“Catghans” for Needy Kitties: Get One and Help Homeless Cats!

You guys!

A few months ago, I was contacted by a lovely lady named Kristen Verdeaux who wanted to send me my very own Catghan! Why? I wondered. What did I do to deserve this? Well, apparently two things:

1) I gave my blankey to Dot, the spina bifida kitty at Tabby’s Place

2) I came from Tree House.

You see, Kristen, many years ago, adopted one of her own kitties from Tree House. Later on, she started making these lovely little cat-sized blankets to give away to kitties in need. Now, I’m not in need, but Kristen said she was touched to see that I’d sent my blankey to Dot and wanted to do something nice for me. So I accepted! Check it out:

Catghan, modeled by me.
Catghan, modeled by me. Note the soft, comfy resting spot for my stump.

I had a little conversation with her to learn more about her catghans. Read further to find out how you can get a catghan of your own and help needy kitties in the process!

Crepes: Welcome, Kristen! Thank you for being here. Tell me, why do you make Catghans? 

KV: Why not?  Seriously!  It started as a joke. I used to make afghans for my friends for their birthdays and when I made one for my friend Linda, her cats took it over. So as a joke for Valentine’s day, I made little cats-sized blankets for her cats.  It just sort of snowballed from there – I started making them as “housewarming” presents for my friends who adopted new cats.  Then I read about this little cat in Florida named Stripy who had been shot in the face and I decided he needed one – this was the start of a friendship with Rowena Hover who cares for a feral colony.  One year, I sent her a dozen which she sold on Facebook and used the proceeds to buy cat food and medicine for the colony.

Crepes: Fascinating. Do you sell your catghans or do you always give them away? 

KV: Both.  Shortly after I “met” Stripy and Rowena, a friend recommended I read Homer’s Odyssey by Gwen Cooper.  Of course, Homer and his fur-sisters Vashti and Scarlett, had to have their own catghans – and that started my friendship with Gwen.  I’ve sent her several over the years and when she has posted them on her blog or FB, I ended up selling quite a few, always with part of the proceeds going to Blind Cat Rescue…  Also every spring I am on staff at a grooming show in NJ called Inter-Groom and there are always several rescue organizations there.  I plan ahead and each one gets five or six catghans to do with as they please.

I have two catghans: one in a pleasing maroon/gold; another in a contrasting yellow/purple, because those are my favorites.
I have two catghans: one in a pleasing maroon/gold; another in a contrasting yellow/purple, because those are my favorites.

Crepes: How many cats do you have now?

KV: Right now I am cat-less.  In 2002 I adopted a 3-year old Maine Coon, Beans, who passed away in 2006 from cardiac problems and a 6-year old orange tabby, Bud, who passed in 2009 from an infection in his heart after  an abscessed tooth.  Shortly after Bud passed, my partner was diagnosed with HP, a chronic lung disease that affects bird breeders (he has always has birds) and I have not wanted to risk getting another cat only to have to re-home it because of his lungs. So I live vicariously through all the kitties who have my catghans.

Crepes: Can rescues request catghans from you?

Absolutely!

Crepes: But how do you choose who gets one of your catghans? 

KV: I just see stories about cats and “know.”  Sometimes someone does something nice for me and if I know they have a cat, I give them a blanket.  Or if they have a sick cat. Or a new cat. Or they just ask. I’m pretty much a soft touch.

Catghans, not just for cats.
Catghans, not just for cats.

Crepes: Is there anything else you’d like to say?

KV: You can let your readers know that from any orders I receive, I will donate $5 per catghan to Tree House in memory of Murphy and in honor of the two of you. Readers can also request a Catghan for Courage ,which I send free of charge to any cat in need (truly in need, like Stripy or Smudge [a kitty who was beaten with a bat]…).  Otherwise I usually ask $20 – $25, depending on the yarn and number of colors involved.
***
Wow! You guys! Donations to Tree House in my honor and in honor of Murphy? So cool! If you’d like a catghan, please get one immediately! You can contact Kristen via email at catghansATyahoo.com. Thanks, Kristen, for all you do to help comfort kitties!

Love,

Crepes.
PS. The winner of the Revitamal Giveaway is… …. … DEZI!  Dezi, please email me at crepesATcatinthefridge.com to claim your prize! I’ll collect some information from you and it will ship out from the company!  Thanks for entering, everyone!

 

***This post was not sponsored and was run because we like Kristen’s project and appreciate what she does for charity. The catghans were sent to us as a gift, with no requirement of review or posting.***

**Edited for length by Alana Grelyak**


23 Comments

  • What a nice gesture from both of you. We love the colors on your new blankets. God bless Kristen for what she is doing. Every little help counts.

  • Oh that is a great thing Kristen is doing! Love the catghans and their colors! Happy 4th of July to you all…are you whooping it up, Crepes?

  • crepes…how total lee kewl oh Kristen ta due thiz for kittehs …..way awesum !! de catghans R rockin; we will bookmark thiz post sew we can rememburr all her info…
    🙂 ♥♥♥♥♥

  • What a wonderful idea! Those are sure to make any kitty very happy and content!

  • What a wonderful lady to make all those catghans for all the cats that are hurt or sick. She really is special and we so appreciate what she does. I would like to put this on my blog. Also Dot is one of my favorite cats.
    Thanks for this story.

  • There are truly angels on earth, and people who do amazing work for animals qualify in my book. (And Crepes, back when you gave your blankey to Dot, I had serious eye leakage!)

  • Luv Kristen !! for her kindness and generosity. And BTW–Crepes you look like a supermodel on them !

  • WOW….what a really sweet lady Miss Kristen is. Her catghans are beautiful and being a catghan guy myself with my love of “tents” to sleep under I imagine her gifts are making TONS of kitties happy. Mom and I will be smiling all day after reading this story on your blog today Crepes – people doing lovely things for others makes our hearts HAPPY!

    Hugs, Sammy

    • So glad it brought you a smile, Sammy! 🙂 Kristen brought us a smile, too, when her kind works.

  • What a lovely story and so heartwarming that Kristen is helping needy kitties. I’d like to read about Dot, Stripy and Smudge – anyone know where can I read their stories?

  • What a cool idea! And how awesome that you gave yours to Dot. Did you hear about her recent medical problems? It sounds like she is doing better now.

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