Paws off! Moment man is seen scratching at Banksy's new cat artwork before laughing (and taking a bow) when he spots cameras - as meaning behind elusive artist's graffiti is revealed

The meaning behind Banksy's latest run of artwork was revealed today, as the elusive artist unveiled his newest animal creation - a black cat.

Crowds have been flocking to see the artwork all morning, including a man who was filmed trying to get a closer look after it was unveiled.

A passerby captured the moment the fan appeared to be using a hammer to prise away some of the surrounding rotting wood, before eyeing the onlooker and laughing and walking away when he realised he was being filmed. 

It's unclear whether the man is part of Banksy's team, or a workman tasked with trying to make the billboard look more appealing and stop the crumbling wood from falling off.

The black silhouette of a large cat stretching on an abandoned signage appeared in Cricklewood, north London overnight.

It comes after earlier murals unveiled this week consisted of a goat, two elephants, three monkeys, a lone wolf on a satellite dish and two pelicans. 

Now the anonymous tagger has revealed that he has been leaving the animal murals across London to help spread a bit of happiness, during a bleak period in the UK. 

Do YOU know the man in the video? Get in touch at [email protected] 

A man has already been spotted trying to nab Banksy's latest artwork, less than an hour after it was unveiled

A passerby managed to capture the moment on camera, as the man appeared to be using a hammer to get underneath the sheet of wood and make off with the undoubtedly valuable artwork 

Banksy revealed his sixth artwork in as many days on his Instagram page today at 1pm, but within the hour an opportunist was caught red handed trying to pry it off the wall

All the places where Banksy has left an animal mural over the last week 

It comes after earlier murals unveiled this week consisted of a goat, two elephants, three monkeys and a lone wolf on a satellite dish and two pelicans 

Fresh paint spotted on some nearby branches

The Guardian reported that Banksy had been trying create 'moments of unexpected amusement, as well as to gently underline the human capacity for creative play, rather than for destruction and negativity.'

It also claimed that a seventh mural will be popping up in another surprise location soon, so eagle-eyed fans should keep their eyes peeled. 

The first piece of graffiti in the series, which he shared on his Instagram account on Monday, showed a goat teetering on a ledge with rocks falling down below it - just above where a CCTV camera was pointed.

The same cherry picker was spotted in the early hours of Monday where the goat mural was being painted. It is located near Kew Bridge, southwest London, on the wall of engineering firm Boss & Co, which builds exclusive guns.

Banksy posted artwork of a goat perched on top of a wall near Kew Bridge in Richmond on Monday 

Another new artwork, confirmed to be by Banksy, was unveiled on a wall of a house in Chelsea, London this week 

The mural sits above Bonners Fish Bar, on Northcote Road. It is based on a quiet residential street in east London

The next day, the artist added another design to the collection: silhouettes of two elephants with their trunks stretched toward each other on the side of a building near Chelsea. 

This was followed by a trio of monkeys looking as though they were swinging from underneath a bridge over Brick Lane, near a vintage clothing shop and a coffee house in the popular East London market street - not far from Shoreditch High Street.

The primates have been associated with the Japanese proverb 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil'. But in Banksy's work the monkeys are not covering their eyes, ears or mouths.

His fourth artwork which appeared in southeast London yesterday - depicting a howling lone wolf on a satellite dish - appeared to have been stolen within minutes.

The striking painting of the canine howling into the night sky appeared overnight on top of a former Betfred shop on Rye Lane, Peckham.

Footage emerged showing the shocking moment the artwork was dismantled before being carried away.

The group of hooded men wearing facemasks and gloves were spotted scaling the building, removing the satellite dish, and walking off.

The artwork showing the silhouette of a wolf howling appeared on a rooftop in Peckham. It is the latest piece in a series of murals that have been unveiled this week

A hooded man with a mask holding the satellite dish while stood on top of the building

The apparent theft rings echoes of a similar incident last year where another piece by Banksy - a traffic stop sign with three military drones - was also taken.

So far Banksy has been confirming pieces as his with 1pm posts on his Instagram page.

The most recent Google Street View - from June 2022 - shows the billboard being used for a tool company advert.

Banksy's team has been approached for comment.