Cat Causes Uproar: British Store Faces Boycott Over Feline Farewell

Imagine launching a boycott over a cat! That's exactly what happened at a Drayton store in the UK when the owner decided to shoo away a regular feline visitor to the dismay of locals.

For months, a cat made itself at home in the 'Tesco Express' store, charming residents and earning the nickname 'Pumpkin'. Customers adored him, and animal lovers would frequently visit the store just to see Pumpkin.

But recently, the store decided to show Pumpkin the door, a move that's been quite costly. Andrew Tabiner, a store spokesperson, told the media, "A cat shouldn't be in a store, it's definitely not a pet shop." According to him, this is Tesco's policy, but customers, unhappy that Pumpkin is no longer part of the store’s charm, decided to boycott the store.

On a dedicated Facebook page, customers expressed disbelief over how such a beloved cat could be turned away so quickly. "I don't understand how you can ban a savvy street smart cat from a place it has roamed for years!" one customer wrote, partly joking.

If that sounds extreme, just know this wasn't the only reaction. Many responses popped up like mushrooms after rain, all stating that Pumpkin is a cat beloved by all, and "there’s a reason for it".

Amid the outlandish voices, there were a few 'sensible' ones pointing out that despite Pumpkin being adorable, it is a food store, and animals, including cats, shouldn't be wandering around.

"He doesn’t bother anyone," said Pumpkin's owner, revealing that Pumpkin wasn’t always a regular street cat. "He was a street cat before we adopted him, so he’s got street smarts. I know all the staff at Tesco love him, so I don’t get why he’s suddenly banned after all this time."

More than 300 people called for a store boycott, but a Tesco spokesperson isn’t fazed. "Even though we love the little ginger cat, a food store isn't the best place for a cat to be, so our employees gently encourage him to leave when he tries to come in," the spokesperson concluded.