Mary, a TCM reader, recently told me the story of hardworking cats Milo and Atticus, who run King’s Bookstore in Tacoma, Washington.

Bookstore employee Sweet Pea says that King’s Bookstore has had resident cats for about six years. Their first cat, Harriet (photo at right) was adopted from the Humane Society, but sadly, she went to The Bridge last year. Black cat Miko (in rocking chair at right, above) is also a Humane Society adoptee.

After Harriet died, a stray grey and white tabby showed up, and the bookstore held a contest to name him. The winning name was Atticus (from Atticus Finch of To Kill a Mockingbird). Atticus is in the left chair in the photo above.

According to Sweet Pea, the feline pair hangs out at the store, and some people come to the store just to see the cats. In the morning, Mika and Atticus are attended to after being left in the store overnight. Atticus likes to ride people’s shoulders. Both happily socialize with groups that meet at the bookstore.

Got a story of bookstore cats you’d like to share? Tell me about it: karen *AT* catster *DOT* com.

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17-year-old Calvin the Cat started out life as “Jane,” named after Jane Austen.

As a wee kitten, he was dumped in a bookstore parking lot, and store owner Heidi Sampson brought him inside and fed him. Sampson said said she “tried to get rid of him, but after about two weeks, all anyone wanted to know was where the cat was.” Somewhere along the way, his gender was ascertained and he was renamed Calvin.

At the time, the bookstore was named “Half Price Books of the Ozarks,” but when Sampson incorporated in 2000, she discovered a preexisting “Half Price” chain.

“We needed to come up with a name, and by that time, almost anyone who came through the door had two questions: ‘Where’s Calvin?’ and then ‘I’m looking for this book,’” Sampson said.

“Calvin’s Used Books” was born.

Locals love to drop by and visit the gregarious tabby. “I love going in there to get some books and hang out with that cat,” Branson resident Leslie Gilmore said. “He is so friendly and cuddly.”

The store is Calvin’s permanent residence, and he’s famous for leaping from the top of one shelf to another. He’s also an incorrigible lap cat.

“If he wants to sit on you, he will,” Sampson said. “If he asks permission, he thinks people will say no, so if you’re on the ground its an open invitation.”

At 17, Calvin is in good health and shows no interest in retirement, although he’s a little less rambunctious than he was in his youth.

“One of his favorite games is to hide and scare people who don’t know he is there,” Sampson said. “When he was younger he would hide in the bookshelves and jump out at unsuspecting customers.”

His most endearing trait? Keeping the dogs in line. “He has never hurt anyone, but his patience isn’t what it used to be when dogs come in the shop,” Sampson said. “He likes to pop them on the nose to let them know they are in his house.”

Calvin’s Used Books is located at 1819 76 Country Boulevard, Unit C, in Branson, MO.

[LINK: Branson Daily News]

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