A schoolgirl was left ‘feline’ shocked after chomping through the ‘weird-tasting’ advent calendar bought by her mum – only to discover the chocolates were in fact CATNIP.
Alissa Evans, nine, had complained that her £1.99 advent calendar chocolates looked and tasted funny but full-time mum Jess Evans assumed she was being picky.
After enduring four days’ worth of the green-tinged treats from the Garfield calendar, disgusted Alissa told 26-year-old Jess she didn’t like them and refused to eat any more.
The mum-of-three was horrified when she turned the Christmas countdown over only to discover the ‘apple flavoured chocolates’ were in fact yoghurt and catnip delicacies – for cats.
Jess, from Oswestry, Shropshire, said: “I was in shock and felt like the worst mother ever when I realised I’d bought her a calendar for cats.
“Alissa had said they looked a bit green but I thought they were probably just apple-flavoured ones and didn’t think anything of it.
“She said they tasted a bit strange, but hadn’t said they were horrible, so I just forgot about it.
“Alissa hadn’t been eating them for a few days and when I asked why she brought the box over to me.
“I remember thinking they did look a funny shade of green and didn’t have a chocolate-y smell.
“When I turned the calendar over and read that it was yoghurt and catnip flavour I couldn’t believe it – and that it had taken 11 days for us to notice.”
Jess had picked the advent calender up while out shopping with Alissa and her younger sisters Alexis Davies-Evans, three, and 11-month-old Aurora Davies-Evans in the Oswestry branch of B&M.
Assuming that the advent calendars on display were all for children she quickly scanned the shelves, picked up the Garfield one and added it to the trolley after getting Alissa’s nod of approval.
Jess said: “I’d got the younger girls a Peppa Pig and a My Little Pony advent calendar but Alissa, being older, wanted a different one.
“I was rushing around at the last minute with all three of them Christmas shopping and went into B&M where all the advent calendars were and picked it up without reading it.
“When she opened it and had the first one she mentioned it tasted a bit strange but I just thought she was being picky.
“On the 11th of December I was opening the younger girls’ calendars but Alissa said she didn’t want hers and had stopped eating them
“When I looked at the box I couldn’t believe it. I have a degree in English literature and creative writing but still couldn’t read a calendar and it had taken me 11 days to realise.
“Once she got over the shock she found the funny side of it. Thankfully she’s absolutely fine and I’ve checked online that she will be okay.
“I’m going to give the calendar to my friend for her cat.”
Jess has vowed to get another advent calendar for Alissa and will bring 27-year-old lawn specialist fiancé Sean Davies along to ensure she snaps up a chocolate one.
Jess said: “I’ll definitely be getting Sean to come with me to get one, it definitely has to be a really good one, otherwise knowing my luck I’ll end up buying one for dogs this time.”