Chai the Taxi Cat Moves from Kharkiv to Kyiv
A famous ginger cat named Chai (Ukrainian for “tea”), who works in a taxi, has moved from Kharkiv to Kyiv.
Chai the cat at work
About two years in a taxi have made Chai a famous cat. By the way, his name comes from the word for “tips” – chayovi :-) In the capital, Chai and his owner will have even more passengers and fans.
How the cat got into a taxi
Driver Oleksandr Zihulia felt something was missing in his car – a homey feel. Creating it became the job of a ginger striped cat that looks like a little tiger.
Little Chai with his tips
Oleksandr spent three weeks looking for the right companion and even held castings: he put each candidate on his shoulder and walked around to test its sense of balance. Almost none passed. Chai turned up by chance – at a tire shop. Though, as they say, there are no accidents: the little ginger furball suited the driver perfectly.
A taxi cat’s daily life
Chai’s favorite spot is the rear parcel shelf.
The taxi cat
It’s cozy and calm for him there.
Resting on the rear shelf
Chai is calm and doesn’t bother passengers, but he can pleasantly surprise them by suddenly appearing on the driver’s shoulder.
Oleksandr and Chai
The driver and his partner understand each other perfectly. In the morning the owner says, “Chai, we’re going to work!” – and the cat wakes up right away, sits on a chair by the door and waits.
Many people ask how to book a taxi with the ginger beauty in it. Oleksandr always answers: “When the time comes, we’ll arrive.”
Taxis and pets
By the way, on December 23 Bolt launched a separate ride category for animals in Kyiv – Bolt Pets. So now you can not only meet a cat in a taxi, but also take your own pet to the vet without hassle.
P.S. I’ve written before about a squirrel in a taxi – another very unusual story.