Context:

Coal, the last surviving member of a once-thriving cat colony outside Canada's Parliament, has passed away at the age of 17 due to cancer. This semiofficial feline assembly was a beloved tourist attraction, even visited by dignitaries like the Dalai Lama and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Initially, the cat colony was maintained by volunteers like Danny Taurozzi, who adopted Coal and managed the shelters for years. Over time, the colony was reduced in size due to a spay-and-neutering program before being dismantled in 2013, with the remaining cats, including Coal, being adopted. Despite his illness, Coal remained a public figure, actively engaging through social media and even attempting to run for prime minister in 2015 on an animal welfare platform.

Dive Deeper:

• Coal was the last of a colony that lived outside Canada's Parliament for decades, attracting numerous tourists and even dignitaries such as the Dalai Lama and Stephen Harper, who were drawn to the cats' charm and stress-relieving presence.

• The colony, which once numbered up to three dozen cats, was housed in makeshift shelters near the Centre Block building, maintained by volunteers including Danny Taurozzi, who became Coal's adoptive owner.

• Historically, cats in the Parliament buildings had been employed for mousing duties, but over time, they were removed as mouse traps became the preferred method, leading to the informal establishment of the colony in 1970.

• Coal gained media attention, featuring on a Japanese game show and in an American documentary, and he continued to engage with the public through social media posts and visits to veterans' homes even after the colony was dismantled in 2013.

• Following a cancer diagnosis, a fundraising campaign raised over $15,000 for Coal's treatment, showcasing the public's affection for him; after his passing, his ashes were kept by Taurozzi as a tribute to his life as a cherished pet.