You can normally find him asleep in his basket under the vaulted splendour of his home, or washing his whiskers in the altar font. From time to time he will strut haughtily past a congregation at prayer, patrolling his territory on the lookout for mice. Louis the cat is so popular with folk at Wells Cathedral – home to the Bishop of Bath and Wells – that he has become the feline hero of a children's book, and even has his own merchandise stall in the cathedral shop. Louis the cat is often found sleeping by his favourite radiator in Wells cathedral in Somerset . Louis, the 17-year-old Wells cathedral cat, sits in his basket at the gift shop - but local owners have accused him of turning nasty and attacking dogs 'like a wild lion' The popular cat has been linked to at least three dogfights recently and locals fear there could be more . But yesterday the 17-year-old ginger tom's money-spinning empire was in danger of crumbling after he was accused of turning nasty – and attacking dogs 'like a wild lion'. He has been linked to at least three fights with dogs in recent weeks and locals fear there could be more. As news of the scandal spread, however, a 'Fans of Louis' group sprang to the moggy's defence. And cathedral staff suggested he could be a victim of mistaken identity, quickly issuing a statement which claimed there were 'at least two other ginger cats in the area who also enjoy strolling through the streets of Wells'. Louis became a regular sight at the cathedral after it adopted him as a stray ten years ago. His principal role was to rid the 12th century building of mice. Such was the esteem in which the rather solitary cat was held, the cathedral generated a regular fund-raising trade in Louis fridge magnets, pencils, mugs and other Louis-related trinkets, including an £8.99 paperweight and a £5.99 candle-snuffer. He would later star in a YouTube video narrated affectionately by the head verger. Louis is so popular in Wells that he has become the subject of a children's book, Louis the Cathedral Cat . But out there on the mean streets, it is alleged, he became a dangerous, feral beast. 'He pounced like a wild lion in the jungle on to my dog Millie's head,' said Mandie Stone-Outten, describing his alleged attack on her springer spaniel outside the Present Company gift shop in the nearby Market Place. 'We were just looking in the window of the shop and the cat was sitting outside. He walked towards us. He was staring at the dog, the dog was staring at the cat. 'Then suddenly, so quickly, it was attacking my dog's head. He turned into a cat about four times the size and he was waving his arms around. 'I tried to pull the lead back, but I went flying back and fell off the pavement into the gully. It had been raining and I was covered in mud. It hurt all down my right side, it was so painful. 'A couple of people told me it was Louis the cathedral cat and that he was semi-feral and he did sometimes go a bit crazy.' The 48-year-old, from Shepton Mallet, Somerset, added: 'I went back with my son and his girlfriend a couple of days later. We went into the cathedral and I saw the cat asleep in a basket sitting behind the till. 'We started stroking it and it was just like a little teddy bear. I couldn't believe that it was the same cat. 'That cat has serious issues. Be aware – this ball of fluff is not as cute and cuddly as he looks.' Louis quickly became a regular sight at the cathedral after it adopted him as a stray ten years ago . The Cathedral staff believe he is a victim of mistaken identity and is being unjustly persecuted . Debbie Sheppard, who works in the Present Company shop, overheard the commotion. 'The next thing I heard was this hissing,' she said. 'When I looked outside, Louis was walking up the street looking very subdued.' But she added: 'He's a very sweet cat and I certainly don't think he's suddenly turned nasty.' Attack number two also put Louis in the frame. Zoe Heath described how her brother's dog was set upon by a big ginger cat at the cathedral's magnificent west front, part of Louis's regular domain. 'His dog nearly lost an eye,' she said. 'We all assumed it was Louis.' The cathedral cat can regularly be spotted snoozing next to the radiator in Wells cathedral, Somerset . Attack number three is said to have been witnessed by town crier Len Sweales, although details remain inconclusive. Zoe said: 'He told me that Louis has a lookalike and he thinks it was the other ginger who would have launched the attack.' So does Louis have a Jekyll and Hyde personality? Or are there truly doppelganger moggies prowling the streets? Supporters said the cat had never shown any aggressive tendencies and was 'sweet natured if somewhat aloof'. One 'Fans of Louis' member, who has known the cat for five years, wrote of the attack allegations: 'For an old guy who spends most of his day sound asleep in a basket in the cathedral shop, it must have taken an event of magnitude to have caused such a reaction. Be honoured – we may not see such an event again in our lifetime.' The 17-year-old can normally be found fast asleep in a basket in the gift shop at Wells cathedral .
Louis the cat likes to sleep in a basket in the Wells cathedral gift shop .
Become so popular is subject of children's book, Louis the Cathedral Cat .
But local dog owners say he has become feral and attacking their pets .
Say he has set on them 'like a wild lion' in three incidents reported so far .
