Let the palace cat enjoy her home: Petition for a 17-year-old stray cat in Croatia

Thousands of people have signed a petition to save the home of a 17-year-old stray cat.

Anastasia the cat spends her days in front of the 14th-century Rector's Palace in the Old City of Dubrovnik. This historic palace in Croatia is popular with tourists.

Anastasia is a favourite with local people and tourists too.

Many people have found her a home, but she always returns to the palace. So volunteers put a comfy cardboard box for her in the palace's porch.

But the city's museum authority, which is based in the palace, didn't like that.

So an animal lover made her a mini wooden home in the same style as the palace – a mix of old styles of architecture. It even has a plaque showing Anastasia's name.

But the museum authority didn't like that dwelling either, and they ordered it to be removed.

No-one, the authority says, is allowed to alter the palace's look, "especially by building shelters or dwellings".

The removal of Anastasia's home caused a storm on social media. Last week, 12,000 people had signed a petition demanding its return.

"It's her home," says Srdjan Kera, the builder of Anastasia's wooden abode. "We're only talking about one cat."