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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Wesley Holmes

'Quite extraordinary' station cat Paul Newman once had 'so inappropriate' name

The owner of station cat Paul Newman said the "strong-willing" Bengal "brought happiness" to countless travellers.

'Paul Newman', who became the unofficial mascot of Liverpool South Parkway station after settling there 14 years ago, died on Saturday, January 21, aged 15.

His owner Steff Hudson, 65, who lives in Allerton said: "He brightened people's day. He was always very affectionate with people. He hated dogs, and there are quite a few stories of how, if he saw a dog, he'd stand up and make sure they left the station because it was his territory.

READ MORE: Station cat who brought happiness to thousands dies as tributes flood in

"He made people happy. There have been so many comments from people saying they'd go to work feeling down and he would lift their spirits. I think he did help people a lot. There were a lot of children who loved him and were excited to see him. He was quite extraordinary.

"He would quite happily come and sit on people's knees and and sit on their bags while they were waiting to go on the train."

Paul, a pedigree Bengal with a distinctive leopard-print coat, was adopted by Steff 14 years ago after taking a powerful disliking to his previous owner's husband. Formerly named Scooter, Steff renamed him after the Hollywood heart-throb who starred in classics such as The Hustler, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, The Sting, and Slap Shot.

She said: "All my cats have been called after film stars. He wasn't originally called that - he was called Scooter, which seemed so inappropriate. He was so handsome it didn't seem right, and because he was so handsome Paul Newman seemed like the perfect name. Even well into old age he [the actor] remained handsome, and it was the same for my Paul.

"He was very strong-willed and very affectionate, but he didn't like other cats. He was always a strong character. Obviously I kept him in for a while to make sure he knew his home, but once he was let out I'd get calls from people saying 'there's a cat in my car and he won't come out!' and I'd have to go and pick him up.

"About six months after I got him he found South Parkway and he just loved it. It went on for about a month, with me having to go and pick him up every few days, and in the end they just said it was fine, people seemed to like him and he wasn't causing any trouble. So we kind of felt like it was his job, and he would greet people there every day.

"He actually gained the title of Head of Customer Relations from Merseyrail! He was their best advert. When Lime Street Station was closed because they were having a refurbishment and South Parkway became the main hub, he was an amazing draw."

More than 500 messages of condelence to Paul have been posted on the Paul The Liverpool South Parkway Station Cat Facebook page, with some fans calling for a statue or plaque to be put up in his memory, along with a cat food donation point for a local rescue.

Steff said: "The outpouring of love for Paul has been amazing. There have been so many wonderful posts online, and people speaking to me and messaging me. He made so many people happy, and brought a lot of happiness to people with the way he was."

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