WikiLeaks confirms Julian Assange’s cat is safe following his arrest

The bow-tie wearing cat that lived with Julian Assange is safe and well following her owner’s arrest, WikiLeaks has confirmed.

The cat stayed with Assange, 47, during his seven-year stay at the Ecuadorian embassy since he was giving the pet as a gift from his children in May 2016.

Concerned social media users have taken to Twitter to ask about the cat’s whereabouts after the WikiLeaks founder was forcefully dragged out of the building and arrested this week.

We can confirm that Assange's cat is safe. Assange asked his lawyers to rescue him from embassy threats in mid-October. They will be reunited in freedom. #FreeAssange #NoExtradition pic.twitter.com/zSo8RfXXc9

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 13, 2019

In a tweet accompanied by a video of the animal sat in front of footage of Assange’s arrest, WikiLeaks said: ‘We can confirm that Assange’s cat is safe.

;Assange asked his lawyers to rescue him from embassy threats in mid-October. They will be reunited in freedom.’

The pet became popular on social media after appearing dressed in a tie and collar in the window of the embassy in November 2016.

Assange received the cat when she was just 10 weeks old – and when she made a cameo appearance during a live broadcast on the night of the EU referendum, he referred to her simply as ‘Embassy Cat’.

What I really need to know is what’s going to happen to #Assange’s bow tie cat. pic.twitter.com/DqnRGsiEgD

— Sara Firth (@Sara__Firth) April 11, 2019

Someone look after Julian Assange's cat please I love him life is sacred must be protected pic.twitter.com/VUPSzSCLWO

— Ameme Hack (@AmemeHack) April 11, 2019

I wonder what will happen to James, Julian Assange's cat, who also lived in Ecuador’s London embassy pic.twitter.com/YYOUZS9K1V

— bianca bharti (@biancabharti) April 11, 2019

Embassy Cat even has an unverified Twitter account with more than 30,000 followers.

Using the hashtags #FreeAssange and #NoExtradition, the WikiLeaks tweet also called for Assange not to be extradited to the US.

Assange faces up to 12 months in a British prison after he was found guilty of breaching his bail conditions, while the US charge could attract a maximum jail sentence of five years, according to the US Department of Justice.

But WikiLeaks editor Kristinn Hrafnsson said he fears more charges will be added, meaning Assange could face decades in a US prison.