Nyx was a feature in the Chesterfield County Comments employee newsletter:
Employees at the Central Library have adopted a special furry friend. Check out Nyx the cat.
By Julie Buchanan
Wind your way through the offices of the Central Library and you may encounter Nyx, a precocious dilute calico who inhabits the Collection Management section. From afar, Nyx appears to be a typical “library cat.” She plays with her many toys, takes naps and keeps library employees company as they go about their day. From time to time, she even rides along on the library book carts.
But Nyx, named after the Greek goddess of night, is special. She was born without eyes. That’s partly the reason why in 2008 county officials granted her permission to live in the library office Monday through Friday. On weekends, she stays at the home of Ann Theis, her adoptive mom and administrator of Collection Management.
“We have a lot of cat lovers here in the library, and Nyx is a very people-oriented cat,” Theis said. “Most employees were enthusiastic about having her stay here with us. She settled in right away.”
Nyx’s disability doesn’t do much to hinder her getting around the office with ease. She relies on her keen sense of hearing and senses when there’s someone new in the room.
Even employees who didn’t previously consider themselves cat lovers warmed up to the kitty. Staff members chip in for food, toys and other Nyx needs. Employees from other departments stop by for quick visits, too.
“She’s a great stress reliever,” said Teresa Puckett, a library associate.
Cats are commonplace in libraries worldwide. A quick Google search reveals thousands of “library cats” across the United States. Quiet, careful creatures, they are said to make the perfect buddies for library employees.
The most famous library cat may be Dewey Readmore Books, a rescued orange tabby who lived in a small-town Iowa library for years. Dewey was featured on news programs and even had a book written about him. It’s soon to be made into a feature film.
While Nyx hasn’t been the subject of any books just yet, but she has been mentioned in Cat Fancy magazine. She’s also a star on the Internet, thanks to a Web site created by Theis.
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Nyx will be burbling, cooing and tweeting (via Ann) on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nyxcat/ Nyx was mentioned in Cat Fancy magazine’s tribute to library cats – ok so she was #35 out of 40, but still. Because of her honorable mention she was visited by Alex, Zach and their mother who made the trip up from Newport News to meet Nyx. This weekend Nyx was traipsing along the side of the tub while Ann was partially submerged. Nyx is really surefooted but took a dive into the tub. She came out quickly – smelling like Kiss My Face Anti Stress Shower Gel and Foaming Bath (a calming mixture of lavender, rosemary, yarrow and more). She actually was fairly calm about her exit and the whole experience. She has also achieved kitchen counter, via the recycling bins and the stainless steel garbage can. The garbage can will be relocated to foil further forays. Mike was a tad peevish that she bobbled off with some of his bacon slices during one of her recent counter top adventures.
Nyx is a big fan of Caitlin Decter, the blind calculass at the heart of Robert J. Sawyer’s WWW series. She suggests that you friend Caitlin on Facebook and check out her Calculass Zone. Nyx is looking forward to WWW Watch in April 2010.
An update from Ann: Nyx thinks I’ve been remiss in keeping y’all up to date. As usual, she is right. She has been on the job for a year now! She enjoys throwing things off my desk (assorted pens, air freshener, hand cream, cat nip container, paper holder – to mention a few items). She now has a water fountain that pleases her very much. If it isn’t turned on, she sits next to it and faces at (she doesn’t stare at us for obvious reasons) her people until we comply with her wishes. She was startled today by my Cheerwine soda – the fizz flummoxed her and required investigation which she pursued with some trepidation and a few armadillo style fear leaps. Then she wanted to knock the bottle off the desk but was foiled. Lately she has been very attached to her catbag on my desk and an old chair covered with pink throws. She spent part of today balancing on the back of the chair. More photos will be uploaded on flickr soon. Nyx’s person Ann is quite fond of Bijou Graphicique’s (http://www.bijougraphique.com/) jewelry. Now they have started a line of tags for pets. Nyx will be entering the Pet Tales contest to try to win some bling. Nyx is reluctant to share the information but concedes that competition is a good thing… Information about the PetTales contest: Tell us an interesting story about your pet. Is your dog a houdini? Does your cat share your ice cream cone with you? We are looking for interesting tales that are 100-200 words long and a decent quality photo. Everyone who submits a tale and photo receives 15% off any Jou Jou b or Bijou Graphique purchase. 1st One pet tag and one Heirloom piece* of you choice. This morning Nyx ate a spider and whisker swiffered under a table. The spider dust was cleaned off her whiskers and she milled around the office area looking for more trouble/excitement. (still coming down from the mouse hunt?) Ann went to take invoices to the Admin department. Nyx decided she needed dessert and that the slice of peach/blueberry pound cake Ann had brought for lunch smelled great. She retrieved the cake from Ann’s bag, unwrapped the cake slice and threw the wrapper on the floor. And enjoyed nice bit of cake. Ann was peevish, but was consoled with cake that co-workers made as part of a cake decorating class.
Nina Zero and Alafair
Burke and Sookie Sookie without blunked out blue eyes My enemy’s enemy is my friend – in action this weekend. Nina Zero and Nyx are not friends. But they banded together whisker to whisker and paw to paw to go after a mouse that was lurking under the electronic heater panel in Ann & Mike’s den. They were happily occupied for hours and successful in their mouse hunt. Mike removed the victim from under the den table. Nyx spent the rest of the weekend prowling the den, in hope of more mousie action. Nyx is currently crashed out in the office next to the llama puppet. (see picture below) Sookie the lurcher dog was outside while all this was going on, Sooks and Burke the beagle/weiner dog had their own mouse hunt earlier in the week. Sooks found a mouse in the bedroom, presented it to Ann on the bed and lost the mouse in the chaos that followed. This mouse was later retrieved (alive) in the bathtub and deposited outside.
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Copyright © 2010 Nyx the Library Cat - All Rights Reserved |
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Soo
kie and Nina Zero
