Stourbridge Junction cat George adds autobiography to his station legend

George, the ginger tom who made Stourbridge Junction railway station his home, has moved his story from the platform to the page. His new autobiography, Just George: The Autopawography of a Station Cat, gives followers and regular commuters a single place to trace how a stray cat became a local fixture and online star.

The change is simple but unusual: George is now a published author. The book follows his path from an abandoned cat looking for food and shelter around platforms and ticket offices to a widely followed station mascot whose daily movements are documented online.

The autobiography was put together by Simone Carter, a service quality and continuous improvement manager who also acts as George's social media manager and primary carer. What started as informal care has grown into a sizeable engagement job. Carter spends up to two hours a day replying to fans and curating posts about George, whose social media following stands at about 260,000 across different platforms.

That audience reaches well beyond the West Midlands station where George settled. Supporters from around the world have sent in photographs of him, reflecting how a cat once known mainly to staff and passengers has become a global internet attraction.

From station stray to named train

George's backstory is part of what makes the book stand out. According to the account behind his rise, he was left behind when his former owners emigrated to Spain. After arriving at Stourbridge Junction, he found sustenance and a place to stay at the station, where staff and commuters quickly warmed to him. His patrols became part of the everyday rhythm there.

The book also covers the milestones that turned him into more than an unofficial mascot. West Midlands Railway named a Class 153 train after him, citing his positive effect on passenger morale, and a song has been written in his honour as well.

Its themes are broader than celebrity. The story is framed around kindness, community resilience and the bond between people and animals in public spaces. At the station, George is credited with helping brighten the atmosphere and prompting positive exchanges between staff and passengers.

He also fits into a longer, informal tradition of animals becoming part of railway life. What makes George different is how that local role has expanded through digital media into a branded presence and now a book. Early reaction to the release has been strong, with readers saying the story offers comfort around resilience and belonging, while George carries on as Stourbridge Junction's senior mouse catcher and chief greeter.