The Cat of Discord

Almost a year ago, on St. George's Day, which is celebrated in Bulgaria on May 6, a small kitten came into the Ivan Vazov library in Plovdiv. The animal huddled under the bookshelves and refused to leave the room. The compassionate staff of the reading room left the kitten indoors. He was given the nickname Zhorko or Gogo in honor of the day he appeared in the library.

Over time, the cat became a universal favorite and mascot of the National Bank "Ivan Vazov". Gogo spent most of his time in the reading room, bringing comfort to the strict library atmosphere. Even tourists began to come here to look at Zhorko. The employees took care of the furry pet: they examined it at the veterinarian, carried out all the necessary procedures and vaccinations, and fed it deliciously. However, recently, by order of the management, the cat was put out on the street. According to the director of the library, Dimitar Minev, he received complaints from people who suffer from allergies and fear of animals. In addition, "officially, he (the cat) does not have the status of a resident," D. Minev said.

This attitude towards the animal caused a storm of indignation among employees and readers. "He's not bothering anyone! He doesn't even meow, he's a quiet, library cat," said library employee Dr. Diana Blaskova. A petition in defense of Zhorko appeared on social networks. 8,000 people signed up for it in 2 days.

Perhaps the opinion of the people will be taken into account and the library cat will receive official permission to stay in the archive of the institution where mice are found. After all, a century ago, cats in the public service lived in this library. Their duties included protecting printed publications from rodents. For this, the cats were rewarded with daily meals.