Cats in Our Midst - Shop Cats

Miss Kitty

In Shepherdstown, West Virginia, Miss Kitty oversees an eclectic shop called Creative Distractions and Whimsical Necessities. We met her human on the street, shortly after the shop opened, and found out that Miss Kitty loves to pose for visitors; however, refuses to sit still for any photographs by the owner of the shop. Despite knowing that her food comes from her human, I think that Miss Kitty appreciates that the money for that food is based on the customers visiting the shop. 

Dr. Pickles has one of the best lives a feline can have. He is the shop cat for The Book Trader, a used bookstore in Philadelphia. The bookstore, open since 1975, inhabits a building in the Old City section of the city not far from the river. In addition to having access to a shop with narrow aisle constructed of shelves stuffed with books, videos and movies that offer ample hideaways for a nap, it also is good place to meet sedate humans interested in browsing the shelves. I wondered if there was a side job of controlling the mouse population in the building, but Dr. Pickles was not saying. Recently, the bookstore has begun printing cards of the cats available for purchase. I suspect that the endeavor helps to support feline employee’s food supply; so, of course, I purchased one. 

Dr. Pickles showing me where his food is kept (just in case)

Wanshang Huaniao Market

When we travel, we want to see something different, something out of the ordinary. The Wanshang Huaniao Market, otherwise known as the Flower and Bird Market in Shanghai, is a place many of us would not recognize. The interior of the market are multiple stalls of plants and animals, of every variety. Entering the market is to be faced with a cacophony of crickets chirping mixed with bird song. It is amazing to think that some crickets can cost up to $1000; such an animal would need to fetch my slippers and bring the mail in each day. The smell of animals is persistent, although not as unpleasant as you might first expect. Yet, the market, I suspect, is disconcerting for many Westerners. It is not difficult to find a small bird or animal who has succumbed to the eat or dehydration. Nevertheless, the uniqueness and variety intrigues the visitor. There are small fishes of multiple designs and colors; variously sized crickets, from nearly microscopic to as big as a child’s hand; kittens and puppies in very small cages; and, birds too numerous to count. While I am not given to buy many souvenirs, where else can you buy small porcelain dishes used for feeding and watering one’s pet cricket?