Clarke Gayford thanks Kiwis for donating to SPCA in wake of 'First Cat' Paddles' death

PM Jacinda Ardern's partner Clarke Gayford has thanked the public for their donations to the SPCA after the death of New Zealand's much-loved and world-famous "First Cat" Paddles. Photo / Instagram, @jacindaardern

Paddles, the much loved "First Cat", has been buried alongside her favourite toys in the sunny spot where she used to wait for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and partner Clarke Gayford to arrive home.

Paddles, a ginger SPCA cat with opposable thumbs, died on Tuesday after being hit by a car. Her death prompted an outpouring of grief all over the world, following her sudden rise to fame after an unknown person started a Twitter account for the feline.

Fondly called the "First Cat of New Zealand" her popularity was cemented by the Huffington Post, who labelled her the most powerful cat in New Zealand.

By the time she died she had more than 11,000 followers on Twitter.

Her death was announced this week, with Gayford and Ardern encouraging Kiwis to donate and "be kind" to the SPCA, reportedly leading to six times the usual donations being received.

Gayford thanked New Zealanders for donating to the SPCA following Paddles' death.

"It's been so wonderful to see a spike in the donations to the SPCA. It's been a little bit of good that's come from this. They do such great work," he said.

He said she had been rushed to the vet by a "really nice" neighbour who had received a knock at the door by the person who had hit Paddles.

However there was nothing the vet could do.

Gayford said the driver of the car was "very, very upset."

"I felt really sorry for him. These things happen."

The driver of the car reportedly came forward to Newshub, claiming he was "horrified" by the accident.

He said Paddles had run across the road in front of his car.

"I just almost threw up," he reportedly said after realising he'd killed the Prime Minister's cat.

The death prompted an outpouring of public sympathy, and was reported overseas by the likes of the Guardian and the Sydney Morning Herald.