Pumpkin the Nursery Cat

Pumpkin welcomes Tall Husband and me to Buchanan's Native Plants in the Historic Houston Heights. Buchanan's is Houston's largest garden center devoted to Texas native plants and organic gardening.

"My favorite plant? Let me think about that." (This was a loaded question, since Tall Husband and I had, on a previous visit, seen Pumpkin deliriously silly as she nibbled at the catnip... on the job!)

"I'm still thinking."

"Catnip! Yes, I would have to say that my favorite plant is the nepeta cataria or catnip; it's a great ground cover and is a delicious shade of green."


We know, Pumpkin!

Here is the catnip at Buchanan's. The human staff have to cage the plant to prevent having their profits eaten up by Pumpkin. One staff member confessed that he does occasionally leave a bit of catnip unsecured for Pumpkin's indulgence.

Here's a cat's eye-view of the caged catnip.

After the interview and photo shoot, it's back to work for Pumpkin. "Alright, who disturbed the gravel? This has to be purrrfect. Do I smell the mischievousness of some dog!?"

Rudy: A canine customer at Buchanan's Native Plants; He swears he did not muss up the gravel, "That cat's crazy; I didn't even paws near that gravel! And that's merely water on the gravel to my right!"


This is the third in a series of stories about animals in the retail business. (see the first and second installments.)

Cats in the Antiques Business

Sam, Rambo Steve and Peel agreed to (sort of) an on-the-job interview and photo shoot at their place of business, Installations Antiques in the Heights, Houston, Texas.

It has never occurred to these three feline workers that they are not the sole owners of the business. They are intimately involved in the day-to-day operations of Installations, though each may at times take on a purrrsona of aloofness. Sam is the most congenial of the three, greeting customers and loving to pose for photos. Rambo Steve was really too busy keeping an eye on the customers and taking a lunch break to pose. Ms. Peel, a professional model (see a sample of her work below,) was not available for photos (plus I don't think I could afford her fee!)

It's worth a visit to Installations Antiques just to meet these cats. They have marvelous taste in antiques, ranging from European primitives to American mid-twentieth-century modern and can advise you on the best chairs or tables in the house.

Sam, behind (well, on top of) the counter.

Rambo Steve: "Sir, the cat box is straight ahead."

Sam: "The antiques business is a purrrfect fit, given my talent set."

Peel, Posing in an ad for Installations Antiques

The above advertisement was used with permission from Becki van der Oord of Installations Antiques.
Peel's Photo by Becki van der Oord



Don't you think Peel looks like Puff on my magnet above?

This is the second in a series of stories about animals in the retail business. (see the first installment.)