TechWEIRD TECH

Hardware stores hire cats to win over customers

Once hired purely for pest control, these store employees now drive foot traffic and rack up thousands of viral views on social media; the humans are reportedly fine.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on The Midday Show
Published 12:21 PM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

Photo: Karin Langner-Bahmann , upload von Martin Bahmann · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from The Midday Show at 12:21 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are WSJ's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Karin Langner-Bahmann , upload von Martin Bahmann · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Cat — Photo: Karin Langner-Bahmann , upload von Martin Bahmann · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by WSJ: “Hardware Stores Have a Secret Weapon for Wooing Customers”.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 12:21 PM ET on The Midday Show, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

WSJHardware Stores Have a Secret Weapon for Wooing Customers

What BBN said about it

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentHardware stores are leaning on employees originally hired for pest control, and the Wall Street Journal says their social media clips are pulling people through the door.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA store cat with a fan base! I'd walk in for a single washer if he's asleep in the paint aisle.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentHe catches mice, Kenji, and he still beats every human on that floor in foot traffic.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThen he gets a raise.

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