Article written by Hazel Plush
Originally published by The Telegraph, 23 April 2026

From cats who reside in the lap of five-star luxury to a ranch with a resident peacock, hotel residents aren’t always human

Lilibet likes to spend her mornings on the windowsills of the Withdrawing Room, peering between the long gold tasselled curtains at Hyde Park Corner in central London. As double-decker buses chug through the traffic and tourists rush to catch Buckingham Palace’s Changing of the Guard, this gorgeous blonde watches – washing her paws and graciously accepting fusses from guests of the Lanesborough hotel, her home.

“She’s the lady of the house, the true boss around here,” says Simon Thomas, head concierge of this five-star hotel, where rooms and suites cost from £955-£20,000 per night – the latter for the seven-bedroom royal suite, the biggest in London. “Of course, everyone dotes on her and she receives gifts from all over the world. One guest sent a handmade cat bed from Japan that cost thousands of pounds, and our Middle Eastern guests in particular absolutely love her. We have sheikhs and dignitaries checking into the hotel and their first question is ‘Where is the cat?’”

Lilibet, who was named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, has lived at the Lanesborough since 2019. She’s a pedigree Siberian Forest cat, with long creamy fur and wide green eyes. “Most of the team keep Dreamies treats in their pockets,” laughs Thomas. “She really milks it, pretending she hasn’t just finished her bowl of posh cat soup. But of course we all fall for the ruse.” Cats, it seems, will always be cats – no matter how lavish their home.

Lilibet is a Siberian Forest cat that resides at the Lanesborough Hotel in central London Credit: Rinkoo

Nothing makes a house feel more like a home than a pet – and making guests feel truly at home is what every luxury hotel aims to do. At London’s Shangri-La, which occupies floors 34 to 52 of the Shard, you might be welcomed by Rocky the Yorkshire terrier – the 11-year-old dog belonging to General Manager Kurt Macher. Rocky travels into work with Macher and is affectionately known as the hotel’s pet relations manager, whose “key responsibilities” include “keeping squirrels out, accepting compliments and […] championing nap time in the sunniest patches of the lobby”.

Meanwhile, Teddy the Shetland pony relocates from his stables in Surrey to his “second home” at the Goring in Belgravia four times a year. The late Queen was a regular visitor, and it is here that the Princess of Wales stayed the night before her wedding. Other high-profile guests have included Sir Winston Churchill and the Queen Mother. Teddy is owned by the great-great-granddaughters of Otto Goring, who founded the hotel in 1910, and has amassed such a global fanbase that his Instagram and TikTok accounts have 200,000 and 340,000 followers respectively. I first met him at the hotel’s Christmas party, where his lustrous fringe and dinky feet bewitched the crowd – even after he dropped a steaming deposit on the lobby’s marble floor.

“Visitors come from as far as the United States, Australia and New Zealand to see him,” says John Andrews, director of Concierge. “They turn up with everything from his favourite snacks to personalised grooming brushes and cards. He’s met Princess Anne and Queen Camilla and has mingled with many celebrities – including Dame Judi Dench at the Chelsea Flower Show, who walked around the whole show trying to find him.”

Seven more animals who live at hotels

Socrate the cat at Le Bristol Paris, France

In 2021, Socrate, a pedigree Birman cat took up residence at this Palace hotel (a French designation above five stars) in central Paris, his immaculate cloud of white fur, the perfect foil for its palatial interiors. Between his daily brushes and endless treats, you’ll find him riding the luggage trolleys and posing for photos.

Socrate, the pedigree Birman at Le Bristol in paris, enjoys riding the luggage trolleys Credit: FRANCK_JUERY

Mr Pea the peacock at the Mayan Ranch, Texas, United States

Several species roam the grounds of this working ranch, including longhorn cattle, horses, deer, armadillos, donkeys and raccoons, but it’s Mr Pea that steals the show. He’s often spotted strutting with his tail feathers in full display, and is so tame that he’ll eat treats right out of your hand.

Mr Pea is so tame that he’ll eat treats right out of your hand Credit: Ellice Sanchez

Kléopatre the cat at Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, Baden-Baden, Germany

After a brief residence at Le Bristol Paris, Kléopatre moved to the spa town of Baden-Baden in Germany’s Black Forest, where she relishes its mineral-rich waters, pristine private parkland and the attentions of the hotel’s well-heeled guests. You’ll often find her curling up beside one of the open fireplaces.

Kléopatre lives in Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Germany 

Shadow the dog at Jamaica Inn, Jamaica

This beachfront hotel in Ocho Rios has had resident pooches since the 1970s: all of them called Shadow, and all-black labradors. The current Shadow – the fifth, arriving in 2023 – enjoys splashing about in the shallows, doing paw-shakes with guests and riding stand-up paddle-boards.

Shadow is the fifth black labrador to reside at in the beachfront hotel in Ocho Rios 

The Spice Girls tortoises at El Fenn, Marrakech, Morocco

Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Sumac, Harissa and Saffron – aka the Spice Girls – occupy a brightly painted house in a courtyard of this chic riad hotel. Sunbathing and eating are their main hobbies, while lettuce and carrots are their vices. They live alongside the hotel’s two resident Siamese cats, Otto and Emma.

The five tortoises, nicknamed the Spice Girls, patrol the riad hotel alongside two Siamese cats  Credit: Emma Lappin

Sombra the cat at Casa La Siesta, Cádiz, Spain

Sombra was found in a petrol station by the owner of Casa La Siesta in 2008, when she was just a kitten. Now, this former stray – whose name means “shade” in Spanish – is living the high life on the Costa de la Luz, roaming through lavender-filled gardens and snaffling treats from the staff.

Sombra (meaning ‘Shade’) is living the high life roaming through the lavender-filled gardens

The ducks at the Peabody Memphis, Tennessee, United States

This hotel, dating back to the 1860s, is best known for its daily duck parade, a tradition that began seven decades later in the 1930s and continues today. At 11am and 5pm daily, a “duckmaster” herds the feathered mascots from their rooftop home via a special lift to the lobby fountain, where they can enjoy a swim. When it comes to animal novelty, this hotel has really quacked it.

Twice a day, a ‘duckmaster’ herds the mascots from their rooftop home to the lobby fountain for a swim Credit: Jeff Greenberg

Tarek the mule at Amanjena, Morocco

At 18 years old – equivalent to 55-60 years in human age – Tarek knows his own mind. This bachelor enjoys apples, quiet company and all types of vegetables, and recently moved into a new house in Amanjena, the £1,500-a-night resort just outside Marrakech.

Tarek enjoys apples, quiet company and all types of vegetables

Banner: Teddy the Shetland pony moves into the Goring Hotel in Belgravia four times a year Credit: Adam Lynk Photography