A couple claim a ‘lucky’ stray black cat ‘helped’ them win £1million

A lottery-winning couple are scrambling to please the ‘lucky’ stray cat who moved into their home six months before winning £1million.

Tony Pearce, 71, and his wife Deb Pearce, 63, began feeding Billy the black cat when they were struggling financially.

Shortly after, the couple from Southend, Essex, won £1million in the National Lottery in 2017 and their pet Billy has shared in their wealth.

Billy, who is believed to be eight, is holidaying with the couple at his second home in Norfolk, has a “giant stretcher” so he can move around when traveling and has a range of food to choose from.

Tony Pearce, 71, and his wife Deb Pearce, 63, began feeding Billy the black cat when they were struggling financially. Six months later, they won £1million

Ms Pearce said: “Some people say black cats are unlucky, I’d say nothing could be further from the truth!

“When Billy showed up, we were on the verge of selling our beloved home and becoming strays ourselves.

“Tony had stopped working for health reasons and we were heavily in debt.

“It seemed like our only option was to rent a flat when, six months after Billy’s arrival, lady luck struck and our lives changed forever.

Billy may be a black cat, but he’s far from unlucky, Deb said after becoming an overnight millionaire

“We could stay in our house and remodel it into our own perfect piece of heaven.

“We have enjoyed the holidays and bought a flat in Norfolk closer to home, a place we have always enjoyed spending time and where the whole family can have fun.

‘To top it off, we finally said yes to our dream wedding.’

Billy is now part of the family and the couple have spared no expense in looking after him, paying for twice-daily insulin injections after he was diagnosed with diabetes and putting him on a tailored hypoallergenic diet.

The couple, who can now afford to take vacations and tied their knots in a magical wedding, spoil the cat they believe changed their lives

“As well as being on call for his twice-daily injections, we’re also jumping through hoops for his catering whim,” Ms Pearce said.

“Maybe it’s because of his time as a stray that he must have had a very varied diet, but now we need to have a variety of food for him.

“If he has the same taste for more than three days, he will wrinkle his nose, and while he’s enjoying the chicken and vegetable menu, Billy doesn’t like the peas.

“I find myself rummaging through his food, picking out the peas and wondering who’s the National Lottery millionaire around here?!”

Billy was once a lonely stray cat, but now he’s enjoying the luxuries of the owners who have taken him in, including a “giant pet carrier” they got just for him

Deb and Tony were able to buy a second home in Norfolk thanks to their lottery win, and Billy is enjoying it too

Mr Pearce said he bought a “huge van” for Billy to travel with them to their Norfolk holiday home “so that he has room to move around on the journey”.

“I thought he might find it too stressful the first time, but he calmed down and slept the whole time,” he said.

“Now when the porter comes out of the attic, he hops in as if to say, ‘Come on, let’s go!'”

“To ensure Norfolk is a home away from home he has exactly the same set up there as he has in Essex and that level of attention seems to suit him well.

“He arrives, sniffs around the patio for a bit, then calms down like he’s never been away.

“When I pay the vet bill or Billy’s special diet, which costs more than our annual trip to the Savoy, I can’t help but think that maybe Billy is lucky too.

“It’s not a bad life for a Southend stray who clearly showed up at the right doorstep at the right time and proved to us that black cats are indeed lucky!”

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