Llangollen Railway Feral Cat Problem

[John Luxton]

It appears that Llangollen Railway has a serious feral cat problem with about 25 on the Pentrefelin carriage works site.

One wonders if other railways have attracted such a large feline presence?

I must admit on the countless visits to Llangollen Railway I have made I have not even seen a single cat as the train passes Pentrefelin.

Feral cats colony on North Wales railway raise pressure as numbers explode

The first stray cats to arrive were an amusing distraction. A decade later and Llangollen Heritage Railway’s colony of feral felines was getting out of hand.

Fed and looked after by volunteers, numbers grew despite efforts to find them new homes. By the time the Covid pandemic was over, numbers had topped 25. Based at the railway’s Pentrefelin carriage and wagon workshop 1.2km from Llangollen station, the cats scampered across tracks, idled in the sun and sheltered in the workshop.

Feral cats colony on North Wales railway raise pressure as numbers explode

'Some of the cats are friendly, others are not'

www.dailypost.co.uk

 

[simonw]

It appears that Llangollen Railway has a serious feral cat problem with about 25 on the Pentrefelin carriage works site.

One wonders if other railways have attracted such a large feline presence?

I must admit on the countless visits to Llangollen Railway I have made I have not even seen a single cat as the train passes Pentrefelin.

Feral cats colony on North Wales railway raise pressure as numbers explode

Feral cats colony on North Wales railway raise pressure as numbers explode

'Some of the cats are friendly, others are not'

www.dailypost.co.uk

Fed and looked after by volunteers, numbers grew despite efforts to find them new homes. By the time the Covid pandemic was over, numbers had topped 25.

Well there's a surprise ,feed cats and you get more cats.

 

[Ashley Hill]

On the plus side I doubt they have a rodent problem.

 

[fgwrich]

On the plus side I doubt they have a rodent problem.

Must be working, they've only got one Class 26 and that's been away from the line on a Holiday

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Apologies if I'm missing something, but what exactly is the "problem" with these cats? If they're feral or even semi-feral, they'll be more than capable of looking after themselves if there isn't enough food put down by volunteers. An added bonus it'll keep the rodents at bay. Whilst I can understand the concerns for their safety being in an area where shunting is taking place, a quick toot on the horn or whistle will shift any cat that's sat in harms way. Failing that, being "shoo-ed" with a broom will do the trick.

This feels like a bit of a "slow news day" story to me. Though an added bonus is that I'm more likely to visit the railway now that I know there's cats as well as trains there!

 

[John Luxton]

Apologies if I'm missing something, but what exactly is the "problem" with these cats? If they're feral or even semi-feral, they'll be more than capable of looking after themselves if there isn't enough food put down by volunteers. An added bonus it'll keep the rodents at bay. Whilst I can understand the concerns for their safety being in an area where shunting is taking place, a quick toot on the horn or whistle will shift any cat that's sat in harms way. Failing that, being "shoo-ed" with a broom will do the trick.

This feels like a bit of a "slow news day" story to me. Though an added bonus is that I'm more likely to visit the railway now that I know there's cats as well as trains there!

You probably won't see the cats from the station or train. Pentrefelin in about a mile from Llangollen Station by the Dee Bridge. I have been a regular visitor to the railway since 1987 and not seen any cats at any if the stations except a stuffed cuddly one which used to be placed by the stuffed pigeon in the basket at Berwyn Station. Disappeared a few years ago that!

I wonder if perhaps one or two people are allergic to or fearful of cats? Perhaps that has prompted the issue.

Personally I love cats, mine is on my knee as I type this.

 

[Bayum]

With them being feral, they might try and attack people that come too close. Usually, they’d runaway but if they’re breeding or feel trapped, they’ll use their teeth and claws.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

You probably won't see the cats from the station or train. Pentrefelin in about a mile from Llangollen Station by the Dee Bridge. I have been a regular visitor to the railway since 1987 and not seen any cats at any if the stations except a stuffed cuddly one which used to be placed by the stuffed pigeon in the basket at Berwyn Station. Disappeared a few years ago that!

I wonder if perhaps one or two people are allergic to or fearful of cats? Perhaps that has prompted the issue.

Personally I love cats, mine is on my knee as I type this.

That's a shame- they should make an additional attraction out of it. Quite a few stations on the "big" railway have "celebrity" cats in residence.

At the very least, they should rename the works to "Pentrefeline"!

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With them being feral, they might try and attack people that come too close. Usually, they’d runaway but if they’re breeding or feel trapped, they’ll use their teeth and claws.

They're cats, not tigers. They'll not do any lasting damage to anyone.

 

[LowLevel]

I know the GCR has always had cats, both (semi!) domesticated living around the sheds/offices and feral. There's a long standing feral colony living around the carriage sidings at Loughborough.

 

[railfan99]

They're cats, not tigers. They'll not do any lasting damage to anyone.

