Alik, the pet cat of Law of Justice (PiS) leader Jarosław Kaczyński, has died following a long fight with kidney problems. He was 12 years of age.

The cat was often referred to in the media as “the most famous cat in Poland,” due to its association with the former prime minister.

It had been under specialist care at a veterinary surgery, following complicated surgery in July this year. But despite Mr Kaczyński's busy schedule, both prior to and after the recent parliamentary elections, Polish tabloid Fakt reported that the PiS leader visited the cat every day.

Prior to Alik's death, Mr Kaczyński spoke of a typical evening in his household.

“When I come home at night, Alik hangs on to me and so I go with him, hanging from my leg, or sit at my desk when I work, until I go to bed,” Fakt quoted Mr Kaczyński as saying.

Alik was named after Aleksander, the grandfather of Mr Kaczyński.