Customers Are Saying That They Won’t Go Shopping If There’s Still Rule Banning Yorkshire Tesco Cat

Emma Ackerman

What if you go shopping at Tesco and there's this cute cat named Lincoln waiting at the door, giving you a warm welcome and making your shopping trip feel like a joy? Sounds nice, right? Well, that was the scene for the past three years until Tesco in Hornsea decided to ban Lincoln recently, leaving the community in an uproar.
Source: lincolntescocat

Lincoln, a ginger cat, used to visit the neighbor's house, but when they got two cats during lockdown, he shifted his hangout to Tesco. Gradually, Lincoln became a local celebrity, chilling in Tesco's foyer and bringing smiles to stressed-out shoppers. 

Staff loved him, customers loved him, and he became everyone's favorite furry friend. Moreover, with the encouragement of customers at the store, his owners, Lorraine and Kris Clarke, even made a Facebook group for people to share their encounters with Lincoln. Surprisingly, not long after the group appeared on social media, this little orange quickly gained up to 2.6K fans.

Unfortunately, Tesco later decided to "gently encourage" Lincoln to leave due to health and safety reasons. No one wants cat hair in their food, so not wanting a cat in the grocery store is understandable. However, Lincoln doesn’t go inside the store. He often lounged on the bags of compost in the foyer, greeting customers and being his adorable self.

Of course, many shoppers weren't having it. Outraged, they pledged to boycott Tesco if Lincoln wasn't reinstated, saying he brightened their day and brought joy to their shopping experience.

Source: lincolntescocat
“This will be my last visit to Tesco if Lincoln isn’t reinstated." Customers strongly came together to show their support for the adorable ginger cat. “They won’t be getting another penny out of me. He just brightens your day when you see him. He’s just so lovely, so affectionate.”
Nevertheless, Tesco stays firm on the ban, and the community remains divided. Almost all shoppers appreciate the positive impact Lincoln has on their mood and anxiety, and they're not ready to let him go. So it's like a classic small-town debate: should friendly animals be part of the shopping experience, or is it better to keep things quiet? Only time will tell if Tesco reconsiders or if shoppers will take their business elsewhere.
Source: lincolntescocat

Cats in stores aren't a new thing. Cats have been helping business owners for years, attracting customers who drop by just to see the cat. I wonder how many people visited Hornsea's Tesco just to catch a glimpse of Lincoln.

What's your take on this? Would you enjoy shopping with a furry friend like Lincoln, or do you prefer a quiet, cat-free experience?