Popular train station cat gets Google Maps marker

George is a social media star, with 66,000 followers on X and 49,000 followers on Facebook

A cat that lives at a train station in the West Midlands has become so popular he has his own marker on Google Maps and even his own merchandise.

George the cat first started popping into Stourbridge Junction in 2017, and when his owner emigrated to Spain he was adopted by staff.

The 10-year-old moggy has become quite the celebrity thanks to his social media accounts and has fans that come to visit him from as far as the United States, Canada and Asia.

He has now been shortlisted for BBC Radio WM's Make a Difference Award.

George and the other finalists will find out if they have won at a ceremony at Birmingham Hippodrome on Monday 9 September.

The ginger tom has a special bond with supervisor Ian Tomlinson, who agreed to adopt him when his owner emigrated

The 10-year-old moggy finds his role as the station's Senior Mouse Catcher exhausting

George has become so popular that he has his own marker on Google Maps

George's official role is Senior Mouse Catcher, but he has a far bigger influence than the title suggests.

He helps to spread positivity with uplifting messages posted on his social media pages.

A percentage of the profits from his merchandise is given to local charities and lots of his treats are passed on to less fortunate cats.

In 2021 George's army of social media followers helped Stourbridge Junction win the World Cup of Stations award, which is run by the Rail Delivery Group.

Last year he played an active role in the campaign to save the ticket offices.

Naomi White from Craven Arms follows George on social media and said he made "such a difference" to how she felt about the day

A mural has been dedicated to George and staff at Stourbridge Junction

Local business Olivia-Mae Creations designs George themed hats, cups, coasters and calendars with some of the profits going to charity

George is the latest in a long tradition of railway station cats.

Supervisor Ian Tomlinson said there was another one at Stourbridge Junction many years ago, and at Smethwick West, Langley and Rowley Regis.

They were traditionally employed to keep the vermin down.

George currently lives at the station but when Mr Tomlinson retires, he will go to live with him.

George likes to spend most of his time outside the ticket office

Sometimes the ginger tom likes to greet commuters as they arrive at the station

The ticket office at Stourbridge Junction is covered in artwork, cards and letters dedicated to George