Nala (cat)
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 Nala the cat sitting on a ticket barrier | |
| Species | Cat |
|---|---|
| Breed | Moggy |
| Sex | Male[1] |
| Born | c. 2019 |
| Died | December 2025 (aged 5–6) |
| Known for | Sitting on the barriers at Stevenage railway station |
| Owners | Natasha Ambler and Lewis Ames |
| Residence | Stevenage, England |
| Appearance | Ginger tabby |
| Named after | Nala (The Lion King)[1] |
Nala (c. 2019 – December 2025) was a ginger tabby cat from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England. She became known locally and online for sitting at the ticket barriers of Stevenage railway station, where commuters and visitors often stopped to pet her and take photos. Her popularity grew in October 2023 after her owner created a Facebook group to share images of her, leading to wider recognition in the community and on social media.
Nala lived approximately ten minutes from Stevenage railway station with her owners, Natasha Ambler and Lewis Ames.[2][3] She was adopted through the RSPCA and had a brother, Simba, with whom she was named after characters from The Lion King.[3]
From a young age, Nala regularly explored the surrounding area and frequently visited Stevenage railway station in the mornings and evenings.[3] She was often observed sitting on ticket barriers, where commuters interacted with her and took photographs.[4][5] Shortly after first being allowed outdoors, she was struck by a car; her owners later stated that this incident contributed to her becoming more cautious around roads and traffic.[3]
Nala was fitted with a GPS tracking device, which recorded her movements around Stevenage. She was documented visiting the railway station, the nearby leisure park, and on one occasion spending most of a night inside a cinema.[4] In a single week, she was recorded travelling 35 miles (56 km).[5] Due to frequent calls from members of the public who believed she was lost, her owners added a second tag to her collar clarifying that she was not missing but accustomed to roaming.[4]
On 7 December 2025, a Facebook group dedicated to Nala announced her death, describing her as "much more than a pet".[6] Following her death, a fundraising campaign was launched on GoFundMe to finance a commemorative statue at Stevenage railway station.[7]