There seems to be a cultural, perhaps universal, understanding that cats and bibliophiles go together like a matched set. But have you ever wondered why? For this edition of Bookstr Trivia, we’ve purr-used medieval records and uncovered cat-tastic data to bring you the origins of the library cat. Its impact will surprise you. Read on for more!
The Concept of Library Cats
As if there weren’t already enough reasons for bibliophiles to browse their local library, enter the library cat. Since as far back as ancient Egypt, cats have been adopted by librarians, primarily as a means of pest control. Though not a novel concept, library cats are still popular today. Collective data shows that over 300 reside in libraries and bookstores globally, with the highest number reportedly coming from the U.S. alone!
In 1987, the now-defunct Library Cat Society was established with a mission to promote the benefits of cats in libraries. These include marketing, generating a friendly and comforting space for patrons and staff alike, and they’ve even been known to inspire literacy among younger library-goers. In fact, there are cat reading programs held in animal shelters aimed at both teaching kids about animals and increasing pet adoptions.
With their generally calm presence and independence, cats can also be wonderful stress-reducers while not disrupting the serenity expected of libraries.
Origin and History
The first known library cat came from ancient Egypt, and her name was Myeo. Myeo was adopted by a sub-librarian, Petsis, who worked at the mystifying Library of Alexandria. The story goes that Petsis had been overwhelmed by his work of maintaining stacks of unlabeled scrolls; he was especially frustrated by a rodent problem at the library. In the midst of his woes, he took to fishing by the Nile, where a female stray would frequently keep him company. She eventually followed him home, and the rest is history.
As his pet, Myeo began assisting Petsis at the library, first by catching the rodents and then by being the catalyst for catalog cards. Once Petsis realized the advantage of having a cat at the library to kill mice, he had Myeo gather more feline friends. He would go on to keep alphabetized records for each cat, which led him to apply the same organization strategies when classifying library scrolls.
Beyond the story of Petsis and Myeo, the phenomenon of the library cat would spread into medieval Europe, where cats would also serve the function of hunting rodents who chewed on vellum used for manuscripts. Evidence of this can be found in literal paw prints appearing on monastic records of that era. Cats, in general, remained consistently employed throughout the Middle Ages, ridding castles, shops, and homes of rodents invading these spaces as well. In the 18th century, Empress Elizabeth of Russia ordered cats be brought to her court in St. Petersburg because of a rat infestation. Her palace, now the Hermitage Museum, continues to employ descendants of those cats to this day!
By the 1800s, the British government was compensating libraries that housed cats under the pretense that they were protecting books from rats and mice. The tradition carries on into modern times, with library cats being widely considered working cats for both their hunting duties and their welcome companionship. Libraries aside, cats, likewise, serve as charming mascots for numerous independent bookstores.
America’s Most Famous Library Cat
Library cats across America and beyond have become local celebrities in their own right. Some of them have even reached international fame! In his documentary Puss in Books: Adventures of the Library Cat (1997), Gary Roma follows the stories of some of the most well-known in the nation. These include Scottish folds Baker and Taylor, who went on to become official mascots for the book distributor of the same name. The main feature in Roma’s documentary, however, is the famed Dewey Readmore Books of Iowa’s Spencer Public Library.
Dewey was found in 1988 and subsequently adopted by the Spencer Library’s director, Vicki Myron. Named after the Dewey Decimal System, this little kitten would go on to brighten a struggling small town ripe with unemployment. His tenure as a library cat doubled the establishment’s yearly attendance. Plus, his resources, which were initially covered by the staff, went on to be funded by donations from the public!
Fun fact: Dewey was unlike most cats in his role — capturing mice was not his forte. You can read a comprehensive list of his duties as a library cat here. All in all, Dewey’s charms lied more on the emotional support he so readily offered to patrons and, most of all, his owner. Dewey and Myron’s special bond eased the library director through some life-altering events, including a divorce and breast cancer.
Following the release of Roma’s award-winning documentary, Dewey’s star rose even higher as interview requests and fan mail from all over the world poured in. The library went on to make postcards of the cat, generating hundreds of dollars a month. As a result, Dewey no longer needed donations for his food.
After his passing in 2006, his story went on to become a #2 New York Times Bestseller, and there were even talks of a film starring Meryl Streep! Needless to say, Dewey’s 19-year tenure set the precedent for library cats everywhere.
Controversies
While mostly beloved, library cats have also been the subject of controversy. Back in 2016, library cat Browser was almost evicted from his residence at White Settlement Public Library in Texas. Due to allergy concerns, a motion was passed to remove Browser, who, by this point, had lived in this library for six years. This action was met with immediate backlash. A petition against the motion received 12,000 signatures, and the local mayor dismissed the case, stating he had received messages from different states, “as well as Germany, Australia, Malaysia, Guam, and England.”
Roma’s documentary also touches on similar controversies from its time. The most egregious being that of a Connecticut woman with a cat phobia; she received death threats and dead mice in the mail after voicing her complaints about a local library cat named Fred. The library’s attempts to accommodate the woman didn’t suffice, but public outcry impeded Fred’s removal.
One standout quote from Roma’s documentary regarding this situation comes from the then-director of the Library Cat Society, Phyllis Lahti, stating:
“There seems to be no middle ground for discussions at times because the emotions among the participants are quite high. However, mercifully, the cat who is under question is not aware of this.”
In other cases where a library cat was evicted, the library would end up suffering financially. When a member of the board started experiencing allergic reactions to the resident cat at Putnam Valley Library in New York, the feline, Muffin, was rehomed. Wealthy patrons then pulled the establishment from their will, resulting in an $80,000 loss in revenue.
A patron against Muffin’s removal is quoted in Roma’s documentary, saying:
“When a library does not go by the majority, the library suffers in the end.”
There are two key takeaways from this: (1) nothing brings a community together more than a common cause; (2) world domination is upon us, and cats are at the helm. But in all seriousness, it seems apt to close out this Trivia edition with another quote — one that possibly sums up the link between cats and bibliophiles.
“I believe what I like about people who like cats is the fact that they appreciate the independence of the cat. I think this is important… Independence shows resolve of spirit and a mind of your own.“
– Phyllis Lahti, Puss in Books: Adventures of the Library Cat (1997)
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