A cat called Frank has reportedly lived at the Stagecoach depot in Exeter for around three years.
During that time, staff members have fed him, built shelters for him and incorporated him into daily depot life. Over time, Frank became known far beyond the depot itself, with many people now viewing him as a genuine community cat rather than simply a stray animal living onsite.
But despite growing backlash online and calls for compromise, Stagecoach appears to be continuing with plans to remove and rehome him over reported safety concerns.
The story has triggered a strong public reaction because many people struggle to understand why a cat that reportedly lived there for years without major issue suddenly needs to be removed now.
Frank Became Part Of The Environment
Community animals often exist in a space that modern systems do not deal with particularly well.
They are not formally owned pets, but they are still recognised, protected and socially embedded within specific locations. Staff become familiar with them. Visitors expect to see them. Daily routines form around them. Over time, the animal stops being viewed as temporary. That appears to be what happened with Frank.
To supporters, this is not simply a case of a stray cat wandering into a depot. The depot became part of Frank’s territory and Frank became part of the depot itself.
The Welfare Concerns Are Real
Supporters are also raising concerns about the impact relocation could have on a semi-feral or community cat that may have spent years building familiarity with a particular territory.
Cats can become highly attached to known environments, feeding locations and established routines. Relocation, particularly if handled poorly, can create significant stress and confusion. Dog Desk Animal Action has seen this several times.
That does not necessarily mean relocation cannot be done safely, but many people feel the public has not yet been given enough detail about:
what specific safety risks now exist
whether alternative arrangements onsite were explored
what type of rehoming environment is planned
and whether cat welfare specialists have been involved
Without that transparency, public concern continues to grow.
If you would like to support efforts to stop Franks eviction you can sign & share his petition here