Grant High School has had a frequent visitor wandering its halls recently who does not follow protocol by checking in at the front office. Slipping through the windows and side doors, Goose the cat always finds a way inside.
Goose has become a regular in many basement and first-floor classrooms, a very welcome distraction in the middle of a lesson. He always brings a smile to teachers and students alike with his heartwarming visits.
Angie Kitzerow, Goose’s owner, says that “he was always super social.” He is an incredibly friendly and attention-loving cat. When Goose is spotted by students, he is instantly surrounded. Anne St. Amant, who teaches AP Seminar in a basement classroom, says that all of her interactions with Goose have been “100% positive. Amazing, incredible.”
Goose’s social skills extend beyond people — he also gets along well with his family’s dog, Maverick. Kitzerow says that at first, “The dog was a little reluctant, and didn’t want to be around the cat very much, but Goose was not afraid of him at all.” Maverick quickly warmed up to Goose, and soon they began playing together. “They’re very cute together,” Kitzerow says. She adopted Goose in the winter of 2023 as a surprise for her two young daughters, Joey and Wren. “We were watching TV and (she) brought him home,” says Wren, Kitzerow’s 9-year-old daughter.
Goose’s intelligence may have helped him sneak into Grant. “He’s just a very weird cat. He’s very smart,” says Kitzerow. “He figured out how to open our door. He has completely figured out how doorknobs work,” she says. Grant’s classrooms are not the first spot on campus that Goose has explored; Kitzerow received several phone calls last summer from the Grant Pool staff reporting his appearances. “They called us a couple of times, and they’d be like, ‘Oh your cat’s here,’” she says.
Goose’s exploratory and friendly nature also drives him to come along on walks with the dog and his family. Kitzerow was contacted by the Grant administration about Goose’s recent appearances in the building. “They had him in the office down there at (Grant) because he had gotten in again. So the vice principal actually asked us to keep him inside our house during school hours,” says Kitzerow’s husband, Nick. Not only had Goose found his way into Grant, but the family had also received calls from neighbors prior to this concerning Goose getting into their homes.
Goose’s presence is a delight that teachers and students alike appreciate and always welcome with a warm smile and affection. While some may consider his visits a distraction, he provides a much-needed short break to students, spreading joy to all.
