Move over, shop dogs. There’s a new furry face behind the counter, and this one comes with claws, a mysterious past, and zero interest in fetching anything. Several Ace Hardware stores in Arkansas have started bringing in rescue cats to handle pest control, and in exchange, the cats get something even better than a paycheck: a permanent home.
The program kicked off at the Ace Hardware in Centerton, where store manager Morgan explained that the idea just made sense, said NWA Home page. Hardware stores deal with shipments rolling in from all over, and where there are warehouses and boxes, there are occasionally mice looking for a place to crash. Rather than reaching for traps, these stores decided to hire a more traditional form of pest control, one that’s been on the payroll since ancient Egypt.
The cats came through a partnership with Shiloh Kittens, a rescue organization based in Searcy, Arkansas. According to Morgan, the store’s marketing coordinator connected with the rescue, and it turned out to be a good match. Not every cat is cut out for retail, but the ones chosen for the role get to spend their days lounging near the paint aisle instead of waiting in a shelter kennel.
It’s a simple idea, but it solves two problems at once. The stores get some low-maintenance pest control, and cats who might otherwise wait a long time for adoption get put in front of hundreds of potential cat parents a week. Customers get to pet a cat while buying a hammer. Everybody wins, except maybe the mice.
A Job Title Even the Cats Would Approve Of
Officially, the cats have been dubbed “Mouser Managers,” which might be the best job title handed out in retail this year. Morgan noted that having a cat on staff has become something of a conversation starter too.
A lot of customers don’t realize how many cats are still out there needing homes, assuming shelters are full and that’s the end of the story. Turns out that’s just scratching the surface. Having a cat curled up by the register tends to open people’s eyes, and more than a few Centerton shoppers have reportedly walked out with a new “shop cat” of their own after meeting one in person.
Built-In Employee Perks, No 401(k) Required
The Mouser Managers do not clock in or out, they do not take lunch breaks, and their performance reviews likely consist of a scratch behind the ears. But by all accounts, they are doing exactly what was hoped: keeping the store pest-free while getting the kind of attention and affection that shelter cats do not always get a chance at. Morgan said the goal is simple, they want these cats to be happy and to live their best lives right there in the store.
The stores are even planning to get the community involved by letting customers help name the cats, which honestly might be the most Ace Hardware thing imaginable. Somewhere out there, a cat is currently living its best life next to a rack of wrenches, blissfully unaware that it might soon be named after a power tool.
Retail cats might not move as much product as a good sale on grills, but there is something genuinely nice about a business using its foot traffic to help solve a real problem instead of just chasing profit. If a store cat convinces even a handful of people to adopt instead of shop from a breeder, that is a win worth applauding, mice included.
Excuse me if I missed this: Are the cats fed regularly? Because the smell of cats will deter rats and hence, there will be no meals for any of these store cats.