Paw patrol: Meet the Crouch End cat who loves to joy ride in his owner’s car

Meet the pet cat who is obsessed with cars - and demands to be taken for a drive so it can put its head out of the window.

Tahira Sarwar, 47, says her moggy Mika has developed an unusual love for spending time on the road - and won’t let her go out without him.

She bought the two-year-old when he was a kitten and, after just a couple of trips in the car to the vets, he became hooked.

The cheeky cat, who lives in Crouch End, has since become the “star of the street”.

Tahira says some neighbours even poke their head out of the window to watch whenever he jumps in - or even on - the family car.

And she insists Mika was never trained like that and simply he loves his car journeys - so he can stick his head out the window like a dog.

Tahira, a sales assistant, said: “I say Mika is like half-cat, half-dog - he’s extraordinary. He hears when we pick up the car keys and he’s chasing you out the door to come too.

“I don’t know what it is about the car but he just loves it so he can watch out the window – if we ever go somewhere without him, he runs down the road after the car.

“It’s not just sitting in the seat. He loves sitting on the dashboard, the bonnet and even the roof of the car if we drive really slowly.

“Everyone around here fascinated when they see him, they all know who he is and everyone loves him.”

Tahira, who lives with husband Shabir Ahmed, 63, and their four children, said a couple of trips in the car to the vet was enough to give Mika a taste for it.

She said his love for the car then quickly became evident - as he would follow the family out of the front door and jump straight in.

He became desperate for a ride so he could poke his head out the window and watch the world - and keep an eye on his neighbours, who quickly became his top fans.

Mika has now become “an attraction of Crouch End” with people all across the neighbourhood entertained by his unusual hobby.

Tahira said: “People watch him and laugh - and they’re always coming up to me telling me he’s amazing.

“He’s not cuddly and doesn’t show love like a normal cat - but he’s like a safari cat that loves going on adventures.”

Tahira says that, seconds after catching the sound of the car keys jangle, the cat is by the door waiting to get driven around.

She said: “If we can’t take Mika somewhere with us, he chases the car down the road.

“It’s not just us - I’ve had neighbours telling me the second they’ve opened their car door, Mika jumps inside to go with them.”

But Tahira said the bold cat has even developed a love for a riskier ride - and sometimes sits on the bonnet - or roof - of the car demanding a ride.

Occasionally the family relent - and will slowly cruise down the road with Mika on the top of the car having the time of his life.

Tahira added: “When he wants to, he can climb in through the window from the roof of the car, without us even having to stop.

“He’s like Spiderman!”

But despite their cat’s unusual, dog-like quirks, the Tahira says they could not love their pet more.

She said: “He just loves everything about the car and gets all excited. He’s just a little star and everyone loves him.

“He’s a very special cat.”