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Credit: MicahFilesOne of the many feral cats that call Disneyland Resort home has amassed attention online after its unique situation spurred rumors that it was an abandoned pet. Disney Parks fans spoke out on Reddit after spotting the feline locked in a cage near the Toy Story Parking Area.
Feral cats have roamed Disneyland Resort since Walt Disney began construction in the 1950s. The cute-yet-skittish residents keep the Happiest Place on Earth pest-free in a way that, unlike poison traps or chemical repellents, doesn’t threaten the local ecosystem. Most of the cats are nocturnal and avoid interacting with Disney Park guests, though some have been adopted after becoming too friendly with people.
The animals are most commonly spotted throughout Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, and Downtown Disney District. However, some Disney Parks fans have expressed concern about an “older,” “frail” cat living in a cage in the outdoor Toy Story Parking Area, about two miles from Disneyland Resort.
“There is a cat that seems to be living in the Toy Story parking lot ‘cage’ where equipment (cones, etc) are stored,” u/Purple_Bag_3561 wrote on Reddit. “It’s been there day and night the last three days.”
The theme park guest said they spotted some food and water bowls but expressed concern that the cat was trapped in the cage.
“Anyone know this cat’s story? Or who cares for the cat?” they asked. “Doesn’t seem like it’s able to leave the area.”
Another Disney Park guest also noticed the cat but reassured the original poster that it seemed healthy.
“It was there when we were there six weeks ago,” u/–Flutacious– commented. “It can definitely get out of the cage if it wants to. It looked like the food and water bowls were being regularly filled.”
u/kaytbug86 explained that it’s common to restrict a new feral cat to a particular area for a while so that it eventually considers the nearby territory its home:
“I do not know about this specific cat, but I can say it is quite common in the feral cat TNR community to keep the cat in one place for awhile.
Provide it food, shelter, litter box, and a quiet place to sleep, and it will likely consider that location as its home. After a couple+ weeks, you release the cat and hope it comes back at night for dinner. This is how it’s done with barn cats and the like. You provide for them, and they help maintain pest control on your property.
It is possible this is a new TNR feral cat for the parking lot area, and they are working on introducing it to its new home location.”
Have you spotted any feral cats at Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, or Downtown Disney? In the comments, share your favorite memories with Inside the Magic.