🐾 Gifts for the Cat Mom in Your Life (Even If It’s You!)
Mother’s Day is almost here—and while we’ll always celebrate the amazing human moms in our lives, we think it’s high time cat moms got a little extra love, too.
So whether you're shopping for your bestie who spoils her rescue kitty like royalty, your mom who never misses a chance to share photos of her "grandcat," or you just want to treat yourself for keeping the litter box clean and the treats flowing—this list is for you.
Here are our favorite gift ideas for cat moms, straight from the heart (and purrhaps a little bit from our own Amazon wish list):

☕1. A Mug That Says “Cat Mom” Loud and Proud
Because every cat mom deserves to start her day with coffee and a reminder that she’s raising a feline superstar. Look for mugs with fun sayings, cute illustrations, or just a bold “Cat Mom” across the front—just pick one that makes her smile.
We found some adorable options on Amazon—check them out right here.

​🐾 2. Cozy Cat-Themed Pajamas
There’s something magical about curling up with your cat in a fresh pair of soft, cat-covered pajamas. Whether she’s lounging with a good book (or a good boy like Mr. Whiskers) or tackling the morning chores with cat hair as a garnish, the right jammies make it all better. Bonus points if they have paw prints, tiny fishbones, or a matching sleep mask for true feline luxury.
We found some purrfectly cozy cat-themed pajamas on Amazon—take a look right here.

🪞 3. “Cat Mom” Self-Care Kit
Being a cat mom is rewarding—but let’s be honest, it’s also a full-time job. Give her a little time to unwind with a self-care kit that’s as relaxing as it is adorable. Think fuzzy socks, cat-shaped bath bombs, paw print face masks, and candles that smell like cozy cuddles. It’s the purrfect way to say “you deserve a break.”
We’ve rounded up some sweet and soothing finds on Amazon—treat her to a little luxury right this way.

🧹 4. Practical (but Still Cute) Tools for the Job
Sure, cat moms are known for unconditional love—but they’re also experts at scooping litter, organizing toys, and somehow removing fur from everything. So why not give her the tools to make those daily tasks a little more fun? Think of it as glam-meets-function: a pastel litter scoop that doesn’t clash with her bathroom, a toy bin shaped like a cat face, or even a lint roller that’s actually cute enough to leave on the counter.
Because when it comes to loving cats, the work never ends—but the accessories can still be fabulous.
We picked out some cute and clever tools on Amazon that any cat mom would love—take a peek right here.

📚 5. Books Every Cat Mom Should Read
From funny tales to heartwarming memoirs, cat books make a great gift and are usually tear-free (unlike that one scene in Homeward Bound).
👉📚Find cozy cat mom reads right here.

🎁 Want to Give a Gift That Helps a Shelter Cat Mom, Too?
You can also shop our Amazon wish list to send a little love directly to one of the mama cats or kittens in our care. It's a meaningful way to honor all kinds of motherhood this season.
Support a furry mama this Mother’s Day--see what she needs most.

💌 6. The Purrfect Mother’s Day Card (That Helps Cats, Too!)What’s better than a thoughtful Mother’s Day card? One that’s hand-drawn by our talented employees and supports real-life rescue cats. We have two adorable designs available—each one sweet, original, and guaranteed to make any cat mom feel extra special. Whether you’re mailing it across the country or handing it over with flowers and a hug, it’s the perfect finishing touch.
100% of proceeds help us care for the cats—shop the cards right here.

​Happy Mother’s Day to all the cat moms, foster moms, adoptive moms, and mother figures of every kind. You make the world  a better place. 💖

🧳 How to Travel Without Worrying About Your Cat

✈️ Heading Out of Town? Here's How to Make Sure Your Cat Is Safe and Happy While You're Away

Traveling is supposed to be exciting—but if you’re a cat parent, it can also be stressful. Whether you're gone for a weekend or a week, making sure your kitty is safe, comfortable, and cared for while you're away is key to enjoying your trip guilt-free.
Here’s a simple guide to help you prepare for time away from your cat—plus a few helpful tools that can make it all go a little smoother (for both of you).

