Anna Davis Image of a ginger and white cat, lying down on a wooden floor and looking up at the camera. — Known as the Fonz of Frome, the popular cat has inspired a children’s picture book

The owner of a “very sociable” cat whose trips to shops and pubs have made him an online star, says he “cries like a baby” if he is kept inside.

Anna Davis, from Frome in Somerset, said Frodo, 13, is so popular the ginger cat features in a kids’ book, has his own charity Christmas card, and has been voted Frome’s “purr-son of the year”.

Described as the “Fonz of Frome”, Ms Davis said thanks to all the pictures posted on social media, she always knows where he is.

She said: “The Blue Cross [shop] is his favourite. He’s there like clockwork, every morning. And when the clocks went back, he was most put out because he arrived there an hour early.”

During his trips out, he likes to visit cinemas and shops. And in the evening, he is often photographed completing a pub crawl around the town centre.

There are also calls for him to be included in a mural at the Westway Precinct where he visits daily.

Ms Davis says if she bumps into her “celeb” cat in town he just ignores her

Anna Davis Image of a woman with short dark hair holding a ginger and white cat. She is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a black jumper and a black and white scarf and has two stud earrings. — Ms Davis says if she bumps into her “celeb” cat in town he just ignores her

Ms Davis said she is not sure when her cat started to attract such a big following, but it was probably during the pandemic “that it really kicked off”.

“We used to live in Trowbridge and during lockdown, he found Tesco,” she said.

“He used to go there every day, and everybody knew him as the Tesco cat.

“Then when we moved to Frome, I thought he was going to be quite upset about not being able to go to Tesco but I had no idea he would end up being even more famous in Frome,” she added.

Despite trying to keep her “highly sociable” cat inside for the first few weeks after moving, she said he became “so distraught” at “missing out on his social life” that she had to let him out.

“His first port of call was Greggs, after that it was Coffee One, the Cordero Lounge, Westway Cinema you name it,” she said.

“He also goes to the Cheese and Grain, but mainly when there is a famous band playing. I think it was the Pretenders, he had to be kicked out of that gig.

“And if I bump into him [in town] he just ignores me. So yeah, he’s a law unto himself really.”

Along with a large following on social media, Frodo also features on his own charity Christmas cards

Wendy Robinson Painting of a ginger and white cat sitting outside a shop door. In the background can be seen a shop window with a mannequin in the window wearing a red and white Christmas dress along with two Christmas trees and a shelf of china and ornaments. — Along with a large following on social media, Frodo also features on his own charity Christmas cards

But Ms Davis said owning a “celeb” cat that takes off “socialising” for weeks at a time can be “worrying”.

“He just does not like to be shut in,” she said.

“And if I go and get him and bring him home, he’ll probably just have something to eat and then go straight back out again.

“But everybody knows him and I know he’s alright, because I see pictures of him on social media.”

Despite only being able to follow her cat’s exploits on Facebook, Ms Davis said she is still a “very proud owner”.

“It’s lovely that he brings so much joy to so many people – that is really lovely,” she said.

“So it’s kind of one of those things that I’ve just come to terms with, the fact that he’s 13, this is what he loves to do, and, you know, he does come home eventually.”

Frodo the cat has become a local celebrity in Frome’s town centre but his favourite hang out is the Blue Cross charity shop

Richard Chisnall Image of a ginger and white cat sitting with their back to the camera outside a shop door. Beside the cat is a cardboard box. In the background can be seen a shop window with two mannequins in the window along with a collection of shoes, toys, pictures, china and candles. — Frodo the cat has become a local celebrity in Frome’s town centre but his favourite hang out is the Blue Cross charity shop

Helen Mcculloch, manager of Frodo’s favourite shop the Blue Cross, said “everyone who comes in asks where Frodo is”.

“He waits outside the shop every morning and follows me all the way to Greggs to get a coffee and back and then sits on my office chair or the counter for hours,” she said.

“He’s very popular and very calming. Several of our volunteers are neurodivergent and he can sense that and bonds with all of them, he’s just lovely.”

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