A STRAY cat that once slipped unnoticed into a pet store in Melaka through a ventilation duct to feast on cat food has since found a permanent home and an unexpected role as a mascot for the Cat Supermarket retail chain.
Cat Supermarket managing director Datuk Chew Chert Fong said the episode began several months ago at the company’s Paya Rumput outlet in Melaka, when staff repeatedly discovered torn packets of high-end cat food despite closed-circuit television recordings showing no sign of intruders.
"We wanted to catch the culprit red-handed as the footage showed no movement of trespassers,” he said.
The mystery was resolved when a senior employee remained in the outlet after operating hours and spotted a stray cat entering through a ventilation duct before heading directly to the premium food shelves.
"The cat tore open the packaging and began eating.
"When it tried to escape, it could not squeeze back through the same opening,” Chew recalled.
The incident prompted Chew to adopt the animal, which was later named "DoDo" by his family.
Thin and frail when first found, DoDo has since grown into a healthy and playful companion weighing about eight kilogrammes.
"The cat has also been neutered and continues to favour the same premium brand it first sought during its nocturnal visits.
“That particular brand remains DoDo’s favourite,” he added.
Chew said DoDo’s presence has coincided with steady business growth, and the former stray discovered in his outlet is now set to become a welcoming fixture at the supermarket’s outlet in Kempas, Johor.
"What began as a small effort in Melaka to supply pet essentials to nearby residents, Cat Supermarket has expanded into a multi-state retail chain serving customers across Selangor, Johor and Melaka,” he said.
He added that the company is strengthening its focus on the care and rehoming of stray animals through collaboration with a Melaka-based rescuer who saved an estimated 400 stray cats in 2025, many of them abandoned kittens.
"Through this initiative, my company sponsors premium food for rescued animals while encouraging members of the public to consider adopting strays rather than leaving them on the streets," he said.
Chew highlighted that DoDo’s journey reflects how the decision to adopt a stray can reshape an animal’s future while reinforcing awareness of responsible pet ownership. – February 6, 2026
