Dexter: ‘Windsor’s favourite cat’ memorial fundraiser soars over £16k

Calls have been made to get a popular Windsor cat his own statue as a fundraiser set up in his memory has topped more than £16,000 in donations.

Twelve-year-old Dexter, a Persian Bengal cross, passed away after a car accident last week. He had previously been diagnosed with a life-limiting heart condition.

Dexter’s internet ‘pawprint’ spans thousands of social media followers, with his fans often posting pictures of the whiskered Windsor resident on his frequent journey's around town.

In a social media post, Dexter’s owner Kirsty Jarvis said she had been ‘blown away by the kind messages, memories and stories from people who crossed paths with him’.

She added: “He just lived his life, you were invited along the journey and he became a part of Windsor and all our lives.

“But after hearing how many people want a lasting tribute, I’d love to try and make it happen.”

Ms Jarvis said she had not expected the number of his fans who wanted a statue for him following his passing, and said: “I’d love to create something lasting in his memory.”

A GoFundMe page set up by Ms Jarvis, and entitled ‘Remembering Dexter Windsor – Windsor’s Favourite Cat’, has received £16,300 at the time of publication.

Money raised would be put towards a ‘life-size outdoor statue’, an urn, as well as charity causes, Ms Jarvis said in the post.

She added the statue would be, ‘a proper tribute to a cat who left a surprisingly big pawprint on this town’.

Dexter’s rise to fame began when Ms Jarvis created social media accounts for him, encouraging his spotters to post pictures of him wandering around the town.

Recently, he was given a GPS collar after his diagnosis of HCM [hypertrophic cardiomyopathy] so his roaming around Windsor – and sometimes beyond – could be tracked for his safety.

His wanderings have taken him as far away as the Greenford Royal Mail sorting station in London, as well as trips closer to home – hopping aboard River Thames cruises and ‘gate crashing' weddings.

Dexter now has his own Windsor Top Trump card and his own playable piece on the Windsor-themed Monopoly game.

Asked why she thought Dexter had proved so popular, Ms Jarvis previously told the Advertiser: “On the face of things, he just has a lovely temperament.

"But I think [it’s also] just the confidence he has, to sort of wander around Windsor like it’s his own - like he’s the Mayor.

“He’s not usually shy about visiting new places, exploring or saying hello to people.

"And I guess, as well, he is very handsome.”

In the fundraising post, Ms Jarvis said: “If Dexter ever made you smile, made your day, or gave you a moment of unexpected joy on the streets of Windsor, I’d be so grateful for anything you can contribute to help bring this tribute to life.”

To view the fundraiser, visit its website.