Bicester's much-loved Wickes cat has been killed in car park

Tributes have been paid to Steve, a 14-year-old tabby-like cat who spent his time at Wickes in Bicester.

Steve the Wickes cat (Image: Contributed)

A Facebook page set up for Steve, with 2,200 followers, posted: “Thank you for all the love you have shown him over his years as a Bicester character. RIP.”

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The Harrison family who owned Steve has set-up a fundraiser for a memorial plaque with any extra money raised going to the RSPCA.

Speaking to the BBC, owner Jay Harrison said: “Steve was a stray from a little town in southern Ireland, who kept following me home when I lived there.

"He was only a kitten and didn't have an owner so we took him in.

"In 2011 we moved to England, and after we got another cat Steve just stopped coming home.

Steve the Wickes cat (Image: Contributed)"We found out that he had been spending his time at Wickes in Bicester and he basically lived there since 2015."

Mr Harrison added that Steve "found his home in Wickes" and the staff there gave the cat a hi-visibility jacket and his own seat in the staff room.

Steve has died (Image: Contributed)Speaking to the BBC, Sarah Harrison said people have been leaving tributes to Steve on social media.

She said: "He was a cat for the community.

"We are devastated as a family but the joy and love he has given to people is a comfort.”

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1