Reddit.com is Google’s favourite at the moment. A big favorite. And they have a ‘sub-reddit’ (a reddit discussion topic) about Disneyland. An ideal opportunity to rely on the small army of Reddit users to answer the question in the title: Have you ever been lucky enough to see a Disneyland cat? Which was lifted straight from that sub-reddit. What else?
There are many comments responding to that question. I used the keyboard function Ctrl + F to search for the word ‘yes’ on that entire page. This produced some results but as a proportion of all the contributions my estimate is they were small at about 10% of the total. Perhaps less.
Most visitors to Disneyland in California don’t see the feral cats that the management say they are on the property to keep down the rodent population.
The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California is known for having a population of feral cats that roam the park. These cats are not officially part of any Disneyland attraction, but they are often seen by guests. The cats are believed to have been originally introduced or naturally settled in the park to help control the rodent population. Disneyland staff care for the cats by providing them with feeding stations and veterinary care, ensuring they are healthy while they help keep the park pest-free (source ChatGPT).
One Reddit user was very positive about seeing feral cats at the resort. It comes from about 8 months ago so it is not fresh news but it is handy:
Do the management add feral cats to the resort when the existing cats go over the rainbow bridge?
No, Disneyland management does not add new feral cats to the resort when existing ones pass away. The cats at Disneyland are not introduced or actively managed as part of an official program. Instead, they are a naturally occurring population that has established itself over the years.
Disneyland Resort does, however, care for the cats that are already there by providing feeding stations, medical care, and spaying/neutering services to control their population. The natural lifecycle of the cats means that the population fluctuates over time, but there is no effort to introduce new cats when others die. The management’s approach is more about humane management rather than actively maintaining a specific number of cats.
More: All businesses should take a leaf out of the Disneyland book on feral cats
How big in acres is the Anaheim resort?
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, covers approximately 500 acres. This includes both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, along with the Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment district, the resort hotels, and other facilities. This probably explains why many visitors don’t see the cats.
How many feral cats are there at the Anaheim resort?
The exact number of feral cats at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim is not publicly disclosed, and it can fluctuate over time. However, estimates typically suggest there are around 100 to 200 feral cats at any given time. These cats roam freely across the 500-acre resort, and their population is naturally regulated, with Disney providing care such as feeding, spaying/neutering, and veterinary attention to manage their health and numbers.
Those statistics indicate that on average there is one cat per acre. But I suspect that they are all in the same approximate place. If a visitor does not visit that place they will not see the cats.
How effective are cats at keeping down rodents?
Feral cats can be effective at controlling rodent populations by deterring them from settling in an area and actively hunting them. However, their impact varies depending on factors like the availability of food and hiding places for rodents, as well as the cats’ own hunting behavior. While cats can significantly reduce rodent numbers, they may not eliminate them entirely, especially since rodents reproduce quickly. Additionally, if the cats are well-fed, they might hunt less, reducing their impact on rodents. In controlled environments like Disneyland, where the cats are part of a broader pest management strategy, they play a useful role in keeping rodent populations low, though their effectiveness is influenced by several factors.
More: “Green rodent control” – what is it and how good is it?
In practice
I have seen videos of feral cats being frightened of large rats. Rats are predators and some feral cats are relatively timid. They will be ineffective in suppressing the rat population.
Domestic and feral cats can be intimidated by large rats and may avoid them if they perceive the rats as a threat. While cats are natural predators of rodents, a large or particularly aggressive rat can sometimes deter a cat from engaging. Cats may assess the risk and choose not to confront a rat that appears capable of defending itself. This cautious behavior is especially common in domestic cats that may not have as much experience hunting as feral cats. However, even feral cats may avoid large rats if they feel that the risk of injury is too high.
Anaheim feral cats are a publicity feature at the Anaheim resort?
The feral cats at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim are not officially promoted as a publicity feature by Disney. While they are well-known among some guests and have become a bit of an unofficial attraction, Disney does not actively market the cats as part of the park experience. The cats are more of a behind-the-scenes presence, helping to control the rodent population. However, their existence has become widely known through fan sites, blogs, and social media, making them a charming and beloved aspect of the park for many visitors who happen to spot them.
Sources: my thanks to ChatGPT for these responses. The AI bot has scraped the internet for its answers. This is questionable behaviour as it is ostensibly a copyright violation and secondly it is an existential threat to hundreds of thousands and arguably millions of websites.
