Shop native and you may develop private relationships with business house owners. In some circumstances, that additionally means making furry buddies. I traveled round city assembly felines and retailer house owners alike to compile a information to the cats of the town. Give these guys a go to to your fuzzy repair.
Gary at EarthWise Pet Harper’s Point
PHOTOGRAPH BY CLAIRE LEFTON
Parading round an natural pet provide store in Harper’s Point, you’ll discover the handsomest retailer supervisor you ever did see. He’s chubby, talkative, and has a wonderful number of modern ties. This is Gary, the shop cat for EarthWise Pet. He could appear to be an unusual cat, however he’s fairly the survivor.
Gary began his profession at EarthWise Pet as an adoptable cat from Ohio Alleycat Resource. The rescue discovered him chained to a porch, severely malnourished. People didn’t wish to undertake him due to his many well being points which embody gastrointestinal issues and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). Eventually a veterinarian advisable that Gary be put down, however by then the shop had fallen in love with him. Owners Dan and Lisa Woods nursed Gary again to well being and formally adopted him as the shop pet. “He really came around and started mingling,” supervisor Emily Eilers says. “He was so good with the kids. It was wonderful.”
That’s not the one hardship Gary conquered. In December 2022, the blizzard that swept by the town burst the sprinkler system within the workplace above EarthWise Pet, flooding the area the place Gary slept. “He unfortunately was here,” says Eilers. “We got here in time but he was already learning to swim.” The Woods household took him home for the subsequent few months whereas they rebuilt the shop, however he had some issues readjusting on return, “I brought him here a few times and he had some serious PTSD,” Lisa Woods says. “He would just sit in the bathroom here and cry.”
With time and assist, Gary made it by. He’s now a really social and talkative cat, welcoming prospects who walk in with a pleasant meow. He could even observe you across the retailer to help along with your buying or lead an impromptu yoga session from the entrance counter. Keep a watch out for the occasional “Gary special” ({a partially} opened bag of meals that he broke into). He’s awaiting your scritches!
EarthWise Pet Harper’s Point, 11328 Montgomery Rd., Symmes, (513) 469-7387, harperspoint.earthwisepet.com
Georgie at Wiedemann’s Brewery and Pub
PHOTOGRAPH BY CLAIRE LEFTON
The second I acquired out of my automotive at Wiedemann’s Brewery and Pub, Georgie walked as much as greet me. You’d by no means know that she was as soon as a skittish feral cat defending a litter of kittens dwelling within the brewery’s development website in 2017. Co-owner Betsy Newberry advised me that she wouldn’t come near anybody till they began to usually miss meals and water for her. Georgie was nonetheless a largely unbiased out of doors cat till the December 2022 chilly snap. “She developed some kind of limp and her one paw was swollen,” Newberry says. “We nursed her back to health in the office upstairs and decided that’s where she should be every night.”
Newberry additionally claims that Georgie opened her coronary heart to all cats. “I was never a cat person,” she says. “I’ve always had dogs. But who can resist an independent woman?” And Georgie does what she needs. Although she lives on the brewery, she makes common journeys to the St. Bernard Eagles Club throughout the road. She additionally has a robust will—the brewery is her home and she or he refuses to be moved from it. Newberry tried to rehome Georgie with a former contractor when the brewery first opened, however that plan resulted in catastrophe, “When he tried to get her in the carrier, she took a big bite out of his burly hands. She wasn’t going to have anything to do with it.”
She’s unlikely to chunk any prospects, although. Georgie likes to greet guests by flopping over and asking for scratches. She trusts adults greater than youngsters, so she normally avoids littles. Georgie hangs out with prospects extra within the heat seasons as a result of she prefers the outside, however no want to fret about her knocking your beer over. She prefers to put underneath the chairs and doesn’t hassle hopping on tables or consuming individuals’s meals. This kitty additionally loves spreading out on the porch when there’s reside music to really feel the vibrations.
Georgie additionally carries on the legacy of a brewery that’s over 150 years old. The house owners determined to honor their firm’s historical past by naming the cat after George Wiedemann, the German immigrant who based Wiedemann’s Fine Beer in Newport in 1870.
