Arthur the cat and his family win pets portrait contest hosted by Banbury animal rescue charity

Seven-year-old Banbury schoolboy Jesse Kurita-May is pictured with Arthur and his dad David at their Springfield Avenue home. The professional portrait photo shoot, with Jannine Paxton-Timms of JPT Photographic, was the top prize in the competition hosted by BARKS.

David, who is a garden designer at Nicholsons in North Aston, said: “I separated from Jesse's mum a couple of years ago and Arthur came to us around the same time, when his original owners left the country.

“Though he's shy with strangers, he's such a good-natured, gentle cat and he has become the ideal companion for Jesse. Such a healing comfort - having him to care for has really changed the way we live. Thank you BARKS for this chance to win a family portrait.”

The 'Pets in the Picture' contest was part of the current BARKS lockdown StayCATion Appeal, launched in March, which has raised more than £8,000 so far. With the continuing Covid risks and restrictions, it will now continue to the end of this year.

To support BARKS visit their website at www.barks.org.uk or email [email protected]

Jesse added: “Arthur's just so cute, especially when I tickle his tummy.”

Chair Ann Collins said: “We still can't get out there to fundraise in the usual way so we're inventing lots of new ideas, from a virtual raffle, raising over £500, to online craft sales and pet shows. We'll carry on coming up with new ideas till this is all over.”