Cats and Owls and Axolotls, Oh My!: The Best Library and Bookstore Pets

I used to work at a library that changed up the theme in the children’s department every year, and for the first few years, the themes involved animals. “Under the Sea” was fish. “Creepy Crawlies” was tarantulas and a giant centipede (shudder). “On the Farm” was a giant incubator with baby chicks. And for many years, we had a bearded dragon named Lizzy, who was surprisingly snuggly for a two-foot lizard. (And apparently bearded dragons are popular choices for resident library animals.) I’ve loved animals since I was a kid, so I am always delighted when I learn about libraries and bookstores that have their own resident pets. Check out these places where animals and books share the spotlight. Library Cats Obviously, cats are the first animal you think of when you think of library pets. There’s no way to highlight all of the libraries and bookstores with resident cats, so here are just a few furry highlights: The South Dade Regional Library in Florida did more than bring a cat into the building: they included an entire “catio” adoption lounge as part of their 2025 renovations, in partnership with Miami-Dade County Animal Services! Talk about workplace distractions—if I worked there, ...