Sunshine Larry sits on the counter at Loyal Biscuit Co. on Front Street (Courtesy of Gillian Roy)

BATH — The city of Bath does not have a mayor. But locals agree that if it did, the office would belong to a cat named Sunshine Larry.

Sunny, or sometimes Larry for short, he’s an orange kitty with a nubby tail, clipped ears and a grumpy expression.

“He has such a grumpy look on his face all the time,” said Martha Akeley, an employee at Pamela’s World, a jewelry and gift shop on Front Street. “He’s really friendly, but sometimes people are like, ‘Can I pet him?’ because he doesn’t look like he’s approachable, but he totally is.”

Pamela’s is one of several Front Street storefronts that has designated a spot for Sunny to lounge in during his daily walks, a basket tucked under a display of cat toys.

Down the street at Loyal Biscuit Co., the staff keeps special toys for Sunny behind the counter. He comes around about once a week to take a nap on one of the many comfy beds at the pet goods store.

“He comes in all the time, especially when the weather’s nice,” manager Allison Marsh said.

On any given day, you might find Sunny at any number of local restaurants or shops, or at the police or fire station, the Beth Israel Temple, or even inside a neighbor’s living room. His favorite place is Library Park — right across from his house — where he has been known to crash wedding and prom pictures and make appearances at birthday parties.

“He likes to follow people home, so if they’re leaving a restaurant or a bar, he will follow them,” said Sunny’s owner, Gillian Roy.

PAW-PARAZZI

Roughly 10 years old, Sunshine Larry lives on Washington Street with two pet siblings and two human siblings. The Roys adopted him during the pandemic from A Paw in the Door Rescue, which happens to be located right next to their home.

When the Roys met Sunny, he was wearing a cone after suffering a bad tail injury that led the rescue to amputate. He came with the name Sunny, which became Sunshine, and Larry was tacked on by Roy’s husband. They’re not sure what his former life was like, but suspect he must have been outside in some capacity, maybe a barn cat.

After two years of trying to get Sunny adjusted to the life of an indoor cat (chasing him around the yard when he managed to slip out), his owners started letting him venture out.

His popularity grew, inspiring Roy to create a Facebook page, titled “Sunshine Larry,” for people to share photos of their Sunny sightings.

“The Facebook page really was started so I can keep tabs on him,” she said.

With Sunny sometimes traveling far distances, keeping tabs is necessary, Roy said. Just this week, good Samaritans gave him a ride home from the Maritime Apartments, a mile away from his home (he’ll jump in the car with anyone, Roy said).

“I do get probably two calls a week; ‘I found your cat, I think he’s missing,’” she said.

Sunny is so popular that Loyal Biscuit Co. held a meet-and-greet with the kitty in the spring, which drew dozens of fans, said Marsh, the store’s manager.

“We all adore him,” she said.

A few weeks back, Marsh arrived at the store on a rainy day to do inventory when she spotted Sunny.

“I look across the street, it’s pouring down rain, he’s just sitting there so sad, so I opened the door and he hung out with me for the rest of the night, and I walked him home,” she said.

In his most daring adventure yet, Sunny’s family lost track of him for three days in winter 2025 — only to find out via Facebook that he had made it all the way to Waterville.

It turned out, Roy said, that some Colby College students had come across Sunny while visiting Bath. Fearing for his safety in the cold (and not knowing his notoriety or background), they took him back to a dorm room and cared for him for a few nights.

Roy let Sunny’s followers on Facebook know he was missing — and the post soon made it back to his well-meaning cat-nappers, who promptly brought him back home.

“They had no idea that he was so famous that people were looking for him,” Roy said.

Sunny’s people are grateful for a community that looks out for him and always makes sure he gets home safe.

Due to his brief enrollment in college, his freedom is now inhibited by a GPS tracker collar, so Roy can see his location on her phone at all times.

LIBRARY LOUNGING

On a recent Wednesday morning in Library Park, Sunshine Larry is, as his name suggests, basking in the sun. He’s usually free-range, but today wears a leash held by 10-year-old Scarlett Roy. He doesn’t care for it much.

Neighbors wave hello. Sunny is a familiar sight to all of them. Two excited dogs out on walks stop to sniff Sunny, who just stares back with his signature grumpy look, unfazed. He’s a pretty fearless cat, Roy said.

“Larry’s one of the best things about Bath,” one dog walker said.