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Mystery cat takes regular bus to the shops
Last updated at 17:22pm on 09.04.07Bus drivers have nicknamed a white cat Macavity after it has started using the No 331 several mornings a week.
The feline, which has a purple collar, gets onto the busy Walsall to Wolverhampton bus at the same stop most mornings - he then jumps off at the next stop 400m down the road, near a fish and chip shop.
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The cat, nicknamed Macavity, has one blue eye and one green eye
The cat was nicknamed Macavity after the mystery cat in T.S Elliot's poem. He gets on the bus in front of a row of 1950s semi-detached houses and jumps off at a row of shops down the road which include a fish and chip shop.
Driver Bill Khunkhun, 49, who first saw the cat jumping from the bus in January, said: "It is really odd, the first time I saw the cat jumping off the bus with a group of passengers. I hadn't seen it get on which was a bit confusing.
"The next day I pulled up on Churchill Road to let a couple of passengers on. As soon as I opened the doors the cat ran towards the bus, jumped on and ran under one of the seats, I don't think any of the passengers noticed.
"Because I had seen it jump off the day before I carried on driving and sure enough when I stopped just down the road he jumped off - I don't know why he would catch the bus but he seems to like it. I told some of the other drivers on this route and they have seen him too."
Since January, when the cat first caught the bus he has done it two or three times a week and always gets on and off at the same stops.
Passenger, Paul Brennan, 19, who catches the 331 to work, said: "I first noticed the cat a few weeks ago. At first I thought it had been accompanied by its owner but after the first stop it became quite clear he was on his own.
"He sat at the front of the bus, waited patiently for the next stop and then got off. It was was quite strange at first but now it just seems normal. I suppose he is the perfect passenger really - he sits quietly, minds his own business and then gets off."
Reader views (20)
The cat wouldn't have lasted a day in the DC traffic. Hope he has a good owner.
- .S. Cole, Manassas, VA
He's not a "Van cat", he's a Bus cat!
(Thank you, thank you, I'm here all week folks)
- Pete, UK
Does he get the bus back home too?
- Lauren, England
Macavity looks, and acts, like a cat in a Myazaki movie.
- Jl, WA, USA
Any truth to the rumor he's visiting the pubs on the weekends too? I hope he's not working so hard that he can't enjoy himself from time to time, tomcatting around town.
- Matt Sinclair, USA
Extraordinary... quite a beautiful cat too.
- Craig Felsmann, Brisbane, Australia.
Macavity seems to be a precious Turkish 'Van' cat. They are white cats with either two blue or green eyes, or one blue, one green. They are from the eastern city, Van and known to swim in the Van Lake.
My neighbors' cat, Duman, used to take the elevator with me in the mornings down to the entrance of the building to go outside. And coming back home after work, he took the elevator with me up to the 11th floor and made me ring the bell for the owners to open the door to let him in.
Nice accompany for the bus passengers.
- Sibel Ozeren, Birmingham, UK
Yup. He's certainly precious. I have one too. One blue eye and one green eye. Name him "Kacak" which stands for handsome in Malay but never thought that he is possibly deaf.
- Eyenull, Kuala Lumpur
What a cute and beautiful cat! He reminds me of my own cat which was like Garfield.
- Lily, Beijing China
This cat is awesome! If I was on the bus everyday, I would begin bringing cat treats.
- Ana Marie, USA
I will never cease to be amazed by the love, intelligence and cunning displayed by our feline friends! Brighten the commuters days. Carry on Macavity!
- John, British Columbia, Canada
Maybe its because the commuters on the bus are packed in like sardines?
- A Ridyard, London
We are cat lovers. This precious cat which has one blue eye and one green one - is possibly deaf. Most white cats with the blue and green eyes are. Please, folks, take care of him. How precious he is.
- Eve And Ken White, Tennessee USA
Why should a cat take the fee-line to get fish and chips?
- Jason M, Toronto, Canada
No smarter than the pigeon I've seen take the tube from High Street Kensington to Earls Court!
- Nigel, London
He's obviously read the special claws concerning cats in the travel terms and conditions.
- Ivor, Harrow, UK
In light of recent over-reactions by police, it wouldn't surprise me if this cat gets arrested for fare-dodging.
- Richard, Madrid, Spain
I think he should continue to ride for free. He does not take a seat. He is one smart Kitty.
- Linda Farley, USA
Cats travel free in Canada, otherwise charging a fare would put them in the paw house.
- Tony, Toronto, Canada
I saw this cat on the 331 about a week ago, couldn't beleve it. It just jumped off at the stop like it says here. I told my boyfriend but he didn't beleive me, I will show his this.
I think the bus company should charge it a fare.
- Claire Weaver, Walsall