The UK has different wildlife to my distant nation, but feral (and domestic) cats are notorious for killing local species.

 

[Ashley Hill]

On the downside that amount of cats will probably crap everywhere. Tread carefully .

 

[YorkshireBear]

The UK has different wildlife to my distant nation, but feral (and domestic) cats are notorious for killing local species.

Huge problem here too but people just ignore it.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The UK has different wildlife to my distant nation, but feral (and domestic) cats are notorious for killing local species.

But the post I was responding to was referring to attacks on people. That they prey on small wildlife is a separate issue.

On the downside that amount of cats will probably crap everywhere. Tread carefully .

Very smart of them to keep their business on the side of the tracks heading away from London!

 

[Bayum]

That's a shame- they should make an additional attraction out of it. Quite a few stations on the "big" railway have "celebrity" cats in residence.

At the very least, they should rename the works to "Pentrefeline"!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Aug 2024 ==


They're cats, not tigers. They'll not do any lasting damage to anyone.

Cat scratch fever, feline bites that break the skin can track bacteria into the tissues… potential carriers of bacteria in the local population.

 

[Titfield]

They need to think laterally about this problem.

Perhaps run a "Sponsor a Pussy" marketing campaign or "Become a Life member and get a free cat".

The cats could be named after famous loco designers or given the numbers of famous steam locomotives.

 

[signed]

Perhaps run a "Sponsor a Pussy" marketing campaign or "Become a Life member and get a free cat".

I do think we have enough abandonned and abused animals to do that

 

[yorksrob]

Yes, cats will follow their stomachs for sure !

 

[SLC001]

Ferel cats are protected by law and there is not much you can do about them if they were a problem. They tend to have short lives picking up diseases due to not being vaccinated like domestic cats. Usually they keep themselves to themselves and so I don't see an obvious problem. If it is, neutering is the answer I guess.

 

[Trackman]

Well there's a surprise ,feed cats and you get more cats.

Can't remember where it was, it was either North Wales or somewhere near Settle.
Loads of feral cats knocking about, advised not feed them as they had not been neutered. It's their own fault. Saying that, I've read conflicting information on feeding feral cats.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Cat scratch fever, feline bites that break the skin can track bacteria into the tissues… potential carriers of bacteria in the local population.

Cats still do more good than harm... history shows us that bad things happen when cats are persecuted due to the habits of, and diseases carried by their usual prey.
If its really that much of a problem a few signs around the place warning that the cats are not fully tamed or domesticated so might not appreciate being fussed, would do the trick.

 

[alxndr]

If they don’t have the resources to rehome them all they should trap, neuter, and release them back. That will at least prevent the colony from continuing to grow and is a common tactic in America (often an ear gets clipped to indicate which have been neutered). Over time they could then recapture and slowly rehome the colony.

 

[GusB]

Cat scratch fever, feline bites that break the skin can track bacteria into the tissues… potential carriers of bacteria in the local population.

Most cats that I encounter are wary of people and they'll run a mile before they have to deal with a human, whether they are domestic or feral. If you have had your skin broken, you've probably posed a threat to the cat and it will have reacted accordingly; if you're really concerned you should contact the NHS and I'd imagine that a tetanus shot would probably be the likely outcome.

 

[Belperpete]

Most cats that I encounter are wary of people and they'll run a mile before they have to deal with a human, whether they are domestic or feral. If you have had your skin broken, you've probably posed a threat to the cat and it will have reacted accordingly; if you're really concerned you should contact the NHS and I'd imagine that a tetanus shot would probably be the likely outcome.

Walking along the canal behind Pentrefelin yard, there looks to be a lot of rolling stock that rarely gets moved, and some covered in vegetation that doesn't look like it has moved in decades. Probably used as stores? If these cats are using such places for breeding, then they could well attack someone who tries to access whatever is stored there.

 

[Stewart2887]

Cats Protection will step in if asked, and capture them for rehoming or neutering. I have one of them here, she's a brutal yet loving cat. We had loads of them at the UKAEA Harwell site I work at, they got neutered and ear clipped. I believe someone in senior management loved cats!

 

[peteb]

I understand cats are made very welcome in Turkey, as seen in the TV programme the Turkish Detective, they appear to get into all sorts of places of work!

They're a big tourist attraction in Cordoba, Spain too.

 

[randyrippley]

The Australians know what to do with cats.
Shoot them. They are just another form of vermin, like rats or grey squirrels

 

[ChiefPlanner]

The Australians know what to do with cats.
Shoot them. They are just another form of vermin, like rats or grey squirrels

Presumably same apples to snakes too ? !

 

[randyrippley]

Presumably same apples to snakes too ? !

Don't think so, they're native fauna, whereas cats are an exotic pest.

 

[Flying Snail]

Don't think so, they're native fauna, whereas cats are an exotic pest.

So are most Australians.

 

[johnnychips]

So are most Australians.

Don’t make me splutter my coffee!