Good news! I survived one crucial Haverford College event of December 2015: Havercat in Magill Library.
If you don't know about Havercat, this is she. If you do know who she might belong to, please comment... even a share of this article can keep the search going strong in the Main Line area!
After some examination, student library workers have determined that Havercat is probably female. Havercat, speaking only in infrequent meows, is unable to communicate preferred pronouns. "If any cat were to know about gender, it would be Havercat." -Francesca Krivitsky.
Usually, Haverford College students encounter the little wanderer outdoors--she frequents all corners of our small campus. For the past semester, Havercat has attained adorable infamy on Yik Yak, Snapchat, and other forms of social media. Recently, somebody on Yik Yak claimed to be Havercat's local owner--across the north campus bridge.
In the above picture, however, Havercat is indoors... isn't that odd? Usually, if she sneaks into an academic building, she is ousted. But on Sunday night, 12/6, she wants to be in Magill Library and refuses to give up--taking advantage of the season's first 24/7 library hours and running inside every time a student opened the door.
11:30 p.m. Amber Lorenz, a circ desk worker, heroically snatches Havercat from the paths between stacks and carrels... I am late to work. But I do not miss all the action, because this is not the end.
11:50 p.m. Although Amber had sent a friend to carry Havercat far away from Magill, the determined beast returns. Apparently this has been happening for some time, so we take Havercat behind the circ desk and block off the exits so that she can't wreak havoc. We give her water, which she drinks enthusiastically. We cuddle her, and she is happy... but not content enough. After calling Safety and Security, we see that they cannot help with this issue.
12:30 a.m. We discover that Havercat can jump over the circ desk, so we need to hold her. Seeking a brilliant solution, we call Liz Romano, whose bedtime is super late. She approves a plan to keep the cat in the foyer, where it can leave, but where signs can be posted telling students not to let the furry friend inside the library. Amber goes to prepare the area.
12:40 a.m. The foyer is too cold, just as cold as outside. A new solution is necessary.
1:00 a.m. We ask President Kim Benston for help. He and his wife, Sue Benston, provide cat litter and cat food even though they can't take Havercat in (due to their other cats). This display of generosity and care stuns everyone gathered at the circ desk to support the cat, who looks well-fed, but wears no identification and seems very hungry when food is given to her.
1:40 a.m. Shahzeen, who says she will be working in the library all night anyway, is situated with Havercat, Havercat's new litter box, and Havercat's sustenance in a third tier study room. A cozy kitty photo shoot ensues at my request.
2:00 a.m. Amber leaves and gets replaced by Olivia (who has never met Havercat until this fine opportunity arises), but I stay for two more hours. Magill is peaceful and patrons don't know that Havercat is watching over the library.
6:00 a.m. Shahzeen reports that, "though it was still dark, I noticed the cat getting more playful." Concerned that Havercat hadn't been using the litter box, Shahzeen took the cat downstairs, let her greet the 6-8 a.m. circ desk people, and set the cat down outside. "She walked leisurely to the left ledge, jumped up, and sat there overlooking the little earthly critters greet the day. She didn't come back towards the library and we knew our Havercat had to leave home (the library)."
"It stresses me out a lot. This is the definitely the weirdest shift that I've ever worked at any job, ever. I'm really relieved to know we have a president who is as down-to-earth to help students with something as bizarre as this... Shout out to Liz for being so patient and understanding! The Havercat and I are actually BFFFs, best furry friends forever." -statement from Amber Lorenz, circ desk worker.
"I think the sun room is a very cat friendly room." -statement from Mac Perkins-High, Magill Library patron.
This was a pretty wild night. It seems a bit irresponsible to let a cat go around without visible identification. It has been confirmed that this is not a faculty pet, but the person across the bridge may in fact be Havercat's true owner. Right now, the situation's out of my hands. But while it was in my hands, I can say that it was soft and warm.
Monday night: I see that Liz has sent me this picture, and posted signs around Magill's main tier asking people to play with Havercat on that level only. Sure enough, Havercat is wandering and bringing joy to the studying Haverfordians. Maybe it's best not to stop her.
Update: Havercat has been confirmed to be a male cat, and Yik Yak posts lead library staff to believe he is named King Lear and that his owner lives nearby.
