Zoe Ball pays tribute to her beloved cat Monkey after the adorable ginger feline dies

‘We are heartbroken’: Zoe Ball pays tribute to her beloved cat Monkey after the adorable ginger feline dies

Zoe Ball has paid a sweet tribute to her beloved cat Monkey. 

The TV presenter, 50, took to Instagram on Saturday to announced that her pet had passed away, telling her followers that the family is ‘heartbroken’.

Although not going into detail about what happened to the feline, Zoe thanked the ‘kind people who found him’ and remembered Monkey as ‘so chatty, full of love’.

Tribute: Zoe Ball has announced that her pet cat Monkey has passed away, telling her followers that the family is ‘heartbroken’ in an Instagram post shared on Saturday 

Zoe shared a stunning picture of Monkey alongside the emotional tribute showing the fluffy cat perched on a wall while enjoying some sunshine on his fur.

She penned: ‘Our beautiful cat Monkey has gone to monkey heaven. He was a great adventurer, so chatty, full of love & always up for a fireside cuddle. 

‘We are heartbroken. Thank you to the kind people who found him & called us. Rest well you magic ginger bundle.’

Zoe’s post was soon flooded with supportive comments from other animal lovers, with actress Caroline Quentin writing: ‘So sad for you and your family my dear x’

Beloved pet: The TV presenter, 50, remembered Monkey as a 'great adventurer, so chatty, full of love and always up for a fireside cuddle' in her emotional caption

Beloved pet: The TV presenter, 50, remembered Monkey as a ‘great adventurer, so chatty, full of love and always up for a fireside cuddle’ in her emotional caption

Model Daisy Lowe also left some kind words, writing: ‘Sending you allll the love and cuddles so sorry for your loss.’ 

Monkey joined Zoe’s family back in 2018 after the presenter adopted him and another cat from Raystede Cattery in Sussex.

At the time she took to Twitter to reveal she had renamed Monkey for his cheeky personality after he was originally given the name Winston. 

It comes after the Strictly: It Takes Two presenter reportedly had to isolate for several days after having a coronavirus scare last month.

Zoe is thought to have come down with ‘cold and flu-like symptoms’ and been told to isolate at home by BBC bosses, reports The Sun. 

Support: Caroline Quentin and Daisy Lowe were among Zoe's followers who shared some kind words on the post, with the model penning: 'Sending you allll the love and cuddles'

Support: Caroline Quentin and Daisy Lowe were among Zoe’s followers who shared some kind words on the post, with the model penning: ‘Sending you allll the love and cuddles’

During the week Zoe missed Strictly: It Takes Two and three days of her BBC Radio 2 show while she followed government guidelines and waited for the results of a test.  

A source told the publication: ‘Clearly Zoe did not want to take any chances and adhered to government guidelines to the letter.

‘After coming down with cold and flu-like symptoms, she rang her BBC bosses who immediately advised her to stay home and isolate. 

‘A test was sent to her and Zoe didn’t want to alarm people my making anyone aware, obviously she was hugely relieved to see the results come back negative.’

They added that she hopes to be back at work on Monday after being given the all-clear on Thursday night.  

MailOnline contacted Zoe’s representative for a comment at the time. Strictly Come Dancing’s spokesperson declined to comment. 

Claims: It comes after it was reported that Zoe had to isolate for four days following a coronavirus scare causing her to miss Strictly: It Takes Two last month

Claims: It comes after it was reported that Zoe had to isolate for four days following a coronavirus scare causing her to miss Strictly: It Takes Two last month