⏱️ 1. How Long Can a Cat Be Left Alone?
We get it—it’s tempting to think your independent kitty can handle a day or two solo. But in reality, overnight is the maximum most cats should ever be left completely alone without a human check-in.
Here’s why:

• Litter box issues: One missed scoop can snowball into a messy—and stressful—situation.
• Food and water mishaps: A spilled bowl or feeder glitch can leave your cat hungry or dehydrated.
• Medical emergencies: Cats are masters of hiding illness. You never want to miss the early signs.
• Emotional health: Even aloof cats can get lonely, anxious, or bored—leading to acting out (yes, even from “independent” ones).

💡 Best practice: Arrange for someone to check in at least once a day, ideally twice, even if you’re only gone overnight.

🐾 2. Choose a Pet Sitter Over Boarding (If Possible)
Most cats are homebodies. Being in their familiar space with a sitter visiting is far less stressful than going to a boarding facility, especially for senior, shy, or anxious cats.
💡 Tip: Choose someone your cat has met before. Leave detailed instructions, your vet’s info, and any known quirks—like if they like their food stirred or refuse to drink near the litter box.

⏲️ 3. Use a Timed Feeder for Peace of Mind
Even with a sitter, a timed feeder keeps your cat’s meals consistent, especially if they eat early or need portion control.
🛒 Product idea:

• Automatic pet feeder with portion control
• Automatic wet food feeder

🎥 4. Check In With a Pet Camera
If you’re a worrier (welcome to the club), a pet camera gives you peace of mind. Many let you talk to your cat or toss treats—which can be comforting for both of you.
🛒 Product idea:

• Two-way pet camera with treat dispenser

🧼 5. Keep Things Fresh with an Automatic Litter Box
An automatic litter box won’t replace daily cleaning, but it does make things cleaner between sitter visits—and saves your cat from dirty box stress.
🛒 Product idea:

• Self-cleaning litter box for multi-day trips

🌿 6. Soothe Their Stress with Familiar Scents
Plug-in calming diffusers mimic natural feline pheromones and can reduce anxiety while you're away. They're especially helpful if your cat is prone to stress or has separation anxiety.
🛒 Product idea:

• Feliway diffuser for stress relief

🧳 7. Leave a Bit of You Behind
Cats are comforted by scent, so leave behind a worn t-shirt or blanket that smells like you. It can help them feel secure while you're gone.

🐈 Final Thought:
They may act cool about it, but your cat definitely notices when their staff goes missing. With the right prep—and someone checking in daily—you can travel with confidence, knowing your kitty is safe, comfy, and enjoying their five-star staycation.

💤 Creating the Purrfect Cat Nap Spot: Why Cats Sleep So Much and How to Make It Better

Did you know cats can sleep up to 20 hours a day?
That’s not laziness—it’s biology. Cats are hardwired for rest, and creating a cozy, designated sleep space not only helps them feel safe, it can actually improve their behavior and reduce stress.
Let’s dive into why cats sleep so much and how you can turn their nap time into a true retreat.

🧬 Why Do Cats Sleep So Much?
Cats are crepuscular, which means they’re naturally most active at dawn and dusk. Their ancestors were solitary hunters who needed short bursts of intense energy to catch prey—followed by long periods of rest to recover. Domestic cats still carry those instincts.
Add in boredom (especially for indoor cats), age, and temperature changes, and it’s no wonder your kitty is curled up in dreamland most of the day.

🛏️ How to Create the Purrfect Nap Spot
Here’s how to make sure your cat’s sleep zone is comfortable, safe, and enriching:

🐾 1. Let Your Cat Choose the Spot
Most cats already have a favorite place to snooze. It might be a sunny windowsill, a closet corner, or the middle of your laundry. Observe where your cat naturally sleeps and build from there—forcing them to nap somewhere else usually doesn’t work.

🪵 2. Add Comfort and Layers
Cats love soft, warm, secure places. Think plush blankets, cozy beds, and elevated surfaces. Covered “cave” beds give anxious cats a sense of security, while senior cats may prefer orthopedic foam or heated pads.
💡 Product ideas:

• Donut-shaped calming cat bed
• Heated pet bed with washable cover
• Enclosed felt cat cave

🪟 3. Use Light and Sound to Your Advantage
If your cat likes sunbathing, choose a spot that gets a few hours of gentle sun. If they’re sound-sensitive, avoid areas near TVs, laundry machines, or loud kids’ play zones.
💡 Bonus tip:
Window perches are like first-class lounge seats for cats. Many come with soft pads and suction to hold them safely in place.

