Twotone wasn’t hired. He appointed himself.

He arrived at Karavaneco around 2016, a young stray with an eye for an opportunity. Hungry, cold and a little suspicious of people, he persuaded us to offer a welcome. We thought we were helping a cat. Twotone appears to have considered it a successful takeover.

His rise through the ranks was gradual. First came food and somewhere warm. Then a comfortable chair. Before long, he was keeping an eye on the shop, supervising the humans and establishing himself as our most popular member of staff.

Twotone’s priorities are straightforward: the softest seat, the warmest spot, good food and plenty of ear rubs. He has exacting standards and has never been especially interested in whether anyone else needs the chair.

A change of office

When the shop temporarily closed during Covid, Twotone relocated to a new home. He has continued to work from there ever since, with a large garden and two adopted family members to keep him company.

Working from home suits a supervisor with strong views about comfort. The garden provides an expanded inspection area, while the household keeps the management role suitably demanding. Different premises, same cat in charge.

Behind the managerial attitude is a cat who found somewhere to belong, and became part of what makes Karavaneco itself.

So, if you meet a black-and-white face around here, that’s Twotone. Shop cat, home-based supervisor and a reminder that the best things don’t always arrive as planned.