Cat in the store?
 

I finally found a quilt store that's not too far from me. It's 28 min so it's still kinda far but not too bad. Anyway... I'm so sad because my hubby is so allergic to cats and they have a cat in the store who lays all over the cutting table! If I bought fabric there I couldn't bring it in the house :(. I'm so bummed. And they were really nice in there too. Has anyone else had anything like this happen to them? I mean... I've never heard of having a cat in a quilt store before!

My LQS has a very well behaved small dog that doesn't crawl on the cutting table. I haven't heard anyone say anything about it. I am very allergic to cats and having a cat in the store would be a deal breaker for me too. Anyone that loves their cat is probably willing to lose customers over this. I am sorry for you.

I visited one in Albuquerque a few years ago that had at least one and possibly 2-3 cats in the store. Pretty much the same situation with the cat(s) laying wherever they wanted. For me, not an issue - no allergies here. But I could see where others could have some significant problems. I've been in other types of establishments with dogs in them as well. Again, no issue for me but I can see where it could be a problem for those with allergies. Perhaps the business owners that do have animals in their establishments could post that visible from the outside so those folks that have allergies would be aware before walking in and possibly having a major health issue.

I have seen a (one) I. A book store. But not in a quilt shop. We have
Stella and she pretty much lays where she eases EXCEPT on my kitchen counters
And she is also not allowed on any dining tables. Stella a sweetheart
And knows the rules. :)
I can see issues with a cat in my LQS and I love most cats

Judy in Phx,AZ

I am not allergic to cats and love them soooo much,BUT, I don't think it is nice to have them or even dogs in a store. Even if I am not allergic, I don't want pets hair to be on my fabric or for the people who make customers quilts to have pets' hair on their quilts.

What a shame. I used to be highly allergic to the plastic flea collars and powder people used on their cats before the flea drops. Since you aren't allergic, maybe you could visit every once and a while to look at the fabric lines, then purchase somewhere else online. Not ideal for the store or you but, you may get some happy moments wandering when you are in the vicinity.

Last fall we went to Hilton Head and Savannah. We took our Pommie, Toby Bean, with us. We visited a small quilt shop in Garden City called Sew Much More. It was "pet friendly" and the ladies all swooned over my old man! Interesting too that the Home Goods store in Hilton Head was pet friendly also!

I know that I think cats and quilts go together but the number of people allergic to cats far outnumbers the number of people who are allergic to dogs.

There are some hypoallergenic cat breeds but they come with a hefty price tag!

There are a few breeds of hypoallergenic cats. I can only remember the hairless cats, but there area few more.

I like cats but can only enjoy them out of doors, and then I have to come in and wash my hands thoroughly before I touch my face or else my allergies will take over. My husband is even more allergic. Even if we didn't have the allergies, I would not shop in a store where cats were allowed on the fabric or on the cutting table. Store owners who allow this either don't realize that they are losing business, or don't care because they love their cats more than their sneezing customers.

There is a sewing group near me that several of us no longer attend, because several of the guests bring their small dogs, and they are allowed to run free during the sewing sessions. One of the ladies who no longer attends is very allergic, and the rest of us just don't want the pet hair or the aggravation of dealing with the romping dogs.

I am super sensitive to cigarette smoke, making shopping difficult at many stores ..... including a couple of nearby fabric stores. So I can understand your situation. I wash all fabric before using for just this reason, sometimes taking it directly to the washing machine. I wish there was some solution to these problems.

I on occasion visit a shop in the Upper Peninsula where they have cats (more than 1- maybe 3...multiple anyway) they *try* to keep in a separate room (the shop is on the end of their house) but on occasion the cats manage to visit the shop- I was surprised the first time I saw that- since then I've visited many small independent shops that have their (Pets) laying around- I think that *I guess* it is the owners choice- but they should probably post something on their door letting people know before entering that they may encounter the animal- or their may be hair/allergens. it is not uncommon though to find these shops- on the other side of this 'coin' I was in a shop one time when a customer entered and before she got 5 feet inside the store the owner approached her and told her she could not come in because she wore too much perfume- *that one shocked me way more than finding a cat laying on a shelf!!!* this owner did not have the best reputation in the customer service- friendly area- but she sure carried some wonderful stuff.

