BENNY is not only one cool cat. He can fetch, sit and even jump over a pole, earning him the title of cleverest cat in the country.

Black and white Benny impressed animal-lovers with his ability to perform a range of tricks to win the accolade.

Owner Emily Muggleton, 16, of Vardon Drive, Leigh, began teaching Benny to fetch, sit, put out his paw and jump over a pole two years ago.

This year she decided to put him forward for Britain’s cleverest cat competition – run by pet food firm Felix– to share his talents with the rest of the country.

Emily, a pupil at Southend High School for Girls, said: “I have been trying tricks with him for quite a while and always joked I wanted him to be famous – and now he is. He does all the tricks a dog would do. We used food and treats to train him and with the pole we began with it really low and gradually made it higher and higher.”

Six-year-old Benny was revealed as Britain’s cleverest cat in an advert break during the final of Britain’s Got Talent, which is sponsored by Felix, on Saturday night.

Emily, who lives with parents Dawn, 50, and Keith, 55, added: “We knew he was in the top three, but had no idea he had won. We were all watching Britain’s Got Talent waiting for the advert and then it finally came on, saying Benny was the winner.

We all started screaming.

“All the other cats were really cute, but a lot of them could only do one trick.

“I always knew he was Britain’s cleverest cat and now it’s official!”

Benny’s success came after performing dog Pudsey won Britain’s Got Talent 2012.

Felix is already looking for a clever cat to follow in Benny’s pawprints in 2014. If you think your pet has what it takes visit www.catslike felix.co.uk to find out how to apply.