Tiddles, the Cat Who Lived at Paddington Station

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

October 22, 2026

Tiddles, the Cat Who Lived at Paddington Station

For 13 years, a cat lived in the ladies' toilets of a London train station, becoming an unusual tourist attraction.

One morning in 1970, June Watson, an attendant at London's Paddington station, felt something brush against her leg. At first, she thought it might be a rat. But it turned out to be a six-week-old kitten.

The kitten followed her down to the ladies' toilets where she worked. June fed him, named him Tiddles, and asked the stationmaster if he could stick around. Luckily, the stationmaster said yes. From then on, Tiddles spent the next 13 years living in the ladies' toilets at Paddington station, becoming one of London's more unusual tourist attractions.

A home at Paddington

Tiddles settled into life at the station pretty well. His favorite sleeping spot was a comfortable basket under the attendant's desk, and he liked to wander upstairs to check out the platforms before the morning rush started. June once tried taking him home, thinking he'd like it better there, but Tiddles didn't like being away from Paddington, so he made his way back to the station.

As news spread about the cat in the ladies' toilets, more and more passengers started stopping by just to see him. People brought him gifts, sent him letters and postcards, and contributed money for his food. Eventually, the walls around his sleeping area were covered with fan mail from all over the world. Tiddles even had his own refrigerator to store the food people brought and mailed to him.

Tiddles, the famous fat cat which lived in the public lavatories at Paddington Station, London, 9th September 1978. Photo: Chris Moorhouse / Evening Standard / · Getty Images

A very well-fed celebrity

Tiddles developed quite a taste for expensive meals like steak, chicken, rabbit, and kidneys. And here was a problem. With all the visitors bringing him food, it became almost impossible to control how much he ate.

His weight just kept increasing. By 1982, Tiddles weighed around 30 pounds (13.6 kg) and had been named London's Fat Cat Champion. At his heaviest, he reportedly reached 32 pounds (14.5 kg). His size made him famous, and newspapers often featured the giant cat from Paddington. But his weight was also becoming a serious health concern. Veterinarians tried to put Tiddles on a diet, but admirers' constant stream of treats undermined their efforts.

Remembering Tiddles

In 1983, Tiddles became seriously ill. The vets discovered he had fluid around his lungs, and sadly, he had to be euthanized at 13 years old. British Rail called him part of the station's legacy and "an institution." His passing marked the end of an odd chapter at Paddington because for over 10 years, people actually visited the ladies' toilets at the station just to see a cat.

Tiddles showed up as a stray kitten, ended up with June Watson, and became famous far beyond London. Through all those years, even with all the attention, gifts, and offers of a nicer home, he stayed where he wanted to be: right at Paddington.

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Osborne, the Royal Court Theatre cat

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Scramble, the Kent Battle of Britain Museum cat