I started the “Girls and Their Cats” photo series on Instagram in 2015 as a way to debunk the crazy cat lady stereotype and showcase cat-lover women in a positive light.
I have since photographed more than 300 cat people and their rescued or adopted pet cats in cities across the U.S.
I have a book coming out in August 2019 and wanted to share a few of my favorite photos with you along with snippets from their stories, which you can read in full in the book.
Aisha Awadallah, Alex, Xena, and Tigger
"My three adorable cats are all reflections of me and represent the full spectrum of my personality and phases of my life."
Hannah Shaw, Coco and Eloise
"Coco was my inspiration for getting involved in cat adoption and shifting all of my advocacy efforts to focus on neonatal kittens and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). Raising her taught me how great a need there is for educational resources about kitten care."
"Eloise is a shy girl. She’s not keen on new people or new experiences, which makes our bond even more special."
Sara Anderson and Loki
"Loki is incredibly affectionate, cuddly, and chatty. He loves napping on our bellies, eating chicken and scrambled eggs, and receiving hearty head scratches."
Monica Choy, Linus and Zorro
"Linus, who’s named after the Zen Peanuts character, has a lot of poise, and I often think of him as a cat model. He’s always posing with his paws and tail positioned just so."
"Zorro is more standoffish with strangers, but he is loyal and tender to those he’s chosen as his people."
Jamilah King and Smarty
"Smarty is the most communicative little being I’ve ever known, and while it’s not great that he purrs in my face at five in the morning, I try to look at it as him just being very open about his needs. And I can learn from that!"
Alexandra Lyles-King, Lois and Maxine
"Every morning, I wake up wearing a cat bikini: one snoozing across my chest, one on my hips. They are the best."
Lauren Leavell and Doo Doo
"Doo Doo has that keen emotional sensor most cats have. I don’t think I have ever had to be sick or sad by myself since we met."
Éva Goicochea, Bea and Winnie
"Bea and Winnie are very yin and yang. Bea is shy and quiet with a grumpy streak, while Winnie is absolutely a ham, always happy and up for playing. Together, they are balanced, and we imagine Winnie encouraging Bea not to take life so seriously."
JiaJia Fei and Coco
"In many ways, she’s also grown to fit the stereotype of pets who resemble their owners. Her black-and-white look pairs perfectly with my deliberately monochromatic wardrobe and bedroom, where she spends about 90 percent of her time."
Bethany Watson, Loki, and Minerva
"They’re both the sweetest kittens you could ever hope to meet. I'm so grateful we all found each other."
Sam Ushiro and Sabbath
"I never considered having a cat before I met her, and honestly, I still wouldn’t, because the only cat for me is Sabbath."
"My favorite thing to tell people is how she has her own special chair in the living room where she sits and watches everything, like a queen on her throne, keeping the court in order. "
Anka Lavriv and Petey on the cover of 'Girls and Their Cats'
"Petey is the light of my life. He is bossy, cranky, sassy, and courageous and takes no s**t from anyone."