Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Graham the cat visits pet store every day...

... paying particular attention to the mice and fish for sale; how much for the lot?

  • The ginger-and-white tom is a regular customer at the Pets at Home store in Boston, Lincolnshire
  • The cheeky moggy even waits outside at 9am for the doors to open
  • Video shows Graham staring transfixed at a goldfish tank and trying unsuccessfully to claw his way into a rodent cage
By Ted Thornhill


Meet the cheeky cat who must think he’s lost all his nine lives and gone to feline heaven.
A ginger-and-white tom - nicknamed ‘Graham’ – has adopted a giant pet shop stuffed with toys, food and fish, as his second home.
For the past few months he's been visiting the Pets at Home store in Boston, Lincolnshire, every day – even waiting outside for the doors to open at 9am.

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Every day's a purr-fect day for Graham: He's pictured here trying to catch a fish at the Boston Pets at Home store
Every day's a purr-fect day for Graham: He's pictured here trying to catch a fish at the Boston Pets at Home store
Curious: Graham is very drawn to the rodent section of the store
Curious: Graham is very drawn to the rodent section of the store

A video filmed by staff shows Graham sprawled on the ground in front of the shop's automatic doors as he waits to be let in.

Once inside, he wanders over to the till enclosure and opens the staff gate with his paw before jumping on the counter. Graham can also be seen attempting to claw his way - unsuccessfully - into a rodent enclosure and staring transfixed at a goldfish tank.
Loyal: Graham turns up to the pet store every day - and gleefully wanders the aisles
Loyal: Graham turns up to the pet store every day - and gleefully wanders the aisles

Patient: Graham waits outside the doors before opening time
Patient: Graham waits outside the doors before opening time 

No paws-ing: Graham trots straight in at 9am
No paws-ing: Graham trots straight in at 9am




Deputy manager Vicky Coker said: ‘Sometimes he sits on the mat and greets customers as they come in.’

As for the pets for sale, staff insist that he doesn’t scare them at all. George Tarbox, 19, who’s worked at the store for five months, said: 'Curiously enough, the animals here don’t react to him. They’re not scared at all. Anyway, they’re protected by a plastic screen, so he doesn’t cause any harm. That’s why we like him. He likes to sit and watch the rodents, dragons and fish we have in store.

Cat's nice: The staff at Pets at Home enjoy fussing Graham
Cat's nice: The staff at Pets at Home enjoy fussing Graham

Comfort: The till enclosure is a favourite spot for Graham
Comfort: The till enclosure is a favourite spot for Graham



‘Initially we discouraged him from coming in, but he kept coming back.
‘We thought it wouldn't be very good to keep shooing him out as pets are always welcome here - although they're usually on a lead when they come in.’
Graham spends hours at a time at the store and staff feed him the occasional treat to stop him thieving products that are for sale and play with him using toys that won’t be sold.

Window shopping: Graham spends hours at a time at the store and gets to play with toys - but only the ones that aren't for sale
Window shopping: Graham spends hours at a time at the store and gets to play with toys - but only the ones that aren't for sale


And so far their tactics are working.

Mr Tarbox added: ‘We have caught him chewing on a packet of cat food before, but he's generally no trouble. ‘He's become a bit of a celebrity too as we often have customers asking where he is. ‘The kids, especially, love him. He’s a big draw for them.'

Mr Tarbox says he’s claimed ownership of Graham because he named him – but believes he does have an owner, as he has a collar. Staff have no idea who it is, though.

Graham never spends the night at the store because it has a motion-activated alarm that he would set off. Instead, he's put outside at the end of the day and left to find his way home to his owner, whoever it is. 'We always say to him "see you tomorrow," said Mr Tarbox. 'Because we know he'll be back.'

Graham's loyalty isn't just appreciated by the Boston store's customers and staff - it's been recognised by the Pets at Home head office. He's been awarded 'Customer of the Year', with the prestigious title bestowed upon him in a ceremony on Friday. He received a certificate, a new gold collar and a name tag engraved with his new title.


Pets at Home are now urging Graham’s owners to come forward so that they can be rewarded for their loyalty with a privilege card and be given a tour of the store that Graham knows only too well.

Cat's amazing: Graham proudly shows off his Pets at Home Customer of the Year name tag
Cat's amazing: Graham proudly shows off his Pets at Home Customer of the Year name tag

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