‘A cool cat everywhere’ — Memphis’ shop, bar and museum cats

By , Daily Memphian Updated: October 01, 2025 7:18 PM CT | Published: September 22, 2025 4:00 AM CT

Earlier this year, the Cooper-Young Community Association hosted its first-ever neighborhood cat walking tour, giving participants the chance to “glimpse at some of the best and brightest kitties” who live in the neighborhood. 

But Memphians don’t have to go on a walking tour to see what one might call “working cats.” These are the shop cats who dig heavy metal music, photobomb weddings, tiptoe through tulips and welcome customers at area bars, auto shops, stores and museums. 

“I think everybody should have a cat; there should be a cool cat everywhere,” said Hi-Tone Cafe owner Brian “Skinny” McCabe. 

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Topics

cats Hi Tone Dixon Gallery & Gardens Metal Museum animal rescue Ebbo
Aisling Mäki

Aisling Mäki

Aisling Mäki covers health care, banking and finance, technology and professions. After launching her career in news two decades ago, she worked in public relations for almost a decade before returning to journalism in 2022.

As a health care reporter, she’s collaborated with The Carter Center, earned awards from the Associated Press and Society of Professional Journalists and won a 2024 Tennessee Press Association first-place prize for her series on discrepancies in Shelby County life expectancy by ZIP code.


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