Initially this page was created with tales summarised from articles published in 2010 in The Cat, the quarterly magazine of Cats Protection, the UK's largest feline charity, and our warm thanks go to editor Francesca Watson, who wrote the original articles, for permission to use this material.

   ANDOVER STATION
Hampshire

The tuxedo cat at Andover was Jess; he previously lived nearby with a family and used to visit, but when they moved he kept returning to the station, so it was agreed he could stay there, well looked after by the station staff (although contributions were accepted from passengers). He had a comfortable bed in the ticket office and apparently also his own travel card and rail pass.

Another, quite similar black-and-white cat also visited the station and stole Jess's food! — but didn't live there.

Update, 2023: Sadly Jess had to be put to sleep in late October 2023; he had stopped eating, his condition had deteriorated and he was found to have lumps on his side, most likely cancerous. It was felt that he was too old to undergo surgery, and it would be kindest to end his suffering. He had been at the station for 13 years and was thought to be around 19 years old; he was very much loved by the staff and everyone who used the station and will be much missed. There's a nice tribute article here, and very many nice comments at his Facebook group (link below). By early December a crowdfunding appeal had raised sufficient money for a bronze statue of Jess to be commissioned, and in the following month a sculptor was approached and a pose chosen. It's hoped that the sculpture will be completed later in 2024, when it will be placed at Andover station.

Facebook group: Jess the station cat

   BLACKFRIARS STATION
London

There are no cats now at Blackfriars, but half a century ago it was the haunt of Old Bill. He arrived as a frightened and bedraggled kitten, but with the care and attention given to him by station staff he grew into a fine black-and-white gentleman. A whip-round was held every week for some coins to keep him in food and milk; and it's said there was an old lady who passed through the station at about 1.30 most mornings and left him some chicken! He spent much of his day watching the world go by, just taking refuge during rush hours, but he was never seen to cross the road. However, some mornings he would be seen on the other side — he got there, like commuters, by using the underground subway. In 1953 he was aged 7, but we don't know how long he lived.

   BLUEBELL RAILWAY
Sussex

This is a heritage railway in the southern county of Sussex. Vandal (pictured, top) appeared at the line's Sheffield Park terminus in 2000, not long after the previous incumbent, Lucky, had died (obviously a vacancy became known on the feline grapevine!). He gained his name from a tendency to leave chaos in his wake wherever he went, notably in the old and rather cramped shop where things tended to get knocked off shelves. He became calmer, but loved 'helping' the shop manager with her paperwork, regarding himself as a paperweight. He was also very good at persuading people that he was starving, so often got more than one breakfast! Towards the end of his life he was taken in by Bluebell members, so when he died in July 2010 he was in a home environment and not alone.

In May 2014 it was announced that Gizmo had died at the age of about 18. Officially he lived in a nearby cottage, but he adopted the railway several years ago and it became pointless taking him back to his owners, as he simply returned at the first opportunity! He was a gregarious cat who loved being around people, and was never slow to let people know when he considered it was lunchtime, with fish and cheese being favourites. In his last couple of years he spent much of his time sleeping, with favoured spots in the signal box or at the Carriage and Wagon Works. Rioja had died before him, but we are not sure when.

Photo (Vandal): Tom Briggs
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   BROMBOROUGH STATION
Wirral

Owen was the ginger-and-white station cat here on the Wirral. In early 2017 he was reported to be about 17 years old and was thought to have been at the station for some 14 of those years; it was his home and he was very much loved by the staff and passengers, seeming to brighten up everyone's day. He liked to spend most of his time in his little cat kennel outside, but he came in for food frequently during the day and to see all the friendly faces he'd come to know over the years. Passengers made frequent donations, so his vet's and food bills were always covered; there was even a little tin in the booking office with his name on for donations, which was almost too heavy to move! The full-time staff loved him dearly and treated him as though he was their own, and feeding Owen was one of the duties on every shift!
Many thanks to Chloe Keenan, who works at the station, for the news about Owen and additional photos.

Sadly we were informed in March 2018 that the old warrior had died. In late 2017 he was at the vet's for an operation on his shoulder, which seemed to go well and he returned to Bromborough. However, over the following weeks he was apparently in and out of the vet's again more than once and, although he was back at the station over Christmas, the vet kept him in during the very cold weather that followed. It seems he stayed there for several weeks, and then on about 23 February came the news that Owen had died. It isn't clear whether he never recovered fully from his ops, or caught some infection, or simply died from old age — he was 17 — but as he'd been very much 'part of the furniture' during his long stay at the station he is greatly missed. Bromborough station really won't be the same without this amazing old fellow.

   CHARLBURY STATION
Oxfordshire

Stanley, usually known as Stan, frequents the station and enjoys the attention of passengers — often sitting on laps — while they wait for their trains. Apparently a favourite snoozing spot is the change well below the ticket-office window, so people have to dig out their change from beneath his fur! His painted portrait is prominently displayed in the office.
Photos: Diz White

   CLEETHORPES COAST LIGHT RAILWAY (CCLR)
North East Lincolnshire

Beloved cat Harry died in October 2015, run over by a car as happens all too often. He had turned up out of the blue at the Signal Box Inn, adjacent to the CCLR's Lakeside railway station, in 2006 and decided to stay. He frequented both the pub and the station, where he would be found either in the office or out on the platform overseeing operations. He had been known to venture up the line to the sheds and even, at times, to travel on the train to other stations! He kept an eye on the site and was well known for chasing away intruders, even foxes. Described as 'a unique cat', he was extremely popular with visitors and is sorely missed by all at the railway and by the licensee and patrons of the pub.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

