Hamish McHamish

Hamish McHamish was a long-haired ginger cat who became the unofficial mascot of the ancient university town of St Andrews on the east coast of Scotland. Although he technically had an owner — a local woman named Marianne Baird, who took him in as a kitten — Hamish quickly decided that the entire town was his home. For around fifteen years he wandered freely through the streets, shops, cafés, and even the university buildings, where students, shopkeepers and tourists all knew him by name. So many people fed and fussed over him that he became one of the best-known residents of the town. His fame spread far beyond Scotland after a Facebook page and a book, "Hamish McHamish of St Andrews: Cool Cat About Town", celebrated his independent life. In 2014 the town raised funds for a permanent bronze statue of Hamish, which was unveiled while he was still alive — a rare honour for any cat. He died later that same year at around fifteen, and the statue remains a much-loved local landmark and a place where visitors still leave tributes.