SUSAN LOESCH
CATS IN THE STACKS

The holidays are officially here! How do I know? Saturday was Photos with Santa time for the library cats!

Every year, starting when our original library cat, Piper, was just 4 months old, we’ve headed to CARE for Animals to have Santa pictures made.

Piper and Big Footsie were both CARE rescues who happily ended up with me, and this is our holiday tradition, repeated this year for the 10th time.

There are lots of laughs connected with our annual jaunts.

One year Footsie had his ears back, no doubt annoyed at his assistants’ behavior.

Then there was the photo that looked like Valley was singing Christmas carols, when actually he was protesting with all the lung-power he could muster.

Alex was looking away as if he were about to die of embarrassment.

In last year’s photo, Footsie posed like the pro he was while Alex and Piper carried on a conversation!

This year, I told Alex, he would have to be much more serious; after all he is now the Head Library Cat!

Alex and Piper posed calmly but neither would look at the camera.

I stood behind the photographer trying to get their attention, and someone else was waving a cat toy to tempt them to look our way. I don’t think the photographer ever did get a shot with Alex and Piper looking her way, but that’s OK.

Part of the fun is the poses that aren’t perfect. I always enlarge the photo to poster size for the kids at school and I know they will love it no matter what!

Later Saturday evening, Alex donned Footsie’s green coat again to act as a greeter at FuRR’s benefit at the Afterthought. Once again he was the center of attention. I think he is enjoying all his gigs as Head Library Cat.