Just think it was a flea in a bale of wool that spread the plaque. Of course that wouldn't happen today but I think as the fabric is being solid as new to see a cat sleeping on it would make it second hand.

The cat on the cutting table would be a deal breaker for me. Think about where that cats feet have been...

I'm allergic to cats, but i have 2 and can't imagine living without them. I just take allergy drugs around the clock (I had to do that even without cats in my house). I've also been in 3-4 fabric shops that had cats, some that had dogs, too. I saw one quilt with a quote on it - "Cat hair increases the insulating value of a quilt."

There's a nice shop near me in a barn...between the dogs that roam in and out and the wool products near the front door, I'm just about done in after a short period of time. Every time by the time I leave, I have such itchy eyes. She has nice things (fabrics, punch needle etc) for sale but between that and the fact that most everything doesn't have a price tag or signs letting you know how much the items are for sale, I can do without shopping there.

There is also a furniture store that always has about five big labs that sleep on the furniture and run and greet people as they enter in our area. My DH is not much of a dog person, didn't grow up with them and that really bugs him. It does seem like an unusual situation.

There is a Garden/Craft store with a fabric section and they have a cat in there. I have found it on the bolts or tucked in by the fabric. It doesn't bother me as I have 3 of my own, but I often wondered how it would affect someone with allergies. A nearby Mill End store had a cat named Millie that wandered around their store. When it closed she went to another mill End store.

I sometimes let my cats sleep on quilts that I have made for myself, but I want something that will leave my house to be hair free, and take steps to keep them from these projects. I cannot imagine someone else's pet leaving hair on fabric that I have not even purchased. Also, someone else made the point about fleas in the bolts. Yuck.

There is a quilt shop here I will not go to. I walked in and smelled cat right away. I asked to make sure and I got a glance straight down a little hallway with a litter box at the end. I just walked. When I got to my car, I had to brush cat hair off me. I was not a happy quilter. I called her and told her my experience and she was offended. Oh Well I will not go back. The only place a pet belongs is at a vets office or a pet store. Not in a quilt shop!

I'm super allergic to cats so I'd have to skip that store. I'd politely tell them that too ... "I just LOVE your store, but I'm so allergic to cats, I'm going to have to go."

Our LQS was in business for 42 years, it is now an on line only shop. They had 2 cats that lived in the shop, that were loved by all. She had over 7000 bolts of fabric, and never got a complaint. I never saw cat hair anywhere. The building was right on the square, and had been a J C Penny's, 3 floors and an old building, they might have been there to keep mice away, I don't know.

I have to admit that I am guilty of taking the dog with me when I shop. I work long hours, and I drop him off at my moms during the week. There are a lot of stores that allow pets. I put him on a towel in the wagon. I haven't thought of people with allergies.. I have been taking him for the past nine years.. I am very sorry for not thinking about others..

It's feet and it's butt. They do sit!

My LQS also has a cat. It's well behaved and doesn't travel much as it's older. I'm allergic but not so that it kills me. Since I prewash I don't care and every LQS has their own personality.

Allergies seem to be a growing concern. I've had pets my entire life and they don't bother me though my wife is allergic to cats. My view is it would be good if the shop owners put a sign up warning people about their pets but I think it comes down to it's their store, they can do what they want and I think at least some would close before they gave up on bringing their pets.
Rodney

I'd rather see a cat in the shop then a gum chewing, gum popping owner. I will walk out in a second saying why on my way out.

I don't own a cat, but it wouldn't bother me. As soon as I come in the door, all fabric goes into the washer the same as bed sheets or any other item that may be close to the skin. Then, whether it's cats or whatever else that could be in the fabric is washed (hopefully) away. Most, if not all of these fabrics come from other countries in containers so who knows what they have been exposed to. Toby Bean can come to my house anytime too, my Penny would to play with him.

I haven't seen a pet in a quilt store - but would not want to buy fabric that the pets have been around. I love animals but think the owners don't mind the lost sells.

