Maryland Bookstore Hilariously Rejects Neighborhood Kitty's 'Application' to Be Their Store Cat
An independent bookstore outside Washington, D.C. caused chuckles throughout its community by posting a “rejection letter” to a supposed application on their social media yesterday. The job-seeker was none other than a ginger tabby cat who wandered into their shop. But don’t worry: this cat is well known in the neighborhood for already having a job.
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People’s Book bookstore in Takoma Park, Maryland is a cozy independent shop down a leafy side street right outside Washington D.C. They’re known for their knowledgeable staff and community-focused events, and so it’s little wonder that they instantly understood the neighborhood firestorm they’d ignite if they didn’t send this cat right back to where he came from.
The orange tabby cat, Mr. Pots, makes both his home and his work at the Old Takoma Ace Hardware store around the corner, where he’s popular with shoppers, and earns his keep by making sure the store remains rodent-free.
But, like all cats, occasionally he likes to have a bit of a wander, and yesterday, his travels took him for a spin through the bookstore. There, the employees were able to capture a shot of him trailing through their philosophy section.
In the comments, people are suspicious of this ginger’s motives. “It's an orange cat... and you have Sun Tzu Art of War within his reach?!?” worries one.
It’s probably only an issue if the cat can read.
We’re sure this rejection letter reflects the truly difficult decision made by the hiring committee in the face of such cuteness.
Dear Mr. Pots,
Thank you for submitting your application and resume for the position for official bookstore cat. We deeply appreciate you taking the time to research our mission, and were impressed with your deep knowledge of our philosophy selection. However, after reviewing all the applications, we have decided to move in a different direction with our bookselling team. At this point in time, we will have to prioritize human candidates.
The Bookstore Cat
The idea of a shop cat is a long-held tradition, going back centuries to a time when most cats lived alongside humans rather than as real pets. Cats are extremely territorial in nature, so it would be natural for them to regard a given shop, barn, or even ship as their natural hunting grounds, and for the humans who actually ran those places to not mind it so much, as they kept the pest population down. In New York City, they are called bodega cats, because of how many corner stores keep them to help with mice and rats. In Portland, they are called “bookstore cats” because of their traditional spot in these temples of knowledge.
And the idea of a bookstore cat is not a bad one. Although mice are drawn to places with food, bookstores can also attract rodents, due to the many dark corners and of course, surplus of papery nesting material.
Don’t Apply Just Yet
However, it must be clearly stated: there is no indication that The People’s Book has any such issue, nor that they are in the market for a cat at all. They just had a feline visitor in the form of the cat from a neighboring store. And, should their stance on the issue change, I’m sure the “cat distribution system” will soon supply them with the mousing kitty of their dreams.
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