Grocery Store Cat

On a recent trip to Carleton Place we headed to a little town next door called Ashton where they have an old fashioned general store.

 Inside the store is a working cat named General.

General sure is a handsome fellow who spends his days
keeping varmints in check. Love seeing working cats!

Antique Shop Cat

  A local junk-antique shop opened locally and I finally decided to have a visit.

The first thing I saw was this gorgeous Tabby who climbed right onto my coat.

The owner of the shop has 4 other cats in his apartment upstairs and told me that he had saved this little guy from a litter he found out in the woods. The other kittens ran away but this one was so friendly he had to take him in.

Friendly and busy. He spends his days negotiating crystal and china and has unfortunately broken a few treasures.

 But he has the sweetest disposition. How could you get angry at a face like that?

Happy Halloween

Crayon, who lives at my vet's office, was ready to wish everyone a Happy Halloween.

Working Cat

I've always loved a cat with a job. This one, Spooky, greeted me as I was about to post a letter. Sweet!

Cat at the Country Depot

 This lovely tabby works at the local Country Depot shop. They sell seeds...

 ... and cat food, dog food and horse food too, likely.

 He's very friendly, greeting everyone who comes through the door.

Unfortunately, he's up for adoption because although he likes people, he doesn't like Bootsy, the cat who first lived and worked at the shop.

The owners of the shop are wonderful people who go out of their way to feed and save homeless cats. My kinda people!

Tom Cat Bakery

The Tom Cat Bakery truck as seen in New York City in May. Great logo. Gotta love a working cat!

Murphy at the Museum

You might recall Murphy -- and his now semi-retired brother Midge -- who work at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum in Dunvegan as official mousers.


After observing Murphy, I realized he is more than just a mouser. Children love following him around and petting him.


Murphy is pretty curious about what folks are having at their picnics...and if he can get a handout or two, even better.


He loves lying in front of various buildings on the grounds...


...and is happy to pose for photos if the occasion arises.

Photographer's Cat

While in New York City, I noticed this lovely working cat at the front door of a photographer's studio.


When I happened by later on, the critter had moved to a higher spot amongst the topiary. Cute.

JJ at Work

I love cats on the job and happened upon 14-year-old JJ at JJ Hat Center in New York City.


JJ Hat Center is New York's oldest and one of the world's most renowned hat shops. Here's JJ checking making sure that this hat is steamed correctly.


I was told that JJ was a bit grumpy, waiting for her supper. It was, after all, nearly 5 p.m. And guess what? The hat shop doesn't have a mouse in it. Good work JJ.

Crayon the Working Cat

Crayon lives and works at my local vet's office in Alexandria.


She's always very busy inspecting your purchases...


...and sits on the counter to make sure you've paid in full. To see more working cats, click here.

Farewell Max

Max worked for many of his 15 years at Berry's pet food in Alexandria, Ontario. You can just make out his sillhoutte, sitting at the door waiting to say hello.


He caught mice and greeted visitors with a purr. Poor Max had cancer and had to be put down a few weeks ago. I'll miss him and our weekly pats.

Murphy & Midge

The mice are running scared over at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum in Dunvegan. Guarding the buildings are two rescue cats, formerly from Scotland. They now live in a house right across the street from the grounds of the museum and visit everyday. The senior cat is Murphy, who is 17-years old.


And his brother Midge is 14. And although he only has one eye, he's still a helluva mouser.


We decided to honour their good work with a nice sign and to offer them a dish of water to slake their thirst.


Getting them to stop and have a drink is another thing. They're often in the fields doing their duty or tagging along after a visitor touring the museum.

Cats, Cats, Cats

I just love cats and love to photograph them too. Here's a friend's cat, Gracie, posing with some ceramic lookalikes.


Another friend rescued this cat, Mira. It took a year of hard work but now this cat is friendly and happy!


Joey is a working cat who sits on laps while folks get their toenails painted and feet massaged.


My own Cinnamon is semi-retired and not much of a mouser anymore. He prefers to sit and be admired.


And here's my 19-year old cat, Domino. She and I have tea together every afternoon. If I don't remember to pour her a cup, she'll poke her nose into mine.

Working Cat #2

I saw this cat last spring in Toronto's High Park area at a shop called Dressers. What a cutie!

Working Cat #1

Over the years I've collected images of cats working in stores which I always found endearing. But these cats were workers, keeping mice at bay and wanting belly rubs. (Now that's serious work!)
Bogy was spotted "working" at the gargantuan Highway Books in Cobalt, (northern) Ontario.