Penny Taylor and her fiance Paul have a rescue cat named after singer George Michael.

The couple from Abingdon have sent in pictures of their moggie George today as it is Black Cat Appreciation Day.

The cat was named after the Wham! singer because one of George Michael's songs was playing on the radio at the Blue Cross rescue centre in Burford when he was brought in.

The name stuck and Penny and Paul decided not to change it - they are big George Michael fans.

Oxford Mail:

Penny said: "George is 11, and has been the ruler of our household for 10 years since we adopted him from the Blue Cross at Burford 10 years ago. 

Read again: Over 100 jobs at animal charity at risk

"George is named after the fabulous George Michael (apparently it was playing on the radio when the Blue Cross went and rescued him, and we both loved GM so the name stayed); his favourite things in the world are chicken, sunbathing, barbecues, helping us 'work' on our laptops, and opening Christmas presents.

Oxford Mail:

"He's become something of a celebrity in our close, and most people stop and chat to him when they pass by.

"We urge everyone to go and adopt an older cat who needs a home, especially black ones as they're often overlooked."

She added: "My fiancé Paul and I are huge Wham and George Michael fans.  A particular favourite of ours is 'Don't let the sun go down on me' (a duet with Elton John)."

In May the Blue Cross charity announced it was consulting 110 staff on making them redundant.

Oxford Mail:

George Michael, who had a home near Wallingford, died in 2016.

His smash hits included the 1984 number one Careless Whisper.

For hundreds of years black cats have been associated with Halloween and witches and are still less likely to be adopted from a shelter than their more colourful counterparts.

While it varies, a black cat crossing your path is considered to be good luck in many parts of the world.

In Britain, Ireland, Japan and Germany, it is believed that encountering a black cat on your travels is lucky.

Oxford Mail:

But in the United States some people believe black cats will bring bad luck.

Black Cat Appreciation Day is followed by National Black Cat Day on October 27.