A cat who helped welcome thousands of tourists to a north-east landmark has died.
Ben, who spent 13 years acting as an unofficial tour guide to visitors at Pitmedden Garden, died on Friday.
The black and white feline was known to explore the entire breadth of the Aberdeenshire property, and often made stops at the outdoor theatre events it hosted.
Pitmedden Garden posted on social media that the animal died after suffering kidney and liver problems.
A post on Facebook said: “After several visits to his vet, his health did not improve and his kidneys and liver started failing.
“He has had over 13 wonderful years at Pitmedden Garden, has been loved by staff, volunteers and visitors alike and has made all our lives and visits to Pitmedden that much brighter.
“Thank you to everyone who has loved Ben as much as we did.”
And Susan Burgess, former head gardener and property manager of Pitmedden Garden, added: “Ben the Pitmedden Garden cat was the best cat you could wish for.
“Totally chilled and savvy, smart in character and in appearance and amazingly tolerant of thousands of visitors who passed through his garden every year.
“His rise to cat celebrity status was rapid and his fanbase stretches across the globe.
“Is there a more photographed cat in Aberdeenshire?
“His aloof charm won over the hearts of some of the most unlikely cat lovers, and his gentleness, particularly with playful children, was remarkable.”
In the wake of his death, fans have proposed that a memorial be erected in his memory in the Gardens.