If you think all cats are lazy, think again! This popular cat will make you believe our feline friends can be as hardworking as you.
Dirt the Railway Cat is famous for his distinct fur that gives him the appearance of working all day. He is known as the ‘King of the Shop’ at the East Ely Railroad Depot Museum.
Eric Mencis, the social media director and manager of guest services told Bored Panda: “As tours walk through the building people are just amazed about hearing the history and the stories of the railroad.
“Then as if he knew it was his cue to appear Dirt just walks into the room where the tour is, or out from under one of the trains and sits in the middle of the group with a sense of pride that only he can have.”
Dirt was born in the engine house of the East Ely Railroad 11 years ago. “She [his mom] had her kittens under one of our trains, a 1907 built rotary snow plow to be exact. A Rotary Snow Plow is a huge steam-powered train snowblower,” Mencis shared.
“Mom and the other kittens left and this one stray was all alone but scared to come out. So our train crews would leave a can of tuna on a chair every night for this kitten, eventually, the kitten came out friendly up to the crews.
“Dirt is actually an orange and white cat, but because at a young age he started rolling in the dirt and climbing on the trains, his white fur gets stained gray,” he explained.
“At a young age, Dirt learned not to lick himself clean, like normal cats, being part stray he likes to stay oily and dirty because it helps keep him tough looking and also in a sense keeps him clean because things don’t stick to his fur and bugs don’t go near him.”
“Dirt is pretty much one of those old-time railroaders living now as a cat. Dirt walks around the shop like his the boss making sure everything is working right.
“The type of boss that started at the bottom and worked his way up the latter, the type who knows how hard and tough the job is but has faith that his men can get it done,” Mencis described.
“He walks with a sense of pride around his engine house like these are his trains and he and he is proud of the men to keep them going. He will climb on and walk around the trains, like he is inspecting them, checking to make sure not a bold is loose or that the bearings are properly oiled up.”
What an amazing cat you are, Dirt! We are looking forward to meeting you fur real!
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