An eight-month-old cat will be hoping to be on his worst behaviour next week to land a national feline title.

Simba, described as a tearaway by his owner, will be looking to land first place in the Felix Best Personality category at this year's inaugural Cats Protection's Rescue Cat of the Year Awards.

If he wins the category, Simba will be in line for the overall Rescue Cat of the Year title at the ceremony, which takes place at Kensington Roof Gardens, London, next Thursday .

Owner Alison Coward said: "He is quite simply a juvenile delinquent. We have two dogs, Simba and one other cat, and two children, yet Simba is the real character of the household."

She added: "He climbs on our spaniel's tail to go for rides, opens all the doors for himself, plays in the bath, chases absolutely everything and follows us everywhere.

"We had only had him a week, when he nearly flooded the house by turning the taps on in the bathroom and leaving them running.

"And he comes into our bedroom at five in the morning and bites our toes because he is hungry and wants his breakfast.

"But all that said, he is very loving and very affectionate."

Mrs Coward, of Jennings Close, Silsden, adopted the cat from the vet on Bonfire Night as a birthday present for her four-year-old daughter, Alexandra.

Simba had already lost one of his nine lives after he was taken to a vet when he was run over by a car.

She added: "It came as a complete shock and surprise to hear he was nominated. But he is already a winner to us."

Judy Bernstein, of Cats Protection, said: "It wasn't an easy task to shortlist just six entries per category -- so many of the stories were really appealing.

"But Simba's story was great. Here's a cat that's been through some hard times but the strength of his lovely personality has seen him through."

Simba will face stiff competition against five other cats, including two real cat burglars.