Betty, a cat once living as a feral stray, has been officially promoted to 'Junior Mouse Catcher' at Sutton Coldfield Station near Birmingham. She now utilizes her hunting skills on behalf of West Midlands Railway (WMR) to manage the station's mouse population.
Betty resides at Folklore Coffee and Bagels, located on platform 2, where she was adopted in 2025 by cafe owner Alex Light. Light found Betty and her three kittens near an apartment block in the town center. While the kittens were rehomed, Light decided to keep and domesticate Betty.
Zoe Hodgins, regional station manager at WMR, expressed enthusiasm for Betty's new role, stating she possesses a "fantastic cat–titude" and takes her duties seriously. These duties include greeting customers, napping, and deterring mice.
Betty's workday begins early, mirroring the coffee shop's schedule. She wakes around 5:30 a.m. for breakfast before patrolling the station. By 7:30 a.m., she returns to the cafe to greet commuters. Her subsequent patrols are weather-dependent, but she returns for the cafe's lunchtime closure. After the cafe staff prepare for the following day, Betty undertakes another patrol of the station before having dinner and retiring for the night.
According to Light, Betty has several favorite resting spots within the station, including a perch by the till, comfortable seating areas, and a quiet space accessible only by a cat flap. He noted that Betty is popular with customers and has her own Instagram account, with WMR's recognition highlighting her contributions.
Betty is outranked by George, a senior mouse catcher at Stourbridge Junction Station. George, an orange tabby, was appointed in 2021 and even had a Stourbridge Shuttle train named in his honor in 2025. He has a significant social media following and also lives at the station, owned by a WMR staff member.