep as he was emaciated and riddled with fleas - but they refused to give up on him.
Their determination paid off with Asher recovering and going on to find a fantastic forever home with Martyn and Samantha Jennings-Temple in Cannock.
His death comes just four days after the family celebrated his two-year Gotcha Day.
The couple had taken Asher to the vets as he had been not eating and had been very lethargic for about a week - but he died during the examination due to complications with his age.
They were glad they got the chance to say their final farewells on Saturday (December 6).
Martyn, aged 47, who runs a kitchen firm in Stafford, said: "We don't know what sort of life Asher had before, but we believe he was loved and that he knew love, because he knew how to give love.
"He was not an angry cat at all he never scratched or hissed and was loving to everyone, not just us. We were told when we had him that he was estimated to be around 15.
"He was so lovely. He was very talkative. Every time we got home he was so pleased to see us.
"We never left him for longer than three hours and if we left him that long he would let us know that he wasn't happy and we had to make it up to him.
"He never went to find food - we would have to take it to him.
"We would encourage anyone to adopt an older pet as the rescues are really struggling at the moment - everyone wants a kitten - but Asher was a beautiful boy and loved us right from day one."
The couple adopted Asher, who was their only pet, after losing their previous cat Freddie four years earlier aged 17.
Martyn said: "Ginger Cat Crafts messaged us and said we would be the perfect parents and we had a lovely two years with him. We were very lucky to have him."
A spokesperson for Stourbridge and District RSPCA said: "Samantha and Martyn gave Asher a life he could only have dreamed of.
"We are sure, they were the best 2 years and 4 days of his whole life."
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