Pawdre, a two-year-old cat in need of a loving home, has embarked on a unique career path as a mouse hunter at Self Stor Storage in North York, Ontario. This remarkable journey began when the Ontario SPCA York Region Animal Centre took in Pawdre after he had been roaming the community without a permanent home.
After patiently waiting for adoption, including a feature in NewmarketToday’s Adopt Me column, Pawdre has not only found a forever home but also secured a rather unconventional occupation—keeping the facility free from rodents.
Self Stor’s marketing manager, Justin Morgan, shared the unexpected delight of their new feline employee, stating, “He’s actually very comfortable with people, which is quite shocking to us, and a lot of our customers love him. He absolutely loves contact, which is quite weird to say for a working cat.”
Pawdre’s successful adoption was made possible through the Ontario SPCA’s working cat program, designed to place cats who may not thrive in traditional households into positions as working cats, specifically for pest control.
Morgan explained that Self Stor sought an alternative approach to managing pests at one of their storage facilities and learned about the Ontario SPCA program. The initiative has been a resounding success over the past three months, with no signs of mouse activity reported.
“We absolutely love the working cat program, and we think that everyone should try and get something like this. It really helps a lot of cats acclimate,” Morgan praised.
Monica Seto, Ontario SPCA shelter health and wellness manager, noted the program’s five years of success in helping cats who might not excel in conventional home environments. She expressed gratitude for the program’s positive impact, saying, “We have a lot of previous adopters that have been really happy with the program and really grateful.”
While Pawdre was initially available for general adoption, Morgan explained that some cats are transitioned to the working stream based on their behavior, as shelter life may affect them differently.
“Sometimes, animal statuses change when they’re with us,” he observed.
Despite initial challenges, Pawdre has grown remarkably friendly towards people. Morgan revealed that, in addition to his mousing duties in the storage halls, Pawdre makes a daily appearance in the office to warmly greet visitors.
“It’s quite shocking to see that he was unadoptable,” Morgan marveled. “Though he is good with people, he is a little bit of an aggressive player… but he’s good with adults and everything like that.”
Pawdre’s sociable nature has led to customers expressing interest in adopting him if his mousing role concludes, or if he ever needs a new home. Morgan even admitted that he himself has contemplated adopting Pawdre.
“Now he’s almost at the point [that] he’s a lap cat,” Morgan revealed. “Such a dramatic change in his life in only a few months.”
