| Species | Felis catus |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Years active | 2017- |
| Residence | Lowes #1037, Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia |
| Appearance | Short hair |
Francine is a short-haired cat [1] from Richmond, Virginia that lives at Lowe's #1037 on Broad Street. [2] She first entered the store's Lawn and Garden area in 2017. [3] She initially sustained herself on mice and refused to let humans near her, but after employees noticed that she looked thin, they started to feed her. She formed an especially close bond with one employee and became outwardly friendly after about 18 months. [1] Despite being free to leave, Francine has remained at the store ever since. The store and its associates take care of her food, water, and veterinary needs, with assistance from the community. [2]
Many customers visit the store solely to visit Francine, or bypass nearer stores in favor of #1037 because of her. Some have tried to remove her from the store. [2] Monopoly included "Lowe's cat Francine" in its official Richmond edition of the game, and a print of the cat, made by a local artist, hangs in the store. [2]
During the 2024 Richmond mayoral election, signs popped up around the city saying "Elect Francine for whatever she wants." The cat received 8 votes. [4]