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Library Cats 3

Haskell Township Library

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Jamie Wright, library director of Haskell Township Library in the small farming community of Sublette, south-western Kansas, USA, kindly sent details of their two library cats Emma and Madeline. He related that in late 2001 the library board gave him permission to adopt one cat from the animal shelter in Garden City Kansas — but maybe it wasn't a wise decision on their part to send to make the choice someone who had always enjoyed animals and had himself taken in many unwanted and homeless ones!

On the day of his visit to the shelter, Jamie says that he chose Emma (left), the all-black one, while trying not to make eye contact with any other animals. All went well until he opened the door to leave, when there began a loud and distressing meowing and crying from another pen. It turned out to be occupied by Emma's sister (right), and the two had never before been separated. Well, of course the library ended up with two cats! Fortunately the board members were understanding, and a competition to name the second arrival was held among the children. Madeline was chosen after the Madeline books by Ludwig Bemelmans; it's become shortened to 'Maddie' for the black-and-white cat.

Both cats were estimated to be about a year and a half old when adopted, and have been a great success with the children and with most adults — 'a wonderful addition to the library', says Jamie. While Emma is very outgoing and vocal, often greeting patrons at the door, Maddie is shyer — but likes nothing better than sitting on a child's lap and being petted for as long as possible. Indeed, some children won't read unless she's on their lap!

For some months there were problems with Jamie's five dogs at his home, as they could smell cats on him when he returned from work — and Emma and Maddie could smell dogs when he got back to the library. However, all now seems to be well and we wish the library cats of Haskell a long and happy sojourn.

Dori, the Bookstore Cat

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Joan Elizabeth Pruha is a writer in Florida, who has recently published a book of poetry in praise of calico cats ('tortoiseshell', or 'tortie-and-white', in the UK). When she went to a book signing to launch her book, she was delighted to find a calico cat sprawled on top of the computer monitor — which seemed to be a good omen and certainly a serendipitous thing to occur! Although she says some customers ignored the cat, and a few thought it was stuffed, she knew better and when she started to stroke it, it stretched out its legs and began kneading the air. We feel that a bookstore cat is eligible to be featured along with library felines — so here, with our thanks and acknowledgement, is Joan's account of the calico cat:

' "All Booked Up" is a bookstore in The Villages (a retirement complex in Florida). The store has a friendly, knowledgeable staff and a large selection of new and used books, including many by local authors.

'A beautiful calico cat named Dori is a pleasant addition to the store. Sprawled out across the top of the register, like an Egyptian sphinx, the cat watches every transaction.

'Jodi Cowart, the store owner, said, "I adopted the cat from a local shelter when customers kept telling me the store needed a bookstore cat." She was chosen from the many cats at the shelter because of her friendliness and because she had the same name as Jodi's daughter, although later the cat's name was changed to Dori.

'During the day, there is a steady flow of shoppers who park their golf carts in front of the store. From her vantage point on top of the register, looking through the window, Dori is good at recognizing which customers will bring treats, and which ones will bypass the bookstore to shop elsewhere in the plaza. She is also able to distinguish those customers who bring treats regularly! She meets them at the door; but the rest of the day she stays sprawled out atop the register.

'I believe in the old Japanese superstition that calico cats bring luck to anyone who owns one. The day I had my book signing at the store, having Dori sitting beside me helped me to sell all my books in a very short time!

'To find out more about Dori or the bookstore contact Jodi via the website.'

Joan's book of poems and pictures, entitled Calico Cats, was first published in 2007 by PublishAmerica, ISBN 1 4241 9473 3.

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Our featured feline at the head of the page is Socks, pictured in 2003 surveying his 'estate' in the early morning sunshine. Affectionately known as Soxy, he blossomed from a thin and hungry stray into a substantial and handsome cat who loved life and company, and his gentle ways endeared him to many friends. He is now no longer with us, but you can read more from his human companion here.

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