Forget flowers, a posh candlelit dinner or a moonlit beach - when Steve Tickner wanted to propose to his cat-lover girlfriend, he came up with the perfect way to pop the question.
Enlisting the help of Cats Protection, the UK’s largest cat charity, the loved-up IT consultant surprised Emma Parkinson with a visit to its flagship National Cat Adoption Centre - where he dropped to one knee and proposed surrounded by 200 homeless cats.
If that wasn’t enough, Steve, 34, also introduced Emma, 38, to 10-year-old Soloman - a stray black cat Steve had secretly picked out previously to come home with them.
For Emma, an accountant, the day was all her dreams come true as she had always wanted to own a black cat when the couple settled into their new home in Fleet, Hampshire.
She said: “I was speechless. He introduced me to Soloman and said, ‘He’s coming home with us, but there’s a catch - will you marry me?’
“Of course I said yes straight away and was just over the moon. I had been working on Steve to get a cat for years but he’s always said the time wasn’t right.
“Soloman came home soon after and has settled in really well. He’s ever so affectionate and we couldn’t ask for a better pet to join our family.”
Steve explained: “We had just moved and finally lived somewhere suitable to own a cat, something Emma had wanted for many, many years.
“I’d been thinking for a while about proposing and as Emma is such a cat lover I thought it would be great to combine the two.
“I went to the National Cat Centre a couple of days before and the Cats Protection staff were terrific and helped choose the perfect cat - when I met Soloman I just knew Emma would fall in love with him.”
Manager of the National Cat Adoption Centre Danielle Draper said: “Cats make brilliant family pets and we are delighted that Emma and Steve marked the beginning of their married life by adopting a cat from us.
“We see many sad cases where stray and unwanted cats come to us, so to have such a happy event happen here was wonderful.
“Soloman is about 10-years-old and had been a stray. We don’t know much about his past but he had obviously had a tough time on the streets and we’re thrilled to see him in a loving home.
“It’s great that Emma and Steve decided to adopt an older cat as they often get overlooked and we can struggle to find homes for them. There are many benefits to owning an older cat - they tend to be more laid-back, don’t roam far from home and their personalities are fully-formed, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
“We wish Emma, Steve and Soloman lots of luck and love in their new home together.”