CVS Cat, now off the streets, still looking for his ‘forever home’

CVS Cat is no longer relying on a pharmacy to serve as his home.

The orange-and-white tabby who lived part time inside an East Passyunk CVS after his owners abandoned him was picked up off the streets last week. Now, he resides in the West Norriton home of foster parent Sue Krause, where he has been enjoying plenty of treats. (His favorite is Inaba Churu, a chicken-and-cheese puree that he rapidly licks from its Go-Gurt-like plastic tube.)

“There’s a little house cat in there that wants to be spoiled, and it’s just starting to blossom and come out,” says Krause, who fosters for the rescue organization Cat Tales. “His acclimation time has been amazing — it took him less than 24 hours to start purring and head-butting me for attention.”

Krause renamed him “C.C. Reed,” a play on “CVS Cat” and the 10th and Reed Street CVS where he regularly napped atop newspaper stands. These days, C.C. Reed curls up in his own cozy cat bed, never failing to rise at the first sound of food.

Safe and warm, he appears to be in good hands. Yet, C.C. Reed is still on the lookout for his “forever home.” With four cats of her own, Krause doesn’t plan to keep the cat she describes as “so stinkin’ cute,” no matter how much she wishes she could.

How did an East Passyunk cat end up almost an hour away in West Norriton? It was a team effort.

“I had read the [Inquirer] article about him, and when I looked at the weather and saw it was going to be in the low 20s, I felt for him,” says Krause. “I know he’s been outside a lot lately, but he wasn’t sleeping outside originally, and I just didn’t want to think about him freezing to death.”

With snow in the forecast, Krause was concerned she couldn’t make it to Philly before the bitter cold arrived. So she reached out on Instagram to fellow fosterer Adrienne Amato, whom Krause had never met but was pretty sure lived in South Philly. Amato was at the CVS by 7:30 p.m. that same day. And there was the cat, seated in one of his favorite spots — the pharmacy’s glass vestibule.

Before he could dart, Amato reached for the scruff of his neck and put him into a crate, butt first.

“He was screaming bloody murder, but the whole thing happened pretty quick. Freaking out is normal, but he wasn’t hurt in the process,” says Amato.

During the car ride to West Norriton, Amato periodically slid her fingers through the crate. C.C. Reed rubbed his head against them in search of comfort.

“I’ve seen cats like him before. There will be an adjustment period, but he’s not a feral cat that’s afraid of human contact,” says Amato.

The morning after his trapping, Liz DeMartino walked to the CVS and noticed that her favorite shopping companion was missing. She was terrified.

For weeks, DeMartino, who lives in the neighborhood, had been trying to find the cat a home. In the first Inquirer article about CVS Cat, she gave out her email to assist potential adopters.

“I was nervous that I just did something real bad by getting the word out — it could’ve been some crazy person who took him,” says DeMartino.

A CVS employee eased her concerns.

“I was told someone caught him by the scruff of his neck, and so I knew it was clearly someone who’s trapped cats before,” says DeMartino.

So DeMartino harnessed the power of Instagram, searching for the hashtag #CVSCat. Krause’s account (@krause_haus_kitties) popped up, already full of C.C. Reed’s fluffy, green-eyed face.

“I’ve never heard this cat purr so much as now when I’m watching videos of him in his new bed,” says DeMartino, who has since talked with Krause on the phone. “It makes me so happy to see him thriving, not seeing him as I walk into CVS.”

Still, C.C. Reed is without a permanent home. Fortunately, there seems to be an abundance of interested people.

Over the last few weeks, DeMartino received close to 500 emails about the cat. Many were from potential adopters who never followed through. Some were from angry residents who felt no one should interfere with the cat’s life. Others expressed gratitude for DeMartino’s concern. About 30 came from out of state.

“A lot of Ohios and Floridas in there, and even California — you want me to put the cat on a plane to California? Are you crazy?” says DeMartino. “I responded by letting them know that there are plenty of cats they could help on a local level.”

Krause says people who are still interested should act now. Adoption applications are on CatTalesInc.org. Fees are $70 to $100 for adult cats.

“He’s a bit of a local celebrity, so the candidate pool will be better for him than most street cats that are brought in,” says Krause, currently fostering two other kitties, kept in a separate room.

It’ll be a few weeks before C.C. Reed leaves Krause’s home. Krause wants to make sure he goes to the right owners, so she’s giving him time to settle in so she can uncover his personality. Eventually, Krause will introduce him to her other cats to observe how he reacts. One attribute that isn’t likely to change: C.C. Reed hates being picked up.

“I don’t want someone to adopt him because he’s Philly famous. I want someone to adopt him who’ll accept his idiosyncrasies,” says Krause. “He’s definitely a little bit of a cranky old man.”

Krause explains that C.C. Reed likes to be petted when he feels like it, and he’ll let you know when he’s had enough with a little warning swat. The more you get to know him, the more his affectionate side shines through. He loves back rubs and will head-butt your feet to get them.

C.C. Reed’s first vet appointment is Jan. 31. The vet will identify his age, get him up-to-date on vaccinations, and provide any needed medical care, ensuring that he goes to his next owner as a healthy cat.

“Going to CVS is different now, but I’m happy this is happening, and quicker than I thought it,” says DeMartino. “Now when I walk in, I’ll have the memories and know he’s in a better place, and with someone who’s genuinely interested in finding him the right home.”