• Window hammock perch

🧸 4. Add Familiar Smells
Cats are comforted by scent. Add a favorite toy or even a shirt that smells like you (especially helpful if you're going to be away for a few hours). This helps them feel more relaxed while resting.

🚫 5. Respect the Space
Once you’ve created a nap haven, try to leave it undisturbed. Don’t pick them up while they’re napping just because they’re cute (even though… we know… it’s really hard not to). Their sense of security grows when they know they have a safe space all to themselves.

🌙 Final Thought:
Cats aren’t lazy—they’re strategic. Their sleep is a vital part of how they stay physically healthy and emotionally balanced. By creating a nap space that’s cozy, quiet, and designed just for them, you’re giving your kitty a safe little sanctuary to call their own.

And really... don’t they deserve that kind of luxury?

🐾🚙 How to Move Across the Country With Your Cats (Without Losing Your Mind or Your Cat's 9 Lives)
From someone who’s seen what happens when you don’t.

Moving is hard. Moving with cats? That’s a full-on operation. But here’s the thing—cats are resilient when we support them properly. As someone who works in rescue, I’ve seen what happens when people assume moving is “too stressful” for their cats and choose to surrender them instead.

Spoiler: the shelter is way more stressful than a road trip with a good plan.

If you're relocating and your cats are coming along (and they should be), here’s how to make the journey as smooth and safe as possible—for them and for you.

🧳 Step 1: Get the Right Gear
​🔲 Top-Loading Carrier (aka: sanity saver)
Avoid the “shove-and-pray” struggle with a front-only carrier.
🛒 Top-loading cat carrier on Amazon
🔲 Travel Litter Box
Yes, your cat will need to pee somewhere other than in their carrier.
🛒 Collapsible litter box
🛒 Litter attractant for nervous kitties
🔲 Calming Aids
Don’t roll the dice—travel is weird for them.
🛒 Feliway spray
🛒 Calming treats
🛒 Thundershirt for cats
💡 ​ If your cat already has a history of panicking in the car, talk to your vet about stronger medication. There are safe prescription options that can help ease anxiety for long trips.
🔲 Familiar Smells
Grab that old t-shirt you’ve been meaning to donate and tuck it in their carrier.

🚙 Step 2: Prep for the Ride
🚗 Practice Runs
Take your cats on mini-drives before the big day. Short trips help them adjust to car sounds and motion.
📦 Carrier Comfort
Line it with a pee pad, soft blanket, and something that smells like home. Bonus points for adding a small toy or two.
🧼 Accident Prep Kit
Wipes, trash bags, paper towels. Trust us.
🛒 Cat cleaning wipes

🐱 Step 3: Travel Day Tips
✅ Feed early, not right before leaving.
Give a small breakfast, then wait a couple hours before hitting the road to minimize motion sickness.
✅ Keep them in their carrier—or secured with a harness and leash.
If your cat does better being out, that’s okay! Just make sure they’re wearing a secure harness and leash that’s tethered or held by a passenger. They should never be loose in the car, especially not near the gas or brake pedals (yes, that’s happened).
✅ Stop every few hours.
Offer water, check their litter box (if you set one up in a pop-up pen or hotel stop), and give a little love.

🏨 Step 4: Overnight Stays (Hotel Hacks)
📍 Book pet-friendly hotels in advance.
Look for places that don’t just allow pets—they welcome them.
🏕 Use a pop-up playpen
Create a safe space in the hotel room so they don’t panic under the bed.
🛒 Soft-sided cat playpen
🛋 Use towels to block under-furniture hiding spots
Keep your check-out time sane.

🏡 Step 5: Arriving at the New Home
🕊 Give them a single “safe room” first.
Let them adjust slowly—one room at a time. Litter box, food, water, bed, and YOU.
🗓 Stick to routines.
Feed at the same time. Cuddle like usual. Let them know that even though the walls changed, you didn’t.

💖 Final Thoughts
Your cat has trusted you for years. Don’t let a long drive be the reason they lose you. With the right prep, most cats can make a cross-country move with minimal stress—and a much better outcome than ending up in a shelter.
​
You’ve got this. They’ve got you. Let’s go.