You can normally find him asleep in his basket under the vaulted splendour of his home, or washing his whiskers in the altar font. From time to time he will strut haughtily past a congregation at prayer, patrolling his territory on the lookout for mice. Louis the cat is so popular with folk at Wells Cathedral – home to the Bishop of Bath and Wells – that he has become the feline hero of a children's book, and even has his own merchandise stall in the cathedral shop. Louis the cat is often found sleeping by his favourite radiator in Wells cathedral in Somerset . Louis, the 17-year-old Wells cathedral cat, sits in his basket at the gift shop - but local owners have accused him of turning nasty and attacking dogs 'like a wild lion' The popular cat has been linked to at least three dogfights recently and locals fear there could be more . But yesterday the 17-year-old ginger tom's money-spinning empire was in danger of crumbling after he was accused of turning nasty – and attacking dogs 'like a wild lion'. He has been linked to at least three fights with dogs in recent weeks and locals fear there could be more. As news of the scandal spread, however, a 'Fans of Louis' group sprang to the moggy's defence. And cathedral staff suggested he could be a victim of mistaken identity, quickly issuing a statement which claimed there were 'at least two other ginger cats in the area who also enjoy strolling through the streets of Wells'. Louis became a regular sight at the cathedral after it adopted him as a stray ten years ago. His principal role was to rid the 12th century building of mice. Such was the esteem in which the rather solitary cat was held, the cathedral generated a regular fund-raising trade in Louis fridge magnets, pencils, mugs and other Louis-related trinkets, including an £8.99 paperweight and a £5.99 candle-snuffer. He would later star in a YouTube video narrated affectionately by the head verger. Louis is so popular in Wells that he has become the subject of a children's book, Louis the Cathedral Cat . But out there on the mean streets, it is alleged, he became a dangerous, feral beast. 'He pounced like a wild lion in the jungle on to my dog Millie's head,' said Mandie Stone-Outten, describing his alleged attack on her springer spaniel outside the Present Company gift shop in the nearby Market Place. 'We were just looking in the window of the shop and the cat was sitting outside. He walked towards us. He was staring at the dog, the dog was staring at the cat. 'Then suddenly, so quickly, it was attacking my dog's head. He turned into a cat about four times the size and he was waving his arms around. 'I tried to pull the lead back, but I went flying back and fell off the pavement into the gully. It had been raining and I was covered in mud. It hurt all down my right side, it was so painful. 'A couple of people told me it was Louis the cathedral cat and that he was semi-feral and he did sometimes go a bit crazy.' The 48-year-old, from Shepton Mallet, Somerset, added: 'I went back with my son and his girlfriend a couple of days later. We went into the cathedral and I saw the cat asleep in a basket sitting behind the till. 'We started stroking it and it was just like a little teddy bear. I couldn't believe that it was the same cat. 'That cat has serious issues. Be aware – this ball of fluff is not as cute and cuddly as he looks.' Louis quickly became a regular sight at the cathedral after it adopted him as a stray ten years ago . The Cathedral staff believe he is a victim of mistaken identity and is being unjustly persecuted . Debbie Sheppard, who works in the Present Company shop, overheard the commotion. 'The next thing I heard was this hissing,' she said. 'When I looked outside, Louis was walking up the street looking very subdued.' But she added: 'He's a very sweet cat and I certainly don't think he's suddenly turned nasty.' Attack number two also put Louis in the frame. Zoe Heath described how her brother's dog was set upon by a big ginger cat at the cathedral's magnificent west front, part of Louis's regular domain. 'His dog nearly lost an eye,' she said. 'We all assumed it was Louis.' The cathedral cat can regularly be spotted snoozing next to the radiator in Wells cathedral, Somerset . Attack number three is said to have been witnessed by town crier Len Sweales, although details remain inconclusive. Zoe said: 'He told me that Louis has a lookalike and he thinks it was the other ginger who would have launched the attack.' So does Louis have a Jekyll and Hyde personality? Or are there truly doppelganger moggies prowling the streets? Supporters said the cat had never shown any aggressive tendencies and was 'sweet natured if somewhat aloof'. One 'Fans of Louis' member, who has known the cat for five years, wrote of the attack allegations: 'For an old guy who spends most of his day sound asleep in a basket in the cathedral shop, it must have taken an event of magnitude to have caused such a reaction. Be honoured – we may not see such an event again in our lifetime.' The 17-year-old can normally be found fast asleep in a basket in the gift shop at Wells cathedral .
on the lookout for mice. Louis the cat is so and attacking dogs 'like a wild lion' The popular popular in Wells that he has become the subject of a children's book, Louis the Cathedral Cat . like a wild lion in the jungle on to my dog found fast asleep in a basket in the gift shop at Wells cathedral .