Oxford University’s most famous cat keeping students company

Cat Isambard Kitten Brunel, also known as Issy, makes a bus commute to the library alongside owner Jamie Fishwick-Ford.

Jamie is a librarian at Lady Margaret Hall, one of the colleges at Oxford University, and began bringing Issy to work six years ago.

The fluffy Siberian forest cat spends most of its time relaxing in Jamie’s office, only leaving when people want to pet it, or when it is taken outside for some exercise and climb a tree.

Issy, aged six, has quickly become a hit with students gaining a loyal following and earning itself unofficial mascot status at the college.

Isambard Kitten Brunel with librarian Jamie Fishwick-Ford at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford. (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)

Jamie, who has worked as a librarian at the college for 10 years, said: “He stays in my office, and leaves only when people want to pet him or when I’m taking him out to get some exercise and climb a tree.

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“He’s not allowed to free roam around the library or the college.

“He’s proved very popular with the students, and he definitely loves to be loved by them.

“There are some students who come to see him several times a week.

Isambard Kitten Brunel with librarian Jamie Fishwick-Ford at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford. (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)

“Lots of people bring friends and family to meet him, and he’s become a bit of an unofficial mascot. He even appears on some of our outreach team’s stickers.”

Jamie got Issy in September 2019, and started bringing the furry friend to work straightaway.

The 43-year-old said Lady Margaret Hall was a “very dog-orientated college” when first arrived.

Isambard Kitten Brunel with librarian Jamie Fishwick-Ford at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford. (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)

Isambard Kitten Brunel with librarian Jamie Fishwick-Ford at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford. (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)

Issy is particularly favoured by students who miss their pets and is always very friendly and calm, Jamie added.

Jamie said: “It can be really tough being away from home for the first time and away from pets you’ve known all your life, and it’s a lot easier to phone up your parents if you miss them than to phone up your cats.

“He’s also used as an unofficial welfare animal, and he’s very empathetic.

“He’s always very friendly and calm, but he’s even more so when someone is upset or crying, he’s had several people come to him in tears after they’ve accidentally deleted their dissertations or so on.

“I deliberately got a Siberian Forest Cat because they are hypoallergenic, so it wouldn’t set people’s allergies off as much, both in the library and on the commute.”

Jamie said Issy has become a local celebrity with people stopping the duo in the streets to ask if Issy is the famous library cat and to get a photo with the companion.