‘Naughty’ but ‘really cute’ Nelly wins Advertiser’s Top Pet competition

A ‘naughty’ but ‘really cute’ tabby cat who turns three in December has won the Advertiser’s Top Pet competition.

Cox Green resident Jo Welch’s cat Nelly left her competitors, including Jo’s brother Steve’s three dogs Lola, Teddy and Evie, behind as she topped the votes to claim victory in the contest.

Jo acquired Nelly as a kitten in February 2023, following the death of her cat Milly, a British Blue who also featured in the competition previously.

This year was Nelly’s first time competing in the competition.

Jo said: “I just think she’s the best and she was in with a good chance, and I thought why not [enter]?

“It’s a bit of fun as well. We had a bit of sibling rivalry because my brother entered his three dogs in the same picture. But he was really pleased for me.”

Jo revealed that while Nelly can be a ‘dream’ she does harbour a naughty side.

She said: “She was very tiny, as all kittens are when we got her, but she is quite a big cat.

“She’s been a bit of a minx, I have to say. We did have about two years of her literally having to be in her own room, because she’s that naughty at night.

“But now she’s a dream – apart from digging up my tomato plants.

“She is a bit naughty, but I just think she’s really cute with it.

“I just let her get away with stuff really.”

The 51-year-old said she was ‘surprised’ when she heard of Nelly’s victory, thinking that she would not win over a dog entry.

“It’s great. I’m very, very, very surprised, only because she’s in with dogs and usually they get the vote from people.

“I don’t know if it was because of the picture as well, because she’s literally hanging underneath my bed.

“She was literally hanging to say ‘oh my god, you’ve caught me out’, so I don’t know if that was part of the reason as well, why people voted.”

For her prize, Nelly was treated to a photoshoot and Waitrose in Maidenhead has also given Jo the chance to visit and choose £100 worth of pet products for Nelly.