By Lindsay Tice,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – At Lewiston Public Works, Buster the cat is king.

He has his own door. He has his own locker. He gets Fancy Feast whenever he wants.

And every Thursday, about a dozen workers make sure there’s enough money to keep Buster in the style to which he’s become accustomed.

“He’s the biggest baby in the world,” said Mike Danforth, a courier for the city.

Buster was a kitten when he wandered into the Public Works complex with another cat four or five years ago. They were skittish at first and they seemed to have been abused.

Someone adopted Buster’s companion. But no one took Buster.

“So the guys all decided to keep him,” Danforth said.

He grew up in Public Works, chasing the pigeons in the garage rafters, curling up on people’s laps and on the front seat of any vehicle left open. The department gave Buster locker No. 43 to store his food. Workers placed blankets and boxes around the complex so he’d always have a comfortable place to sleep.

People stroke his fur whenever he walks by.

“Everybody says Hi Buster.’ He knows his name,” said mechanic Dan Cash.

A couple of years ago, the Lewiston Veterinary Hospital discovered Buster had a large eye cyst that was likely caused by being kicked as a kitten. Buster lost his eye.

The surgery cost $500. Workers chipped in to pay the bill.

Soon after surgery, Buster broke his leg. Danforth believes he wasn’t used to his limited eyesight and fell as he climbed the rafters or wandered elsewhere in the building.

The Lewiston Veterinary Hospital kept Buster for 10 weeks, charging just $500 to care for him. Again, workers chipped in.

“Every week I go around and pass the hat,” Danforth said. He sets the money aside to pay for Buster’s food and any future vet bill.

Since his surgery and broken paw, Public Works has made accommodations for Buster. Workers cut a small door in the wall between the garage and the main building so he doesn’t have to climb through the building’s rafters. Danforth drops by every day to make sure he has food and hasn’t been left outside. When Danforth is away, other guys take over.

“It’s like firemen who have a Dalmatian,” Danforth said. “He’s a mascot. He’s part of the place now.”