Wilson the cat becomes new teacher’s pet – and even gets his own class photo
The newest addition to the school roll at Rosehearty Primary in Aberdeenshire leaves hair everywhere, never answers questions and won’t stop licking himself in class.
But despite all that, he’s beloved by staff and fellow pupils alike at the school on the north-east coast of Scotland.
Wilson is a two-year-old tabby cat, and he’s so popular he even got his own class photo.
He was adopted by the local Innes family in May 2021, and began charming the local community on his adventures outside the home not long afterwards.
Julie Innes, 39, told the Aberdeen Press and Journal: ‘I’ve had to pick him up from the Brownies at the local church, I had to pick him up from the the local bar, the Davron, and got him from the butcher.’
Wilson’s wanderings started when he was six months old, when he would start following other Rosehearty residents around the village.
He ‘just loves people’ and has a ‘great personality’, Julie said – but it’s his bond with her kids Hannah, 11, and Joel, nine, that’s really special.
One day, Wilson started joining the two children at their school, even climbing into a classroom after he was put out by members of staff.
According to Julie, he’s probably been in every class in the school at this point, even trying out PE one time.
She and her husband Paul, 44, have become used to messages from Rosehearty Primary saying: ‘Can you come and collect Wilson from reception?’
And when the curious cat happened to pay a visit on the recent school photo day, staff knew exactly what they were going to do.
Head teacher Mike Taylor allowed Wilson to wear his tie for an appropriately professional look, and the photographer snapped a shot in honour of the cat’s contribution to school life.
Julie confirmed she’d ordered several of Wilson’s pictures – plus a few of Hannah and Joel.
Last September, a four-year-old cat named Ziggy also managed to get pictures taken during his local school’s photo day.
Like Wilson, he regularly travelled with his owner Emma Roberts’ kids Megan and Chloe to their school in Drury, in Flintshire, north-east Wales.
Head teacher Mark Biltcliffe said: ‘He thinks he’s a pupil, so it’s fitting he’s had his own photo. I think it’ll be put up on the staff noticeboard.’
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