Library cat facts for kids
Library cats are special cats that live right inside libraries all over the world. For hundreds of years, cats have been friends with libraries, helping out from the Middle Ages until today. These cool cats have even become famous in movies and books!
Contents
Cats in Libraries: A Long History
The friendship between cats and libraries goes back a very long time. Records from old monasteries in the Middle Ages show that monks kept cats. Why? To catch rats! These rats loved to munch on valuable old books and papers, and the cats were great at protecting them.
Modern Library Cats Around the World
Cats are still helping out in libraries today! In 1745, a Russian ruler named Empress Elisabeth ordered cats to be brought to her palace. The great-great-great-grandchildren of those cats still live in the famous State Hermitage Museum in Russia.
In the 1800s, the British government even paid libraries that kept cats. They knew the cats would keep rodents away from the books.
Library cats often become very popular. Some have appeared in books and movies. Others have statues built in their honor outside their libraries! Many library cats even help with marketing and public relations, making their libraries more well-known.
Sometimes, there are disagreements about library cats. For example, some people with allergies might worry about cats in the library. In one case, when a library cat was moved from its home in Putnam Valley, New York, the library actually lost money because people were so upset!
A group called the Library Cat Society used to exist. It started in 1987 to support library cats. This group helped libraries share tips and stories about their cats. A filmmaker named Gary Roma even made a movie about library cats called Puss in Books: Adventures of the Library Cat. He found that there have been over 800 library cats around the world!
You can also often find cats living in bookstores across the United States.
Why Are Library Cats So Great?
Library cats bring many good things to libraries:
- They help people feel welcome and happy.
- They can make librarians feel better and boost their spirits.
- They inspire fun reading programs and help kids get excited about books.
- Cats are great for publicity! They often appear on social media, helping libraries get more attention.
- Their quiet presence can create a calm and relaxing space for everyone. Unlike some other animals, cats usually don't make a lot of noise.
- Cats are also quite independent, which means they don't need constant attention. This makes them a good fit for the quiet, thoughtful atmosphere of a library.
Famous Library Cats You Should Know
- Dewey Readmore Books is probably the most famous library cat ever! He lived in the Spencer Public Library in Iowa for 19 years. After he passed away, a book was written about his life, and it became very popular.
- Browser was a library cat in White Settlement, Texas. In 2016, the city council voted to remove him, but people from all over the world protested! So, the council changed their minds, and Browser got to stay.
- Baker and Taylor were two Scottish Fold cats who lived in a library in Nevada. They helped get rid of rodents and charmed everyone with their cute habits, like sleeping in office supply boxes. They even became the official mascots for a big company that distributes books!
See also
- Animal-assisted therapy
- Anthrozoology
- Bodega cat
- Ship's cat
