You know I couldn’t come all the way to Canada without visiting a couple of pet stores! The first one we went to was a PetSmart, because my human needed to buy something specific there. I wore my prettiest sweater!
To be honest, it looked a whole lot like the PetSmart that is near me at home.
I was not supposed to be in the dog food aisle, but I had to look. Also, while my human and I shopped, one of the employees saw me and called me “Princess.”
It was colder the next day, so my human put a longer sweater on me for my next trip. We went to a small pet shop in the Hastings-Sunrise neighborhood of Vancouver that was very special.
It was called Long Live Cats and Dogs. They carry healthy food that often can’t be found at big chain stores, and items made by local humans. Also, they are huge supporters of pet rescue. They work with a nonprofit group called Neüterhead: Ace of Spays, which uses rock ‘n’ roll to raise funds to help rescue groups spay and neuter pets. Now you know why my human wanted us to go there!
There was some interesting decor in the shop.
And I saw something I had never seen before at a pet shop!
A shop cat! There are two of them there — the other one was napping, but this one was really surprised to see me! I don’t think this kitty had ever seen another cat in the shop before, and certainly not one wearing a sweater.
My human wound up buying a couple things there. One was this pretty t-shirt made by one of the locals. My human solved the problem of showing both my face and the back detail by having me pose by the bathroom mirror. This t-shirt will be nice to wear when the weather warms up.
The other thing she got was this really yummy bag of freeze-dried treats, made with real Canadian lamb! So far, this is all the shopping my human has done here.



2021 Somali Cat Wall Calendar, Starring Summer
See all of Summer’s merch at her her Zazzle Designercat Shop
That would have been a lot of fun to see another kitty!
The petshop where our auntie lives has resident shop keepers…aka kitties! Not sure but there are mire than two of them. There are kitties in some if the stores here too, and the hardware store which has a big pet dept does too, Our vet has lots of kitties who come to meet and greet, MOL! (They are part of his rescue groups)
Hey! My Mommy has been in Long Live Cats and Dogs! (me hasn’t).
she says they has furry nice stuff.
Kisses
Nellie
We at the Carter Cathouse are especially pleased that one of the shop cats is .. A BLACKIE! Kudos!
Purrz!
Selina
PS – I really loved your first outfit up there!
You met a shop cat! Imagine that! That is a store we would support, too.
Mew mew mew purrty soon you have more clothess than yur Mumma Summer!!!!
Thee ferst dress iss mee favorite an Ladymum luvss yur burgundy sweater! Did they let you try fingss on at thee Pet Smart??? Here they will not allow that, so wee not go there…..mee has to try fingss on to make sure they fitss……
Have fun inn Vancoovurr ok???
***nose kissesss*** Siddhartha Henry xxxx
How fun was that?
You are adorable in your sweaters! What a fun shopping trip!
That was some good shopping, Summer! We love the name Neuterhead, and hey, shop cats … COOL!
The pet store I shop at has shop cats. They are not Canadian however.
What a fun adventure. I like your new t-shirt and it was very smart of your mom to take the photo using a mirror.
I’ll have to look for lamb treats like that. Lamb is on my new diet so maybe I could eat those (as long as there’s other stuff in it).
HAH! That’s real crafty posing in front of the World Best Litter display!! Heh! You liking the cool weather in BC?
No! I don’t like it at all. My human seems mostly indifferent to it, though. But she can layer.
You sure are having a good time, Summer.
Did the shop kitty tip you off to the best cat treats?
Wow you were able to wear your sweaters out there.
That was a fun outing, and nice for you to see the shop cat.
What a fun shop! And I love that you met a new kitty friend there too 🙂 It’s always lots of fun to go shopping when you travel to new places!
Looks like you are having fun. That is a nice sweater.
The heck with Petsmart! Why go there when you found that adorable second shop? That would be my shop of choice, especially with cats there!!! Soooo cool!
Well, it was too late to go anywhere else that day, and I needed to get out, hence PetSmart. Besides, I got called Princess there!
And a princess you are indeed. What a great trip for you and your humom. What awesome places to visit in Vancouver. Mom’s gotta go some day too. Fun times to be had! Purrs
OH Summer I believe you were a BIG HIT in that PetSmart store – that kitty there has BIG EYES checking you out in your pretty sweater……………I love all your outfits and REALLY love your new t-shirt! PAWSOME!
