'Habicat' becomes part of the furniture

A MYSTERY cat has set up home in furniture shop Habitat's window display. The ginger and white tom cat sleeps all day on a GBP 1,300 sofa before being put out for the night by staff.

Next morning the Habicat, who arrived at Habitat in Richmond two weeks ago, is always back and leaves the sofa only to visit the cushion department, where he curls up for another comfortable nap.

Staff have tried in vain to trace his owner but having drawn a blank have decided to let sleeping cats lie on their red velvet two- seat sofa. Nicci Fell, the store's assistant visual merchandiser, said business was booming as dozens came in for a closer look. She said: "It's funny because our theme for the windows at the moment is the lived-in look and he certainly complements that. "People walk past and do a double-take to see if he is real. They come in and ask if we know there is a cat in our window and then have a look round the shop. We'll have to adopt it. "We don't know where he came from. We tried ringing the phone number on the collar, but there was no reply. He seems perfectly happy and knows exactly where to go to be comfortable and just sleeps all day." Charlie Pallister, furniture manager, said customers wondered if it was part of an early, offbeat entry for the Evening Standard's annual Window Display Competition. She added: "A few people have asked if he is a prop and would all the stores be having one. He sits quietly all day and loves people stroking him." Inquiries about his GBP 1,349 sofa have shot up. Mark Petersham, 32, an interior designer, from Barnes, said: "I think it adds to the homely feel of the window. I wouldn't be surprised if all the shops copied it." The cat was last night handling fame with feline indifference. As people queued up to stroke him, he let out a yawn and rolled over for another cat nap. Picture: ALEX LENTATI

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