Tourists flock to meet cheeky Cornwall cat who ‘acts lost and hungry for treats’

Tourists are flocking to a Cornish town to meet a cheeky cat who stole hearts by “acting lost and hungry for tummy rubs and treats”. Charlie Charles is famous for his antics in Wadebridge and started making his daily trips to the town as a kitten.

The friendly three-year-old now ‘makes the whole town smile’ by frequenting the pet shop, the Co-Op, the post office and the cinema. He can often be found supporting Wadebridge’s cricket and rugby teams – and once even appeared in the engine of a caravan.

Charlie Charles could now be crowned Cat of the Year at Cats Protection’s National Cat Awards 2024. He saw off the competition from hundreds of other entries to take his place as one of three contestants in the Connected Cats category.

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When he’s not a buffoon, Charlie Charles lives with headmistress Emma Williams, 45, and her daughters Ruby, 13, and Mary, 10. Emma said: “When he was a kitten, Charlie Charles started walking ten minutes into town every day, acting lost and hungry for tummy tucks and treats.

“Worried, people were taking him to the vet, so we set up a Facebook page to let everyone know he had a home. I was amazed when people shared pictures of his daily routine.

“First, he visits the pet store where he has his own toys, treats and a nap. Then it’s off to the Co-op and the Post Office before spending the afternoon at the Antiques Centre. In the evenings, he’s at the cinema, making himself comfortable on the laps of ticket sellers or supporting the city’s cricket and rugby teams.

“He loves trick-or-treating on Halloween and the most unusual place he’s appeared is in the engine of some tourists’ caravan. He’s so cheeky and mischievous but charming about it. He makes the whole town smile.”

Charlie Charles will now go to a public vote to find winners in four categories – Connected Cats, Family Cats, Incredible Cats and Senior Cats. Cat lovers can vote for their favorite finalist by visiting www.cats.org.uk/nca during the voting period from 17 July to 30 August.

The category winners and the overall National Cat of the Year – chosen by a panel of judges – will then be announced during a ceremony hosted by Dawn O’Porter at One Marylebone in London on 18 September.

This year’s winner will inherit the title from Zebby, who has been named National Cat of the Year 2023 to honor the support he provides to his deaf owner, Genevieve Moss, by alerting her to sounds around their home in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Cats Protection’s director of marketing and revenue generation, Catherine Cottrell, said: “City cat Charlie Charles is spreading the love, not just through Wadebridge, but with his Facebook fans around the world. What a character!”

Category winners will each win a prize pack of a trophy, a £200 pet shop voucher and a year’s subscription to Cats Protection’s The Cat magazine, with the National Cat of the Year also receiving a overall winner trophy.

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