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Cat who visits Aldi becomes social media star

Lara Milne Raymond the cat with Lara Milne, who works in the local Aldi storeLara Milne
Raymond the cat "goes everywhere" but particularly "likes Aldi"

A pet cat who "likes Aldi" has become a social media star in his home town thanks to his many adventures.

Raymond, a three-year-old ginger tom, stalks supermarket aisles, lets himself into people's homes for visits and even sneaks into hotel bedrooms for naps.

He has gained hundreds of social media followers in a matter of weeks, who share pictures and stories about his escapades around Llangollen, Denbighshire.

"He's one of a kind," said Raymond's owner, Rebecca Palombella.

Yasmin Knox Raymond, a ginger tom cat, stalks the middle aisle of AldiYasmin Knox
One of Raymond's favourite haunts is the local Aldi

Ms Palombella, 33, who lives in Llangollen, said Raymond had always been prone to wandering.

"He goes everywhere," she said.

"The recent one is Aldi, he likes Aldi.

"Someone messaged me saying 'can you come and get your cat from Aldi?'

"I wasn't actually in town, but they know him and it came over the tannoy - 'Raymond is on aisle 2' - he was in the meat aisle!"

Ms Palombella said Raymond had also been known to visit Spar - where she found him in the cat food aisle - as well as numerous local hotels and cafes.

Eira Critchlow Raymond joins Llangollen resident Eira Critchlow for a pot of teaEira Critchlow
Raymond joins Llangollen resident Eira Critchlow for a pot of tea

"He first started going to The Hand Hotel in Llangollen and we were constantly getting phone calls to come and get him because he was going up to the bedrooms and they'd find him asleep on the bed," Ms Palombella said.

"Most guests did like him but some obviously had allergies so he had to be turfed out all the time.

"He also went to the Bridge End Hotel and he stayed the night in one of the rooms once."

Most recently, Raymond turned up at The Wild Pheasant Hotel - where staff said he tried to get into the penthouse suite.

The Wild Pheasant Hotel and Spa Raymond at the check-in desk of the Wild Pheasant HotelThe Wild Pheasant Hotel and Spa
Raymond at the check-in desk of the Wild Pheasant Hotel

The hotel's general manager, Becky, said: "He tried to make his way to the penthouse suite, which has a hot tub, as if he was a VIP guest.

"He walked across the bar - which we thoroughly cleaned after.

"He took up my seat in the office and decided to be the general manager."

Stephanie Mitchell Raymond, a ginger tom cat, sits on a brown chair in the council street cleaners' officeStephanie Mitchell
Raymond has also visited the council street cleaning team where he reportedly "refused to move" from their chair

Raymond's various adventures prompted Ms Palombella to set up a Facebook page for him.

"I thought at least I can keep track of him," she said.

"People were constantly messaging me saying 'is this your cat?'

"They don't message me anymore because they know who Raymond is now.

"So at least I know if I need him to come home I can just go and grab him."

Barrie Roberts Raymond a ginger tom cat trots along on a tiled floor in someone's houseBarrie Roberts
Raymond also visits people's houses, pictured here at a property on Market Street
Verity Maybury-Griffiths Raymond the ginger tom cat sitting on the lap of a smiling woman in the parkVerity Maybury-Griffiths
Raymond, who is described as friendly and sociable, is pictured having a cuddle with a Llangollen resident
Brenda Raven Mahon Raymond the ginger tom cat attempting to gain access to Home Bargains through the automatic doorsBrenda Raven Mahon
Raymond hoping to enter Home Bargains
Heulwen Wright Raymond the ginger tom cat sitting on the windowsill of the Llangollen Town Council officesHeulwen Wright
The ginger tom has also paid a visit to the Llangollen Town Council offices

Ms Palombella said people sometimes asked her why she did not keep Raymond indoors as a house cat.

"People do comment saying 'oh I wouldn’t want my cat going out'," she said.

"But I can't keep him in because he'd hate it.

"I did worry about him at first, I worried about the roads... [but] he's quite street wise - I like to think he is anyway.

"He does come home, but only when it suits him!"