Readers Digest NZ Dec/Jan 2025

SAMANTHA MORELLI T he most beloved fixture at our hardware store isn’t a tool or piece of equipment—it’s our cat, Cinder. Initially, an employee brought in his cat, Lewis, to rid the store of mice that had snuck in with the birdseed. Lewis so cheered employees and customers (if not the mice) that he stayed permanently. When his owner retired, Lewis did too, and we knew we needed another shop cat. So we rescued Cinder from a shelter and Cinder the Hardware Cat brought her to live here, sometimes calling her Cinderblock or Cinderella. She isn’t exactly a house cat, so the store is a perfect mix of safety and free- dom. She greets customers, curls up on the counter and plays underneath shopping carts, but slinks away if she’s feeling antisocial. We keep a tracker in her collar so we always knowwhere she is, and we post signs alerting visitors to her presence. For her fans, Cinder is the first thing they look for, hoping she’ll greet them before they carry on with their shop- ping. Some come by just to pet her, even if they don’t need to buy anything. —Nominated by samantha morelli Nothing gets by Cinder when she is on watch. Is your pet the cat’s pajamas? submit your story to letters@ readersdigest. com.au reader ’ s digest World of Good 16   december 2025/january 2026  |   readersdigest.co.nz SMART ANIMALS Approved for Funding 09 320 3560 Turn your toilet into a luxury bidet just by changing the lid. Call today to find out how! SCAN HERE FOR DISCOUNTS WARM WATER WASH, WARM AIR DRY !