Hurricane season may still be two months away, but disaster can strike at any time—whether it’s a flood, wildfire, power outage, or unexpected evacuation. While we’re in a hurricane-prone area here in Corpus Christi, many of our readers live across the country, where different emergencies are just as real. No matter where you are, having a plan in place for your pets can bring peace of mind when things get chaotic.
Here’s a simple, cat-focused guide to help you prepare now—so you and your kitty aren’t caught off guard later.

🧳 1. Build a Cat Emergency Kit
Keep a go-bag packed and ready just for your kitty, with at least 3–5 days of:

• Food (wet + dry)
• Bottled water
• Bowls
• Litter & scoop
• Medications (rotate monthly)
• A copy of their vet records

💡 Helpful tools:

• Collapsible food and water bowls
• Pet first aid kit
• Waterproof food containers

🐱 2. Have a Sturdy Carrier Ready
A strong, well-ventilated carrier is a must for safe evacuation. Bonus points if it’s comfy—your cat might be in there a while.
💡 Consider these:

• Top-entry soft carriers
• Hard-sided, multi-cat carriers

🏷️ 3. Update Their ID
Even indoor cats should wear a collar with an ID tag when travleling. Make sure microchip info is current in case you get separated.
💡 We recommend:

• Breakaway collars 
• Pet ID tags

🕯️ 4. Plan for Power Outages
Cats don’t love the dark or the heat. A few backup items can keep things cozy:

• Flashlights
• Rechargeable fans
• Emergency lighting near litter box areas

💡 You might like:

• Portable USB fan
• LED lanterns

🚗 5. Know Where You’ll Go
Not all hotels or shelters allow pets. Look up your nearest pet-friendly spots now, and consider a small printed list for your kit.
Apps like BringFido or websites like Airbnb (check “pet-friendly”) can help!

🐾 6. Litter Box on the Go
​Disposable litter boxes or portable trays can make a stressful trip a little smoother.
💡 Our picks:

• Disposable litter trays
• Travel Litter Box

Final Thought:
You might never need your emergency plan—but if you do, you’ll be so glad you took a few minutes to prepare. Give your kitty an extra cuddle tonight and check this off your to-do list this week.

This article includes affiliate links that benefit real cats at The Cattery Cat Shelter!

At our shelter, we love to share the good stuff—adoptions, second chances, happy endings. But sometimes, we have to speak up about the hard truths too. Because silence is what allows harmful behavior to continue. And animal rescues have been expected to quietly absorb the consequences of other people’s choices for far too long.
This week, someone abandoned a cat at our door at 12pm. We were open. Staff were inside. They didn’t ring the bell, knock, or say a word. They just walked away.

And when we spoke up about it, the backlash came. Some told us we didn’t know the person’s situation—it could have been dire. Some said we needed to “watch our tone.” One person even said they wouldn’t donate anymore because “we’re not the shelter they thought we were.” Another criticized us for posting a fun video wearing cat suits (which, by the way, were donated), and told us we didn’t have our priorities straight. Yet another person suggested we solve overflow by just building an outdoor catio—an idea that might sound simple unless you’ve ever actually run a shelter.

Let’s talk about all of it.

Leaving a cat at a shelter’s doorstep is not a kind gesture. It’s not a neutral action. It’s abandonment.
And while yes—people are struggling, we know that. We hear it every day. In fact, almost every single person who asks us to take a cat is in a dire situation. They’re facing eviction. They’re in unsafe homes. They’re grieving or overwhelmed or barely making it. And still--they reach out. They ask. They wait. They follow the process.
Dumping a cat skips all of that. It disrespects everyone else who’s doing their best in hard times.
It also spreads harmful misinformation. Multiple people commented that “we don’t take cats from the public anymore” or “you’re always full anyway.” The truth? We take in over 1,000 cats from the public each year. We also perform thousands of spay and neuter surgeries annually for the community, helping to prevent more unwanted litters and reduce suffering long-term. We’ve never stopped helping the public. But helping responsibly doesn’t mean taking in every single cat on demand—it means managing intake so that we don’t compromise the care of the animals already here.