   DIDCOT RAILWAY CENTRE
Oxfordshire

Closed for regular service in mid-1965, this was a Great Western engine shed and stabling point that has now been converted and reopened as a museum and preservation centre concentrating on the former Great Western Railway (GWR). The centre has had a number of cats over the years, but all had passed away by the time Marmalade, very hungry, put in an appearance in about 2010. Her history is unknown, but after hanging around for a while she decided to stay and now runs the place! She was thought to be about 2 when she came, so is probably 8 or 9 in 2017. Her favourite sleeping place depends on whether the centre is open or not; if so she tends to avoid visitors by sleeping in the staff mess room, where she has her own chair and cushion. She usually stays around the Engine Shed area at other times, but occasionally wanders down to the Carriage Shed and Transfer Shed, or in good weather when the centre's closed she suns herself on the path by the Lifting Shop — and has been seen mousing in the picnic area. Marmalade's food and medical needs are taken care of by the centre volunteers.
Our thanks to the Didcot Railway Centre for sending images and information

DRC website | DRC at Facebook | DRC at Twitter | Marmalade at Twitter

   EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY (ELR)
Lancashire

Closed in 1980, restoration of the 12-mile (19-km) line from Heywood to Rawtenstall was started in 1991, and a long line of cats have helped volunteers in the engine sheds. Feral Dougie lives in the yard and is a 'bit of a grumpy boy', but has his own cat house. BoBo (originally BeeBee) came from Rochdale and is the mess-room cat, while Titch is Dougie's friend, also fairly wild but very talkative. He was hit by a car in 2009 and his back legs suffered, but he is now much improved. A small black-and-white cat arrived next, and as a name couldn't be agreed on, he's called No. 4! When three black kittens turned up it was felt they couldn't all be kept, so two were rehomed with one of the engineers. It was decided the third should stay as a 'spare cat', in case one of the others departed for whatever reason — so she is, logically, known as Spare. She's great friends with Titch.

Two very short YouTube clips of BoBo in 2009: Clip 1 | Clip 2.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Flickr | YouTube

   FISHGUARD & GOODWICK STATION
Pembrokeshire, Wales

In the years following World War 1 there was at Goodwick station a much loved moggy, a formidable rodent catcher but of unknown name, whose base was the signal box or, if that was closed, the cottage of her friend, station guard Peter Williams. She raised at least one litter of kittens at the station, and although her tail had been severed by a train she had a long and happy life. When she died in August 1930** after years of faithful service, she was buried under the railway bridge and her grave was tended long afterwards; a memorial board was also erected in her honour.

The station was closed to regular traffic in 1964 and gradually became derelict. However, in 2012 it was rebuilt and train services were resumed. There were calls for a new memorial to the cat to be installed, and in November 2015 a new plaque was unveiled. A sculpture was also commissioned and that, fashioned from Preseli bluestone by local sculptor Darren Yeadon, was publicly unveiled in January 2017 — a fitting tribute to the long-dead feline.

** The original memorial board showed the year as 1931, whereas the modern replacement has 1930. An extract transcribed from the County Echo, which reported the cat's death at the time, is said to be from an August 1930 issue. If accurate, this would mean that the older memorial had the error, with the recent plaque showing the correct year.

   GIPSY HILL STATION
Lambeth, south London

Since 2014 a tuxedo cat named Fanny had been hanging around the station, but she was not resident as her home is nearby. She generally appeared only for morning rush hour and the early trains — maybe attracted by the treats commuters gave her! She was very affectionate and often to be found purring and greeting people from her perch on top of one of the Oyster-card readers.

In late July 2016 she was hit by a car and sustained serious injury; the driver couldn't have avoided her and did stop, but she was able to run off. She was found and taken to an RSPCA hospital, but her humans were wondering how they would fund an expensive operation on her diaphragm. They reckoned without followers of Fanny's personal Twitter account, who stepped in to raise funds and, astonishingly, within just an hour the necessary cash had been raised. The eventual sum raised was about £3000 (about 3900 US dollars), more than was needed, so the balance was donated to other animal charities.

It took a little while for Fanny to recover, as she developed a persistent cough after her surgery, but by mid-September she was back 'at work'. In late 2019 her Twitter page showed that she was still greeting her friends at the station.

The Gipsy Hill Cat at Twitter | Fanny's page at Friends of Gipsy Hill blog

   GRANTHAM STATION
Lincolnshire

Station cat Shag was said to have been resident at Grantham for 'well over 17 years', thus arriving in 1983 or earlier, but information about him is rather scant and we have no picture. In the mid-1980s he was living in the disused goods shed, until that was demolished in 1989, when it didn't take him long to realise there was more comfortable accommodation available. He had a box on a shelf opposite the desk in the Station Supervisor's office on platform 1; there he was sheltered from draughts and could supervise the clerical activities. His name reflected his nocturnal romantic activities, although on one occasion, in more polite company, it was explained away as being the state of his fur when he first came indoors: 'like shag-pile carpet'!

