Cat Wisdom, Redeemable for Tuna: a social experiment with two cats, one shop window and one very real life situation.
Online extras from our four-legged colleagues
Just for you. Just now.
Once upon a time…
There was a street near the centre of Székesfehérvár, Hungary, a shop unit, and a shop window. Nothing remarkable ever happened in it.
Then one day a cat appeared in it. Her name was Rozi.
Soon after, Totó joined her, and from then on life on that street was never the same.
People stopped, smiled, and some even knocked on the glass. We would rather skip that last part.
Somewhere in the swirl of life, a question came up: what can two cats do to earn their daily treats? Could they actually get paid for it?
So after a short family council we decided to find out what happens when we put together what we are each good at. Me, my creativity. Them, competitive napping. Let the experiment begin!
Our four-legged colleagues
Rozi
Window Boss- Speciality
- Professional loafing
- Personality
- Blasé, kind from a distance, slightly condescending
- Motivation
- Tuna, peace and quiet, and no knocking
“Good things take time. And sunlight.”
Totó
Head of Mood- Speciality
- Condescending stares
- Personality
- Tolerates only the privileged few
- Favourite activity
- Poking Rozi
“Feed me and leave me alone.”
Kormi
Subcontractor- Speciality
- Alert observation, quiet presence, and a mystical talent for begging for food
- Personality
- Independent, dignified, mildly sarcastic
- Extra info
- Nine years as the apple of Károly János Street’s eye
“I always know what’s going on. I just don’t say anything.”
What do they do?
What does a working cat do?
Lies down in the shop window.
Their main speciality is strategic napping, and they are very good at it.
Stops passers-by.
Some people knock on the glass, which we’d rather skip. The smiles, though, we love.
Creates value redeemable for tuna.
If you feel like it, chip in a few euros. Nobody has to.
Why?
Totó came to me during Covid, from the unsocialised cat gang of the Segítő Kéz Foundation in Tatabánya. Rozi joined him in November 2024. Until then she had lived in a cellar, with a dachshund for a friend. They are the kind of cats nobody lined up to adopt. They ended up with me.
They still hate being picked up. Not exactly social butterflies. But since the shop window became our life, something has changed.
Lying in a shop window has an interesting side effect: people stop. They smile. Sometimes they knock on the glass (let’s say we’d rather skip that), but the smiles and the whole experience we love.
Since our little family has had no steady income for almost a year, we concluded the four-legged ones should try to contribute to the family budget too, because the Royal Canin Urinary won’t buy itself.
And so the experiment began: what happens when a person puts even her most absurd resource to work for the cause?
Mine is creativity. Theirs is lying in the shop window.
After all, what could possibly go wrong?
Be part of the story!
Heads up: this is not a save-us campaign. Financial uncertainty or not, the cats will be fine, and that is non-negotiable. But there have been (and will be) times when I was the one giving, and I also know when it’s time to ask.
So if you smiled, and chipping in won’t leave you short, join the tuna sponsorship!
€1 is perfectly fine. It might be the price of a coffee, or a slice of pizza, or simply this: “These idiots made me laugh today, here you go.” That is reason enough for us.
You don’t have to write anything. No note, no explanation, no introduction needed. The amount itself is the message. Pick a number, send it, and Rozi and Totó will translate the rest. If you do add a few words, we’ll gladly pass them on.
€1
The thought counts. So does tuna, but slightly less.
€5
A cat’s lucky number. Science has not been consulted.
€33
Anyone drawn to this number strikes Totó as suspiciously well-adjusted.
€44
Makes no sense. Just sounds great out loud.
€3
A medium can of tuna, plus a friendly markup.
€10
For this much, Rozi will consider looking in our direction.
€20
A lovely round number for a cat who cannot count.
€50
About one bag of Totó’s prescription food. He will never know, but he’d approve.
€77
Double lucky sevens, zero guarantees.
€100
A truly round number. Rozi is impressed, in her own way.
€120
Enough for a year of quiet thank-yous.
€200
Rozi will remember your name. Probably. Don’t test it.
Housing
Food
Blankets
Peace of mind
Can’t spare €1? Share instead.
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Shop window. Cats. Community.
Contact: sophie@kincsesterkep.hu
@sophiekemenes
The cats don’t guarantee they’ll turn up. The cats don’t guarantee anything, really. Thanks for the support, or just for smiling.