Disneyland Uses Feral Cats to Control Rodent Population? (2024)

The topic of Disneyland's rumored feral cat population, purportedly used to keep rodents at bay, has long been a subject of discussion on social media and fan forums like Theme Park Insider. Several accounts on X and Instagram are dedicated to Disneyland's supposed feline population. These cats have garnered a significant following online, with fans sharing photos and stories of their sightings, and some visitors even trying to spot the elusive animals during their trips to the Anaheim, Southern California, amusem*nt park.

For example, a recent post in April 2024 from Cats of Disneyland, an Instagram account that classifies itself as "Satire/Parody," featured a photo of a supposed Disneyland cat identified as "Marjorie":

In January 2024, a post in the Disneyland subreddit posed the question, "Have you ever been lucky enough to see a Disneyland cat?"

(Reddit)

There is even a fan website called The Cats of Disneyland, dedicated to these felines, featuring stories, profiles, photos and updates about the theme park's furry residents. However, a disclaimer at the bottom of this website clarifies as follows:

The Cats of Disneyland is a parody site that is in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or its affiliates.

It's true that Disneyland is home to a sizable cat population. Several reputable outlets including The Los Angeles Times, Business Insider and SFGATE have reported on the theme park's feral feline phenomenon. Disney-focused outlet Inside the Magic estimates that around 200 feral cats live on the Anaheim premises. And Reddit posts as far back as 2011 have discussed the feral cats that populate the park. But details around the supposed active or purposeful use of these cats are murky.

Does Disney Acknowledge Why Cats Remain at Park?

Despite multiple reports widely circulating the claim that the park actively maintains these cats to control the park's rodent population, Disneyland and The Walt Disney Company have offered little confirmation to support this specific reason. While many sources and reports suggest this connection, without direct confirmation from Disney, it remains an unofficial and speculative part of the narrative.

However, in a 2010 article by The Los Angeles Times, the reporter received acknowledgement from a Disneyland animal manager about the cats' existence, admitting their usefulness at keeping vermin under control:

"We are not trying to get rid of them," said Gina Mayberry, manager of Disneyland's Circle D ranch, where the park's animals are housed. "They keep the rodent population down."

We reached out to Disneyland media relations for additional confirmation regarding the purpose of the park's feral feline population, but they did not immediately return a request for comment.

In the few statements from Disney reps, the focus has been on the company's general commitment to animal welfare rather than any particular role the cats play in rodent control.

For instance, in a 2011 report by The Orange County Register, then-Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown emphasized the park's "long legacy of caring about nature and animals." However, she did not explicitly state that the cats were kept for the purpose of rodent control. "To keep animals healthy and our guests safe, we ask that guests please avoid giving them food, picking them up or approaching them," she added.

The Orange County Register reported that "in 2001, volunteer group Best Friends Catnippers helped to spay and neuter the cats and later sponsored the cats being treated at a local veterinary hospital."

We reached out to Best Friends Catnippers as well as its nonprofit parent organization Best Friends Animal Society for confirmation on their role in caring for Disneyland's cats, but they did not immediately return a request for comment.

Author Mike Fox, who wrote "The Hidden Secrets & Stories of Walt Disney World," "The Hidden Secrets & Stories of Disneyland" and "Disneyland In-Depth," has also commented on the topic. A synopsis of Fox's "The Hidden Secrets & Stories of Disneyland" noted that the book includes information about "where to find Disneyland's feline 'cats members'" (a play on the title of 'cast members,' the name given to Disney workers employed at the parks).

In 2018, he told Business Insider that the park was activiely housing the cats, who "roam the park day and night keeping any rodents in check." However, while Fox has been featured in various Disney-themed outlets due to his extensive knowledge, he is not an official representative of The Walt Disney Company. As such, his statements are not official confirmations from the park about the reasons why the feral felines are allowed to remain at Disneyland.

In additional, Business Insider pulled much of its information about Disneyland's feral cats from The Cats of Disneyland website. However, as noted earlier, this is a satire site not officially endorsed by Disney.

Cats Have Been Living at Disneyland for Years

These felines, widely reported as part of Disneyland since the 1950s when they were supposedly discovered living in Sleeping Beauty Castle, primarily come out at night when the park is closed, so they rarely interact with visitors during the day. Disneyland is said to provide food and medical care to ensure the cats remain healthy.

Snopes unearthed a Change.org petition launched in 2015 called "Stop the Starvation of Community Cats of Disneyland Area/ Anaheim!" According to the petition:

Anaheim Law saidDISNEYLAND& ResidentsMust STARVE their BELOVED StrayCATS! The Ban was finally legallydropped but citizens are still being told by enforcement officers to starve cats!

...

Threeyears ago, the City of Anaheimenacted a new codethat made it illegal for residents to feed feral cats. Rather than spending their resources on humane spay/neuter programs, the city began harassing and threatening caretakersfor simply feedingcommunitycats; innocent creaturesthat depend on devoted feeders for their very lives. Not only did this hurt cats, it turned warmhearted people into criminals. Anaheim is home toDisneyland,which has its own famous feral cat community. Anaheim Fix Project/ OC Community Cats fought hard to get the law changed — and finally the ban was dropped.Anaheim Fix Project now works in cooperation with the city and has taken over the care, fixing and feeding of many community cat colonies that were out of control and filthy but now are under control and the cats are healthy and cared for.

We reached out to the community preservation and licensing manager for the city of Anaheim for confirmation about the care and treatment of these cats and will update this article if we receive a response.

In sum, it is well-documented that Disneyland is home to a significant population of feral cats. Their presence is not hidden, and they have become something of a legend among Disneyland fans. While many sources claim that Disneyland actively or purposely allows the cats to roam free to control the rodent population, this specific purpose remains unconfirmed by Disneyland itself, aside from a few remarks over the years. According to a Los Angeles Times article, it was a "badly kept secret" that the cats were used for this purpose, but the theme park has never officially acknowledged this reasoning.

Without direct confirmation from Disneyland or The Walt Disney Company, this aspect of the cats' role at the theme park remains speculative. The cats certainly reside at Disneyland and are cared for by the staff, though their continued presence/usage are not definitively confirmed by the company.

Snopes has previously reported on numerous Disneyland rumors, including the false claim that Disney "canceled" the "Peter Pan" character Tinker Bell, and the satirical claim that 100 squatters had taken over Disneyland.