This ‘celebrity cat’ in Netherfield ‘tricks’ shoppers to buy her more food

It is now official that cats are our masters. Don’t believe it? Meet Minnie, a ‘celebrity cat’ who hangs around in a Co-op store and 'tricks' customers into buying her food. According to the owners of Minnie, the feline has her way when it comes to giving in to her demands so much that she is said to turn ‘vile" when her owners try to keep her at home. Over the course, Minnie has had accumulated a lot of fans who visit the store from afar just to have a look at the celebrity cat of Netherfield. Minnie's home is about a one-minute walk from the shop, which she has been visiting for about a year. Ms Blower, the owner used to bring Minnie home "about eight times a day" but has now given up. "I go and check her two or three times a day but there's no point bringing her home because she scratches someone or bites someone and goes out the door again," Ms Blower said.

She hopes Minnie the taby will be deterred from visiting the shop if people stop feeding her. Staff has even made a bed outside the entrance to stop Minnie sneaking into the store itself.

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Store supervisor Jenny Winfield said "loads" of people only visit the shop to see Minnie. "She just loves the attention," she said.

"We get customers coming to the counter and saying 'Can you give this to the cat?' and we say 'No'."

Caroline James, who lives in Netherfield, started shopping there regularly so she can see Minnie, who has become "a local celebrity".

What a great day I have had delivering leaflets In Netherfield today. I even had time to stroke and fuss the Netherfield CO-OP cat. Finished the day meeting Syrian Refugees who have been displaced by war. We must try to help people who have been displaced by war. pic.twitter.com/HdyEKixwrj

— John Clarke (@GedlingLeader) September 25, 2018

"She's so beautiful," said Ms James, who has four cats herself and is known as Tiggs due to her love of felines.

"I go more or less every day. If I need something I will go to the Co-op so I can see Minnie.

"I said to them 'Have your takings gone up?' and they said yes, especially on cat food because everyone is buying her bits."

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She said Minnie knows how to use the nearby zebra crossing and followed her across it into the post office.

"I think she's more intelligent than we give her credit for," said Ms James.