Merlin the cat with the loudest purr in the world

Most domestic cats purr at around 25 decibels but Merlin has hit a mog-nificent 100 - louder than a hair dryer, a hand drill or a lawnmower. 

The 12-year-old pet is so noisy owner Tracy Westwood struggles to hold telephone conversations or hear the TV. Mrs Westwood, 47, said: "I often have people asking me what on earth is the noise in the background - it's just Merlin the cat." Mrs Westwood, a tarot card reader from Torquay, Devon, took in Merlin when he was just a kitten from an animal rescue centre.