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Cat in supermarket

59 replies

Piggybacker · 20/03/2023 10:34

Am I being ridiculous being bothered by this?

We have a supermarket, which is found in a small outside precinct just off a high street.

There is a local cat, who seems to spend a lot of time within the precinct and has taken to going into the supermarket. He has taken on this local celebrity status and it seems like every other day there are pictures of the cat sitting on produce (all sealed admittedly - the last couple I have seen is of him sitting on a large pack of tinned vegetables and of him lying on a gigantic - bigger than him- pack of flour).

I’m not a cat person at all. Don’t feel comfortable around them since as a child when sitting on a friend’s sofa, a cat jumped on me from behind and landed on my head. I can actually laugh about that now, but I am still jumpy around them.

Anyway, I see these posts of the cat and do a little shake of my head and generally move on. (I shake my head because I don’t see the appeal. And also because I thought, it’s a bit unhygienic allowing it on the food.)

But last week, I opened a couple of the posts to see that a couple of people had commented that it doesn’t seem right the cat is on the food. However most people shot them down with “the food is sealed”, “shop somewhere else”, “he only wants fuss” and “he is beautiful” etc.

It also seems from what I’ve read that the supermarket do nothing to shoo him out when he ventures inside.

So, oh wise cat and non cat lovers of MN, would it bother you? Seeing a cat on produce? And the shop not doing anything to discourage it?

As I said, I don’t have a love affair with cats so I don’t have a natural centre with this!

OP posts:
daisydot22 · 20/03/2023 10:41

I probably wouldn't buy something a stray cat had sat on. My cat is a filthy little beast, always leaving fur, muddy paw prints and detritus wherever he goes. However I also wouldn't be bothered by it being in the supermarket. There are always loads of birds flying around our local Tesco which is worse with the risk of being shat on.

I couldn't get worked up over this.

LadyKenya · 20/03/2023 10:49

I like cats, but would not want to buy food that a cat had been sitting all over.

xogossipgirlxo · 20/03/2023 10:56

I love cats, I have two, but it would bother me.

Interested in this thread?

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Madmog · 20/03/2023 11:04

From my username, you can see I love cats, so it wouldn't bother me one bit, but turns the cards around to another animal, I wouldn't be happy

There must be something under health and safety, so if you're not happy, I'd look into that. I know if we get vermin in our store, we have pest control out, all food in area has to be removed and area cleaned - they're probably a bit different, but this must apply to other animals (not sure if this is all regulation but it's what we do).

Isheabastard · 20/03/2023 11:04

It wouldn’t bother me if the food was sealed and undamaged and not squashed.

Id be worried the cat was homeless and this would be his only chance to get out of the cold.

gamerchick · 20/03/2023 11:06

Environmental health?

EmmaEmerald · 20/03/2023 11:06

daisydot22 · 20/03/2023 10:41

I probably wouldn't buy something a stray cat had sat on. My cat is a filthy little beast, always leaving fur, muddy paw prints and detritus wherever he goes. However I also wouldn't be bothered by it being in the supermarket. There are always loads of birds flying around our local Tesco which is worse with the risk of being shat on.

I couldn't get worked up over this.

Wait, there are birds flying round your Tesco?

and they definitely need to get a cat to fix that problem!

OP I adore cats but I do understand why you'd find that a problem.

Beamur · 20/03/2023 11:07

I love cats (have 4) but I don't think a supermarket is the ideal place! Not everyone likes cats and I wouldn't be delighted to buy food that had a cat lying all over it. They are clean animals but animals none the less.

lieselotte · 20/03/2023 11:07

I don't mind cats but I would not buy any uncovered food. They do wash themselves all the time, but that isn't really the point.

I was in an old-fashioned green grocers the other week and someone had taken their dog in there. I definitely would not have bought any of the produce that was on the lower levels, given the dog was sniffing everything.

I really do wish people would keep animals out of food shops.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 20/03/2023 11:07

It wouldn't bother me at all if a cat was sitting on prepackaged food. That's far better than people touching bread and cakes from the bakery!

Beamur · 20/03/2023 11:08

Birds inside the store are considerably more of a health hazard though. That's pretty disgusting. Bird flu anyone?

HRTeatime · 20/03/2023 11:08

Well, 93% of well over 1000 people voted that the op in this post would be unreasonable to complain about her coops cat, so I guess most people quite like the idea of it🤷‍♀️

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4719939-the-co-ap-cat-aubi-to-complain

Mariposa26 · 20/03/2023 11:29

I can see your point but he’s probably a lot better to have around than the inevitable mice that will be all over everything, speaking as an ex supermarket worker.

Watercoloursky · 20/03/2023 11:45

Bit of a long shot, but are you in Kirkwall? If so, you may have encountered the lovely Shompy: www.facebook.com/TescoKirkwallCat

Dirtypaintwater · 20/03/2023 11:49

I'm allergic, and I also find that icky.

The only animals which should be in supermarkets are guide dogs. Its really unfair and unhygienic to allow cats free reign in supermarkets.

If people want to mix food and cats, there are cat cafes.

LadyHaHaHeeHaw · 20/03/2023 12:09

No it wouldn't bother me

PlateBilledDuckyPerson · 20/03/2023 12:13

It would encourage me to shop there!

KnittedCardi · 20/03/2023 12:14

TBH Children in food stores bother me more. The number to times I have seen children cough onto unpackaged vegetables, or picked their noses and then poked produce, sneezed all over everything. Revolting little harbourers of disease 😂

ZeroFuchsGiven · 20/03/2023 12:16

This was posted a few weeks back,have you posted about it before?

Quveas · 20/03/2023 12:20

I really do wish people would keep animals out of food shops

I feel the same about some people.

But I assume you aren't including service animals in that statement because I couldn't go in any shop without mine. That said, I agree with the sentiment - I do not think that animals belong in food shops and I'm surprised so many people think it's ok. It isn't about lying on the tims - it's about the fact that you don't know what other produce they have been on. I wouldn't shop somewhere like this.

Branster · 20/03/2023 12:21

Wouldn't bother me one bit.
I am convinced all the packaged food comes from warehouses full of rats snd mice. So they are already contaminated by something from the production line until we buy them.

ChaToilLeam · 20/03/2023 12:21

I’d rather have a shop with a friendly cat rather than lots of mice.

SallyWD · 20/03/2023 12:21

I absolutely love cats but I do think it's odd to allow a cat to sit on produce. Can't they put a little cat basket for him?

EmmaEmerald · 20/03/2023 12:22

SallyWD · 20/03/2023 12:21

I absolutely love cats but I do think it's odd to allow a cat to sit on produce. Can't they put a little cat basket for him?

not unless a staff member keeps moving the basket to where he wants to sit. Aww. He coukd have a royal purple cushion!

StEtienne93 · 20/03/2023 12:23

Is this Asda by any chance? If so, it's probably the Asda I go to and the cat is called Snickers.
I'm not a cat fan and it's crossed my mind about the hygiene aspect of the cat lying on produce (albeit sealed). However, its such a busy supermarket with people coming in/out and I don't see how they can stop him. He just sneaks in and even if they did put him outside he'd manage to get back in. I think Asda have decided to embrace his presence (rather than fight a losing battle) because he attracts people to the store due to him being so well known now.