Hugs, Angel Sammy
Your red sweater is really pretty, and seems to be warm and cosy. Purrs
We love this post! So happy to learn 1) PetSmarts look the same, and 2) at least one small local pet shop is charming! Also, so important, shop cats! You looked adorable in your sweaters and we hear you weren’t terribly impressed with snow. Good for you!
That burgundy red sweater with the turtleneck looks perfect for the cold in Vancouver, Summer. It sure looks like you are having a great time there. Southern California is so much different in weather, isn’t it? But interesting that the PeSmart was very similar.
Glad you had fun at the pet stores.
That shop cat did look very surprised to see you! You looked pretty in your sweaters and your new shirt too. Very clever for your human to take your photo in front of the mirror! Have a safe trip home tomorrow!
Hi Summer,
Welcome to Vancouver! It usually isn’t this cold and you visited us during an unusual snow event.
We have quite a few places that have shop cats. There is a pet store called Bosley’s that usually has a resident cat. They also have adoption events.
Our vet also has Ginger who greets visitors.
Did you and your Mom check out Catfe yet? It’s a cat café in downtown Vancouver. All the kitties are available for adoption or humans can go there to get some kittie loving if they are not allowed cats where they live.
Enjoy your stay!
What cool shopping trips to both stores! Glad you had fun, and how great to see a shop cat there!!! P.S. Tabby likes sniffing the dog food, too.
Oh Summer, what a good time you had and Two two is so jealous of all your clothes. You are such a lucky gal to have so many outfits.
We absolutely LOVE your red sweater, Summer!
#1 says she has seen resident cats before in pet shops in Easter Canada. You would have thought that would be normal!
Purrs,
The Chans
Those beautiful Canadian shop kitties saw you, and said, “So SHE’S what a ‘Miss AMERICA For Cats’ beauty contestant looks like!”
Very nice representation of what a pretty American female kitten looks like!
One of the pet shop staff called you “Princess?”
When I was 10 years old, I wanted a white female Persian kitten, who I wanted to name “Princess!”
Then, we adopted Sydney, a very pretty short-haired brown female tiger tabby, who became prettier as an adult cat, and I started to call HER “Princess” and “Queen!” In fact, I love tickling her on the cheek, where she closes her eyes with contentment, and I say, “Are you a Queen? Are you a Princess? You’re a TIGER!”
I also call Sydney “Pretty Little Princess.”
Pretty Summer, you are a TRUE Princess, and Queen!
A Pretty Little Princess, and a Beauty Queen!
I hope this makes you purr!
We loved seeing all those various outfits. You were, of course, precious in all of them. Did you get an up-close meet and greet with that shop kitty? XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
we love seeing shops with shop cats!!
That shop cat couldn’t believe that celebrity Summer was in da house!
How fun that you and your human went to Vancouver. I was there when I was 10 years old. I loved it but I bet it’s changed. I’ve found that PetSmarts tend to look very similar. Your sweaters and new t-shirt are quite nice.
It’s always fun, I think, to visit small shops like that.
I think it probably freaks people out to see a beautifully dressed, gorgeous cat walking around a store on a leash – I, personally, would be so thrilled I’d probably squeal like a girl..Oh wait, I am a girl…
Summer looks like you and your human are taking Vancouver by storm. And that Pet Smart girl was smart you are a princess.
Hugs madi your bfff
Actually it was a guy who called me princess! 🙂
Nicki goes bananas for those Orijen lamb treats, just about eats my fingers off to get to them. 🙂
What a great store, that second store. LOVE the name of that non-profit group they work with.
We have PetSmart and PetValu here–PetValu has store cats, both locations, and always has. It’s great to go in and see them!
Summer…that pink and blue where you are in front of the mirror. the back detail is adorable and that color is YOU! I love all of the sweaters You didn’t say what the shop cats said as you walked by. What did they say to supermodel you? There weren’t any…gasp…catcalls were there??
We really like that red sweater.
Looks like a great trip! Stay warm!
Fun! Glad you are having a good time in Canada
We enjoyed seeing you out and about Summer.
NIce looking kitty at the Neuterhead store.
We purr you had fun 🙂
Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ
Must have been a fun trip, Summer. Love your sweaters!
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie