Cat lovers, book lovers come together at new Pittsburg store

Nov. 23—PITTSBURG, Kan. — The intersection of cat lovers and book lovers has found a home in a recently opened bookstore in Pittsburg.

The Literary Cat Co., located at 915 N. Broadway in Pittsburg, is now open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The bookstore has been a longtime dream of owner Jennifer Mowdy. She said cats and books are a natural pairing.

"They're content to sit with you while you read and enjoy your calm and your peace," Mowdy said. "They're laying beside you, and that's their calm and peace. It goes together."

Mowdy was a teacher for 17 years. Most recently, she taught English as a second language in Frontenac, Kansas. After COVID-19, Mowdy said, she found her career moving in a direction she didn't like. She knew she had to make big changes but wasn't sure of the next step.

She started at a local veterinarian's office and loved working with animals and their owners. After reading and listening to motivational books, she was encouraged to do the things she's always wanted to do.

"It's always been a dream to put my two passions together, which are literacy education and rescue animals," Mowdy said.

Cats roam the store, like a cat cafe. But instead of drinking coffee, people browse shelves of books. It's not a pay-by-the-hour setup — the cats just happen to live in the bookstore. As the cats are acclimated to the environment, they lounge around the store's plush chairs and perches.

When planning the store, Mowdy said, she created a poster board with drawings, articles and inspiration. The color scheme, setting and furniture are all carefully selected to create a cozy, vintage vibe.

The Literary Cat Co. also has shelves of a variety of books. Mowdy said she wants to bring the spending in town back to local businesses. They've already got a wonderful bookstore in town, referring to Books and Burrow down the street, but the more literacy the better, she said.

"I hate it now that we're ordering from Amazon and these big companies when these cool independent bookstores are just dwindling away," Mowdy said. "I think the small-town bookstore needs to be the hub of the community."

The store partners with Pawprints on the Heartland, a local low-cost spay-and-neuter organization, that recently acquired a shelter license. The license allows her to get cats from them.

Pawprints comes across many animals who need homes, and the store fills a similar role as a foster family for pets. Cats are spayed and neutered, and ready for adoption.

Mowdy said she can help people through the application process. With Pawprints, people can now apply through their phone or Facebook page. Paper applications are available as well. Applications are reviewed and approved by Pawprints, just like any adoption process.

Currently, nine cats are at The Literary Cat Co. Two of those are permanent residents.

Hank, a small gray kitten, was found under a vehicle when he was a week old by local college students. Mowdy saw their social media post looking for help and started caring for him. She bonded with him through bottle feeding every two hours. Hank usually curls up in a small box by the register.

"He's going to stay here permanently now," Mowdy said. "He's the boss. He thinks he owns the place."

Scarlet, a black polydactyl cat, was found on social media right around Halloween. Mowdy was worried that a black cat might get adopted for the wrong reasons at that time of year. She fell in love with Scarlet, who now likes to watch over the bookstore from a high perch.

The bookstore is a double win, Mowdy said. It's good for socializing the cats for a new home. Mowdy doesn't want to only focus on kittens, which are easily adoptable.

"I want the older ones, the ones who are a little shy, the ones who aren't playful and cute because they will thrive in a setting like this," Mowdy said. "If they never get socialized, they'll live out their days here, cozy and loved. But hopefully with all the love and attention there, they will become someone's best friend."

For Mowdy, cats and books are a good fit for many reasons. She said cats have a comforting, calming presence that is good for reading a book.

"This hexagon reading nook, it's one of my prized spaces," Mowdy said. "It's a place where if you were to hop up there, a cat would hop up with you in your lap."

The community response has been overwhelming in a positive way, Mowdy said. On a crowded opening day, Mowdy said everyone had been welcoming and complimentary.

The anticipated store opening took a while. Mowdy describes herself as detail focused, and she wanted to make sure everything was just right.

"It makes me feel good because for a while there, I thought I was the only one who thought this was a good idea. Apparently there's other people too," Mowdy said with a smile.