Villagers in Wolvercote say they are saddened by the disappearance of a popular pub cat.

For many years black and white moggie Jack was a popular friend to drinkers at Jacobs Inn, which has now been renamed The Wolvercote.

But according to one villager Claire Martin, a relief manager at the pub became concerned about hygiene and gave Jack to a customer who then took him away.

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Ms Martin said the cat has an owner living in the area and is hoping it will one day return.

Jacobs Inn closed in June last year after 10 years of trading and has since been renamed The Wolvercote.

(Image: Claire Martin) Two pygmy goats named after comedians Morecambe and Wise were based at Jacobs Inn and they have been rehomed.

Ms Martin said nobody was more sad to see the Jacobs Inn staff go than 'Jack The Cat' – the local community cat who spent most days at the pub and was one of their regulars, having lived in the village all his life.

Ms Martin added: "During the 10 years of Jacob’s Inn heyday Jack The Cat was welcomed into the pub by landlords Johnny Pugsley and Damion Farah.

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"Jack wandered the pub gardens checking on the goats and that all was well with the chickens and pigs.

"He very quickly became a favourite with both staff and customers alike, with his handsome good looks and calm, kind nature.

"Indeed, many people visited the pub just to sit with Jack and take photos – very much a therapy cat in the truest sense of the word."

(Image: Claire Martin) She added: "Everyone in the village knows Jack and amongst the villagers there has never been a bad word uttered about him. He is the sunshine on a cloudy day.

"The pub became The Wolvercote and Jack seemed content, just like Larry the Cat in Downing Street. And all was well.

"Sadly, the new tenants moved on and a relief manager looking after the pub, stated that Jack for hygiene reasons was not welcome.

"Thinking him to be a stray, the relief manager gave Jack on July 1 to an elderly man visiting the pub."

Ms Martin said Jack is chipped and has an owner, and added that posters have been placed in the pubs, the local shop and noticeboards all asking the same question 'Where is Jack?'.

(Image: Claire Martin) She said: "It’s now more than three weeks after the disappearance of Jack and there seems no word from either the relief manager or the brewery with a description of the man who took Jack.

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"Details from another source say that the man is 6ft, is in his 80s with a quietly spoken voice, wears a leather jacket and drives an older black four-door car. He is believed to live on a farm in Eynsham and has other cats."

Two days after Jack was apparently taken to Eynsham a message appeared on Chiltern Cats Protection Facebook page.

It said: "Missing: Have you seen Jack, a black and white cat missing from Wolvercote? He is a community cat and very much missed. Microchipped.

"Although out of our area, there is concern that he could have gone some distance in a vehicle so could be anywhere. Please let us know of any sightings (PM or email welfare@chiltern.cats.co.uk)."

Staff at the pub have not yet commented.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.