# Library cat

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Domestic cats that live in public libraries

A [Siamese](/source/Siamese_cat) library cat

**Library cats** are domesticated [cats](/source/Cat) that live in [public libraries](/source/Public_library) worldwide. The association of cats with libraries dates from at least the Middle Ages up to the present day. **Bookstore cats** are the same thing in bookstores.

Contemporary library cats have also been featured in film and literature.

## History

The relationship between cats and libraries is centuries old.[1][2][3] Monastic records from the [Middle Ages](/source/Middle_Ages) indicate cats were kept in medieval monasteries in order to control rats that might otherwise eat valuable manuscripts.[4]

## Modern examples

In 1745, Russian [Empress Elisabeth](/source/Empress_Elisabeth) published an order to transport cats to her court. The descendants of [these cats](/source/Hermitage_cats) now live in the [State Hermitage](/source/Hermitage_Museum) museum.[5] During the nineteenth century, the British government compensated those libraries that housed cats, on the understanding that they kept rodents away from books.[4]

Library cats have appeared as characters in books and movies,[6] are immortalized in stone in front of their institutions,[4] and some are given positions on the institution's board. Many cats enjoy high-profile professional roles of marketing and public relations.[6]

The relationship between libraries and cats is at times contentious. In one case, there were attempts to remove a cat from a library based on the concerns of patrons with [allergies](/source/Allergy) who claimed violations of the [Americans with Disabilities Act](/source/Americans_with_Disabilities_Act).[7] Another reason considered was the library cat's reaction to [service animals](/source/Service_animal).[1] When a library cat was removed from its institution in Putnam Valley, New York, the institution suffered financially. Two members of the community were so upset about the removal that they deleted from their wills bequests to the library amounting to $80,000.[1]

The Library Cat Society, a now defunct organization, was established in 1987 to encourage the establishment, respect, and recognition of library cats. The society included dozens of member libraries that exchanged information about their cats, and published a newsletter about them.[6]

Phyllis Lahti's anthology *Cats, Librarians, and Libraries: Essays for and About the Library Cat Society* explored this relationship.[8] The lives of library cats were studied by Gary Roma, a documentarian who produced a film entitled *Puss in Books: Adventures of the Library Cat*.[6] According to Roma's website, there are more than 800 cataloged library cats worldwide. The catalog indicates that many of them have since died.

Additionally, cats are often found in [independent bookstores](/source/Independent_bookstore) throughout the United States.[9][10][11]

## Benefits

Library cats have been used to befriend patrons, boost librarian morale, and inspire reading and literacy programs.[6] Cats can also be useful for marketing campaigns, and are frequently used to generate publicity for their libraries, particularly on social media.[12] The presence of a cat can create a relaxed environment and ease daily stress for patrons and librarians alike,[13][14] but usually without the typically disruptive loud noises other animals (e.g., dogs) may produce. Cats' generally independent nature may also suit the intellectual environment of a library, as they are low-maintenance and may more readily suit the otherwise preoccupied intellectual personalities who frequent libraries.[15]

## Famous examples

[Dewey Readmore Books](/source/Dewey_Readmore_Books) is perhaps the most famous library cat. He lived in Iowa's Spencer Public Library for 19 years. After his death, a [book](/source/Dewey%3A_The_Small-Town_Library_Cat_Who_Touched_the_World) was published about him,[16] and later a few follow-up books.

[White Settlement](/source/White_Settlement%2C_Texas) City Council voted to remove library cat [Browser](/source/Browser_(cat)) from White Settlement Public Library in 2016 but reversed their decision after an international backlash.[17]

[Scottish Fold](/source/Scottish_Fold) cats Baker and Taylor were mousers for a Nevada library. They were often found sleeping in office supply boxes and dragging shoelaces across rows of books. They became official mascots for the book-distributing brand they were [named after](/source/Baker_%26_Taylor).[18]

## See also

- [Cats portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Cats)

- [Animal-assisted therapy](/source/Animal-assisted_therapy)

- [Anthrozoology](/source/Anthrozoology)

- [Biblioteca Joanina](/source/Biblioteca_Joanina), a library that houses bats for a similar purpose

- [Bodega cat](/source/Bodega_cat)

