ASTORIA — A local pet store's beloved in-house cat has been missing from the shop since last week, according to his owner.
Max, a plump orange tabby who lives at Pets on the Run pet supply store on Hoyt Avenue South off 31st Street, disappeared from the store several days ago, owner Zohar Saadi said.
"I'm so sad. I had him as a baby," he told DNAinfo, saying the cat went missing when his nephew was minding the shop while he was out of town.
The friendly green-eyed feline is an indoor cat, but is known to lounge on the sidewalk in front of the store when the weather is warm — though he's never strayed far from the shop before and was trained the stay in the doorway, Saadi said.
"He knows that this is his territory," he added, saying he thinks Max may have slipped out of the shop when a customer came in or out.
The cat was spotted twice by neighbors on the block last week, but ran away before anyone was able to catch him. Saadi thinks he may be taking shelter in a row of vacant buildings nearby that's home to a number of feral cats.
Max has lived at the store for about three and a half years, serving as its mascot and greeting customers who stop by. Saadi also owns his brother, another orange cat that lives at his other shop in Greenpoint.
Several customers on the store's Yelp page mentioned the cat in their reviews of the shop.
"Max, the store cat is adorable and greets you as you walk through the door," one user wrote.
Saadi said Max has a number of fans who come to visit him regularly.
"I have customers, they come here everyday, not to buy anything but to play with Max," he said.
Anyone who spots Max is asked to call the store at (718) 545-0430.
