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A fundraising page set up to pay for treatment for a beloved station cat who was hit by by car smashed its target in just an hour.

Fanny the cat is well-known to commuters who travel through Gipsy Hill station, where she can often be found sitting on passengers' laps or offering herself up for a stroke.

Although the black-and-white cat has a loving home, the friendly feline likes to spend her days mingling with commuters at the south London station.

But last night the alarm was raised when Fanny failed to return home from Gipsy Hill as usual.

This morning, she was found injured close to the station, and was rushed to a vet, who said she had been hit by a car.

Fanny's owners were told that their pet had a ruptured diaphragm, and would need surgery costing in the region of £2,000.

Upon hearing the devastating news, Fanny's fans set up a fundraising page to pay for treatement for the moggy, who was not insured.

An appeal on the fundraising site reads: "Fanny the cat is most often found seeking and offering cuddles at Gipsy Hill station. She has brought a smile to so many faces young and old.

"Sadly, on Wednesday, July 27 Fanny was hit by a car close to the station.

"After a frantic night of worry she was found on Thursday morning. She is a fighter, but very poorly - the vet has diagnosed her with a ruptured diaphragm.

"Fanny's humans have launched a fundraiser to pay for her vet bill if the operation goes ahead. It's expected to cost a couple of thousand pounds and Fanny isn't insured."

The fundraising site was set up on Thursday afternoon, and had reached its target within just an hour.

By 7pm the page had surpassed its fundraising goal, with £2,500 in donations to help the popular cat, who even has her own Twitter account.

Organisers have said that any extra money with be donated to South Norwood Animal Rescue and Liberty (SNARL).

Tonight Fanny's owners, Alex and Amy, said she was stable, and it was hoped the surgery would go ahead tomorrow.

Amy told the Standard: "We are overwhelmed by the love and support shown by the public.

"The account was set up by one of her Twitter followers and when I saw how many people had donated I literally had tears in my eyes. Amazing.

"And I am glad that any surplus funds will go to SNARL who are a local rescue centre heading up the London Cat Killer investigation. Fingers crossed that Fanny is better soon."