By Cameron Dexter
Have you ever thought about the story behind a shop cat?
I have, and that’s part of the reason I sat down with Keith Kendall, store owner of The Art Store here in Prescott to talk about his wonderful kitty, Bobo, a stellar sort of cat. Though now laid to rest, I thought it would be a good opportunity to get the behind-the-scenes of the wonderfully affectionate, and entirely personable, cat!
Bobo, the sweet Maine Coon and Ragdoll mix, was named after the artist David Bowie, a mutually appreciated artist that both Keith and his (now-ex) wife enjoyed the day that his wife drove down to Phoenix to pick up Bobo. It was also the same day that David Bowie had passed away.
It was exciting to learn that Bobo was adopted back in Spring of 2016 at the age of 5-years-old. I asked Keith if Bobo was always as affectionate as I had known him to be, when I met the lovely sweetheart in early 2021. Keith told me that he was sure it was the ragdoll in Bobo; the kitty wanted to be held all the time and was immediately cuddly upon being brought home from the adoption center down in Phoenix.
Bobo was always a very vocal cat, and personable with a big sense for compassion and empathy. He would often spend Keith’s worst days beside him, licking his face and would, as Keith said, “encourage me.” Bobo wasn’t much of a biscuit-maker; he just wanted to be held or petted.
The owners prior to Keith’s ownership had had a baby that was allergic to Bobo. They tried everything to keep Bobo, going as far as to keep the cat’s natural dander down, allergy treatments, and so forth, but the baby’s allergy was too severe, and they had to relinquish ownership. The Kendalls were then able to obtain him.
One of the stories Keith fondly reminisced with me over was when he and his ex-wife first got Bobo, they had a friend visit that was pretty severely allergic, but continued to suffer through it to lavish and give love to Bobo because the kitty was so friendly. They simply couldn’t resist his loving charm.
Keith felt that Bobo was a good assistant helping to greet the customers at the store when it was changing hands through the divorce proceedings, and with the eventual transfer of ownership. Bobo would draw customers in with his sweetness and meows.
I personally had only gotten to see the kitty a couple of times. Each time that I came into the store I was greeted with a chorus of meows and purring as the loveable floofball dropped himself at my feet expecting belly rubs and affection. It was a great welcoming tool, having at the time just moved to Prescott, and a moment that I hope many others share with me.
I was drawn in by the excellent quality art supplies, and encouraged to return by such a friendly cat that imbued the Art Store with such a positive energy.
Sadly, Bobo passed away prior to the writing of this article. But be not afraid, time heals most wounds, and there’s more meows to be heard in the Art Store of Prescott with the addition of a sweet grey tabby ragdoll by the name of Tomas.
Tomas is a little shy if you move too fast, but he’s certainly just as cuddly and affectionate as Bobo. You can find him wandering the aisles or lying in the sun most days in the Art Store!
