Man barred from adopting rescue cat because he is gay

Alex Andreou said the episode hurt him as much as the beatings he got as an 8-year-old. Photo / Facebook

A man who travelled for two hours to adopt a rescue cat that desperately needed a new home was turned down when the cat's owner realised he was gay.

Alex Andreou posted the text message exchange he had with the owner of the cat, showing how the London man was turned down for being gay.

So, I just travelled two hours to adopt a cat that desperately needed rehoming and was turned down for being gay. WTF IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE. pic.twitter.com/XDwYELdkn7

— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) August 22, 2017

"I am religious so I strongly disagree with the life style," the cat owner told Andreou.

The person went further and asked him if he is "not afraid of going to hell" when he dies.

Andreou, who in the text exchange with the woman said he has been beaten and called a "f****t" since he was 8, said his feelings were "quite robust" but later admitted he sobbed the whole way home on the bus because "it hurts as much as when [he] was 8 years old".

Twitter users were quick to express their sympathy for Andreou.

IT'S NOT A LIFESTYLE CHOICE. WORSHIPPING AN IMAGINARY MAN IN THE SKY IS A LIFESTYLE CHOICE. 😡😡😡😡😡FFS.
Hope you're ok mate. Much love. 😘

— Alistair Barrie (@AlistairBarrie) August 22, 2017

Some even offered to pick up the cat on his behalf.

I know it's not the point- I'll happily pick up the cat for you if it'd make you feel any better? Work out a way to get her back as well :)

— Joe Dobbs (@DrDobbsLUFC) August 22, 2017

Oh God please someone get the cat and then give it to Alex instead. Please. And then tell her.

— Stephanie Cox (@cox_stephanie) August 22, 2017

The story does have a happy ending as a few hours later, Andreou tweeted that a friend who lived in the area was going to pick up the cat for him.

"I am so happy," he added.

So now I'm on the bus and I'm sobbing and people are staring at me because the truth is it hurts as much as when I was 8 years old.

— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) August 22, 2017