No, “working cats” is not an oxymoron. The Chinatown bodega cat (not technically an accurate descriptor) is earning her keep in the millennia-old job of mousing. The sophisticated Parisian cafe cat is in the hospitality business and quite at home at a sidewalk table.
I love it! Our cats have pretty much free access to table tops, desks, food areas you name it and we are not one iota the worse off for that. In our house, if a cat makes him or herself comfortable on a chair or couch where a human would want to sit, the human is not allowed to disturb them or chase them of the seat. You wait, or find another place to rest. We are expected to show some humility and some respect.
I am with you. I do try to tell my cat not to walk on the counter when persnickety guests visit, but still they tread lightly between the food dishes, and I sometime say "Bad kitty," in my sweetest voice.
My kitty kat earns her keep most days. Mice are no longer a problem, well so far. Unfortunately her skill w/cockroaches vary. Some days she’s really into the job, Other days, not so much. Fortunately, I don’t have many roachs.
In addition to working cats like those in your examples, we have a culture which handsomely rewards numerous humans primarily for being cute. Given cats' enormous propensity for cuteness, might we regard that also as a job?
My bench is 60k deep and I remember it better than "real life." But am still surprised when I go thru looking for pairings. I am used to seeing dogs at tables in France, but I thought this puss was a wonder of feline sociability.
I love it! Our cats have pretty much free access to table tops, desks, food areas you name it and we are not one iota the worse off for that. In our house, if a cat makes him or herself comfortable on a chair or couch where a human would want to sit, the human is not allowed to disturb them or chase them of the seat. You wait, or find another place to rest. We are expected to show some humility and some respect.
I am with you. I do try to tell my cat not to walk on the counter when persnickety guests visit, but still they tread lightly between the food dishes, and I sometime say "Bad kitty," in my sweetest voice.
My kitty kat earns her keep most days. Mice are no longer a problem, well so far. Unfortunately her skill w/cockroaches vary. Some days she’s really into the job, Other days, not so much. Fortunately, I don’t have many roachs.
In addition to working cats like those in your examples, we have a culture which handsomely rewards numerous humans primarily for being cute. Given cats' enormous propensity for cuteness, might we regard that also as a job?
oh, yeah.
Hardware store cats are common in Vermont, and the cats at Agway are my favorites.
Thanks. i'll have to go shoot the Agway cat. A very nice puss as I remember.
You have such a deep bench of photographs! Especially of people in all kinds of situations. Love the cafe cat.
My bench is 60k deep and I remember it better than "real life." But am still surprised when I go thru looking for pairings. I am used to seeing dogs at tables in France, but I thought this puss was a wonder of feline sociability.