Wiedemann’s Brewery & Taproom, 4811 Vine St., St. Bernard, (513) 482-6970, wiedemannsfinebeer.com
Addy at Suder’s Art Store
PHOTOGRAPH BY CLAIRE LEFTON
This tortoiseshell cutie is Addy. She’s lived at Suder’s Art Store since January 2018, as a lot of an Over-the-Rhine staple because the 100-year-old artwork provide store itself. She could also be cute, however she generally is a bit temperamental. “We call her Princess Addy, does that tell you anything?” jokes Sharon Suder.
Suder, the shop’s proprietor, advised me Addy’s the fourth cat the shop has had within the final 30 years. The first and second got here by the again door, the third was a rescue, and Addy was given to them by the household of a girl who handed away. “She adds a lot [to the store] for us, just because we get to have a pet here,” Suder says.
Addy has her personal followers, too. Students from the Art Academy of Cincinnati usually drop in to say hello whereas choosing up provides. Some cease in simply to see her. You’ll want a pointy eye to search out her—in a wood-paneled retailer crammed to the brim with gadgets, Addy can mix in to her environment. (Pro tip: her favourite spot is the easel part.)
Suder’s Art Store, 1309 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 241-0800, sudersartstore.com
Sophia at Enchanted Moments
PHOTOGRAPH BY CLAIRE LEFTON
At this quirky metaphysical boutique in Milford, a black and white cat curls up by the register. This is Sophia, maven of Enchanted Moments, named after the goddess of knowledge. Sophia was picked up off the road as a kitten along with her sister Inanna (lately deceased) by retailer founders Monica Vance and Robin Stapp. “She really is the owner,” Vance says.
Vance is simply partly joking. “We sort of became the neighborhood place for kids to visit,” Vance provides. “We’re the bribery for parents to get their kids to eat dinner so they can come see the cat. We used to joke about charging people for coming in just to say hi because we’d probably make more money on Sophia visits than sales.”
Sophia additionally mans the register. When I arrived, she was cuddling as much as the pc to soak up its heat. In the warmer and sunnier months, you’ll discover her sleeping within the window. When she’s up and about, you could wish to watch your environment. “She is not graceful. She’s probably broken more than any customer ever could,” jokes Vance.
Vance and Stapp, who died in 2021, have been at all times cat lovers. The two of them spayed and neutered greater than 16 feral cats mixed ,and Stapp saved six of the kittens. They at all times wished cats to be concerned with their retailer. Vance says Sophia brings a lot love and power to Enchanted Moments. “She’s magic.”
Enchanted Moments, 128 Main St., Milford, (513) 831-5508, enchantedmomentsshop.com
Aki and Bert at Growing Trade Pet and Plant
PHOTOGRAPH BY CLAIRE LEFTON
These fluffy siblings are the speak of Northside. Taking naps amid the potted crops and “inspecting” the baggage of pet meals at Growing Trade, you’ll discover Bert and Aki, the feline duo with reverse personalities. Aki is a shy, lovely tortoiseshell who tends to remain on the upper cabinets. Bert is a foolish, playful black cat who likes to run round and work together with the shoppers. Both are equally beloved on the retailer.
Aki, named for the Japanese phrase for autumn, was adopted over a decade in the past by the earlier proprietor’s sister and has been on the retailer so long as it has existed. Bert (quick for Bertram) was present in a dumpster. According to supervisor Jason Knaley-Smitherman, he nonetheless likes to eat trash. They each seem on social media regularly, “[Aki] is the cat we use for more pictures and business stuff,” retailer clerk John Morehose says. Another clerk, Avril Thurman, jokes, “Bert makes good funny faces. He sticks his teeth out.” You can discover glamor photographs of the pair on reward playing cards and calendars bought at Growing Trade.
PHOTOGRAPH BY CLAIRE LEFTON
Both cats hang around inside, however once they head outdoor, they’re expert hunters. “They’re known to bring in lizards, birds, mice, bats,” Knaley-Smitherman says. “One morning I came in and I found two bat wings on the floor. I thought they were leaves at first.” They work together with different animals, too. Bert likes to play with the dogs that regularly go to the shop.
Bert can be engaged on his well being. On the bulletin board behind the counter is a sheet charting his weekly weight as a result of he’s been placed on a particular food regimen. Bert’s weight reduction journey started in June 2023 when he weighed a hefty 16 kilos. “He does not like that he’s on a diet plan,” Morehose says. “He’ll rip open bags of food.”
