Ratchet

August 13, 2025

It’s with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to Ratchet the Hardware Cat - the best shop cat a hardware store could ever ask for, and the heart of Pollock’s Hardware Co-op Ltd. If you've ever been to Pollock's, you probably met her, curled up on the vintage cooler, napping by the paint machine, or meowing by the basement stairs. The 103 year history of Pollock's wouldn't be complete without her pawprints all over it. How Ratchet came to live at Pollock's is a bit of a mystery, but she had been running the place for over 15 years and never failed to bring a smile to people's faces. She was the star of the show and a beloved cat in our community and beyond.  She was more than just a cat - she was our greeter, our supervisor, our comedian, and our comfort. Ratchet brought joy to everyone who crossed her path - whether she was relaxing in a box on the counter, snoozing on top of leaf bags, or popping out from behind a shelf to say hello; she had a way of making our store feel just a little warmer.

In the summer of 2023, Ratchet was diagnosed with diabetes and started a special diet as well as insulin injections (twice a day) to keep her happy and healthy. Through the collective love of our community, Ratchet stabilized and continued her active life as a shop cat. We started a GoFundMe that year for support with purchases of insulin and diabetic friendly cat food, as well as the slowly growing vet bills that needed to be paid.

In 2025, she had started to slow down and show her age. Through the continued support of our board, staff, and volunteers, we did our best to keep her fed, medicated (and bathed!) and ensured that she was still happy living at the store. Unfortunately, it appeared the time had come for her retirement.

While we had hoped that we could throw her a big going away party, what she needed was a calm, safe place to rest after so many years of hard work running the little hardware store that could. 

Thanks to our communities' generosity, we were able to cover her final vet bills and make sure she was comfortable right to the very end. Our deepest thanks go to Mcleod Veterinary Hospital for their kindness, compassion, and care in helping Ratchet’s passing be as peaceful and gentle as possible. Ratchet's GoFundMe is now closed, and we’re so grateful for every donation, kind word, and visit to her and her co-workers.

Ratchet is now off to the “hardware store in the sky,” where the best napping spots are always waiting and the treats never run out. We will miss her beyond words, but we’re so thankful for every moment we had - and for the community who loved her just as much as we did.