Stray Cat Becomes Fish Control Director at Pyatyorochka

In Vladivostok, an unusual employee has appeared in one of the Pyatyorochka supermarket chain stores — a black-and-white cat named Jessica. She is the official director of fish control. Since videos of her were published on social media, the fluffy «directress» has become the darling of thousands of city residents, and even those who live in other districts now know the store«s address. Why being a famous cat in a nearly million-person city is bad and how the fate of the »whiskered« star in a green vest from TikTok unfolded was investigated by VLADIVOSTOK1.RU.

Jessica greets customers daily and, as employees assure, «makes sure there is order in the store» (we are not specifying its address for the cat«s safety). We hope you agree with this precaution after finishing reading the article.

Our team was met by the director of fish control in an interesting pose on a wooden pallet, which made our photographer smile.

«A real manager! She does two things at once — both lying down and standing up,» joked Elena.

Jessica«s story began a few kilometers from Vladivostok — in the village of Ivanovka in Mikhaylovsky District. There she lived near a rural Pyatyorochka, being an ordinary stray cat. She didn»t starve, but didn«t know much affection either. Everything changed when she attached herself to the car of the wife of the director of one of the city»s chain stores. The family took pity on her and decided to take her to Vladivostok. So Jessica got not only a roof over her head but also a career.

At first, she lived in the service area — cautiously getting used to it, meeting people, studying the environment. And after a couple of weeks, she confidently entered the sales floor and «took up her post.» For the new employee, they even sewed a vest — a miniature uniform in corporate colors with her position indicated: director of fish control.

The Trial of Fame

No one in the supermarket team even imagined that their charge would overnight gain huge popularity and the subsequent «star» difficulties. Videos of the «director of fish control» garnered hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok and Telegram, and crowds of visitors flooded into the store. Tired of the attention, Jessica even had to hide from fans in secluded corners until closing time.

«People started coming from other districts to see the cat. We even wrote to bloggers and video authors to remove our store»s address and stop spreading it,« clarified Pyatyorochka.

«The popularity isn»t good for the little cat. How would you feel if strangers pestered you for seven hours straight, touching you and trying to pick you up? And she didn«t even scratch anyone out of annoyance,» shared a regular customer and local resident Anna.

Immediately after the first publications about Jessica, animal rights activists also showed interest in her. Unfortunately, not all — friendly. Several people tried to secretly take the cat away to «release her into the wild» or hand her over to a shelter.

After the cat was given the branded vest, the situation resolved — now she is not just a stray but an official employee. Sometimes customers still ask to «give» the cat a home, but without extremes.

Home, Care, and Job Responsibilities

Jessica has been living in the store for about two months now. During this time, she has become not just a mascot but a full-fledged member of the team. Employees care for her like a beloved pet: they take her to the vet, give her vaccinations, treat her for parasites, and trim her claws. The cat has a veterinary passport, her own rest room, toys, and food.

Despite all the popularity, Jessica behaves disciplinedly: she doesn«t touch the goods, doesn»t bother customers, doesn«t leave the store unaccompanied. Sometimes visitors with dogs enter the hall — then Jessica cautiously moves away, and if the dog comes too close, she might threaten with a hiss. But, as the sellers admit, there are no conflicts or fights: »Our directress is well-mannered. She prefers to leave with dignity.«

Negativity and Support

When the cat«s story hit the internet, debates flared up on social media. Some admired the »wonderful rescue story,« while others accused the store of violating sanitary norms. Some even wrote that the cat spoils the goods or that she was specially brought in to catch mice.

Often, customers are interested in the most mundane questions. The first — where is Jessica«s litter box. The answer is simple: the cat has a large closed toilet in the service area, which workers take turns cleaning. No smell, no mess. If you didn»t know there was a cat living in the store, you would never guess.

The second popular question — whether the young one-year-old Jessica will have kittens. We ask all those who advocate for «free love» for pets to step away from the screens now, because the answer won«t please you: the director of fish control will never go on maternity leave — she has been spayed.

«We are for responsible pet ownership. Let there be one happy Jessica rather than dozens more homeless kittens on the street,» the store employees honestly admitted.

As for mice and rats — there are none in the supermarket, so the career of a mouser didn«t happen for the cat. But still, certain hunting instincts are present in the tailed one: in her free time, she likes to spend time by the window, watch pigeons, and »comment« on what»s happening with funny cat quacks.

Vladivostok«s Favorite Employee

In the Pyatyorochka team, Jessica enjoys unconditional respect. She is petted, treated with snacks, and even set as an example for new workers: punctual, calm, and friendly.

Visitors call Jessica a mascot and a guardian of kindness. Many admitted that they drop by the store extra times for her — just to see how the beautiful cat sits peacefully by the display window or lounges elegantly with her fluffy white belly up.

The company noted that Jessica is not the only cat who found a home in the chain«s stores. Similar stories exist in other Russian cities.

«She came from the street, and now she has a home, a job, and a uniform. Everyone should be as lucky as Jessica,» summarized the employees.

Earlier, we told the amazing story of another representative of the feline family — a black cat named Masya was rescued by the team of Fire and Rescue Unit No. 21 of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations in Vladivostok on the eve of Halloween. That day, the brigade was busy extinguishing a complex fire on the territory of the Kitay-Gorod market. You can learn more about this cute story in our article.