A cat blessed by Tibetan religious leader the Dalai Lama is facing imminent death unless its owner can raise £2,000 for life-saving treatment.
The 12-year-old feline named Dalai was discovered lifeless in a plant pot last week, suffering from kidney failure.
Owner Tracie Knight already knew there was something wrong with her pet, after days earlier she noticed his pupils dilated to an unusual size and he began drooling in his sleep.
And now the poorly moggy is suffering from sight problems as well as other health issues, and needs an MRI scan so experts can discover the source of the problem.
In 2005, when the Dalai Lama visited Edinburgh, where Tracie and Dalai live, the cat was blessed by the Buddhist leader, who cuddled and kissed him.
Tracie, who is also a Buddhist, worked as a photographer for the Dalai Lama during his visit and took the first opportunity she could to introduce her "special" pet to him and receive his blessing.
She said: "From the moment he was born, I knew there was something special about him - he's like a human inside a cat's body. He's amazing. He is named after the Dalai Lama, but he was named before he actually met him."
Tracie initially took her beloved pet to the vet when she noticed Dalai's pupils were bigger than usual.
She was told nothing was seriously wrong, but she should keep an eye on him over the next few days.
But early last week, he went missing after Tracie let him out.
Three days later he was found by a neighbour, lying "soaking wet" in a plant pot.
Tracie said: "I can't keep Dalai like this any longer, it's heartbreaking. It was horrid to see him lying in the plant pot, soaking wet like that.
"If we can't raise money for him to have the scan and then treatment, I think there will be no other option than to put him to sleep, we can't keep him like this - it's just not Dalai.
"People often assume that 12 is old for a cat, but it isn't really.
"Dalai still has so much life left inside of him and he loves the outdoors. I won't rest until I know I've tried everything, he is a very special cat and putting him down is the last thing we want to do."
As part of the fourth World Parliamentarian's Convention on Tibet, the Dalai Lama travelled to Edinburgh and visited a variety of locations, including the Usher Hall and the Scottish Parliament.
Tracie has launched an appeal on website gofundme to pay for Dalai's treatment.
To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/2a7x8qk
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