catmando.blog

I spent most of this past week in Disneyland with eight of my ten grandchildren and their parents.   It was great.  I only have one complaint.  I never saw any cats.  As you may know, I like taking photographs of cats wherever I go, but I was surprised not to see any in Disneyland.

When most people think about Disneyland, they picture Mickey Mouse, thrilling rides, churros, and fireworks.  What many visitors do not realize is that Disneyland has another group of hardworking residents that help keep the park running smoothly.  These employees work the night shift, never ask for a paycheck, and are experts at pest control.  I’m talking about Disneyland’s famous feral cats.

The story of Disneyland’s cats goes back to the beginning of the park’s construction.  According to Disney lore, workers discovered a colony of feral cats living in the Sleeping Beauty Castle area shortly after the park opened.  Some stories place the discovery during the construction period, while others say it happened years later during renovations.  One park employee I talked to said they were discovered when an engineer was testing one of the animatronics, but regardless of exactly when they arrived, Disney quickly realized the cats were performing an important service by helping control the local rodent population.

Rather than removing the cats, Disneyland management developed a unique approach.  The cats were allowed to stay, but they would be cared for responsibly.  Today, Disney maintains feeding stations, monitors the cats’ health, and participates in spay-and-neuter programs to keep the population stable and healthy.

Most guests (including me) never see the cats because they are primarily active after the park closes.  Once the crowds leave and Main Street becomes quiet, the feline patrol begins its shift.  Cats roam through Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, and even around the famous castle grounds.  While thousands of visitors are sleeping in nearby hotels, Disneyland’s four-legged workforce is hard at work.

Of course, some guests have been lucky enough to spot one.  One of the most famous Disneyland cats is a black cat named Francisco, who became something of a celebrity among Disney fans.  Visitors would often share photos online whenever they spotted him lounging near the entrance of a ride or casually supervising park operations.

The funny part is that the cats seem completely unimpressed by Disneyland’s fame.  While guests stand in line for an hour to meet a costumed mouse, the cats stroll around acting as if they own the place.  In many ways, they probably do.

There are countless stories of visitors spotting cats perched on fences, napping in flower beds, or casually crossing pathways while crowds stop to take pictures.  Some guests (like me) become more excited about spotting a Disneyland cat than meeting their favorite Disney character.

Imagine being a cat at Disneyland.  Unlimited sunshine, beautiful landscaping, endless places to nap, and thousands of tourists trying to photograph you.  It might be one of the best cat jobs in the world.

The next time you visit Disneyland, keep your eyes open.  Look carefully around the quieter corners of the park, especially in the early morning or late evening.  You might catch a glimpse of one of Disney’s most dedicated employees.

Just remember one thing: Mickey Mouse may be the official mascot, but the cats are the ones keeping an eye on the kingdom after dark.