Susie the cat Facebook group creator Sophie Davis' story

A few months ago no-one had heard of an adventure-loving tabby owned by a family who live close to the centre of a small market town.

But Susie the cat's unusual presence in the county town's main shopping streets resulted in her befriending shopkeepers and their customers - and becoming a town talking point, leading to the creation of a Facebook group.

The group has become so popular it has brought together cat lovers from across the globe and throughout Dorset - with social events planned to bring people together in person. 

People now track Susie's whereabouts, plan their trips to Dorchester accordingly, and buy sell-out postcards featuring the meandering moggy, who has become a mascot by going as she pleases in and out of shops down South Street and Trinity Street.

Her ownership even had to change hands at the turn of the year to Jenny Graves after Jenny's parents moved to Hastings, with Susie's fans wanting her stay after fears that she would move. 

The charismatic cat was even presented with her own bed in the Oxfam charity shop in South Street, where she enjoys regular naps while her adoring public look on.

Susie first shot to fame after the creation of a Facebook group, Susie’s Travels in Dorchester last November, which saw people post her whereabouts. 

The group’s creator has told the Echo how she got involved with Susie and how she has made a curious cat a local celebrity through social media.

Sophie Davis, 21, a care assistant from Dorchester, came across Susie after her 13-year-old brother Harry saw posts about a missing cat on Facebook.

She said: “One night I was at my friend’s house and my little brother was scrolling through Facebook seeing posts about a missing cat.

“I was reading the comments, and one said that she had joined a choir group and others saying that she was fine, and I thought to myself, 'this cat is not lost at all. She needs a group.'”

Sophie said that she was in a ‘rough patch’ when she started getting involved with the group, but the work has been worth it.

Originally thinking her Facebook group would just be seen as funny, Sophie, an animal lover who used to own cats and currently has two husky dogs, wanted to let people know that Susie was not missing.

Since then, the group has grown and grown and at the time of writing, has more than 5,800 members who post daily updates on the cat's location.

According to Sophie, Susie has made a massive impact on the town.

“To me it’s massive, as in Dorchester nothing big really happens and it’s amazing to see that a cat has brought life back to the town and I helped make her a star.

“It’s beautiful actually, I’ve always lived in Dorchester and said I’ll never leave - the town means everything to me.

“But after the pandemic, the area seemed ghostly and no one was communicating unless something bad had happened, and it’s just brought so many people together.

“I definitely did not think the group would grow how it did,” Sophie recalled, as word of mouth spread and Susie’s influence spread overseas.

“It surprises me honestly, you name the country, and we’ve welcomed members to the group from the USA, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, everywhere,” she said.

Despite her being an avid admirer, it took Sophie some time to meet Susie.

She said: “I met her eventually, but I couldn’t find her for a month.

“I remember I was sick with a chest infection and was in bed for the last two days when my friend sent me a text to say that she was in town, and I rushed out of bed and even though I looked sick - I cherish that photo.

“My husband Ben, was recovering from knee surgery at the time I started the group and he was bed bound for a while and I really wanted him to meet her.

“One day, he was at the barber's and I was in Oxfam and had to run between the shops to make sure she was still there so he could meet her too.”

Sophie says Susie has made an 'amazing difference' to the town.

"When I see people looking into the Oxfam window for Susie and striking up conversations about her with random strangers it makes me feel so happy.”

The group’s community spirit has inspired Sophie and her fellow administrators to organise a disco or bingo night.

“We thought we wanted to get stronger as a group, and bring all the fans together, to celebrate her and let everyone meet her, including her biggest admirers,” she said.

Any money from the events, which are still in the planning stages, will be in aid of Weymouth-based charity Feral Cat Care, which has already been supported through the sales of Susie the cat postcards, designed by 'the Raggy Rat', also known as artist Catherine Owen.

At the time of writing, around 1,000 postcards have been sold, which has raised £700 for the charity.

“This is part of the group, and the fact she is raising so much money for Feral Cat Care is wonderful,” Sophie commented.

To keep up with Susie's adventures, find the Susie's Travels in Dorchester group on Facebook.