I have been to LQSs where a cat took up residence and since I am not allergic I found it charming. The little tiger was getting lots of attention from the customers. I STRONGLY doubt that any cats in a store will have fleas or other issues. Can't say that I noticed an issue with cat hair on the fabric either....but then I have cats and probably no longer notice.

My local quilt store usually has "Martha" the cat lying around the store. I myself, was wondering about people with cat allergies - do they get sick if the cat touches the fabrics??

One of our quilting stores has a German Shepherd wandering around. It doesn't bother me, but I think a person afraid of dogs would be shocked. The rescue is a nice furgirl and doesn't bother people unless she knows the person is a dog lover, otherwise she hangs out in the classroom. Of course, she helps me shop but I don't mind. A cat I would mind.

If your husband needs to drive you to the quilt shop, could you have them bag any purchases up really well, put them in the trunk of your car and take them home and immediately wash them so to remove any cat dander that might bother hubby? Just trying to find a way around your problem. Good luck.

I've never seen a cat in a quilt shop...my boys are super fuzzy so I'm always worried about cat hair on my quilts. It's impossible for me to keep my quilts 100% fur-free and that's one reason I always wash them right before I give them away. I think I would still shop in a quilt shop with cats (since I pre-wash, have cats of my own, and no allergies) but I would probably check over the fabric pretty closely...my boys are PRETTY good but ever so often they get a hankering to put their claws to my furniture. I would check for snags just in case the shop cat decided to sink claws into a bolt or two when nobody was looking.

My favorite used book shop has a store cat named Booker and I adore that little guy. I always feel special when he comes to me for some attention while I'm shopping. He purrs super loud and will stand up on his hind legs to collect a head rub if I'm not diligent enough in my petting. I look forward to having a little "Booker time" when I go there - he is honestly part of the reason that I enjoy going to that store so much, even though I have cats of my own. So I guess it goes both ways.... I guess I'm just really really fortunate not to have allergies!!

Cats in the store, I stay away, same with dogs and cigarette smoke.

I have cat and dog dander allergies, and oddly enough have two dogs and had cats until my old lady passed last month. Used to get shots, take lots of allergy meds now. I don't get too upset when animals are in stores.

After retiring, I opened a retail store for about 7 years. Sold it off because the drive was an hour and half each way and I hated the drive. My dogs were store dogs and would not pester folks, but lordy they loved the kids. Might I have lost some customers because dogs were there? Possibly. But not enough of a drop in revenue for me to notice or be affected.

The shop beside me was a yarn shop and had a cat. He never slept in the yarns but was all over that place. That place is packed all the time and with very high ticket sales. Pets seem to be part of that community and folks don't think twice. It is also a community that has "we are scent free" on all the doors and kick people out who even have a whiff of fabric softener on their clothes. I think it is the culture of the community you live in if people just roll with it or decide to not visit that store.

In was on a shop hop in another state it seemed that a lot of the stores and a resident cat sometimes more than one I did not buy anything in those shopes one store had a german shepard in my opinion he didn't belong in a retail store at all. A lot of people are afraid of dogs especially big dogs. Since moving to KC I have not seen any pets in any store except pet stores

It would be a problem for me . I am very allergic to cats.

cats and dogs. I love them, but then again, I don't have a problem .
I've taken jobs b/c they had a cat. I figured it can't be all that bad

Not sure how I would react. If I could smell the cat - then there is a problem. But I love cats and dogs - so a friendly animal would be cool to me. But the issue of cat fur or dog hair on what I buy may not be too great.

Since I have cats, I don't mind them behaving themselves in a store. Same with a dog, if it is behaving and not causing a disruption to me, I can handle it. Hair on fabric? Guess I better never be in any more swaps because as much as we may try, there is always some hair that gets on blocks.

What I do have a problem with is having a dog in the grocery store or in restaurants. It seems that some people think you should "like" their animals and not care they are touching the dog then the packages of food or fruits, etc.

If I see a pet in a store, it's my choice to go in or not (or leave if I discover them later)...however, it's not my choice to have a dog at the restaurant table next to me once I've started eating :(.