Feral cats

[NickTPT]

Hi folks,

I know this has been discussed once or twice before, so sorry if I'm covering old ground.

On a recent trip to the park I saw an entire family of cats on top of the Mexican Cantina when I was riding on the Sky Ride. I'm curious - are feral cats encouraged by the park's management as a way of controlling vermin (as they are at Disneyland)? Or are attempts made to get rid of them?

[PeteB]

Never heard anything about this, but yes there are a few cats around Towers.

Basically as far as I'm aware Alton is just naturally full of wildlife (you'll see all kinds if you look hard enough), but the cats are owned by people who either live nearby or live within the grounds.

Cats like to roam, and sometimes they like to be around people. I think I'd be right in saying they are neither encouraged or discouraged by anyone at Towers, but rather left alone to do their own thing.

[Hmv]

The cats are indeed feral, IMO the staff and certainly myself just leave them to roam neither encouraging or discouraging them.

[Dan]

I always see a black & white cat hanging around Nemesis. It doesn't seem bothered by the crowds or the roar from the beast so it's obvious that they're used to the area.

[Count-Vonduel]

I once saw a cat sitting under RMT's bell and when the ride started and the bell rang, it jumped up in the air and ran off into the plant life surrounding Katanga Canyon.

[Jack]

I once saw a cat sitting under RMT's bell and when the ride started and the bell rang, it jumped up in the air and ran off into the plant life surrounding Katanga Canyon.

*ding* MEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOW
that just came into my mind, had to post

[TheOutpatient]

when I see the cats, it makes my day  8) but I've never seen them on top of the Mexican restaurant- Haha.

2 of them have been named - Ripsaw and Ripsaw junior but they probably now look much the same. They're called that because that's where they hang around and its true - when I've seen them they were on the grass beds in Forbidden Valley and along the path through the woods that leads there. I tried to stroke one once but it just shuffled backwards 

I hope they never try to get rid of them, and feed them sometimes.
I'm guessing they might be attracted to Mexican Cantina area by the smell of the food.

[Alex.D]

All I want to know is. ARE THEY FLUFFY? If not I don't care much tbh. TheOutpatient if you want to stroke them, try gaining their trust first. Try giving them food and stuff.

[TheOutpatient]

lol, they're not very fluffy. They're just short hairs that look a tiny bit gaunt and muscular - white and black

this is one of them:

[altontowerskid]

That cat has been in Pizza & Pasta way too often!

[Danny]

The black and white cat that lurks around in Forbidden Valley I believe is actually called Ripsaw. I've seen it quite regularly on my visits this season

[girlgooner]

They are the Roper spy's

[TheOutpatient]

They're my friends and I'm going to try to gain their trust with some treats. I wonder if they'd prefer a cat treat or something like a burger. They like Italian apparently - maybe some meat balls.

[J_Baggie]

I too have seen the big group of cats on top of the Mexican cantina. Wasn't sure if towers were aware of them or not lol

[NickTPT]

Thanks all. So it seems there are a fair few cats around the place.

There were at least 8 of them on top of the Cantina when I saw them. Rats, mice etc. better watch out...although perhaps the cats prefer tacos and burritos, given where they've set up up shop.

[TheOutpatient]

woah 8? that's crazy.
Cats like it up high because its good to be up high from a survival point of view.

Gonna try and get some close pictures soon with the treat thing.

[Ripsaw Raver]

Right thats it! When i go for my correction in september my clothes are bieng sprayed with cat nip! Wonder if i can get to hold one. LOVE CATS my cat Beryl has better treatment than my BF lol

[loulou87]

This thread has put the biggest smile on my face!! (I'm very easy to please). I'm sure I saw that cat in the carpark near air last year!! I've never seen one in the park though, my eyes shall be peeled from now on. Ill look for for any people waving cat treats around forbiden valley too

[lucy2244]

I've never seen any cats at the towers, but I would sure love too and might even sneak them a tit bit or too 

[tallicay2k]

Hope they have paid their admission *shakes fist*