|
'David Cameron stole my aunt's cat'
A London man claims David Cameron has "taken" his aunt's cat and has launched a Face book campaign to get him back. Larry the cat made headlines around the world when he was adopted as Number 10, Downing Street's new rat catcher. But Tim Sutcliffe says 'Larry' is really 'Jo', a stray taken in by his Auntie Margaret who was left devastated when he ran away last October. Mr. Sutcliffe has started a Facebook page to campaign for the cat's safe return to his aunt, who lives in Bremond’s, London, reports the Daily Mail. He believes the cat ended up at Battersea Cats Home after running away, before it was re-homed to Downing Street. "As she didn't technically own Jo, Battersea were well within their rights to take him, but she is really upset that he's been taken away from her and she wants him back," he said. Nearly 500 people have joined the group, with several confirming via the page they had emailed the Prime Minister demanding his return. Mr. Sutcliffe claims the cat wouldn't let anyone hold him except his aunt, showing the same character traits that saw Larry attack an ITV news team. Posting on the wall of the group, Ms Sutcliffe wrote: "I still can't believe that my Jo has ended up being taken into Downing Street. "I nearly died when I saw him in the papers. I've just found some of his cat hair on the sofa, so we can prove its Jo with a DNA test if we have to."
Women shows false leg to warden
A traffic warden issued a parking ticket to a one-legged woman in a disabled bay - despite being shown her false limb. The attendant "nearly fainted" after Sylvia Taylor, 67, rolled up her trouser leg and said: "Take a look at that", reports The Mirror. Mrs. Taylor, of Leander, Cardiff, who lost her left leg when she was 16, forgot her disabled permit when she parked at a shopping centre. She returned to the car to find the warden had just stuck a £70 ticket on her windscreen. She said: "I explained but I thought he didn't believe me. So I rolled up my trouser leg to show him my false limb - there was no arguing with that. "He wouldn't cancel it but told us to write to head office to explain." Car park bosses initially told her she must pay up but later cancelled the fine after she wrote an appeal. Mrs Taylor, of Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, had been shopping in the city with daughter Lynne Solly, 40, who said: "When my mum exposed her amputated leg, I thought he was going to throw up - he looked absolutely horrified." An ECP spokeswoman said the ticket had since been cancelled but warned: "If you forget badge, alternative parking should be sought."
A pet cat is believed to have the loudest purr in the world - as loud as a lawnmower.
Most cats purr at around 25 decibels but 12-year-old Smokey's powerful purrs average an amazing 80 decibels. When measured close-up her purrs reach an incredible 92 decibels, equivalent to the noise of a lawnmower, hair dryer or a Boeing 737 coming into land. Owners Ruth and Mark Adams say Smokey's deafening purrs make it impossible for them to hear the television or radio when she is in the room and they struggle to have telephone conversations. "She has always been very vocal and purrs at some level nearly all the time," said Ruth, from Pittsford, Northampton. "She even manages to purr while she eats. The only time she is quiet is when she is asleep. When I'm on the phone friends often ask what the loud noise is and they can't believe it is coming from a cat." Ruth and Mark adopted Smokey from rescue centre NANNA in Northants three years ago for her 10-year-old daughter Amy. Diana Johnson, of Northampton Cats Protection, who has met Smokey, said: "I have never heard anything like her purr in my life. It can drown out your conversation." The family has now submitted an application to Guinness World Records. A spokesman for Guinness World Records said: "The Guinness World Record for the loudest scream by a human is 129dB. If Smokey the cat is able to purr at over 80dB it would be an astonishing feat."
|