Hi everyone,
So it turns out that Japan isn’t the only place with official station cats! 😀 We have our very own station cat called Sapphie in Tonbridge here in the UK.
Southeastern has even made a short movie for her called Tails from Tonbridge!
More about her and how Southeastern is supporting her below:
It may not seem like the most obvious of homes for a cat, but eight-year-old Sapphie has taken up residence at a TRAIN STATION.
The hairy hobo needed somewhere to live when her former owners moved away from her house near Tonbridge station, in Kent.
Southeastern employees were more than happy to let her move in and Sapphie quickly decided her new abode was just purr-fect.
Now the misplaced moggie, who has become a big hit with passengers, has fully set down her paws.
And a 90 second film has been made showing just how much her claws are well and truly under the timetable http://bit.ly/1GuIbL8
Steve Davies, who works in the Sales Ticket Office at Tonbridge station, said: “She goes wherever she likes basically.”
Sapphie cat naps in the Station Manager’s office – the only place where litter is allowed. She has developed a penchant for flowing tap water and scratch-satisfying coconut matting at the café.
Fans of Sapphie have taken to Tweeting pictures of her. Commuters like her so much they even leave her treats and presents.
Jamie Good, 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.”
Debbie Hanson, Local Train Coordinator and “one of her feeders”, said: “She just started hanging around here. A few of us started thinking we better get some food for her and got really attached. The (previous) owners said her name was Sapphire, so it’s Sapphie for short, and we just kept that name.”
Sapphie’s tail (sic) is the first in a series of short films by Southeastern tagged #AmazingJourneys. They will be available on YouTube and show some of the more quirky stories from across the network.
David Statham, Managing Director of Southeastern, said: “Hundreds of thousands of passengers use our services every day but they may not be aware of some of the amazing stories that happen at our stations. With #AmazingJourneys we want to share some of these that show the people, places – even pets – out on our network every day.”
We hope you enjoyed her story and video and are looking forward to more great stories right here on the caternet!
Oh and please don’t forget to subscribe to our Newsletter by clicking here.
Thanks,
Marc
Tough time for travelling rodents in Tonebridge, thanks to Sapphi.
Haha. Yeah wouldn’t want to be a rodent there 😮
A perfect example of the ability of cats to adapt and make the most of their environment.
Indeed! 🙂
Wonderful kitty and people who all love her.
Thanks 🙂
If I were a UK commuter, I’d want to be travelling Southeastern!
🙂
First, I am so glad Sapphie has a happy home where people actually love her and will care for her. Second, shame on her family for moving away and leaving her behind. I simply do not understand the mindset of people who can leave a vulnerable creature behind to fend for herself. (Even if they did think the station would be a good place to leave her. They still left her with no real home.) Third, we need to remember that Sapphie may be the exception when it comes to what really happens to abandoned pets. I don’t know statistics, but I’m pretty sure most stories don’t have a happy ending. LadyBird could have been one of those tragic stories if I had not been at the right place at the right time. Thank you for sharing Sapphie’s story! 🙂
Thank you Sabina! And yes I do worry about poor cats being left behind. If you’d like to post LadyBirds story you’d be very welcome btw. ^^
So sweet ?
Indeed 🙂
Sapphie is just ANOTHER genius cat. I have truly enjoyed reading her story on her TRAVELS in the UK. The video is adorable. What a wonderful story, Marc. I wish Sapphie a long, happy life, traveling all over where ever she pleases. She is JUST THAT BRIGHT. It’s too hard NOT to fall in love with you, sweet Sapphie! You know how to travel! Love you a lot! Be well and stay safe. Please do not get CAT NAPPED!
<3
Thank you 🙂
Hurray for Sapphie!
Would you believe Diavolo sat on my lap and actually watched the video? Really, he was looking at the screen and perked up every time she was on. He got a little bored with the people though.
Lol Oli does that for certain cats on YouTube! Maybe they want to meet the strangers haha
Hmm – maybe I need to find a train station to hang out in! There may be travelers with pockets full of treats that need help getting rid of them!?
Oh yes. Best stations are in Japan and after that UK apparently. Loads of cat loving travellers and the railway will make you a station master so everyone has to obey your meows for treats. 😉
*packing my litterbox*
Haha 🙂
?
I am glad she is loved, but I feel bad that her family left her behind.
I know 🙁
Hopefully they regret the day they did this now that she is famous :/
She reminds me of Tama, the Japanese railway station cat. 🙂
Me too :D. I’ll be visiting Nitama – tama’s student next year. 🙂
Yep! They have a way of adopting you and stealing your heart in the process… 🙂
Indeed 🙂