Published Jun 15, 2025
Wouldn’t it be surprising to see a cat at your local train station? This is the reality for people visiting the Stevenage train station in the United Kingdom, where a cat named Nala has made the place her second home.
Becoming a Feline Ticketmaster
Nala is an outdoor cat who spends a lot of her time at the train station. She’s very social and calm.
Travellers can spot her sitting on the barriers or even hanging out at the coffee shop, soaking in any attention offered her way. She’s become a local celebrity, even earning herself an online following of over 85,000.
She seems to love all people, and isn’t even afraid of kids. Nala is always getting her picture taken or featured in videos from people passing through. After all, it’s not everyday that you see a cat at the train station!
Who is Nala the cat?
Though it’d be easy to assume she’s a stray, Nala does have a home. Her human family lives nearby and has always kept Nala as an outdoor cat.
She wears a tracking device on her collar so that her owners can keep an eye on her movements. Unfortunately, though, devices like these aren’t foolproof and don’t make the outdoors safe for cats.
While a tracking collar will tell you your cat’s whereabouts, it won’t stop them from wandering into traffic or entering other dangerous locations.
Cat Enrichment
Places like the train station provide plenty of stimulation and mental enrichment for social cats. There’s no denying that Nala gets something out of the experience!
Many outdoor cat owners struggle with the idea of bringing their cat indoors because they think they’ll be bored. The problem is that outdoor cats are exposed to much greater risks than indoor cats, and they often live shorter lives as a result.
If you want to keep your cat fully indoors, daily playtime is a must. The general rule is to have 2-3 short play sessions with your cat each day, each lasting 10-15 minutes. However, a cat who’s used to free roaming may need even more exercise!
Other ways to provide mental enrichment to indoor cats are bird feeders near windows, puzzle toys, and stuffed catnip toys. You can also play games like fetch or hide and seek, or engage your cat’s mind through short training sessions.
Safe outdoor adventures
All of that said, cats don’t need to be kept fully indoors to be safe! Social cats who love to explore, like Nala, may enjoy going on leashed walks while wearing a harness. Other cats may like sitting in a catio, or cat patio, and enjoying the cool breeze on their fur.
If your cat will stay close, you can even bring them outside for supervised outdoor time in the backyard.
While keeping an indoor cat entertained takes more effort, it’s better for the cat and provides ample time for the two of you to bond!
