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Cat Hangs Around A Hospital For A Year, Ends Up Getting Hired As A Security Cat
Interview
No matter how boring or daunting your job may be, you gotta admit—coworkers make the work experience much less of a hassle. There’s always that one person who is able to relate, to joke around, and be a friend in a setting that is otherwise all-business and no fun.
What if I told you that having a coworker can be even more awesome when it’s not a human, but a cat? Yes, cats as employees are now a thing as seen in the Epworth Hospital in Richmond, Australia. Meet Elwood, the now security guard at Epworth who makes sure law and order is present within hospital grounds.
Bored Panda reached out to Elwood’s colleague, Chantel Trollip, for an interview on Elwood and his valuable work at the hospital.
RELATED:
Apparently, hiring cats to do human jobs is now a thing
Image credits: Esther Williams
Meet Elwood, the red-white tabby who has been seen (quite a lot, in fact) hanging around the main entrance of the Epworth Hospital in Richmond, Melbourne, Australia. Chantel Trollip, a Pathologist here at Epworth Hospital, explained that Elwood has been coming to the hospital to chill pretty much every day for around a year now.
He pretty much spends his days either “securing” the front, checking if everyone has some pets and attention to give, or catching some sun in the nearby bushes. You know, doing what a cat does best.
Meet Elwood, the red-white tabby who has recently been hired as a security guard at Epworth Hospital
Image credits: Chantel Trollip
Image credits: Chantel Trollip
One day, as she was coming in for work, Trollip noticed that Elwood is now sporting a collar with some sort of tag. Upon closer inspection, she saw that Elwood has apparently been hired to work as part of the Epworth security team.
“I first noticed his ID badge on him in June. I was actually having a case of the sads that day, but seeing his ID badge turned my whole mood around!” explained Trollip. “When I first saw him, he wasn’t wearing anything, so I assumed he was a stray. Then someone put a collar and tag on him and now most recently he’s got his own ID badge, which is identical to our actual staff badges down to the call codes on the back.”
Elwood has been hanging around the hospital for about a year until someone officially employed him
Image credits: Chantel Trollip
Image credits: Chantel Trollip
So, turns out, Elwood’s keen interest in keeping up public order at the hospital landed him a proper security guard job. Congratulations, Elwood! Though, it is important to note that his daily routine hasn’t really changed as he’s still doing the same two things: securing the door making sure nobody enters without a pet tax, and lazing around in the sun.
“He is lovely and friendly, but not overly affectionate. He enjoys a good pat, but likes to keep things short and move around a fair bit. He is on the security team, after all, has to make sure everyone coming and going gets checked,” explained Trollip.
So, from now on, Elwood spends his days securing the front door of Epworth hospital and lazing around
Image credits: Chantel Trollip
Image credits: Chantel Trollip
As for where Elwood came from, nobody was really sure about it until recently. Since Elwood had the tag and nobody took it off, it was presumed he’s a stray, but as it turns out, he lives across the road with his real family and a twin brother named Jake. He just comes to the other side of the road (Erin St) for work.
“He’s never really tried to get into the hospital, I think he’s too small to activate the automatic doors anyway,” elaborated Trollip. “There is a kidney dish from the hospital that someone has turned into a water bowl for him.”
“Someone put a collar and ID badge on him, which is identical to our actual staff badges”
Image credits: Chantel Trollip
Image credits: Chantel Trollip
So, now that he’s a part of the security team, we’ve asked Trollip how many criminal activities he’s been able to thwart so far. She had this to say:
“I think any potential criminals are thwarted by his sweetness when passersby see him! He has a very sweet chirp of a meow and I think anyone with any ill will would automatically change their plans upon hearing it and so I assume this is his way of getting the job done.”
Turns out, he’s not a stray, he actually lives across the street, but comes in for work every day
Image credits: Chantel Trollip
Check out a short video of Elwood sporting his security ID badge
Click to unmute
Video credits: Chantel Trollip
Employing cats is apparently a thing as also seen in the Order of Attorneys of Brazil, a bar association that has employed Leon the kitten after getting complaints of a stray cat wandering the premises. Well, instead of getting rid of him, they hired the cat and now he’s an attorney. You can read more about Leon in this Bored Panda article.
What are your thoughts on this? Would you hire Elwood to keep an eye on your premises? Let us know in the comments section below!
Here’s how the internet reacted to Elwood the adorable security cat
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What do you think ?
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
I'd go to this hospital just b/c they have a cat. Makes the whole thing less weird, strangely enough.
deanna woods 4 years ago
This is so cute. I love it when places allow animals to hang around rather than trying to get rid of them. It's also cute when people give cats jobs.
Rainbow Panda 4 years ago
Elwood is adorable. I’m considering to make a new campaign called “Jobs for Paws” that helps get homeless animals work now. That’s gotta be difficult, so please help everyone!
Carolyn Legg 4 years ago
Love the photo ID. Animals lower blood pressure and provide calm to patients and families.
El Dee 4 years ago
It used to be a common sight. Cats were 'employed' at farms, shops selling foodstuffs and anywhere else you can think of that might attract mice or rats. They would be fed by employees and would make appearances at breaks and meal times for special snacks. This has fallen out of favour now with the advent of better pest control..