While Aki could also be extra shy, she’s nonetheless pleasant. She normally sits on a excessive shelf, so it’s unlikely you’ll be capable to pet her. Bert likes to lounge on the counter and get pets from anybody who comes close to.
Growing Trade Pet and Plant, 3840 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, (513) 541-1321, growingtradestore.com
Junipurr at Indigenous Craft Gallery
PHOTOGRAPH BY CLAIRE LEFTON
Junipurr at Indigenous Craft Gallery has her personal merchandise—a wide range of gadgets that includes her likeness created by native artists. According to proprietor Diane Christian-Budd, Junipurr was discovered 12 years in the past on a development website in the course of winter, “So we set up shop for her overnight and thought, OK, well, she can’t do too much damage just in one night. And then she was there for another night. And another night.”
Junipurr loves to hang around on the counter and assist conduct business. When I visited, she walked throughout the register and opened the money drawer. She additionally likes to examine the merchandise, sniffing individuals’s luggage as they try. Junipurr is so fashionable that she has some non-human buddies within the space as effectively. Christian-Budd says, “There is a sheep dog in the neighborhood that comes in like every other day and he’s just fascinated by her. He just stares at her. And she looks at him like You’re OK as long as you’re not moving in.”
Christian-Budd additionally mentions some particular human admirers. “There’s a few men that come in and carry her around. She’s really relaxed with those men in general. We all pick her up and carry her, but she doesn’t love it. But there’s a couple of guys where she just relaxes in their arms.”
The artists whose work is bought on the retailer appear to like Junipurr probably the most. Indigenous as soon as had a present known as “Junipurr in June” the place each merchandise was cat-related. The store usually sells gadgets like nightlights, ornaments, and mugs with the feline’s face on them. Christian-Budd confirmed off the shop’s new ceramic cups that say “Junipurr says Indigenous Craft Gallery is the cat’s meow.” Stop by the East Walnut Hills boutique to see her and purchase her merch.
Indigenous Craft Gallery, 1609 Madison Rd., East Walnut Hills, (513) 321-3750, indigenouscraft.com
All Feline Denizens of Purrfect Day Cat Café
PHOROGRAPH COURTESY OF PURRFECT DAY CAT CAFE
All cat fanatics on the town know that Purrfect Day Cat Café in Covington is the place to be. It has nice espresso drinks, cocktails, pastries, and most significantly, a room filled with cats so that you can play with and undertake. I wouldn’t be capable to identify all of the kitties at Purrfect Day even when I attempted as a result of 1000’s of cats have been adopted by the café.
Café Purr-prietor (his phrase) Chuck Patton left the promoting business to seek for a brand new function in life. One day he got here throughout a cat café on trip in South Carolina. “I ran into the concept and just said, This is it. This is what I want to do,” Patton says. “I was always an animal lover. I really felt as if this was my calling and I ran right into it.” Shortly after that trip, he opened the primary Purrfect Day location in Louisville.
The Louisville café was so profitable in adopting cats, Kenton County approached him to open a location. The denizens of the café come from everywhere in the space; Kenton County Animal Services, Cincinnati Animal CARE, the League for Animal Welfare, and P.A.W.S. of Dearborn County. Since opening in 2020, Purrfect Day has organized greater than 3,000 adoptions. The Covington location averages round 1,300 adoptions per 12 months, which, in line with Patton, makes it the cat café with the second most yearly adoptions within the nation. The Louisville location leads, with about 1,700 adoptions a 12 months.
Patton believes that the café helps unfold the love of cats to the town. The demand brought on by Purrfect Day has positively impacted cat welfare in native shelters. “Many shelters have traditionally put animals down or released them out. Now they don’t have to do that at all,” Patton says. “They just call [our shelter contact] up and say, ‘I’m bringing you 10 or 20,’ and they say ‘Bring ’em on,’ because they know the café is going to immediately get them adopted.”
Besides being a beacon for cat adoption, Purrfect Day is an excellent cute and enjoyable place to go to. For 50 minutes you get unrestricted access to round 20 cats and kittens, most of them wanting to play with you. There are additionally particular occasions within the cat room, like yoga courses, pajama events, and trivia nights. Grab a meow-mosa from the bar and expertise all of the cuteness you’ll be able to deal with.
Purrfect Day Cat Café, 25 W. Eighth St., Covington, (859) 491-7877, purrfectdaycafecovington.com
