Blenko Glass honors feline employees with Caterdays

https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/blenko-honors-feline-employees-with-caterdays/article_9ac99276-92c2-5d6c-85e7-1470f1efbc32.html

....."Dennis Elliot.......calls out to his work partner Kit, one of the handful of cats that make their home at the glass factory, earning their keep by keeping the place clear of rodents.
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In honor of their feline employees, Blenko is celebrating Caterdays, which began on International Cat Day Aug. 8 and wraps up Wednesday, Aug. 21. The two-week event features specialty cat-themed water jugs made just for Caterdays, along with specials on cat glass, cat nightlights and other cat-themed items.
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The cat water jugs will only be made for the event, which the company plans to repeat next year. The lips of the jug are turned up like pointed cat ears and a tail elegantly forms a handle.

Six said the cat pieces are special, both because some are made just for the celebration but also because each glass blower makes a different piece.
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As they make those pieces, it's possible a real cat is nearby. Blenko currently has five resident cats, with one or two feral cats that slip in for a bite of food and a drink of water from the Blenko glass bowls that are found throughout the factory.

"One of our cats had been here for 18 years," Six said. "He was blind and deaf. The employees would take pieces off their sandwiches to give to him. They gave him a fluffy place to lay. Because he couldn't get around much, they would bring him pieces of bacon. Being an old cat at Blenko isn't so bad."

Six says the animals are great for staff morale and Elliot, who has worked at the company for four years, said he agrees.

"It's a lot less stressful," Elliot said. "It's just like science says. It really helps. I don't care what anyone says."

Six said each of the cats has seemed to attach itself to specific workers. Elliot thinks Kit chose him because he gives her the most attention, complete with a bag of treats that stays in his work station.
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Along with cat weeks, Blenko has a new coloring book featuring their cats, starring Kit. Featured wearing the proper gear to enter the glassblowing warehouse, Kit leads readers on an adventure to explain how glass is made.".....(more)