As I write this it’s International Women’s Day. Adopted as a global day of recognition by the United Nations in 1975, today people everywhere commemorate the inspiring role of women around the world and their work to secure women’s rights and build more equitable societies. In the world of cat cafes, there are LOTS of amazing female entrepreneurs who have made a commitment to provide a better life for the animals they work to find homes for. Do a quick scroll through of Instagram and you’ll lose count – Pounce, JavaCats, Crumbs & Whiskers, MacTabby, The Cats Meow, Cat Therapy, the list goes on and on. But behind the scenes there are also countless women involved with the various rescues and shelter organizations that are affiliated with these cafes.
“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is a reality”.
Yoko Ono
Did you know our rescue partner LYFF is women founded and operated? If not I want to take a few minutes to tell you about them, because these ladies work 24/7 to save animals, and they don’t get paid a dime for the time and resources they dedicate towards caring for those who have no voice and at times cannot care for themselves. Their work extends far beyond the cat & kitten foster and adoption program you get a glimpse of by visiting and following us. So here they are in their own words.
Christine Hubbard – Founder
“In April 2011, I decided to do something for the greater good in honor of my birthday. I decided to start volunteering at one of our local shelters. Boy did I not realize how that decision was going to change my life forever. From that day on I have been actively working to change the lives of feral cats. I had set many goals and had many dreams of what I wanted to see for our feral felines. We still have a ways to go but just in the past four years have made huge strides.
One of my dreams was that one day shelters would end the euthanasia of feral cats which came true at one shelter, and a goal was to get a TNR program started at the local shelter and that was achieved.
I wanted to share my journey with all of you in hopes that people can see just one person CAN make a difference. Please take a stand and be the voice of our feral felines. Let’s take this journey together to change the lives of feral cats.”
Melissa Dunaj – Senior Director
“I have been in animal welfare for close to 10 years, both working in vet offices as a vet assistant and multiple roles with local shelters. I found my calling with Love Your Feral Felines in June of 2017 and it feels like home! We are able to step in where the shelters aren’t able to.
We have big plans for our Cat & Kitten Foster & Adoption Program and will continue our life-saving work through our other, more developed programs as well. We learn something new everyday in rescue and we hope to continue to make a positive difference in the world.”
Then of course you have our amazing team of cat lounge hosts – Sydney, Jennifer, Ashleigh, Veronica, Shelley, Lanie, Kaelin + our rockstar manager Charlene and our rockstar baristas Delaney, Nikki, Hoyan and Katy. I’m going to talk more about them in future posts because I think each of you would enjoy knowing a bit more about the faces you see when you come visit us.
Bottom line of all this is each one of us all share in the dream that has become Cat & Craft. What Andrew and I gave physical form to would be nothing but an empty shell without the women (and men) who put in their time to help us all make a difference, because each believes wholeheartedly that together we can and will make a difference. It’s already happening… 44 cats – some of which had spent MONTHS in a shelter – have found their forever homes since we opened on January 12 2019.
With intention you too can do anything you put your mind and heart into. So I hope you will spend some time today celebrating you, and all the amazing women in your own life.
With Love and Light,
Caroline