Lottery scratchcard winners thank cat for £1m prize

A couple who got their claws on a £1m lottery prize have thanked their pet cat for the win.

Andrew Hancock bought the winning scratchcard when he took his wife Paula's car to a local petrol station to buy food for six-year-old Shortcake.

In his excitement, Mr Hancock forgot to pick up some grub for the ginger tom - who ended up dining on ham.

"If it wasn't for Shortcake, we wouldn't be millionaires," said Mr Hancock.

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Asked if the pet, nicknamed "Shorty", had brought them much luck before, Mr Hancock said: "Not particularly. He's just a normal cat."

The couple, who live near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, joked that Shortcake "does like a fight", and "keeps everybody up at night".

But he will no doubt be feline fine after his owners promised to upgrade his usual cat food.

In the lap of luxury: The couple have pledged to upgrade Shortcake's usual food, while they content themselves with a trip to Australia

Shorty appeared to be taking everything in his stride as he was photographed during a press call at The Pumping House, in Ollerton, on Tuesday.

So far, the only purchase the couple - who run a catering business together - have made is a new phone for their 12-year-old son Xavier.

They said they plan to take some time off and go travelling, starting with a trip to Australia.

It could be mew: Shorty's owners have claws for celebration

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