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Just as library cats enjoy the attention they get from people who love books, bookstore cats get the same treatment. Many are featured prominently on their store’s websites, and have become beloved local celebrities.
1. Silas
A stray cat later named Silas came to A Novel Idea used bookstore in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1995. He lived there for 14 years, but he was no paragon of decorum.
He ruined telephones and clocks. Knocked the store’s credit card machine to the floor time and again, leaving a trail of receipt paper unspooling across the floor. He climbed shelves and cried when he couldn’t get down.
Still, everyone loved Silas. Patrons had their pictures made with him, and passers-by would leave lipstick kisses for him on the store window. Silas even had a fan club. He was euthanized this past February after suffering from the effects of old age. A Novel Idea raised funds for the local animal shelter as a tribute to Silas, and planned to get a new store cat from a shelter.
2. Zola
Zola was rescued from an abusive situation and was adopted in 2006 as a store cat by Iliad Books in North Hollywood, California. She had been kept in a small cage, where neglect and infection caused her to lose one eye and several teeth. Despite her rough start in life, Zola is an affectionate and friendly cat.
3. Squeak
Squeak was named for the peculiar sound she makes instead of a regular meow. She lives at Builders Booksource in Berkeley, California. She was a young feral cat who came to the back door of the store looking for a meal. Squeak has the run of the store, and is a loving cat, although she runs from children and wants to be held in only a certain way.
4. Mr. B
Sirius Black is not only a character from the Harry Potter books, it’s also the formal name of the cat known as Mr. B. He’s the cat-in-residence at Shiretown Books in Woodstock, Vermont. He spends his time napping, when he isn’t enjoying the attention of patrons and checking out the contents of their shopping bags. The store sells bookmarks featuring Mr. B.
5. Pringles
Pringles is the official greeter at Prospero’s Books in Manassas, Virginia. Pringles shares the most important feature of all bookstore cats of being at ease with and even friendly to strangers. As you can see from the picture, he figures into the store’s advertising.
6. Chubby, Little Girl, and Tara
The Bodhi Tree Bookstore in Hollywood, California has had a series of store cats, beginning with Chubby, who died of old age and was buried under the sacred fig tree behind the store. Little Girl replaced him as the cat-in-residence, and later retired to live with one of the store employees. Tara (pictured) is the current store cat.
7. Ginger
Ginger lives at Orinda Books in Orinda, California. She came to the store as a five-week-old abandoned kitten. Patrons suggested over 200 names for the cat, who is friendly to everyone who comes in.
8. Fup
Fup was the Powell’s Technical Books store cat from 1988 until her death in 2007. She lived 19 years, nearly all of which was spent at the store in Portland, Oregon, save for a six-week period in 1997 while the bookstore underwent a remodel. A quarter of a million subscribers followed Fup’s adventures through her column in the Powell’s newsletter.
In her youth, Fup would sometimes climb ladders and hide at the top of book fixtures to look down upon the humans in her domain. Over the years, Fup acquired a well-earned reputation for biting employees who intruded on her time for more than about 30 seconds. However, she would always be sitting in front of the office to greet whoever came to open the store in the morning, demanding her serving of canned food for breakfast. She was more patient with visitors; Fup played the celebrity game well. She received many gifts and cards and emails from fans, which she appreciated.
See also: 8 Library Cats, Five Famous Felines, and Five Fantastic Felines.
Comments (24)
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Nine Lives Books here in San Antonio has several resident cats. They also do cat adoptions. Click on my name for more info.
posted by nutmeag on 6-4-2009 at 9:37 am
I went to a childrens book store in kansas city that had a store iguana. Its main tank was a converted into the check-out counter and had a gigantic habitrail throughout the store. and they had a cat too.
posted by lewen on 6-4-2009 at 10:33 am
I had no idea that Shiretown books had a cat there! Ok, so I used to live in Woodstock (born and raised), but haven’t spent much time there since I joined the Navy. Since I’m going home on leave next week, looks like I’ll have to make a trip to the (seriously) over-priced book store! There used to be another store in town that had two sibling cats, Henry and his anti-social sister, her name escapes me at the moment. They lived at F.H. Gilllinghams and Sons. Great store until the original owners got bought out and they turned it in to an awful tourist trap!
posted by Jess on 6-4-2009 at 10:52 am
I actually have a picture of Silas from my time in Lincoln in 2005 at the International Thespian Convention. However, I wasn’t aware he was well known- I just so happen to be a cat person and saw the most adorable black and white cat sitting on a pile of books in a bookstore window. Hate the news of his passing, I will cherish the picture even more now. Funny, he gave me that same nonchalant look in my picture as the one above.
posted by Stacy the Amazing on 6-4-2009 at 12:01 pm
Sessa was the cat at the Philadelphia Rare Books and Manuscript Company. He had his own book catalog (see the link in my name). Read the FAQs, they’re adorable.
