A pet cat with a penchant for adventure has become a social media sensation in his hometown, thanks to his mischievous outings.
Raymond, a three-year-old ginger tom, is well-known for his escapades around Llangollen, Denbighshire, where he strolls through supermarket aisles, visits people’s homes, and even sneaks into hotel rooms for naps.
In just a few weeks, Raymond has gained hundreds of followers who share his adventures on social media.
His owner, Rebecca Palombella, 33, who lives in Llangollen, describes him as “one of a kind.”
Raymond has always enjoyed wandering, and recently, his favorite spot has been Aldi. “Someone messaged me saying, ‘Can you come and get your cat from Aldi?'” Rebecca recalled. “I wasn’t in town at the time, but they made an announcement over the tannoy: ‘Raymond is on aisle 2,’ and there he was, in the meat aisle!”
His other favorite hangouts include Spar, where he’s often found in the cat food section, as well as several local hotels and cafes. “He first started visiting The Hand Hotel, and we kept getting calls to come collect him because he’d wander into hotel rooms and sleep on the beds,” Rebecca shared. “Guests loved him, but some had allergies, so he’d have to be sent out.”
Raymond’s adventures also took him to the Bridge End Hotel, where he once stayed overnight, and most recently, he made a bid for the penthouse suite at The Wild Pheasant Hotel. “He tried to get into the penthouse suite, like he was a VIP, walking across the bar and even claiming my seat in the office,” said Becky, the hotel’s general manager.
Rebecca set up a Facebook page for Raymond to keep track of his many outings. “I thought it would help me follow his movements,” she said. “Now, when someone messages asking if it’s Raymond, they don’t need to—everyone knows him!”
Some people have questioned why Raymond isn’t kept indoors as a house cat, but Rebecca insists he wouldn’t be happy cooped up. “He would hate being kept inside,” she said.
“I used to worry about him, but he’s quite street-smart. He comes home when it suits him.”