Eulalie Grace 4 years ago
Better pest control? These NO better pest control than a kitty! 😸 Plus side bennies of cuddles and purrs
Load More Replies...
ANDREA SERRANO MORALES 4 years ago
i wonder how they pay the cat. cash for the owner or cat treats?
Eulalie Grace 4 years ago
Whenever I see a place that employees a cat, they have a customer for life. Maybe they should put a flashing light crosswalk for Elwood.
White Wolf 4 years ago
A cat who goes to work every day! Honestly, I love when stray animals are employed, just like Tucson Prime, the dog, who got employed by Hyundai in Brazil. (He recently was neutered) Even though this cat isn't a stray, but such things are always so heartwarming.
Laura Lawson 4 years ago
I do wonder if those who commented on the 'internet reacts' actually read the article!? Elwood isn't a stray! He lives across the street. That's the best bit, he goes to work each day then goes home! The American readers need to realise that this is a smaller Australian hospital & the community lives around it. So it's a perfect place for Elwood. Fun fact: no 401k's here, our retirement funds are called superannuation - super for short because we hate words more than 2 syllables! 🤣 lol!
Shana McKee 4 years ago
We have our own cat employee here where I work lol unnamed-1-...fe34d9.jpg 
sharron lynn parsons 4 years ago
It is incredible, but not surprising, I had read about the Lawyer cat, a great idea, especially in stressful places, nice to know kind people are doing this, love this !!!
Michael Hill 4 years ago
A few cats wander around where I live and are ready to be adopted. But they all look well fed and just want somewhere they can get extra meals. At least they make sure there are no mice here.
Eulalie Grace 4 years ago
Elwood and his twin brother Jake - the Not-Allowed-To-Be Blue(s) Brothers Elwood's the front man ... 😺
Shirin Kamer 4 years ago
Security Elwood, quick, there is a mice here Elwood: ah ah the bell in my collar doesn't seen to work.
RunYouCleverBoyAndRemember 4 years ago
I wish it was that easy for humans took get a hospital job... Took my 21 year old cousin 4 years to complete training.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
I'd go to this hospital just b/c they have a cat. Makes the whole thing less weird, strangely enough.
deanna woods 4 years ago
This is so cute. I love it when places allow animals to hang around rather than trying to get rid of them. It's also cute when people give cats jobs.
Rainbow Panda 4 years ago
Elwood is adorable. I’m considering to make a new campaign called “Jobs for Paws” that helps get homeless animals work now. That’s gotta be difficult, so please help everyone!
Carolyn Legg 4 years ago
Love the photo ID. Animals lower blood pressure and provide calm to patients and families.
El Dee 4 years ago
It used to be a common sight. Cats were 'employed' at farms, shops selling foodstuffs and anywhere else you can think of that might attract mice or rats. They would be fed by employees and would make appearances at breaks and meal times for special snacks. This has fallen out of favour now with the advent of better pest control..
Eulalie Grace 4 years ago
Better pest control? These NO better pest control than a kitty! 😸 Plus side bennies of cuddles and purrs
Load More Replies... ANDREA SERRANO MORALES 4 years ago
i wonder how they pay the cat. cash for the owner or cat treats?
Eulalie Grace 4 years ago
Whenever I see a place that employees a cat, they have a customer for life. Maybe they should put a flashing light crosswalk for Elwood.
White Wolf 4 years ago
A cat who goes to work every day! Honestly, I love when stray animals are employed, just like Tucson Prime, the dog, who got employed by Hyundai in Brazil. (He recently was neutered) Even though this cat isn't a stray, but such things are always so heartwarming.
Laura Lawson 4 years ago
I do wonder if those who commented on the 'internet reacts' actually read the article!? Elwood isn't a stray! He lives across the street. That's the best bit, he goes to work each day then goes home! The American readers need to realise that this is a smaller Australian hospital & the community lives around it. So it's a perfect place for Elwood. Fun fact: no 401k's here, our retirement funds are called superannuation - super for short because we hate words more than 2 syllables! 🤣 lol!
Shana McKee 4 years ago
We have our own cat employee here where I work lol unnamed-1-...fe34d9.jpg
sharron lynn parsons 4 years ago
It is incredible, but not surprising, I had read about the Lawyer cat, a great idea, especially in stressful places, nice to know kind people are doing this, love this !!!
Michael Hill 4 years ago
A few cats wander around where I live and are ready to be adopted. But they all look well fed and just want somewhere they can get extra meals. At least they make sure there are no mice here.
Eulalie Grace 4 years ago
Elwood and his twin brother Jake - the Not-Allowed-To-Be Blue(s) Brothers Elwood's the front man ... 😺
Shirin Kamer 4 years ago
Security Elwood, quick, there is a mice here Elwood: ah ah the bell in my collar doesn't seen to work.
RunYouCleverBoyAndRemember 4 years ago
I wish it was that easy for humans took get a hospital job... Took my 21 year old cousin 4 years to complete training.
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