Close encounter with a shop cat!

The discount pet supply place where I get a lot of the boys' stuff has shop cats. A family. Mama and grown children I think.

I have met one already - a petite tuxedo girl named Amy. Very sweet.

Today I met her brother, Alex. He is GOOOOORGEOUS B/W boy. His face is SO unique - like a jigsaw puzzle with the black part across his eyes and down around his nose leather.. with the lower half being white. He has white mitts and boots and white on his tummy and a black "saddle."

So I call him and he comes over to be friendly and whaddya know--- he jumps right into my cart - into that little fold-out spot where us ladies put our purses! And made himself right at home on top of MY purse. The cashiers told me that he likes "buggy" rides ... so off we went - me and Alex - to do a little shopping.

And of course - I didn't have a camera on me OOORRRRR my cell phone! Dang!

I hate to say this... but he jumped down when a small brown field mouse skittered across the floor.. and Alex took off after it in full hunt mode. One of the stock guys said Alex and his family members keep the mouse population down to almost nil. But while they are mousers, they are very well kept and fed. Next time.. I will try to be ready with my cell phone!!

One of the cashiers joked with me that it looked to her like Alex wanted to go home with me. Yeah, well, here's the thing ... my SEVEN might not like it... and besides, I think he'd be bored with nothing to hunt.

Awww, that's sweet! I love it when cats pay attention to me. I can't imagine any of mine jumping into the buggy.

so sweet. now you have a shopping buddy

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW...................... how cute is that???? No shop cats around here. Of course, the first thing that popped to my mind is.... (can you guess? ) they are spayed and neutered, right? I'm like a broken record!

Originally Posted by LDG

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW...................... how cute is that???? No shop cats around here.

Of course, the first thing that popped to my mind is.... (can you guess?

) they are spayed and neutered, right? I'm like a broken record!

Click to expand...

Yes, Laurie. They are all fixed. This store also collects money and food a for a couple of local foster-based rescues!

They told me well.. looks like you and Alex have bonded! Noooo problem! Most shop cats I have met aren't that friendly. They get tired and fed up with all the people coming and going and are often grouchy or just disinterested.

Aw that's great they support local rescue too!

How sweet!! My vet has 2 office cats and they are so adorable!

Next time take your camera for sure!! I love when stores have shop cats and will literally shop at stores who do simply BECAUSE of that. 2 pet supply stores here have shop cats and I LOVE them. Makes the shopping that much more enjoyable.

Aww how cute! I've only ever been into one shop which had a cat, and it was such a sweet little thing

I would definitely prefer to visit the stores that have cats! Please take your camera with you the next time you're shopping there.

My GF and I were at the Book Barn in CT on Saturday; that is home to a few cats. We were able to spend time with at least three of them. They're all very friendly and would follow us around. The big black cat spends most of his time in Hades (that's the name of the building that houses the mysteries and such). There's also a gorgeous fat old orange tiger that followed me all over the place. And a huge black and white tom who had the run of the main building. They all look very.....uh.....well-fed.

I don't know but I am sensing #8 and a permanent buddy. Must be mice somewhere near.

The last shop cat I seen was at a pet store years ago, and he had fleas and tapeworms.

(I was an awful pet store, sick animals, etc. Now one of the women that run is either president or vice president of the local animal rescue... )

The cats at the vet's office are only out when it's quiet, when people show up they go keep to themselves.

I have seen shop cats at vets before... pet stores, book stores, record stores, nick-nack shops and even a place here called Noir Leather (use your imagination about what it stocked! )

But not this friendly. These kitties don't normally come out all that much. I have been shopping there once a week for months and this is the first time I have seen Alex. I have seen and petted his sister a few times.

The cashiers told me Alex is their favorite- that he is just a big sweet boy! I can attest to that myself!