Sadly, the PRBM had a fire in March, and both Sessa and another cat died of smoke inhalation. I never saw the cat the time I visited, but the owners could not have been nicer. Very, very kind and generous.
posted by Kate on 6-4-2009 at 1:41 pm
Hooray for Fup! She was the cutest cat, and every time I’d go to Powell’s I’d see her there. Just chillin’.
posted by Johnny Cat on 6-4-2009 at 4:34 pm
I was getting worried when I got to #6 on the list and hadn’t found Fup. I was getting all warmed up to send a scathing comment, but you came through in the end.
posted by Fredly on 6-4-2009 at 4:38 pm
Rivendell Books in Montpelier, Vermont has a store turtle, whose name escapes me at the moment. She is a big hit with the young kids, and her habitat is in the children’s section of the store. Also, the Jay Country Store in Jay, Vermont has a store cat named Maggie. She loves to sleep in a wood wheelbarrow which is used to display a pile of stuffed animals, and has given more than one person a scare, when one of the ’stuffed cats’ sits up and meows!
posted by Phoebe on 6-4-2009 at 5:17 pm
What a great posting! They look very happy cats.
posted by That's Purrfect on 6-4-2009 at 5:51 pm
Flights of Fantasy (fof.net) has a kitty. They used to have two, but one recently passed away. :(
posted by M on 6-4-2009 at 5:53 pm
hehehe, zola is a goofball!
posted by hans on 6-4-2009 at 6:27 pm
My two favorite cat-friendly book stores are Diskovery in Brighton, Massachusetts and the Book Barn in Niantic (?) Connecticut. The Book Barn is a massive, sprawling, multi-building compound with cats, goats, gardens and fish ponds. Definitely worth a trip, if you’re close.
posted by anon on 6-4-2009 at 10:01 pm
What about the cat from Shakespeare and Co.? =)
posted by Traveling Minstrel on 6-5-2009 at 6:29 am
The Book Barn in Connecticut has a bunch of cats who hang out in the buildings of their store. It’s a fabulous place and the cats only make it better. :)
posted by Stephanie on 6-7-2009 at 2:40 pm
The Book Barn in Connecticut has a bunch of cats who hang out in the buildings of their store. It’s a fabulous place and the cats only make it better. I have many fond memories of hanging out there with a cat dozing on my lap. :)
posted by Stephanie on 6-7-2009 at 2:41 pm
a bookstore called ‘the dusty bookshelf’ in my hometown has a kitty named annie. she has a favourite chair that she always sits in but doesn’t like people much. =)
posted by Torako on 6-8-2009 at 9:41 pm
You forgot Kona kitty at Bound to Be Read Books here in Atlanta. She’s always on duty, always sassy and even has her own Facebook page with witty kitty updates.
posted by Katy on 6-8-2009 at 11:00 pm
Cats seem to adopt people, rather than the other way around. It is often said that they were domesticated because they found living with humans easier than being on their own.
posted by Allan Evans on 6-9-2009 at 1:38 am
Square Books
Oxford, MS!
Home of Faulkner and a famous store-dwelling
posted by Mike P on 6-10-2009 at 6:24 pm
“Oracle” from the Oracle esoteric bookshop in Sasafras, Victoria, Australia.
Wolfie!
posted by Wolfie Rankin on 6-11-2009 at 8:08 pm
“Oracle” from the Oracle esoteric bookshop in Sassafras, Victoria, Australia.
To see a photo, go to flickr and use “Oraclecatvic” to find it.
Wolfie!
posted by Wolfie Rankin on 6-11-2009 at 8:15 pm
I new silas very awesome kitty he passed away a few months ago. they got new kitty from rescue and raised money for the cat house rescue. i love anovel idea. great people. thanks
posted by Brian Fugate on 6-11-2009 at 9:53 pm
it’s awesome that pringles is on here. coolest cat ever. if you live in stafford you’re also near by fredricksburg. visit The Cat’s Closet in olde town, they have over three resident shop cats that when they’re feeling sassy/frisky will play with you. they mostly just sleep in the display windows all day though =P
posted by moi on 6-13-2009 at 4:39 pm
Borderland Books in San Francisco’s Mission District is home to Ripley, the bald Egyptian. FAQs and a photo are here:
http://www.borderlands-books.com/about_ripley.html
posted by Sorcerer Mickey on 9-9-2009 at 3:58 pm