A village is coming together to throw a birthday party for its most beloved resident – a cat named Wilbur.
The ginger tabby was crowned ‘King of Ruddington’ by locals who are used to seeing him stroll in and out of his favourite pubs and shops.
Wilbur even has his own Facebook and Instagram pages where fans can post about him.
Those same admirers have now banded together to throw him a party for when he turns 10 next month on July 7.
Organisers have ordered masks with Wilbur’s face on and people attending the event are being encouraged to wear feline fancy dress while cat-themed drinks are expected to be on offer.
Sarah Godfrey, who is organising the party, said: ‘Wilbur is part of our lives, as he is everyone who lives in the village.’
His original owner, Cathy Applebee, said he decided to break out by himself a few years ago when she took in two rescue kittens.
To keep away from the newcomers, the ‘bold’ and ‘friendly’ Wilbur instead spends his time visiting various shops and businesses around the village.
‘He’ll just take himself in to any shop, anywhere,’ Ms Applebee said.
‘There was one time when the doctor’s receptionist came back and he was sitting on her chair.
‘When there was a gym in the village he’d go and someone sent me a picture of him on the equipment in the gym.’
She said the decision to throw Wilbur a party ‘is lovely because it means, especially now he’s got his Facebook page, I can see what he’s up to’.
His favourite haunts include a local hairdresser, two pubs and the Nottingham Building Society.
Lesley Harper, who works in the building society, said he has been a big hit with their customers.
‘He’s been a regular visitor for most of this year,’ she added.
‘He’s a very laidback chappie, happy for customers and villagers young and older to pop in and say hello.’
She also said he is a cat of expensive tastes who ‘likes his gourmet cat food’.
Around 100 people have so far registered their interest in the event held a week after Wilbur’s big day on July 14 but Ms Godfrey says she has no idea how many will attend.
‘I think people just love how weird it is,’ she said.
‘It could be a couple of hundred – it could be 10, but I doubt it.
‘I think it will be really weird in a good way.’
The event will also raise money for local charities.
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While organisers are hopeful Wilbur will put in an appearance at a venue which is one of his two favoured pubs in the village along with the Red Lion, they will be at the mercy of an animal who marches to the beat of his own drum.
Nobody knows that better than Ms Applebee, who has had to come to terms with the new living arrangements since Wilbur left home nearly half a lifetime ago.
‘I was really sad because I love him so much,’ she said.
‘But ultimately he’s his own character and his own mind and as long as I know he’s OK, and he’s being fed.’
She added: ‘Obviously I still really care about him but a cat’s a cat. He’s always been a roamer.’
Cat Week
In honour of Catfest, we will be partnering with the festival to bring you seven days of the funniest, cutest, coolest and most amazing cat content.
Until Saturday 29 June, read stories about all things cats, including kittens abandoned on rubbish dumps to fantastic cat art, and everything in-between.
Catfest will include cat-themed literature and film plus live music, poetry and crafts. There will be rescue kittens, talks from cat experts, Instagram cats and an auction as well as cocktails, cake and much more. Tickets have sold out, but you can still get involved on social media.
Part of the proceeds from the event will benefit Erham Rescue and International Trash Cat & Dumpster Dogs to help cats and kittens as well as street animals in need.
Are you the owner of a fantastic cat? Then tweet us your cutest kitty pics @MetroUK and @MetroUK_Life for a chance to be featured!
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