FARE-EVADING GINGER CAT IN CUSTODY AFTER TAKING TRAIN TO CENTRAL MELBOURNE
Source: The Guardian (Extract)
Posted: March 29, 2025
Just after 6 a.m. on Tuesday morning, a curious young ginger cat hopped aboard a train at St Albans station in Melbourne’s western suburbs and traveled all the way to Flinders Street Station in the city centre.
CCTV footage shows the carriage doors opening on platform one, and the unexpected passenger casually following morning commuters to catch the city loop service.
On Wednesday, Victoria’s Premier, Jacinta Allan, shared the footage on social media in the hope that the cat’s owners might recognize their pet and come forward.
“They didn’t have a Myki to touch on or off, but some kind passengers took care of them all the way to Flinders Street,” Allan posted on X.
“So if you’re missing a well-behaved ginger cat who loves the train, please get in touch.”
On the Premier’s Facebook page, commenters couldn’t resist making light of the situation.
“This is peak orange cat behaviour,” one joked, while another said: “Let’s just ‘paws’ for a moment and consider the cat followed its owner to the office. WFH is far more purr-fect and productive!”
A spokesperson for Metro Trains Melbourne told Guardian Australia that passengers had taken care of the cat before handing it over to staff.
The cat is now being looked after by the Lost Dogs Home, which is requesting that only the cat’s owners reach out to claim him.
According to Victoria’s cat management strategy for 2025-35, tens of thousands of domestic cats end up in the state’s pounds and shelters each year, with only about 10% being claimed by their owners. In comparison, more than 50% of dogs are typically reunited with their owners after being found.