Apparently Shag was quite adventurous and would cross the tracks, choosing not to use the footbridge or the barrow crossing but carefully looking both ways first. In later years he took to riding trains and was sent home at various times from Doncaster, Newark, Peterborough and London�s Kings Cross! On one occasion he even turned up in Lincoln, which was remarkable as he'd have had to change trains to get there. Well known to train staff, he would duly be put on a train to go home. His travelling exploits were featured once in Modern Railways magazine. The cat who had been clever enough to look both ways before crossing rail tracks was sadly run over by a taxi on the station forecourt in September 2000; this was most unfortunate as he'd become deaf and didn't hear the vehicle approaching.

Shag was clearly a well-loved cat and was buried behind platform 1, with a cat plaque and marker stone as his memorial. Since then there have evidently been some changes at the station, and Shag's memorial, from being in what seems to be a flowerbed setting in 2010 (top photo), is now cemented in behind the platform area (lower). We don't know if it was moved far or is in the same vicinity as it always was, but at least it still exists.

Many thanks to Chris Taylor, a former Station Manager at Grantham, for sharing some of his memories of Shag. Chris says he still sometimes thinks of the cat when he passes through Grantham station.

2010 photo: Alison Clarke at Flickr where it can be seen full-sized

   HUDDERSFIELD
West Yorkshire

It was only after she'd been named Felix that it was discovered she's a female, but the name has stuck for the station cat at Huddersfield in Yorkshire. Born in 2011, she works for First TransPennine Express, has featured in the Huddersfield Examiner newspaper and become well known to the locals. She can often be seen greeting passengers wishing to buy tickets at the ticket office, and is also an active mouser, helping to keep pests away from the station, including pigeons. In 2012 she enjoyed a sojourn to Domino's Pizza, from where she had to be 'rescued', but more recently staff have managed to keep her away from the temptation of fast food!

When new safety barriers were installed during 2013 to combat fare dodgers, Felix's free access to the platforms was compromised. The station management, much to their credit, installed a special VIP cat-flap so the much loved feline could go about her duties unhindered.

In February 2016 her employers, TransPennine Express, gave Felix a promotion to Senior Pest Controller at the station, so she acquired a smart hi-vis jacket and her own name card. There are a number of photos with a Daily Mail article, The Cat Controller, and she has a very active Facebook page, with thousands of followers worldwide. A year later, in early 2017, a book about her was published, Felix the Railway Cat by Kate Moore, widely available from Amazon, Waterstone's and other bookshops.

In September 2018, Felix gained an apprentice — eight-week-old Bolt joined the team at Huddersfield as Junior Pest Controller, to be trained up to take over when his boss Felix eventually retired. Felix's Facebook page is now a joint effort.

Many thanks to Paul Jackson, Station Projects Manager in Manchester, for originally letting us know about Felix. For other photos, thanks to the Huddersfield Examiner and Paul Burley at Twitter.

Update: In early December 2023 the very sad news was announced that Felix had died; she was put to sleep after the discovery of some tumours and attendant complications. She was just 12 years of age and had been at the station from six weeks old. She'll be greatly missed by the station staff and by her many thousands of fans and followers from far and wide. Her former apprentice and understudy, Bolt, is now in charge at Huddersfield.

Felix and Bolt at Facebook and Twitter | Felix writing at the TransPennine Express blog: Feb 2016 and Mar 2016

   INVERNESS STATION
Scotland

In the mid-1980s Inverness had a cat called Gasket (I), who appeared in the Maintenance Depot store and gave birth to kittens. She decided to stay and for several years kept down the pigeon population as well as the mice. A favourite spot was on the supervisor's office roof, from where she could survey her domain. One day she simply vanished, and staff were unable to find out what had become of her.

More recently the station boasted two black cats, Diesel (pictured) and Gasket (II), who based themselves on Platform 6; beds and food were provided by well-wishers. Resident there for over a decade, they became known far outside their local area, and gifts and toys would arrive from far afield. One local resident said they knew the arrival and departure times of trains, when to be around and when not to be. When the rail franchise changed hands and a new Area Manager arrived, he declared that 'the cats must go', causing an uproar among station staff and visitors. Diesel took matters into her own paws by accompanying the new manager on his first station tour, and so delighted him that he changed his mind! Apparently the cats used to get left-over smoked salmon and other delicacies from the prestigious Royal Scotsman train when it came to the station.

Gasket died in 2007 and Diesel was put to sleep following kidney failure in April 2009, with obituaries appearing in the local press. The cats are buried together in a favourite spot at the end of Platform 6, where they used to like sunning themselves, and there's a small shrine to their memory.

In March 2012, a young female cat appeared at the station and was named Hi-Vis by station staff, who took a liking to the ginger feline. A staff member began feeding her, and she was starting to be recognised by passengers when the story was reported at the time in the Press & Journal. However, after that we saw no further reports of her, so we do not know whether she stayed or what became of her.

Photos: Jamie Martin (top), 'dnorse8603' and 'foxypar4' at Flickr, and BBC (2nd), Craig Wallace at Geograph and Angus McDiarmid at Flickr (memorials), Press & Journal/Sandy McCook (Hi-Vis).

   LIVERPOOL SOUTH PARKWAY STATION
Liverpool

Bengal cat Paul Newman, born in 2008, lived near the station and had visited it since 2010. His presence was enjoyed by staff and commuters alike, and he was given his own bed and some toys. He was in trouble in mid-2013 after biting a security guard — who had apparently stood on his tail or something — and was for a while discouraged from visiting. However, all seemed to have been forgiven as in 2016 he wrote on his Facebook page that he really liked the cat igloo that had been placed in the station building for him!

