Almost a year ago, after fostering a couple of cats here at the store, I decided to take in Sammie. Sammie was a stray who was being fed by some very kind people who couldn't take him themselves, but wanted to find him a home since the cold weather was setting in. I'd hoped Sammie would be happy enough at the store to make it his permanent home, but was willing to at least foster him if he wasn't content to live here. Perish the thought!
I had Sam tested, vaccinated, and "fixed", then took him to my home after his fixin', so that I could keep an eye on him during his recovery. He wouldn't settle down at home however, and after much "complaining" by Sam, I brought him back to the store, willing to sleep here on the floor if I had to, in order to make him happy and keep an eye on him. Nuthin' doin'! He immediately stopped crying, found a comfy spot to lay down, and proceeded to fall asleep. He was home!
From the beginning, Sammie has been perfectly happy at the store. He loves attention from our customers and even has a "following" of people who stop in just to say, "Hi" to Sam and get a cuddle or two. Sam is also one of the most patient, gentle, and pliable cats I have ever met. He loves children, but even if one of the really young ones gets a little rough, simply because they're a little rambunctous, Sammie takes it in stride and has never raised a paw to any of them. I've dressed him in a bowtie, and a pumpkin costume, and he is happy to let me do it! Sammie even enjoys going out for walks on a leash (does he ever!!), all you have to do is shake the leash and harness and he runs over and waits to have his harness fastened on! Despite his eagerness to go out for a walk however, he never tries to venture farther than the sidewalk in front of the store; he strolls down to one corner of our block, back past the store to the other corner, perhaps down to the first one again, then trots back into the store as if he's fulfilled his security detail for the day.
At first, I'd been a bit concerned about having a cat at the store (permanently, that is, as opposed to the foster cats we've had here), as I know some people have allergies, phobias, or just plain don't like cats, but Sam has had WAY more positive attention, than negative. Sammie is as much a part of Our Mother's Keepers as I am...besides, I think I'd be run out of town if some members of his fan club came to visit and he wasn't here!
