Cat-loving shoppers are aghast after a puss which used to greet customers at a Portslade supermarket has been evicted over health and safety fears.
Affectionately known as Lucy the Co-op cat, until recently the feline greeted customers on the floor mats in the entrance to the Mile Oak Road Co-op.
But last week, staff told shoppers they’d been told to make sure she remained outside after a complaint was made to the council’s environmental health department.
Now, some fear that Lucy is being put in danger by being moved into the car park.
Katharina Marcus posted on Facebook saying: “All was well in Mile Oak until I was informed by the Co-op staff yesterday that somebody had complained to environmental health about the cat and they had been ordered by management to ensure Lucy stays outside.
“This has led to Lucy’s life now being endangered as she has taken to greeting people in the car park instead, in the process of which she is not always safe around the cars.
“I put my feelers out on social media yesterday and feedback I got tells me that the community overwhelmingly wants the Co-op cat back in the shop.”
Animals are not permitted in the store, with the exception of assistance dogs.
A council spokesperson said: “National food safety laws require businesses to ensure adequate procedures are in place to prevent domestic animals from having access to places where food is prepared, handled or stored.
“This is to prevent any contamination of food.
“We have a legal duty to remind businesses of their responsibilities when we have reason to believe national food safety laws are not being followed.
“We cannot comment on individual cases.”
A spokesperson for Co-o said: “Co-op adheres to the highest standards, and takes its responsibilities towards food safety extremely seriously.”
Those that love Lucy know that she only remains at the front of the shop barely moving from the mat, (just after a bit of attention). The nearest she got to any food was the Costa coffee machine or packets of crisps. She brightens everyone’s day except for the jobsworth or mean spirited individual that decided to complain. Some people really make you dispair.
This is so sad and all because of some do gooder who needs to get a life! Poor Lucy
Love the co-op cat ❤️
Totally agree rob,she only ever sat by the front door when I used to see her….who would complain?.
You’ve got blu ,who sits outside the coop in Southwick square,strolls over to the Turkish barbers.
She’s now famous 😂😂😂❤️🐯x
For anyone who is not on the Portslade and Mile Oak Forum, here is my actual email to Environmental Health in its entirety. They have yet to respond:
Dear Sirs,
I am a writer and local resident of North Portslade, looking to fact check some information I have been given, regarding a warning of closure of the Mile Oak Road Co-operative supermarket, which has allegedly been issued by your officers to them, due to a complaint regarding the cat who has recently taken up part-time residency in the shop’s foyer.
The cat, Lucy, also lovingly called The Co-op Greeter Cat, has been a feature for a few weeks now and is a local celebrity. She has brought an immense amount of joy to the community, with some people specifically popping in just to see the cat and to get their daily purrs with their shopping. Lucy has, in short, become somewhat of a community therapy cat due to her very placid nature (she spends most of her time curled up or sitting politely) and extremely friendly attitude. Her character is such that she loves everyone but harasses none. Her politeness and manners – she never goes past the entrance area and stays well clear of any produce – has even convinced some of the less cat-friendly people in the neighbourhood that cats can be a joy.
All was well in Mile Oak until I was informed by the Co-op staff yesterday that somebody had complained to Environmental Health about the cat and they had been ordered by management to ensure Lucy stays outside.
This has led to Lucy’s life now being endangered as she has taken to greeting people in the car park instead, in the process of which she is not always safe around the cars.
I put my feelers out on Social Media yesterday and feedback I got tells me that the community overwhelmingly want the Co-op cat back in the shop.
So before I tackle the Co-op management on this, I would like to have it verified by you that there was actually a letter/visit from an Environmental Health officer and your office is not just being used as a scapegoat in this matter.
I find it very hard to believe that Environmental Health would get involved with this at this stage since (my apologies if this comes across like teaching you to suck eggs, it is not intended that way) there is no law against pets in supermarket in the UK and she is at present in no way, shape or form threatening Health & Safety.
On the contrary, the mere presence of a cat on a premises acts as a deterrent to rats and mice – surely something to be valued in a supermarket from an environmental health point of view.
Please clarify if there has been any correspondence/inetraction between you and the Co-op regarding this matter before I take this any further, so I know which direction to aim.
Kind regards
Katharina Marcus
Perfect, we’ll done and Thank you
Sorry Katharina, to provide a point of order.
Regulations related to animals and food storage primarily fall under the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Food Hygiene Regulations 2013. These regulations outline general requirements for food businesses to ensure that food is stored, handled, and prepared safely to prevent contamination and protect public health. While they do not explicitly mention animals in food storage areas, they encompass measures to control pests and maintain cleanliness, which indirectly address the presence of animals to prevent contamination.
