Rare Bookstore Cat Soon To Be On Streets?

The people at Skyline Books emailed us to let us know they'd be closing up shop January 31st, 2010 — after being in business since September of 1990. Sigh. They say they're just one of many independent bookstores folding under the pressures of increasing rents, online bookselling, and the city's changing landscape. They also believe they are one of the last bookstores to have a cat! (Our own John Del Signore points out that "Spoonbill & Sugartown has a 3 legged cat who will outlive us all.") The shop told us the owner may not be able to take her home due to other pets, saying: "Linda is a territorial cat. She's had complete run of that bookstore her entire life, she's 8 years old, and for 8 years any dog that's intruded on her domain has been sent packing and she's pretty good at it. Ideally if another bookstore could take her. She's a book store cat, and there just aren't any left, book stores or book store cats. it's very sad."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on January 7, 2010 4:40 PM

Comments [rss]

brooklynbee

I'm going to repost on menandcats.com. I actually have a pretty good track record of helping to find homes for cats via Men and Cats!

A lot of men do actually love cats...

RevWaldo

Computer Book Works on Reade St (which I believe is now closed) also had a lovable cat. It was even part of the store's logo.

Papercutninja

Shakespeare and Co on Broadway has a cat, the last i checked.

derekbrucedurand

The drama book shop has a cat named Humphrey as well. hes very very sweet

The Chuck

Community Bookstore...in Park slope has a cat, and has had a cat for quite a while I think. If not just the current one, than past cats as well.

wow 14th street

A good Pussy will always find a home.

potsmoker

just put it out of its misery, at least you can strangle a cat with one hand or crush its skull with the latest stephen king novel.

mihow

You could at least try and be original since you can't be funny.

elpollodiablo

Why are Gothamist comments like 75% troll? Commentators should be vetted, like at Gawker. This shit's embarrassing.

mellow_fellow

Felix blows up in 3,2...

maryjr

3 black cats in this bookstore in a sleepy southern town. Amazing they are still in business. Very cute.

http://www.indiebound.org/stores/literary-book-post

gothamguy

I met this cat a few months ago. It was just sitting on the sidewalk terrified and all scratched up. I sat with it for about 20 minutes trying to figure out what to do because I was afraid it would dart into traffic. Just as I was about to call a rescue organization, the bookstore owner came out to close up shop. I asked if the cat was hers and she said yes, that it lived in the store.

Who lets a cat roam on the sidewalk without a collar or anything? I am surprised it was never hit by a car.