The most famous cat in Chilliwack has crossed the rainbow bridge.

Nietzsche, the well-known, ginger feline who welcomed people into The Book Man for more than 12 years, died on Monday. He was about 18 years old.

鈥淗e was a king鈥� a king amongst cats,鈥� said Amber Price, co-owner of The Book Man. 鈥淣ietzsche was always so patient and generous of spirit with others鈥� friendly, curious. A very interactive cat who could handle the pressures of the job.鈥�

He made his home in the downtown book store in 2008 after being found on Trethewey Avenue in 2005 by cat rescuer Ena Vermerris.

Over the course of nine months, he was in and out of Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven three times. After living with one elderly woman for three years, who later became unwell and had to give him up, Nietzsche became an orphan again in 2008.

It was then that Vermerris of Ena鈥檚 Community Cats (then with Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven) introduced him to the folks at The Book Man. (He was originally named Peppin, but got the name 鈥淣ietzsche鈥� by popular vote from customers during a contest.)

Nietzsche finally found his forever home 鈥� the entire bookstore was his.

As customers searched for books in the aisles, Nietzsche could be seen sashaying about the store. The rows of books were his catwalk. The burgundy-coloured armchair was his bed.

Nietzsche became quite popular after becoming the official bookstore cat.

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He was the face of countless calendar fundraisers sold each year by The Book Man to help raise money for Ena鈥檚 Community Cats. Nietzsche merchandise has been made in his honour including pins, cloth bags and bookmarks - some of which he 鈥渟igned鈥� with his 鈥減awtograph.鈥�

He was named top bookstore cat of the year by AbeBooks.com in 2010, has been in magazines, and was even featured on the cover of Bookstore Cats, a book released by Brandon Schultz of New York in 2017.

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There isn鈥檛 one single thing about Nietzsche that led to his fame, but rather everything, said Price.

鈥淗e鈥檚 a total babe. He鈥檚 an apricot beauty,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ice size, nice temperament, approachable, soft. Every single thing you could want in a cat, Nietzsche embodied.鈥�

He was a true community cat. For people who couldn鈥檛 own a cat, Nietzsche was theirs. For those who recently lost their own cat, Nietzsche was there for them.

鈥淗e belonged to everybody and he knew that,鈥� Price said.

Nietzsche could 鈥渂ring anyone to their knees鈥� to get affection from them, Price added, whether it was a playful child or a big, muscular, camouflage-wearing man.

鈥淗e was an equalizer.鈥�

And he remembered people, too.

鈥淟ast week when I walked in (to The Book Man) he came to me. He knew my voice,鈥� Vermerris said.

But Nietzsche鈥檚 health had been deteriorating for the past few weeks, so Price and Vermerris knew it was time for him to go. There were a lot of tears at The Book Man on Monday as everyone said their goodbyes to the 鈥渆lderly gentleman,鈥� Price said.

Over his almost 13 years at The Book Man, Nietzsche helped raised more than $25,000 for Ena鈥檚 Community Cats through calendar fundraisers, merchandise sales and donations.

鈥淗e changed thousands of cats鈥� lives with that money,鈥� Price said.

鈥淚 think he deserves a mural,鈥� Vermerris added.

People can still buy Nietzsche bookmarks and pins at the store, and the money still goes to Ena鈥檚 Community Cats. Price is encouraging people to donate to the cause and, those who are looking to get a cat, consider adopting one who needs a home.

鈥淧lease adopt a rescue and give a cat who didn鈥檛 have a chance, a chance鈥� just like Nietzsche.鈥