Shop Pets

Went to the store last night and there was Maxine, the shop dog. She's not
always there but she was there last night.

She's such a sweet mutt. No particular breed that I can ascertain but she's
got brown and black rather longish fur (now going grey around her muzzle).
She's probably about 40, maybe 50 lbs; medium size dog. When people come in
her long brushy tail sweeps the floor, she's just so happy to see people!
If you know her name and say it, her floppy ears perk up and she'll raise up
(sort of like a cat deigning to greet you). If you approach, she rolls over
for belly rubs and smiles that doggy smile that only dogs can do while her
tail beats back and forth. She's so sweet! Maxine is getting up there in
age. She has grey on her muzzle and she doesn't move so well anymore. I
think she might have displaysia in her hips. I haven't seen her on her feet
in a long time. But she's such a sweetie.

I never see any shop cats, which seem to be so common in the UK. Last time
I saw any shop cats was back in 2004 in Addison, TX, in the window of a
vet's office. The office was closed but there were cats lounging on the
desk by the window. John and I were on our way to Lucky's for breakfast
(outstanding brie cheese and bacon omelets, folks!) and were perusing the
shops when I noticed cats through the window. I very much like the idea of
shop cats. Wish more people in the U.S. would get with the idea.

jmcquown...

Sweet!

jmcquown...

Oh, someone probably came in to play with him on weekends. I'm pretty sure
of it. No one who has a shop cat would just leave him there without some

MaryL...

My veterinarian has two shop cats (East Texas). They are love-bugs and
clearly feel that the place belongs to them. One had to be lifted off the
printer so a receipt could be printed the last time I was there! One of
them is a cat that someone left for some medical work and never returned --
and the address and phone information she gave turned out to be false.
Well, she sure knew the right people to have a soft heart because that was 3
or 4 years ago and the cat clearly has a foreverhome.

sriddles...

Our vet has two giant, huge boy cats that lay on the counter all the
time. They allow you about 6" of counter space to write a check. They

jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt...

LOL! At least someone has their priorities straight. :)

always smell perfumey from all the ladies loving around on them. Re:
their size -- I keep that information handy in case the vet ever
chastises me about my cats' weight. His are fatter than mine.

jmcquown...

LOL Good thing to point out! Persia is still "fluffy' even though she only
gets a grand total of 1/2 a cup a day of her x/d food. The vet has stopped
bugging me about her weight because there is absolutely NO WAY she's getting
less than 1/2 a cup a day. She's just a pretty, fluffy, mature lady cat.
She's healthy, that's what counts.

Will in New Haven...

WooToo sez: DAT'S wut I tel Uncle Bill. And he givz me mor fude. Yum.
Hi to Persia.

WooToo in the bottom drawer

jmcquown...

Persia sez:: hi Woo Too! Mommy iz furry strikt bout da fude. She sayz I
cant haf more dan dis but I haf hur onna clok. If she doan gib me da fude
when Ise suppozd to hab it den I taps her onna fayce (da noze!). Sumtyms
she lafs at me but I keep tappin an she finally gibs me da fude! Sumtyms I
gib up an snuggle wif momma an tayks da nap.

jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt...

Good strategy!

companionship for a weekend. Have faith :)

jmcquown...

Yep, someone cared. He was fed, had water, warmth, wasn't on the street. I
like that.

jmcquown...

So go back and see if the kitty is still there?

Thanks for the story. I love hearing about shop cats.

Pat...

I noticed a new sign in the window of my favorite bookstore in town "Be sure

CatNipped...

I've only seen cats in one shop here - "The Cat House", which sells items
for and about cats. They have three at the shop and have another five at
their home (which was a perfect set up for them since the three at the shop
didn't get along well with the five at home).

the cat stays inside" (words to that effect). Too bad it was after hours,
but I will make a point of meeting this cat tomorrow!

Adrian A...

It would be nice, but I don't recall ever seeing a shop cat here in the UK.

kilikini...

There is a huge rodent problem in Hawaii, so most restaurants or pubs have a
resident cat. The Health Department looks the other way because it's kind
of like, which would you rather have? A cat or rodents? If you serve food

Jo Firey...

I even have pictures of them on our laps in our car.

in any form, if you don't have a cat, you *will* have a rodent problem.

I worked in this BBQ place on Maui called "Lone Star Cookhouse". (Yes, the
owners were from Texas.) We had a resident male cat, BEAUTIFUL cat, named
Starr. He was so friendly and all the customers loved him. He had to be
the best fed cat in the universe, I swear. LOL. He wasn't fat, though,
because he kept himself in shape taking care of the grounds.

I was working one night and I heard this ear-splitting scream coming from
the kitchen. As I turned to go in, Starr came out with one of the hugest
rats I have ever seen. The rat was screaming and, of course, Starr had to
parade around the restaurant with his prize. He went from guest to guest
showing off his trophy as the diners pointed and laughed. He then bounded
off the back porch and I can only assume "took care" of his efforts.

We all had a good chuckle out of that one. :~)

I feel kind of sad for the rat, now that I have pet ones, but feral rats and
pet rats are two different animals!

Dewi...

Since getting pet rats, I've really come to empathise with their wild
buddies. Even before getting the pet rats, I use to enjoy watching the
wild ones eat the chicken food. So glad my cats don't hunt anymore!

Adrian A...

Does anyone remember the film "Ben" from 1972
spot for all animals especially those that get a bad press.

jmcquown...

Who could forget? Michael Jackson sang the song before he turned into a
total freakazoid with all the surgeries. He actually looked his best in
Thriller and should have stopped right there. 'Ben' was a heartbreaking
movie.