Waukee's Famous Hardware Store Feline Celebrates the Big 2-0: 2012 in Review

Editor's Note:  As the year winds down, Waukee Patch is looking back at some of the stories that made you talk, cry, laugh or just scratch your head.This story originally ran on April 5. 

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At the ripe old age of 20, Wesley the cat has lived well behind his allotted nine lives.

This hefty orange tabby, well-known among Waukee residents, has taken up shop in the window of Waukee Hardware for the better part of 15 years.

Season after season, among the displays of shovels and ice melt, fertilizer carts or garden tools, Wesley keeps watch. Rare is there a day when you're not greeted by a furtive glance from the feline when you walk in the door.

That's Wesley's charm. He's kind of hard to pass up.

"Some people come in just to say 'hi' to Wesley," says Waukee Hardware owner Geoff Warmouth. "They come in to say 'hi' and walk out with a $400 grill or a $300 lawn mower catches their eye."

Household pet or clever marketing tool? Warmouth said they never intended for Wesley to be either when they took in the then 5 year-old stray in 1996.

"We had our eye on a black, three-legged cat," said Warmouth. "But we went to Broderick's to take a look and saw this orange tabby and we scooped him up and brought him back to the hardware store."

And that's where Wesley's been ever since.

When the typical life span of a cat is only 12-15 years, how do you explain Wesley's advanced age? Warmouth says regular vaccinations, good teeth and lots of love and attention.

"He must have found the fountain of youth somewhere in the store," said Warmouth. "His coat is shined with hand oil - everyone comes into the store and pets him."

To celebrate the big day, Waukee Hardware is throwing a big birthday bash Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be cake, pop and coffee and well wishers are encouraged to bring donations for Broderick Animal Clinic, the clinic where Wesley was adopted.

Warmouth said the store will also have specials going on to celebrate Wesley's big 2-0. The store is expecting approximately 150 visitors throughout the day.