In September 2018, Merseyrail staff at the station gave Paul an official job title — Chief of Customer Relations — 'because he deserves it'.

Paul died in late January 2023 and, on hearing the news, travellers posted tributes, many with photos of him they had taken at the station over the years. His owner, Steff, remarked that 'he was a force of nature'. His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo, and a YouTube clip shows a signed and subtitled version of a BBC report. A sculpture of Paul has been suggested, subject to permission and fundraising.

Paul at Facebook
Short YouTube clip of Paul walking across the station concourse

   LIVERPOOL STREET STATION
Central London

A well-known image of cat lover Winston Churchill bending down to stroke the Liverpool Street station cat — history does not seem to have recorded its name — in London's Bishopsgate, in May 1952.

   LIVINGSTON NORTH STATION
West Lothian, Scotland

Livingston is a 'new town' about 15 miles west of Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, and Livingston North is one of two railway stations there. For some years, tortoiseshell-and-white (calico) cat Keira made it her business to hang around at the station and greet commuters; she didn't live there, but her owner Kirsty Hendry said, 'The station was like her second home and the attention she got was unbelievable. She was our cat, but we didn't realise just how popular she was until she passed away.' The moment a door was left ajar, adventurous Keira would be 'away again', said Mrs Hendry. 'It was almost as if she kept working hours, and she would head out at seven o'clock in the morning.'

Sadly, in mid-October 2014 Keira, then aged 11, was hit and killed by a car on her way home from the station one evening. There was a tremendous outpouring of grief and tributes via her Facebook page from all her many friends at the station; 'Commuting will never be the same,' said one. A fund inviting donations for the local Cats Protection branch so that other, needy cats might benefit from her passing quickly and handsomely exceeded the target amount. There were many calls for a permanent plaque to be placed in her memory, and ScotRail, which runs the station, said it was working with the local team on ideas to commemorate the friendly cat.

Photos: Keira the Livingston North Station Cat at Facebook (page appears to be no longer available as of Jan 2020)

   LLANDUDNO
Conwy, North Wales

Llandudno had a plaque to station cat Hercules who died in 1989, but unfortunately we have no further information about him. The station was completely refurbished in 2013, and it's not known if the plaque has been retained.

   LONDON UNDERGROUND

London's underground 'tube' network — longer even than the New York City subway — has had cats at some stations from time to time. At the Barbican station there was black-and-white Pebbles (we think it must be Pebbles in the picture, left, taken in 1990) who'd been adopted by staff and took up residence there. He became well known to commuters, and some remember him still, as his favoured spot when not on rodent patrol was on top of the ticket barriers. There he would sleep soundly, even through the busiest rush hours, oblivious to the noise of the trains below and the din and hubbub going on all around him, as tickets popped up next to his ears and travellers passed through the automatic gates on either side. He didn't seem to mind being stroked or admired, but apparently rarely bothered to rouse himself from his slumber! We aren't altogether clear on dates, but Pebbles frequented the station for over a decade till he died in May 1997, and for part of that time had a partner called Barbie who survived him (above right).

Pebbles and Barbie were due to receive a special Lifetime Achievement award at the 1997 Arthur's Cat Awards but were unable to attend — it's possible the ceremony took place shortly after Pebbles had died. Standing in for them were black kittens Tom and Jerry (right), who we believe had been engaged to learn and assume mousing duties at the Barbican when these publicity shots were taken. Our picture (left, PA/Ben Curtis) shows famous astronomer and cat lover Patrick Moore holding another category winner, flanked by TV presenter Fiona Phillips on the right and Wendy Turner (sister of Anthea) who are holding Tom and Jerry. We don't know when Barbie died or maybe took retirement, but have seen a comment that she was still alive and well in the first half of 1999, although she was kept out of the public areas of the station until night time. How the careers of Tom and Jerry progressed or what became of them is unknown — if any readers have information or a means of finding out, we'd love to know!

Pebbles photo: our thanks to Colin Barnard at Flickr where it can be seen full-sized.

   LOUGHBOROUGH
Leicestershire

Two earlier felines at the Grand Central Railway station, GC and Mogus, are no longer there. GC — for 'Grand Central' or 'Ginger Cat' — just turned up one day on a train! No one knew from where or how he got there; but he checked out the station, wandered into the chairman's office, found a comfortable spot in the in-tray and went to sleep. He became station cat, and rail-magazine editor Brian Jones described him as 'a most exceptional cat, who displayed a better knowledge of how railways work than some of the rail enthusiasts I knew'. When he retired from station life GC went to live on the chairman's canal narrowboat, where he had further adventures. A webpage for GC gives access to an extensive gallery of delightful photos.
Painting: Richard Piccaver. Photo: Robin Jones

The second cat, Mogus, arrived in summer 1996 and took up residence in the loco shed, where he made friends with the superintendent. He was provided with a cat-flap in the mess-room door, and stayed for 13 years, making many friends. He used to catch pigeons, loved cheese, and each Christmas Day had a special turkey treat. He and GC were rivals, and each kept to his own territory. Eventually he developed liver and kidney problems and retired to the home of one of the volunteers, but despite the best of care he did not live long to enjoy his retirement.
Photo: Richard Piccaver

In 2017 we learned that a new cat had joined the station a few years earlier: arriving at around the same time as a visiting Warship-class diesel locomotive, she was thus given the rather inappropriate name of Onslaught! But she's a friendly and gentle cat, well looked after and relaxed with the many visitors. When she tires of the attention she retreats to her nice comfortable bed in the Operations office.

