Betty, a former feral stray cat, has been officially promoted to the role of 'Junior Mouse Catcher' at Sutton Coldfield Station, located near Birmingham in the United Kingdom. The cat now uses her hunting skills on behalf of West Midlands Railway (WMR).
Betty resides at Folklore Coffee and Bagels on platform 2, where she has been tasked with managing the station's mouse population. The feline was adopted in 2025 by Alex Light, the owner of the coffee shop. Light found Betty living near a local apartment block with her three kittens. While the kittens were rehomed, Light chose to keep and domesticate Betty.
"We are very excited to have Betty on board," said Zoe Hodgins, regional station manager at WMR. "She's proven she has a fantastic cat–titude and takes her daily duties – greeting customers, napping and warding off mice – very seriously."
Betty's work schedule mirrors that of the coffee shop. She begins her day around 5:30 a.m. with breakfast before patrolling the station. By 7:30 a.m., she returns to the cafe to greet commuters. Her subsequent patrols depend on the weather, with a break for lunch during the shop's midday closure.
Afternoon patrols resume, and Betty returns for dinner and an early night. Mr. Light noted that Betty has several preferred resting spots throughout the station, including a shelf by the till, comfortable seating areas, and a private space accessible only by a cat flap. He added that Betty is popular with customers and has her own social media presence.
Betty is outranked by George, an orange tabby who holds the position of 'Senior Mouse Catcher' at Stourbridge Junction Station. George was appointed in 2021, and a Stourbridge Shuttle train was named in his honor in 2025. George also lives at the station and is owned by a WMR staff member, boasting a significant social media following.