It’s a good thing they wrap every item they sell in multiple layers of single use plastic then, isn’t it.
Shame that’s not relevant to the legalisation, isn’t it? As much as you’d think it would, it doesn’t.
Anybody who knows that supermarket knows Lucy hardly ever strayed from the front door mat. And it wasn’t “complaints”, it was a “complaint”, singular. From somebody who hates joy. Disgusting.
I’d save the scorn for more worthy causes, personally. End of the day, it’s just a cat.
Lucy needs to identify as an assistance dog and then she can enter the store, (and whose to say she doesn’t)
She would need to be someone’s specific animal. I believe there was an uproar a few years back when someone tried to get an “assistance peacock” on a flight.
I didn’t find out how that one turned out.
Lucy, is a very much cared for family cat, her home being along the road from me. I know her owners. She is one of those cats who wanders and likes being sociable. She did so in her last home. She only stayed by the front door for the heater & fuss or under the shelf by the front door. Due to all the food and attention she is getting this has become a favourite place, which may not be the best option when winter comes. Now because of this really unnecessary complaint, she is now more vunerable to dogs and cars. It’s a beautiful thing the love and attention a cat like Lucy and indeed Tango can bring to the community. I would just ask people to avoid feeding her she is an elderly cat and may need a special diet. She will go home for food. I heard she had tuna for breakfast!
I mean, she’s at no higher risk by not being allowed in one building, that’s not really an issue. Still, many people like cats, and this one in particular. Sounds like many on here would rather other battles be fought, and I tend to agree.
I hope someone gives Lucy the home she deserves . Some people are just miserable!
The cat has a home a few blocks down. Just an explorer.
She doesn’t go past the mat so what’s the problem?! some saddo with NO LIFE had nothing better to do than report this gorgeous cat who cheers everyone up and has brought the community together .. give me strength .. hope they’re ashamed and embarrassed
Yet every cafe and restaurant lets dogs in!
What a load of old tosh from the spokesperson !!
There are 3 cat friendly cafes in Eastbourne that serve you food while the resident cats sit on your lap !!! I know I’ve been to all three in the past
Double standards from environmental health when you think they are more bothered about a friendly cat than raw sewage being pumped into our beaches all along our coast line !!!!
Cat cafes typically have to comply with additional regulations and guidelines beyond those for regular cafes or restaurants due to the presence of animals on the premises.
Where the owner?
She is well loved and lives just up the road with a good family, but she is a queen and craves all the attention.
What a dog in a manger to complain about Lucy. I am sure she is no less hygienic than any visiting baby or toddler.
Completely agree, such a bad person or miserable to complain about a beautiful, clean, harmless animals, probably cleaner than him
This story should have made it clear that she has a loving family who live a few houses away where she is regularly fed a cared for. This was made clear multiple times in the comments of the facebook post and this story portrays her as a stray which puts her at more risk now.
I can remember the ginger Tom from Fords Fish shop in Station Road. He used to come into our Office (Young Hnderson & Sadler next door) and sit on the tall rent desk. It was common for cats to be seen in stations. They are very sociable animals.
Ahhh, I loved popping into the co op and seeing little Lucy. Several times she’s been in the box a kind person made for her, we’re the sun just shone bright. Little Lucy would lay barsking in the sun, welcoming a stroke. There’s always one, when the world is in a mess, Lucy would Brighton up your day. How sad, that some very sad person had to report a cat when so much else is going on…
She’s loved by her owner, and loved by us all. What harm did she do ? Touch food NO, run around screaming ,No did she open food that all has plastic on it No, she sat quietly away relaxing with her little heart that loved people.
Shame on the so good do gooder. Your life must be so sad 😞
Lucy is cleaner than some humans… Nodisrespects but fact….
But Lucy identifies as a guide dog
Poor kitty. I feel so sad for her. 😢
Disgusting of the council.
Hardly, totally melodramatic. Got to remove the emotion from some things to understand their decision, which is actually quite clearly dictated in law, with very little room for misinterpretation.
Yes, sounds petty and pathetic when one considers that people will bring in squillions of bacteria in on their persons, clothes, shoes and shopping bags. Not to mention all the coughing, sneezing and farting. In addition one sees food trays in contact with floors and pavements all the time. So much fuss over one moggy, bless her… Oh, and think of all the publicity and custom she’s bought to the store…