In early 2020 Onslaught was still going strong as the station cat. At some point Rosie and Jumble appeared as engine-shed cats, and Jumble fathered a litter of kittens with Rosie. However, she disappeared during 2019 and wasn't seen again. The kittens were all found new homes, while Jumble continued to 'prowl around the shed'. He's often referred to in Facebook posts as 'The Boss'.

In 2021 we learned of another GCR station cat who'd been there 'over 5 years' — Dreadnought. Apparently he turned up as a real stray, hunting for food among the carriage sidings. He's said to have fathered many kittens, which have all been rehomed.

Website | GCR at Facebook | GCR shed works at Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

   MANCHESTER OXFORD ROAD STATION
Greater Manchester

This large and busy station had seven cats (possibly as many as thirteen at one time), but three were adopted and thus four remained. Only Jumper condescended to meet passengers, while Tom, Jerry and Manx stayed behind the scenes. When staff posted a notice inviting people to donate cat food they were overwhelmed by the response; large numbers of tins were given, and Jumper was even given fresh chicken! Pest control was the cats' first duty, to keep the station rodent-free, while Jumper also chased off pigeons. By 2008 it seems Manx had left, although we aren't sure when this was, and in that year a staff member who fed the cats posted that Jumper lost a back leg in an attack one night by what was assumed to be a fox; it was feared that when she could be caught she might have to be put to sleep. Although the outcome of that particular incident isn't known, we later saw forum comments indicating that she was no more. As of 2013 we do not know if the station still has any cats.

   MIDDLETON RAILWAY
West Yorkshire

The oldest working railway, near the city of Leeds, had a much loved and friendly resident black cat called Smokebox. However, one evening in March 2009 she and her food dish disappeared. Two weeks later her 'kennel' was also taken. It's presumed she was 'catnapped', but sadly, nothing more was heard.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Flickr

   NEWPORT STATION
Monmouthshire

Thought to date from the late 1930s, this was Tiddles, the cat at Newport railway station in south Wales, pictured with a new litter of kittens and a couple of her staff.

   NORTHALLERTON STATION
North Yorkshire

There's a black cat at this station on the East Coast main line, and one source mentions a 'friendly black cat' turning up at the station early in 2005, so if it's the same one it's been around for some years now in 2016. The cat's name is reported to be Brian and although he spends much of his time at the station, it seems likely — as happens at some other stations — that he has a home nearby.

Inner image: courtesy of martyn for 'tail up', and DarloRich2009 for the doorway shot - both at Flickr where they can be seen full-sized

   NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY (NYMR)
North Yorkshire

Many cats have made their home at Grosmont on this railway over the years, either at the station or in the locomotive sheds. At present there are two residents, looked after by one of the fitters during the week and by the shop supervisor at weekends. Dink arrived as a tiny feral 'spitfire' of a kitten, needing to be handled with heavy gloves at first, but later enjoyed a stroke. Tortoiseshell-and-white Erica (pictured) was found sleeping on one of the steam engines in a siding; at one point her bed was moved to a diesel engine, but was moved back after she refused to use it!

Update: in mid-2019 Caroline Stewart kindly informed us via Facebook that Erica had retired as shed cat in the autumn of 2017, and was now 'a very pampered old lady!' She had to be given numerous daily pills for various ailments, but still seemed happy, active and in good spirits — after, in April 2018, being given by her vet just two weeks to live. She actually lived a further two years before dying peacefully in April 2020; she's buried in the garden within sight of the railway.

There have been other cats at Grosmont; some were rehomed elsewhere, but Brian Mooney died there and is remembered by a small cross outside the sheds marking where his ashes were buried — after a short service led by a vicar and reported in the local press.
Photo: Louise Mudd

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

   PERRYGROVE RAILWAY
Gloucestershire

This narrow-gauge railway runs through farmland and countryside on the edge of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. The image shows Sausage, the railway cat, inspecting the track; he turned up at the station in about 2006 and made it his home, becoming much loved by staff and visitors alike. He was even 'tolerated' by Molly, the railway's dog. Sausage liked to visit a nearby farm, and sadly that was his undoing, as he was run over and killed on his way there in December 2014. Another cat may be adopted in due course.

Website | Facebook and their post on Sausage's demise | YouTube

   PULBOROUGH STATION
West Sussex

The station used to have a beautiful ginger cat, much loved by staff and passengers; he was called Ian. He would climb up between the framework of the signal workings in order to get into the signal box. When he died he was buried in a little garden by the signal box, and a small headstone was erected. A black-and-white cat succeeded him, lived in the ticket office and would curl up in the filing trays to sleep.

   REDRUTH STATION
Cornwall

Hector appeared at Redruth station during March 2013 and made it his home. He was a friendly cat and users of the station enjoyed meeting him, although he didn't particularly like being picked up. For a time he slept out on one of the platforms, and staff would often arrive in the morning to find him soaking wet — but for Christmas 2015 a generous local person donated a splendid 'house' for him, with all home comforts, so he had a place to shelter at night from the unpredictable Cornish weather. When the station was open he also had a basket in the ticket office. His Facebook page attracted many followers.

Hector was still there in August 2022, when he seemed to have been having some leg trouble and had been visiting the vet. Sadly he died in mid-February 2023. It was known that he had a heart murmur, and it seems his heart just gave out. He was cremated and his ashes will remain under his picture. There were many tributes from his legion of fans.

