Our Readers' Favorite Bookstore Cats (Volume One)

One of the ways independent book stores distinguish themselves from the big chain stores is to make their shop into a literary home, where people like to hang out. Having a cat (or many cats) around is a simple way to do that -and it keeps the mice away! When 12 Bookstore Cats was posted last week, we received responses from dozens of bookstore cat fans, and tips on lots of cats to meet.

1. Sir Marjorie Lambshank III

The Park Slope Community Bookstore in Brooklyn has an entire menagerie of pets, although you'd never know it from looking through their website (however, the website is full of neat stuff, like their delivery offer). The store cat is named Sir Marjorie Lambshank III, and he (yes, he) has his own (one-post) blog. And Twitter feed. Sir Marjorie explains that the name "Marjorie" was given to mellow him out, and "Sir" was added to make it clear that Marjorie is a male.

2. Trini and 3. Ida B.

Wild Rumpus Books in Minneapolis has a variety of critters, including chickens, rodents, reptiles, and several Manx cats. The two pictured are Trini and Ida B. You'll see more of the children's book store's pets on their Facebook page.

4. Hodge

Selected Works Used Books & Sheet Music in Chicago employs Hodge to meet and greet book lovers. A customer talks about Hodge in this review:

...a gorgeous, soft-furred, grey mischief-maker who will claw at your leg when you sit down and sprawl in the middle of the floor right behind where you stand. But I'm already fond of the little devil, and s/he lends a lot of character to the place, so it's okay.

The store's Facebook page has an album of Hodge's photographs.

5. Fred

Columbia Books in Columbia, Missouri opened during the time I lived in the town, but that was long before Fred was born. Fred is a large, fluffy cat who likes to sprawl on the windowsills of the bookstore.

6. Won Ton

Won Ton is the mascot at Chop Suey Books in Richmond, Virginia. What little we know about Won Ton is from a collaborative poem written about him. He likes attention: of course, he's a cat! See lots more pictures at the store's Facebook page.

7. Franny

Skylight Books in Los Angeles has a web page devoted to their store mascot Franny. Franny is a young cat, having arrived at the bookstore as a three-month-old kitten in 2009. They also maintain a memorial page for the beloved previous cat, Lucy, who lived at the store nearly ten years until she died in 2007.

8. Felixia and 9. Bartleby Lucas

Adams Avenue Book Store is in San Diego. Information about the store's cats is relegated to the store's Facebook page, where I found pictures of Felixia and Bartleby Lucas. Bartleby Lucas (the lower cat shown) has his own Facebook page, where he lists his relationship status as "it's complicated".

10. Isbn and 11. Bob

Recycle Books in Campbell, California once had a cat named Isbn, who was given the "Best Bookstore Cat Name" by Publisher's Weekly. A customer informs us that Isbn (left) retired to live in a private home and the new store cat (right) is named Bob.

12. Hobo

From My Shelf Books in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania has a friendly cat named Hobo. Hobo has his hand, or paw, in everything: he writes a weekly book column for the local paper, he posed for the store's sign designed in his likeness, and he co-wrote a children's book with store owner Kevin Coolidge, called Hobo Finds a Home. It's an autobiography. Hobo also cuddles with customers every day.

13. and beyond: Chapel Hill Cats

Eric Johnson, who owns Recycle Books is also the proprietor of The Bookshop in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The store has several cats on the premises, including this orange tabby in the window. Customers love the cats but leave no record of their names. Image by Flickr user bunchofpants.

If your favorite bookstore cat isn't listed here, it may be found in one of the previous posts, 12 Bookstore Cats and 8 Bookstore Cats. Or it may be in the next edition of the Bookstore Cat series!

See also: 8 Library Cats