There's no official document to prove it but Cowra is home to the world's most loved cat.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
One-year-old 'Garfield' holds the title after being adopted by the Loebler family last year.
At just six weeks old Garfield was found between the walls of the Cowra Medical Centre during their renovations in July last year. After being told about the kitten waiting for a new home at Cowra Vet Clinic, John's wife Ilse convinced John to take a look - even though the tiny kitten was redhead.
"John wanted a cat but he didn't want a ginger but he took one look at that tiny little bundle and we knew we would keep him," she said.
"John is just so besotted with Garfield."
While Ilse was previously a self-confessed 'dog person' John has always firmly sided with team cat.
"I got my first cat in Mildura in 1954 and I've had around 10 all up since then," John said.
"I've learnt that the females will only be your friend when they want to be."
Now a much-loved member of the Loebler family, John said Garfield keeps them entertained everyday.
"He has a harness for when we go on drives to Bunnings- I don't know how he does it but every time I come out he's always out of his harness," he said.
"We don't have health insurance but he does. He's such a precious thing so we need to look after him."
- Ilse Loebler
"We go on big walks together too, it's just like if you have a little dog."
After a big day of climbing trees, inspecting everything in his sights, playing under the hose and riding around on the wood pile, John said Garfield always comes home to one particular sound.
"At night time I stand out side with a pair of scissors and make the noise like I'm cutting something and he comes running- I always cut up meat for him with those scissors," John said.
Not one for being reduced to using a cat door, Garfield prefers to open the sliding doors instead and has a specially built crossing under his back fence.
"I noticed that when we go for walks he was climbing up over the fence and I didn't want him to hurt his paws on the top so I built him a crossing under the fence," John said.
"He likes to adventure too; the other day he went to the Jehovah's meeting- I'll have to have a word to him about that," John laughed.
When he's not taking on the world or attending meetings, Garfield is home helping Ilse do the dishes.
"He sees me go to the sink and he thinks 'mum's doing the dishes' and he comes to help," Ilse said.
"He likes to go fishing for things in the water and his eyes get big as saucers when the water disappears."
While he's not one for long cuddles, Garfield is very used to the camera flash after taking on the leading role in a coffee table book.
"I made a birthday present full of photos of Garfield for John for his birthday and I didn't even use all the photos of him we've taken- there's a few thousand more," Ilse said.
From humble beginnings to prime position in front of a crackling winter fire, Garfield is now living like a king - with health insurance to match.
"We don't have health insurance but he does," Ilse said.
"He's such a precious thing so we need to look after him."