A Russian Cat Charges A “salary” Of $520 A Month
Can you imagine your pet charging a salary? In these times of crisis, a little extra cash doesn’t look bad. Well, try to get a job like Bársik’s. This Russian cat was hired by a construction company and, for his services, he earns around US$520 (about R$1,700) a month.
Meet Bársik, the Russian cat who works and collects a salary
Well, actually, the person who gets half of that money, which is not received in dollars but in rubles, is the owner of this beautiful little animal. His name is Vasili Kuchumov.
The other half of Bársik’s salary is used to help organizations that rescue and provide shelter for stray animals. This initiative is wonderful.
However, how did this Russian cat end up being hired by a construction company in Perm, a city near the Ural Mountains? We’ll tell you next.
Why did a construction company hire a kitten?
Vasili Kuchumov
Bársik is one and a half years old and was selected through a contest in which many other cats participated. Just imagine, relying on that income isn’t bad. Even more so if you take into account that the minimum wage in Russia is 7,500 rubles, which is the equivalent of around 112 dollars or around 100 euros.
According to say, the kitten was chosen because it is beautiful, intelligent and affectionate. However, what job does he have to do in the company? What happens is that in Russia there is a tradition that when you buy a house, the first person to enter it is the family cat.
In this way, the animal drives away evil spirits and brings happiness. Furthermore, it is believed that the place where the pet sleeps is where the bed should be.
And although Russians are in the habit of choosing cats as pets, not everyone has a cat to perform this ritual. For this reason, it is common to “rent” cats to carry out this tradition.
A good promotion strategy
So, it is not surprising that construction companies are starting to acquire an “official” cat. Without a doubt, this is another service for new owners, if they don’t have a meowing pet. Therefore, Bársik continues with the task of entering the houses and fulfilling this tradition.
And, in times when much of life happens on social media, it is obvious that Bársik’s “work” is also promoted in this medium. In this case, his photos are placed next to the happy owners and the shiny houses built by the construction company.
Luckily, this Russian cat doesn’t have to clock in or keep to a schedule. And, although the kitten has a space for him in the company’s offices, a chauffeur comes by to pick him up only when his services are needed.
Other Russian cats that were also in the news
Another curious fact recently was the story of another Russian cat named Bársik.
He was the protagonist of a news that gave a lot to talk about. That’s because the little animal was at the forefront of polls to be elected mayor of the Siberian city of Barnaul. Voters, tired of the scandals and corruption of local politicians, thus expressed their indignation towards the other candidates.
We also recently heard missing from Marai, a stray cat who ended up becoming a “conserje” at the Museum of History and Art in the city of Serpujov, 99 kilometers south of Moscow.
It is true that, in Russia, and elsewhere, it is increasingly common to hear stories of kittens being used as a good advertising strategy for companies or institutions that decide to “hire them”.
Photo source: Vasili Kuchumov’s social network