- [Ship's cat](/source/Ship's_cat)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-LAT_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-LAT_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-LAT_1-2) Noriyuki, Duane (18 February 2002). ["In the Wonderland of Libraries Are Cats Like Alis"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-18-lv-cat18-story.html). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. Retrieved 20 June 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["The scholar and his cat, Pangur Bán"](https://www.ling.upenn.edu/~beatrice/personal/pangur-ban.html). *www.ling.upenn.edu*. Retrieved 2022-04-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Cats, get off the page! - Medieval manuscripts blog"](https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2018/12/cats-get-off-the-page.html). *blogs.bl.uk*. Retrieved 2019-07-18.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-History_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-History_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-History_4-2) Kagamaster, Allie. ["History of Library Cats"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140202092837/http://www.catchannel.com/magazines/catfancy/january-2010/history-of-library-cats.aspx). *[Cat Fancy](/source/Cat_Fancy)*. BowTie, Inc. Archived from [the original](http://www.catchannel.com/magazines/catfancy/january-2010/history-of-library-cats.aspx) on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** McGrane, Sally (2012-09-25). ["Russia's Museum Cats"](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/russias-museum-cats). *The New Yorker*. Retrieved 2021-02-22.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Wesleyan_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Wesleyan_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Wesleyan_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Wesleyan_6-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Wesleyan_6-4) ["Wesleyan's Library Cats"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100523/http://www.wesleyancollege.edu/academics/library/cats.cfm). [Wesleyan College](/source/Wesleyan_College). Archived from [the original](http://www.wesleyancollege.edu/academics/library/cats.cfm) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LJ_7-0)** Kelley, Michael (17 May 2013). ["Send Me Your Library Cats"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162236/https://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/05/opinion/editorial/send-me-your-library-cats/#_). *[Library Journal](/source/Library_Journal)*. **05**. Archived from [the original](http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/05/opinion/editorial/send-me-your-library-cats/#_) on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Cats, librarians, and libraries : essays for and about the Library Cat Society | WorldCat.org"](https://search.worldcat.org/title/26985772). *search.worldcat.org*. Retrieved 2025-07-28.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Korbelik, Jeff (13 November 2012). ["What is a cat?"](https://journalstar.com/entertainment/small-screen/television-and-radio/what-is-a-cat/article_db1f1969-37d9-53cb-ba10-293971218abd.html). *[Lincoln Journal Star](/source/Lincoln_Journal_Star)*. Retrieved 8 August 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Davies, Richard. ["A Catalog of Bookstore Cats"](http://www.abebooks.com/books/bookseller-bookshop-bookstore/cats.shtml?cm_mmc=aff-_-ir-_-27795-_-81804&afn_sr=impact). *[AbeBooks](/source/AbeBooks)*. Retrieved 8 August 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["KittyWanKenobi | Sandman Books"](https://www.sandmanbooks.com/kittywankenobi). *www.sandmanbooks.com*. Retrieved 2021-08-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Kroski, E. (2014). "[A quick guide to library cats](http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/quick-guide-library-cats/)". *Open Education Database* (OEDb). Retrieved 29 March 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Stress_13-0)** Mieszkowski, Katharine (12 February 2009). ["The love that dare not bark its name"](https://www.salon.com/2009/02/12/human_animal/). *[Salon](/source/Salon_(website))*. Retrieved 7 July 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Stress_2_14-0)** Black, George. ["Made for Each Other"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120916111154/http://www.onearth.org/article/made-for-each-other). *On Earth*. Archived from [the original](http://www.onearth.org/article/made-for-each-other) on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Neediness_15-0)** Roach, John (29 July 2010). ["How science measures up cats and dogs"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130205042936/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/38433950/ns/technology_and_science-science#.UdoCJawyiDk). *[NBC News](/source/NBC_News)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.nbcnews.com/id/38433950/ns/technology_and_science-science#.UdoCJawyiDk) on February 5, 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NYT_16-0)** Rich, Motoko (4 April 2007). ["Iowa Library's Cat Has a Rich Second Life as a Biography"](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/04/books/04cat.html?_r=0). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Retrieved 20 June 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:3_17-0)** Harris, Ricki (5 July 2016). ["Beloved Cat Will Keep His Job at the Local Library After International Backlash"](https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/beloved-cat-job-local-library-international-backlash/story?id=40351635). *ABC News*. Retrieved 2023-01-02.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Meet the library cats who 'read' their way into America's hearts"](https://www.today.com/pets/how-library-cats-baker-taylor-read-their-way-america-s-t88616). *TODAY.com*. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2023-10-25.

## Further reading

- Pacini, Daniela (Summer 2009). ["Breaking Down Barriers: Dogs and Cats in Public Libraries"](http://fiq.ischool.utoronto.ca/index.php/fiq/article/view/15457/12534) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170609204820/http://fiq.ischool.utoronto.ca/index.php/fiq/article/view/15457/12534) 2017-06-09 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). *Faculty of Information Quarterly* ([University of Toronto](/source/University_of_Toronto)) **1** (3). ISSN 1925-9107.

- Stevens, Norman D. (2004). ["Myeo: the First Library Cat"](https://digitalcommons.uconn.edu/libr_pubs/48) (satirical). [Molesworth Institute](/source/Molesworth_Institute). ([University of Connecticut](/source/University_of_Connecticut)). Paper 48.

## External links

[Library resources](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:The_Wikipedia_Library) about
 **Library cats**

- [Resources in your library](https://ftl.toolforge.org/cgi-bin/ftl?st=wp&su=Library+cat)

- [Resources in other libraries](https://ftl.toolforge.org/cgi-bin/ftl?st=wp&su=Library+cat&library=0CHOOSE0)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Cats in libraries](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cats_in_libraries).

- [Purr 'n' Fur | Featuring Felines: Library Cats](https://www.purr-n-fur.org.uk/featuring/index.html)

- [Gary Roma – *Puss in Books: Adventures of the Library Cat*](https://web.archive.org/web/20090505231356/http://www.ironfrog.com/catsmap.html)

- [Library Cats](https://www.pinterest.com/alahqlibrary/library-cats/) – [American Library Association](/source/American_Library_Association) on [Pinterest](/source/Pinterest)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Library cat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_cat) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_cat?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.