Cat Among the Pigeons (1962)

Feb 22, 2026

by Linda Kay

British Pathé

Synopsis: Newsreel footage shows a variety of animals in different locations around England, including a cat hotel in Essex, as well as donkey races and pigeons.

Reality Cats: The segment which includes the kitties is footage taken at Wythams Cat Hotel in Ongar, Essex. The narrator explains how the cats staying at this hotel receive a diet specifically chosen by their owners. A woman delivers a tray filled with silver dishes including chicken, turkey and sweet steamed fish to the cats staying in the wood and chicken wire enclosures, all contained within a larger structure to likely prevent escapes. The individual enclosures include climbing trees, a covered area for privacy and sleeping, a litter box, and of course the meals brought by a sweet lady.

Cat Among the Pigeons - longhair ginger tabby cat Felicity scratching tree
Cat Among the Pigeons - woman feeding cats at cat hotel enclosures
Cat Among the Pigeons - longhair ginger tabby cat Felicity coming through cat flap in door

Among the current residents we get to see is a little seal point Siamese named Ping Pong who reportedly eats meat but won’t touch milk at any price.

Cat Among the Pigeons - seal point Siamese cat Ping Pong eating meat from dish

A longhair tabby named Felicity, on the other hand, craves milk, and also has a mind to sneak out if possible.

Cat Among the Pigeons - longhair ginger tabby cat Felicity lying in enclosure

A small white cat with black markings is also shown.

Cat Among the Pigeons - shorthair white cat with black markings inside enclosure

At the end of the short the narrator announces it’s bed time and we see Felicity inside her glassed in private space, as well as a tabby cat curled in a box under a heat lamp.

Cat Among the Pigeons - longhair ginger tabby cat Felicity behind glass
Cat Among the Pigeons - shorthair brown tabby cat lying in box

Final Mewsings: So the cats really aren’t physically among the pigeons after all!

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