Why did Kate McCann wash cuddle cat? Anonymous.
A look at Madeleine’s ‘favourite’ toy, Cuddle Cat, and the way it took centre stage for much of the time the McCanns were in Portugal.
Kates story that she knew it was an abduction because Cuddle Cat was placed out of reach came a lot later in an interview with the media. Painful and pointless.While the Portuguese police gave Murat “aguido” or suspect status early in the investigation, that was formally lifted in 2008.Now, it seems, there is a chink of light.But as each hour, then day, then week went by I felt a growing sense of frustration and even guilt.They have to live with the consequences of that decision every day. Maddie always slept with her cuddle cat by her. 9 years ago. Poor Missing Maddie.“Kidnapped toddler Maddie McCann was believed to be ALIVE last night –but in the clutches of a child sex pervert.”We were expecting an emotional, tearful encounter but instead he talked about the police investigation and new initiatives, drawing flow charts on a white board.I will never forget the moment I first stood outside that white-washed holiday apartment in 2007.“I know it’s Father’s Day but I haven’t thought about it,” he said. I have cleaned a few apartments that I have stayed in as my standards of cleanliness are quite high but i have never in my life washed curtains in an apartment. The cat had become poignant symbol of a mother’s loss as Kate McCann carried it with her at all time from the night of Madeleine’s disappearance.Kate had 70 days to launder the toy which she carried around in full glare of the world's media. During those 70 days, she clutched it constantly, whether in her hands or pressed to her face and mouth. Her explanation about the smell of suntan lotion is perfectly straightforward as those 70 days were in the height of summer in a Mediterranean country. Not only would Kate have been applying suntan lotion to herself several times daily, but also to her twin babies. she also washed the curtains in the apartment . “I can’t think about last year and how we spent it.And it is the first time in 13 years that I have genuinely felt the mystery could be solved.The police investigation had been bungled from the outset with crucial clues lost, forensic evidence trampled over and valuable hours of searching wasted.And I began to dread going back to Praia da Luz, for the first anniversary, then the fifth, then the 10th.The following day, after attending a police press conference, I wrote the first of many articles about the youngster.My gut instinct told me Madeleine was probably dead within days of her disappearance and we would never find out who took her.