Hector at Facebook

   RUSHDEN HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY (RHTS)
Northamptonshire

Founded in 1976, the Society is based in the former railway station — built in 1894 and closed to rail traffic in 1969 — in Rushden, a town in the English county of Northamptonshire. The station, which had fallen into disuse since the railway closed, has been lovingly restored and now houses a transport museum as well as the Society's social club, while the rails are in use again for a heritage railway with a variety of locomotives and rolling stock.

Alfie (outer left) is the station cat: in fact he's both a club cat and a railway cat, and takes his duties seriously, as can be seen from his Facebook page. He arrived as a stray in 2010 and decided to make the place his home. He followed in the footsteps of an earlier feline, resident from 1997 until his death in 2006, known as the 'Mk 1 Cat' (inner, top two) or simply 'the station cat'. Alfie is therefore sometimes referred to as the 'Mk 2 cat'!
Photos: Rushden Station Cat at Facebook

Update: In early June 2017 Alfie became ill with an unidentified virus, and despite the best efforts of his vets and carers his condition deteriorated and he died on 12 June. He will be very much missed at the station and by his thousands of Facebook followers. A beautiful memorial to Alfie has been erected next to that for the earlier station cat, and was unveiled in November 2017.

Website | Facebook | Alfie (Rushden Station Cat remembered) at Facebook | Twitter | Alfie at Twitter

   ST ALBANS STATION
Hertfordshire

A black-and-white cat first appeared at St Albans station, one of the busiest commuter stations in Britain, in 2013. Believed to be a stray and given the name Brian, he made the station his home, was fed and looked after by station staff and became very popular with them and with commuters. He had a box to sleep in, although he also liked to sit on a station seat, and was given his own cushion by a kind traveller. 'We would go out and get cat food and biscuits for him weekly, and with kind donations from our passengers as well, he never went hungry,' said a Thameslink staff member. He proved to be a very loyal and well-behaved cat at the station: 'Brian would follow us around the station and never went on the track or boarded a train, nor was he frightened by trains.'

However, when taken to the vet early in 2016 to be treated for fleas, the cat was found to have a microchip and his owner was traced. It turned out that Brian — actually called Obama by his lady owner — was originally from London and had gone missing on a trip to St Albans with her three years earlier. She was delighted when the pair were reunited, and station staff said, 'We all hope Brian/Obama is settling in nicely back at home.'

   SIGNAL BOXES

Many signal boxes are now disused, but not so long ago some also had cats. ROCHDALE box acquired Kipper in July 1989, when he was found near the level crossing by a different box on the line. Signalman David Ingham at Rochdale signal box said that a rat catcher was needed there, so the little ginger ball of fur was transported by train (in an employee's pocket!) and delivered to Rochdale. He was said to have grown up as a rather unfriendly cat, perhaps as a result of going out to play one morning, being kidnapped and transported far away from home. After a year or so at Rochdale David moved on, and Rochdale box was taken over by relief signalman Stuart Mather, who recalls with affection the 'big ginger tom with the lovely white chest' and who kept cat food in his car boot for the cat. At one time Kipper was moved to another box further down the line, but made it clear he wanted to be back at Rochdale, so was returned on an empty train. He lived to a good age, but became ill and died in 2008 — then the mice started to return!

Kipper was the last signal-box cat in the area, but at one time there were Nelson at BAGULEY FOLD, Amoss at ASHTON MOSS NORTH and Selwyn at DIGGLE. There was also Marmalade (left), who was the resident signal-box cat at BREWERY SIDINGS when David Ingham started working there in the mid-1990s, but he was made redundant in summer 1998 when Brewery Sidings box closed. However, says David, 1998 was in the days when the railways still looked after their staff and arrangements were made for Marmalade to transfer to Diggle Junction box, the late supervisor Ian Gordon receiving numerous scratches as Marmalade fought against being put in the cat box for moving. He replaced Selwyn, who had recently died, at Diggle and remained until the mid-2000s, when a new signalman complained to management, and signal-box cats on his patch were made redundant. Marmalade was retired to Ainsworth, near Bury.

In the summer of 1994 a group of wild kittens appeared at Brewery Sidings, for which it's thought Marmalade might have been responsible. They were very timid, but would venture to the top of the signal box steps where a plate of food was left. They wouldn't come into the box except when someone appeared at the bottom of the steps, when they panicked.

Many thanks to David A Ingham for additional information, and also for permission to use images from his Flickr collection. Original full-sized versions of Kipper can be seen via this search link: Kipper.

YEOVIL PEN MILL signal box in Somerset has Thomas, but as he also frequents the station platform next door, he can be found below in the alphabetical station entries.

In February 2022, Network Rail posted photos on social media of this lovely lady — Holly, a stray who took up residence at the HOLYHEAD signal box (north-west Wales) some eight months earlier in 2021. They said she 'keeps a watchful eye on the trains, and the signallers all chip in for her food. The rodent community have been sent packing now that she patrols.'

   SOUTHEND VICTORIA STATION
Essex

Jojo arrived as a stray at the station in 2001 and soon made it her home, spending time between the nearby British Transport Police office and the station platform, where she would greet commuters. She became a much loved member of the team and was well known to regular travellers, with her own Facebook page. She was fed and looked after by the staff, and the local Cats Protection branch looked after her health needs. In summer 2016 she contracted cat flu and, sadly, as quite an old cat she hadn't the strength to fight it and by late July it was decided best to put her to sleep.