One comment suggested we adopt “nonjudgmental intake policies” like the Humane Colorado. We already do—we meet people where they are and offer help without shame. But even that shelter, like us, uses a surrender appointment system and only accepts walk-ins as space allows. What that commenter was really suggesting is that we take every cat, no questions asked. And the only types of places that can operate that way are either kill shelters or hoarding situations—neither of which are models anyone wants us to follow.

And no, the solution is not as simple as “just build a catio.” We’re not talking about a weekend DIY project for a pet cat. We’re talking about housing for overflow in a way that’s safe, secure, legally compliant, climate-controlled, and staffed. Cats need more than a roof—they need proper medical care, protection from illness and stress, and a safe environment. Throwing up an outdoor structure with no staff, funding, or long-term plan is not a solution--it’s a liability, and it’s not fair to the cats.

And we haven’t forgotten the cost of doing things the wrong way. A few years ago, someone left a group of sick kittens outside. They had panleukopenia, a deadly and contagious virus. We didn’t know in time and it spread. Eleven cats died in our quarantine and isolation area—cats we’d poured our hearts into. Our team worked grueling hours, tried everything, and still had to grieve those losses. Many more became sick, and it took every resource and ounce of energy we had to save them. That one act of thoughtless dumping cost us thousands of dollars, immense emotional trauma, and the lives of cats who should have had a chance.

So when someone says “you chose this work, so just deal with it”—we want to be clear: choosing to help doesn’t mean accepting abuse. It doesn’t mean we don’t get to set boundaries. It doesn’t mean we’re required to be miserable to prove our dedication.

And when someone says we “don’t have our priorities straight” because we posted a fun video—here’s the truth: we are allowed to celebrate. We are allowed to laugh. To be creative. To enjoy moments of joy in a job that breaks hearts on a regular basis. The cat suits in that video were donated. They didn’t take time or money from the animals in our care. But they did remind our team, and our followers, that joy still exists here.

We’re still the same shelter. The one that bottle-feeds the neonates. That stays late to care for the injured ones. That says yes to cats other places turn away. But we’re not going to pretend that we can help everyone, all the time, without help, boundaries, or grace.
​
This isn’t about tone.

This is about truth.

And if that makes us “not the shelter you thought we were”—then maybe it’s time to reconsider what you think a shelter should be.

Maybe it’s also time to rethink the entire mindset society places on shelters and rescuers.

There’s a dangerous and deeply flawed narrative that’s taken hold—one where we’re expected to be endlessly available, endlessly forgiving, endlessly self-sacrificing. Where any boundary we set is seen as cruelty, and any request for understanding is labeled as whining. Where people can abandon an animal in the middle of the day and still be viewed as the sympathetic one--while we, the ones who stay late, bottle-feed the sick, and fundraise constantly just to stay open—are accused of lacking compassion.
​
Think about it this way: if you’re sick and your primary doctor doesn’t have any appointments, you don’t storm in demanding to be seen. You don’t call them heartless or say their priorities aren’t straight (hopefully). You go to urgent care. You find an emergency room. You seek an alternative—because you understand that even compassionate professionals have limits, systems, and structure.

But in animal welfare, we’re expected to take every single case, no matter what. We’re expected to drop everything, bend every rule, and absorb the consequences--without ever asking for grace in return. And if we don’t? We’re told we’re cruel, not doing enough, or failing our mission.

The truth is--we are compassionate. We do care. Not just about the animals, but about people too. Ironically, we spent weeks fundraising to install the very cameras that caught this abandonment—because we were trying to protect the animals and the people who work here. We didn’t do that to shame anyone. We did it because our supporters wanted us to speak up—and they funded it, because they believe the people doing the work deserve care, too.

We are not an open intake shelter. We’ve said that before, and we’ll say it again. We take emergencies as we’re able, and we do everything we can within the resources we have. But people continue to expect us to operate as if we have unlimited space, funding, and time.

The narrative doesn’t change unless we speak up. And that’s exactly what we will continue to do.

To those who stood with us in the comments--thank you. Your voices, your compassion, and your understanding mean more than you know. And to our supporters and donors--whether you've been with us for years or just discovered us recently — we’re grateful for every bit of kindness and trust you’ve shown. You are the reason we can keep fighting for these cats, even when it’s hard.

​Especially when it’s hard.

Samantha Person
Founder/Director