An unusual fight over the rights of a local landmark — a 19-year-old cat named Nutmeg — has unfolded in Portland’s Sellwood neighborhood. This historic southeast Portland neighborhood is known for its older housing stock, parks and independent shops, and residents are highly active thanks to a strong tradition of neighborhood self-governance: official neighborhood associations have real influence over zoning and city projects. Sellwood has also endured floods and wildfires, which only strengthened mutual aid, and Portlanders here take pride in knowing every neighbor on the block.
For several months the animal has treated the CVS pharmacy at the corner of Southeast 17th Avenue and Tacoma Street as a second home. Locals have nicknamed him the “unofficial mayor of Sellwood” and are actively defending the cat’s right to be in the store.
The conflict flared on May 16 when a customer posted a complaint about the cat’s presence in a neighborhood Facebook group. The man demanded that the owners prevent the animal from entering the premises for sanitary reasons. A few days later an official complaint was sent to CVS’s corporate office, touching off an outpouring of outrage among residents.
Formally, the complainant relies on the law: the Oregon Department of Agriculture bans companion animals (except service animals) from grocery stores and pharmacies. Oregon generally has some of the strictest rules in the U.S.: only service dogs are allowed into food stores, not merely “companion animals.” The local health authority requires that areas where food is prepared and sold be free of animals, except guide dogs, and fines are high enough that stores strictly enforce the rule. Unlike more permissive states or some shops in Seattle where a looser practice has historically developed, Oregon’s rules are strict. Representatives of CVS confirmed they love the cat but must follow the rules. “As a pharmacy and seller of food products, we must maintain an animal-free environment,” the company said.
However, Sellwood residents are unanimous in their support of the fluffy “mayor.” “Nutmeg is a true delight for the neighborhood. He’s friendly and doesn’t bother anyone,” says regular customer Terry Walton. “When I see him in the store, I can’t help but smile.” Neighbors are actively sharing photos and stories of encounters with the cat, urging CVS to show flexibility.
The cat’s owners, Joe and Gabi Moore, took him in about a year ago when the previous owner could no longer care for the pet. They say the cat has always been very social and constantly wanted to go outside. In Portland, especially in low-rise neighborhoods like Sellwood, it’s considered normal for an older cat to know his neighborhood, sleep on strangers’ porches and be viewed as a “street guardian” or local attraction. Soon after adoption the cat began exploring the area, climbing into strangers’ cars and wandering into local businesses, until he found his ideal spot — CVS.
Each evening the cat patiently waits for the automatic doors to open and then goes inside. Joe Moore usually picks him up a few minutes before the store closes at 10:00 p.m. Despite a couple of incidents (the cat once tore open a bag of dog treats and inadvertently ended up locked in the store overnight), Nutmeg has become a true ambassador for the pharmacy. “This is his retirement life,” explains Gabi Moore. “He’s almost 19 and he chose CVS as his place. He loves it there more than home.”
Now the cat’s future is uncertain. CVS employees began a petition in his defense, but at the request of the corporate office it was removed. Nutmeg’s fans are now writing directly to the company’s customer service, hoping for a compromise. Joe Moore acknowledges that some people may object, but emphasizes: “We’re just letting the cat be a cat. If there’s a solution that works for everyone, we’re ready to talk.”
Based on: A Portland cat chose a CVS as his home. Customers are rallying to keep him there.