Everyone at the station wanted her to be remembered, so an appeal was put out to the public for £200 for that purpose. The response was overwhelming, the target was met within an hour or so, and the eventual sum raised paid not only for the memorial plaque but for a donation of several hundred pounds to Cats Protection in recognition of their help for her over the years, and to help other cats in need. The plaque reads, 'Jojo: Booked off duty Friday 22 July 2016. Sadly missed.'

JoJo's Facebook page

   STAINMORE RAILWAY COMPANY
Cumbria

The line from Kirkby Stephen East (KSE), in Cumbria, closed in 1962, but in recent years the line has been going through the process of restoration. When work began on the station in 1998 a white-and-tabby cat, Rabbit (top), was already well established in the area and became something of a local celebrity, appearing in the press and on Radio Cumbria's website. She ruled over the volunteers' mess room, complaining bitterly if the fire went out, while outside she loved exploring and was often to be found helping working parties and supervising restoration work. After a hard day's work she liked to sleep on the warm engines — so an instruction was put on the engine start-up procedure to first 'check for cats'! Rabbit became increasingly frail and in November 2008 simply disappeared, with extensive searches failing to find her.

Now the Chief Station Cat is Quaker (middle two), named after Darlington Football Club, whose players wear the same black-and-white livery. She turned out to be an excellent mouser, and runs a blog, Quaker the Station Cat where she reports on station news. In October 2012 she reported 'I am currently training a new cat at KSE who seems very nice. He is black and white like me and has been living in the yard for around 12 months. I have let him into the station and he seems quite suited for station life. If this cat proves to be suitable, passes the rules and regs and accepts orders from me, he will be employed on the KSE payroll. I am therefore appealing for more cat food for my trainee and I hope to give you all news of his progress in future blogs.' The new arrival was called Oates (bottom).

It seems there's also another 'apprentice' cat, called Kiwi, who is totally black apart from a small splash area of white on the chest, so it isn't easy to spot him in the dark. Quaker thinks 'Kiwi will be easier to train, as he seems to listen to what I tell him and wants to learn the ropes before displaying himself to the public.' And there's a station dog, a shepherd dog called Pinza.

KSE's Facebook page deals with all the railway news, and more photos of the cats (full sized) can be seen there and at Quaker's blog, although the latter hasn't been updated since mid-2015. Sadly Oates had to be put to sleep in February 2016; he lost the use of his back legs and, despite the best of care, gradually became weaker until he could barely move. He was thought to have been 10 or 12 years old, and although at the station for just 3 years will be much missed.

By April 2018 another black-and-white feline had been taken on as deputy station cat. He was named Barras and described as a 'very well built cat ... extremely strong and muscular'. He settled in well and in early November 2019 found himself in charge by virtue of the fact that, sadly, Quaker had passed away. She was estimated to be 15-17 years old, and the announcement at Facebook related that she had 'become increasingly frail over this year but still trained her apprentice Barras'. Quaker went missing and was found 'sleeping her last sleep peacefully in a sheltered spot outside the station building.' She was buried in the picnic area where 'she and Oates could watch the trains go by.'

All photos © Stainmore Railway Co Ltd, with thanks to Dr Susan Jones.
Website | Facebook | Quaker's blog to 2015 (archived copy)

   SWANAGE RAILWAY
Dorset

This is a former branch line running between Wareham and Swanage in Dorset, England, and is now run as a heritage railway. The tortie-and-white cat named Ringwood by staff actually had a home across the road from the station and her real name was 'Bubbles', but since about 2009 she was to be found on a daily basis at the Swanage engine shed or somewhere nearby. She learned to cross the road, and the rail tracks between trains, and even to jump up onto a locomotive footplate for a ride to the station! Whenever there were people around, regardless of the time, she liked to be there. She was much loved by the staff and volunteers and was well known to visitors too. 'When you'd come back into the crew room after a long day, you would more often than not find Ringwood curled up on the clothes you'd left out,' said one volunteer.

One Saturday morning in July 2015 staff arrived to find her body in the shed; she had passed away during the night. There was talk of taking on another cat, perhaps from a rescue centre, but so far that doesn't seem to have happened. However, a memorial plaque has been placed where Ringwood is buried, at the 'viewing point' in sight of the shed she loved so much.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

   THIRSK STATION
North Yorkshire

There's a three-legged tabby cat, name unknown, at Thirsk; he or she was still there in mid-2016, but whether or not as a resident is unclear. The cat seems to appear mostly in fine weather, but maybe has somewhere to retreat to at other times. One of the ticket-office staff is reported to keep it supplied with cat-food pouches.

   TODMORDEN STATION
West Yorkshire

Dinky was the handsome ginger-and-white station cat at Todmorden, where he had been since at least 2010. He was quite active around the premises, roaming all over including the taxi rank below, and was something of a legend at the station, where he'd been the subject of several artistic works placed around the ticket office. He always enjoyed a stroke, but apparently didn't meow! No one knew Dinky's age, but he must have been quite old; sadly, in July 2017 he died from organ failure. The notice of his death (lower image) read:

Centre image: for Dinky jumping, thanks to Ken Ward at Flickr where it can be seen full-sized.
Many thanks to Steve Roberts for providing information about Dinky and further images; and to Andrew Wilson for letting us know of his passing.

