Dewey: The Library Cat Who Touched the Whole World
A frostbitten kitten was found in a library book-drop on a freezing Iowa morning. He lived there for 19 years and became famous around the world.
On a bitterly cold morning in January 1988, librarian Vicki Myron opened the return box at the Spencer Public Library in Iowa and found a tiny kitten shivering inside, half frozen after a night in the cold.
Rescued from the book drop
The kitten had frostbite on his paws. The library staff warmed him, nursed him back to health, and decided he had earned a home. They named him Dewey Readmore Books, a nod to the Dewey Decimal System that organizes the shelves he would spend his life among.
The heart of the library
Dewey became the library's resident cat for 19 years. He greeted regulars, napped in sunbeams, and had a knack for curling up with the people who needed comfort most. Visitors began arriving from far away just to meet him, and his fame spread through newspapers, radio, and even a Japanese documentary.
A story shared with the world
When Dewey died in 2006, his obituary ran in more than 270 newspapers. Vicki Myron's book about him went on to reach number one on the New York Times bestseller list, carrying a small-town library cat's gentle story to readers everywhere.
Dewey never did anything dramatic. He just showed up, every day, for everyone. That quiet, reliable warmth is exactly what makes a cat unforgettable.
✓ This is a true story. Sources:
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