November 6, 2026
Harold and Maude
At Brooklyn’s Kings County Distillery, two working cats do things their own way.
When Harold and Maude arrived at Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn in 2021, they didn’t seem too interested in making friends. These two cats came through Hard Hat Cats, a program that finds homes and jobs for working cats in places where they can help keep rodents under control. To help them settle in, the distillery kept them in kennels next to the production floor so they could get used to all the sounds and smells.
Rick Kelaher, who leads tours at the distillery, remembers checking on them during those early days. Both cats would hiss, growl, and even swat at him. Eventually, they got to roam free when the kennels were opened up, and they figured out how to make themselves at home.
Rick shared with us how the two cats found their places at the distillery, his interest in the history of working cats, and what he’s learned from them about earning an animal’s trust.
Finding their feet
How did Harold and Maude settle into their new home?
Rick: They were acclimatized to their new environment by being put in kennels which we kept in a kitchen room off of the distillery floor. That’s part of Hard Hat Cats’ process, to get cats used to the sounds and smells of their new environment, and to think of them at home. They were also covered with a sheet to keep them from being stressed. I checked on them a few times, and they both hissed, batted and growled. They stayed in those kennels for quite some time, and then they were simply allowed to roam freely. The rest was up to them, but we fed them, cleaned their boxes, and gave them water.
Two very different cats
How have they developed relationships with the people around them?
Rick: People like to generalize animal behavior, but they’re like us; they have personalities and preferences. They had the freedom to explore that. Harold was less fearful, so he found he liked hanging out with people and getting pets, and he extended that to people who visit and approach him with respect, or let him approach them. It’s easy to tell Maude likes the people who work at the distillery, especially the ones who talk to her and give her food and snacks, but she’s also a little scared, so her comfortable place is generally farther away, but she’ll chirp at you.
I can’t speak for everyone, but I have my own routines and practices with them. For example, Maude likes to come up when I’m done with a shift and cleaning, while Harold will often greet me before I get in the door when he hears me call him.
A history of working cats
How did you become interested in the history of working cats?
Rick: It’s been an interest of mine for a while. I took a job working in the archives of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, where I got to learn more about it, and it’s become an interest I’ve pursued.
On the distillery floor
Are there any moments with Harold or Maude that have stayed with you?
Rick: Honestly, their presence adds a lot of warmth. No particular moment stands out, but they’re always a presence. For example, sometimes Harold will walk in and start meowing while I’m giving a tour, or Maude will look down from the barrels without anyone seeing her.
” Sometimes Harold will walk in and start meowing while I’m giving a tour, or Maude will look down from the barrels without anyone seeing her.
On Harold and Maude’s own terms
What have they taught you about working cats and the people who share their spaces?
Rick: That’s a good question. The truth is, it just affirmed a lot of points about individuality and respect. They are both individuals, with their own personalities, and you need to get to know them and likewise, they need to get to know you to really have a good relationship.
Respect is the cornerstone of their relationship; we give them independence in the distillery, we don’t force them to do anything or confine them, we just provide care and they can take it if they’d like. So when they come to say hello or spend time with us, it’s because they actually like us. That can really be applied to all cats, and every other animal.
” When they come to say hello or spend time with us, it’s because they actually like us.
Our thanks to Rick Kelaher for sharing his experiences with Harold and Maude, and to Hannah Kaplan and the team at Kings County Distillery for helping us tell their story.
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