September 29, 2026

Browser, the Library Cat for Life

Browser worked at a public library in Texas for 15 years. In 2016, he faced a few weeks when it seemed like he might lose his job.

Browser was the perfect library cat. He helped with the rodent problem and loved riding on the book-return cart. Sometimes he joined crafting sessions and even stuck around for many GED classes. So the teacher decided to give him an honorary certificate for all his hard work. But then, just six years into his job, the city council decided to let him go.

Browser arrived at the White Settlement Public Library, just outside Fort Worth, Texas, in 2010. Library staff had been inspired by Dewey Readmore Books, the famous library cat from Iowa, and adopted the one-year-old tabby from the city shelter. His main job was to catch rodents, but it didn’t take long before he did much more.

He loved being around people. Whenever the staff pushed the book return cart through the library to restock the shelves, Browser would often ride along. If the library manager stood up from her chair, he would take her place. He even joined the library’s crafting group, sitting next to visitors as they read or worked.

Kids really like Browser. Browser would sit with them during reading activities, and photos from the library show him lying comfortably in the middle of a group of kids, surrounded by books. He also picked up quite a bit of knowledge.

After Browser kept attending those GED classes, the teacher finally thought he’d been there long enough and gave him an honorary GED. Everything was going smoothly for six years. Then came 2016.

In June 2016, the White Settlement City Council voted 2–1 to have Browser removed from the library. They gave him 30 days to find a new place to live. The council members who were in favor of this raised concerns about having a cat in a public building, especially for visitors who might be allergic to him. It was a bit unclear why Browser became a problem after living there for nearly six years. Mayor Ron White, who disagreed with the decision, said the library already had ways to help people with allergies. He later called Browser “Library Cat for Life.”

Whatever the reason behind the vote, it didn’t sit well with a lot of people. They packed council meetings to argue that Browser should stay. An online petition got more than 12,000 signatures, and the mayor received over 1,500 emails from supporters across the US and around the world.

Browser continued to stay at the White Settlement Public Library for another nine years. He greeted visitors, found places to nap, and remained part of the library after that strange summer when his living arrangements became international news.

He passed away peacefully on September 3, 2025, just before his 16th birthday. The library later celebrated his life and invited people to share their favorite memories of him. In their tribute, the city described Browser as a cat who loved being around people. That’s probably the simplest explanation for why everyone got so upset about his potential removal in the first place.

Browser originally came to the library to do a job, but over time, he became part of the place.

Animals with jobs

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