   TONBRIDGE STATION
Kent

This busy station on a commuter line to London had two beloved cats, Jill and Louis, who decided the place suited them. They based themselves either in the staff mess room or the shunters' lobby, to both of which they had access, and were well looked after. When they died (Louis in 2004, Jill in 2006), plaques were put up in their memory.
Upper two photos: Judith Johnson (Jill plaque), Francesca Watson (Louis plaque)

Eight-year-old black-and-white moggy Sapphire, usually known as Sapphie (or Saffie), was taken in as resident cat by the team at Tonbridge after her owners moved away from nearby. She had already been visiting the station for some weeks by then — in fact her owners said she wouldn't come home! She had quickly made friends with station staff and regular commuters — who gave her lots of affection — and seemed to find her new living arrangements to her liking. She had one bed and her litter tray in the manager�s office, and another bed in the supervisor�s office. She had a passion for flowing tap water, and found the coconut matting in the café perfect for claw-sharpening!

The station supervisor said: 'She's like our little extra helper. She makes herself known out on the platform and brings people together because everyone's talking about her, getting treats for her, feeding her, buying her new beds and all sorts of stuff like that.' (It sounded as though she'd need to watch her waistline!)

Sadly, Sapphie contracted cancer and in March 2018, on veterinary advice, it was thought best to put her to sleep to avoid further suffering. She was much missed by staff and commuters alike, and a plaque to her memory has been placed at the station. Funds raised in a Go-fund-me campaign for possible vet's fees were used for this after her death, and the remainder was given to a charity that rehomes street cats.

Sapphie's story was the first in a series of short films by Southeastern Rail tagged #AmazingJourneys, and is available at YouTube

   WARMINSTER STATION
Wiltshire

From at least 2010, Warminster station in Wiltshire had a cat called Casper, who although he didn't live there but in a nearby home, spent a lot of time there and enjoyed 'meeting and greeting' travellers. Sadly he died in March 2016, having reached the grand age of 22.
Photo: Cat Party

See Danny Howell's Casper at Warminster Railway Station for a set of photos from May 2016, and also Casper ... Has Used Up All Of His Nine Lives.

   WATERLOO STATION
Central London

We can't see him very well, but this is Trooper who was mouser and pigeon-chaser at Waterloo Station in the early 1980s. We have no details other than that the photo was taken during the rail strike of July 1982, so Trooper and the pigeons had the station virtually to themselves.

   WHITBY
North Yorkshire

Black-and-white Arthur turned up at the station in the 1960s, was befriended by staff and made it his home for the next 10 years. Although he had a lame back leg, it didn't curb his hunting activities and the station was kept rodent-free. When he died the staff, who had appreciated his friendship as well as his 'mouse work', buried him by the buffers at the end of the unused Platform 3, one of his favourite spots. A sandstone marker was placed, with the date 8.8.75 under the legend 'Morte d'Arthur'. Later the platform was demolished, but the stone was rescued and, although difficult to access, can still be found between the station and a new supermarket.
Photo: Harry Mead

   WHITTON STATION
Richmond-on-Thames, south London

The station in this London borough had a black-and-white cat that they named Brian; we're not sure when he arrived, or whether he made his home there or lived nearby, but in mid-2015 he was said to have been regularly meeting and greeting commuters for the past several months. He was often to be seen sunbathing on the platform and climbing over unsuspecting travellers. However, early in 2016 he seems to have disappeared; apparently there was some building work going on that could have upset him. Appeals were made for information and people were asked to look out for him, but as far as we know in late 2016 he hasn't been seen again.

Brian the Whitton Station Cat at Facebook
Lovely YouTube clip with many photos of Brian, accompanied by a song Station Cat (Note: it continues after the credits)

   WIVENHOE STATION
Essex

This station had a feline presence in the form of Wendy, who adopted it as her home and, like many station cats, enjoyed having a fuss made of her by travellers. It isn't clear when she arrived there, but she was certainly around early in 2010 and at the time was thought to be quite an old cat. The following year, in October 2011, she was rehomed and went to live in Brightlingsea, but she seems to have gone missing from there about a month later and was not seen again.
Inner image: windowsill photo courtesy of Monika at Flickr where it can be seen full-sized

Facebook: Wendy Station Cat

   YEOVIL PEN MILL STATION & SIGNAL BOX
Somerset

Thomas (or Tom) is a big black-and-white cat at Yeovil Pen Mill mechanical signal box, which is at the end of the station platform. One photo seen shows him fast asleep on the edge of the platform, from where he apparently had to be wakened and moved by a guard before a train could depart. A 2009 visitor was told that 'He also enjoys travelling on trains and has visited Castle Cary and Dorchester by hopping on. The guards all know him and ensure he returns safely!', and in 2014 someone else wrote, 'I believe (and stand to be corrected or backed up) that he has in the past caught a train to Bristol!'

In early 2016 it was reported that he was 'a part-time bobby now and due for retirement', but he was photographed still very much at home in the signal box later that year. A January 2020 photograph showed him still there, although looking his age.

Lower image: courtesy of Adrian Falconer at Flickr (closeup), and the Widewanderer blog (Tom + signal box)

Our featured feline at the head of the page is Socks, pictured in 2003 surveying his 'estate' in the early morning sunshine. Affectionately known as Soxy, he blossomed from a thin and hungry stray into a substantial and handsome cat who loved life and company, and his gentle ways endeared him to many friends. He is no longer with us, but you can read more from his human companion here.