Stacia’s Grooming, formerly Gayle’s Grooming, has a new friendly face to greet customers. Sheri, a foster cat, will be showcased at the business.

The grooming shop used to have a cat as a permanent resident and Wendy Wendland, a groomer’s assistant, said they were thinking about adopting a cat when the local shelter gave them the idea to foster cats.

Right now they have Sheri, who’s been there about a month.

“I just love her — she’s a blast to have here,” Wendland said.

Each day when someone gets to the shop they let Sheri out of her kennel to run around and explore. Workers get her food and water and clean her litter box. Sheri stays inside the kennel while other animals are in the shop, but enjoys looking at them and playing with them if they come up to her kennel.

“It’s really working out great,” Wendland said. “She gets lots of love.”

The Humane Society of Freeborn County has started a new program called Cats About Freeborn County. Board member Dee Amberg said the new program will showcase one cat at a time at Stacia’s Grooming at 216 S. Broadway Ave. As soon as the cat is adopted, another will take its place.

“This is a good opportunity for people who can’t come down to the shelter to see the cats,” Amberg said.

People interested in adopting Sheri or any future cats will still have to go through the application process, and there are applications right at Stacia’s Grooming for those who are interested.

“We’re pushing the adoption,” Wendland said. “We have a couple people interested.”

Sheri is a little more than a year old and was born in the shelter. Her mother was adopted in July, and all her siblings have been adopted as well. She does well around other cats and always had roommates at the shelter. Amberg said all cats that will be showcased will be spayed or neutered, but they will be showcasing different ages and males and females.

“The Humane Society wants to thank Stacia’s Grooming and their staff for partnering with us on this program,” Amberg said.

Amberg said she’d like to partner with other businesses and the program is open to anyone in Freeborn County. The shelter and the business share responsibilities for caring for the cats.

“I’m hoping others will want to do it,” Amberg said.