A day in San Francisco can come with an unexpected moment: having a poem read to you on Cole Street, seeing a streetcar shaped like a boat, or the tamale lady showing up at the perfect moment. One of the greatest unexpected moments is perusing a store only to find a resident store cat. These cats brighten up your day and spark connections between strangers. In celebration, here are a few of my favorite store cats I’ve met around the city:

1. Dogg, a classic bodega cat

Dogg is perched on her cardboard box throne.

I’ll admit that I often make up an excuse to go into George’s Market just so I can say hi to Dogg. She may be a little cautious at first, but once she gets to know you, you’ll be best friends. When she’s not lounging on the shelves of the cash register, you’ll often find her in a basket on the counter or on one of her various cardboard box thrones.

Dogg is so worshipped that the mural on the storefront has an homage to her.