Top cat Socks is 'boss' at Bournville Garden Centre
Meet the four-legged member of staff at a Birmingham plant shop – a pet cat called Socks who thinks she's the boss...
The black and white moggie has taken up residence at Bournville Garden Centre, where her favourite spot is sitting at the till.
Manager Steve Palmer said the moggy has been living at the site for seven years. And regulars have got used to her showing up for fuss among the flowers.
“She likes being at the till and does make herself at home,” said Steve.
“We have to work around her. She lies across the counter and you have to stack stuff around her but she sits there nonchalantly. She absolutely thinks she’s the boss!
“She can be a bit of a problem sometimes because there are people who don’t like cats.
“She likes to walk across the keyboards and she’s been known to cause havoc.
“She goes out for a roam around the plants and stands up on her back legs to be stroked.
“Some of the regular customers who know her bring in titbits for her. And kids always seek her out. She’s got a cat bed in the back store. Generally speaking she curls up there and waits for us to come back.”
And Socks is a fan of the plants too. Steve added: “I guess like all cats she likes the catnip but we try to discourage her from that because we don’t want it damaged.”