Seattle’s First Cat Cafe Opens | Seattle Cat Photography

December 26, 2015January 14, 20165 Comments

I can’t tell you how happy I am that my city of Seattle is getting its first cat cafe, Seattle Meowtropolitan TODAY (that’s 12.26.15, Boxing Day). I first met the savvy entrepreneurs behind this, Matt and Andrew, about a year ago now, over coffee (of course) to simply talk cats. And finally the cafe is opening!!

Because we have been in touch ever since, to talk about rescue cats, my photography, and well, cats in general, I was lucky enough to get an early invite to check out the new cafe. I hope you can get a good idea as to how fabulous it is from my images…

There are several cities in the U.S. that have cat cafes (the closest to us is Portland) and I know that Seattle has been waiting with baited breath for this for a while now. No more waiting! I say bring it on…

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You must make reservations, so that the the main room with the cats isn’t overloaded with people, and the cats aren’t overwhelmed (the only waiting people may still have to do). The main area is fantastic: spacious, lots of light, with the beautiful center play column for the cats, with woodwork that I wish I could have in my own home for my cats. The carved-out silhouettes of cats and all the runways would have Jackson Galaxy so impressed. Even the flooring is beautiful, complete with a few painted swirling cats and the cafe logo. All I think they need now is some beautiful cat images on the walls (ahem!).

The adoptable cats come from Regional Animal Services of King County, and there were 3 kitties that were really busy when I was there (including the tuxedo model kitty you see, Penguin), and they are all free to move about as they please. Within reason… The front coffee ordering area and the main cat/play area is separated by double doors, so the old ‘I don’t want cat hair in my coffee’ is a moot point. I honestly don’t think you’d be coming there in the first place if that is your concern anyway. At this point in my life, who knows how much cat hair I’ve inadvertently swallowed!

My cat macaron was delish, my iced Americano with caramel (I drink iced drinks all year round!) tasted ‘Herkimer’ good, but what I mostly took away was that I wish the cafe was closer to me so I could make sure I can come more often. I’ll be back, and I hope all you Seattle cat fans get to go. I also hope it means some kitties get adopted through the cafe; the ones that I met that day were definitely working it.

And I don’t think you need to feel guilty about going to have your coffee and hang out with the cats. They are the most honest coffee date you will ever have, they are endlessly entertaining, and pretty quiet. Drop me a line if you make it in there!

The location in Wallingford is 1225 N. 45th St.; just off Stone Way.

Open: 11 am – 3 pm, 4 pm – 9 pm Closed Mondays

“Time spent with cats is never wasted.” ~ Sigmund Freud

A Cat’s Holiday Wish | Seattle Cat Photography

December 25, 2015January 14, 2016Leave a comment

Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays, whatever you celebrate at this time of the year. And mostly, warmth and love for all those animals out there that need homes. I believe that there’s the right home out there for every one of them. Peace and love to you all!

I took these photos of Bend just before Christmas, as he had been waiting a while to get adopted, hoping that our holiday campaign would get him noticed and that it would get him a home for the holidays. As luck would have it, just as I was finishing processing them, Bend found a home; funnily enough, several other times this has happened too, for other cats… It’s as if I’ve sent some kind of energy out there to say “Adopt this cat, his photos are almost ready!”. But here they are anyway. I’m thrilled to pieces that Bend has found a home. He had fast become a favorite of mine at the rescue, waiting far too long, in my opinion. I was so happy to see him every time I went in to the rescue and it’s always bittersweet to see a favorite cat start their new life. Wishing you a long and happy one, Bend. You beautiful boy!

Wings of Rescue Mission 11.20.15 | Seattle Rescue Pet Photography

November 23, 2015January 14, 20163 Comments

Just this Friday, about 1000 dogs and cats got a second chance at a new life, and I was lucky enough to witness the start of some of them. It was just about a year ago now that I photographed a Wings of Rescue Holiday Airlift that flew dogs and cats up here to Washington from California to find their new homes. I was blown away then at the sheer number of animals that arrived here, at the massive operation that goes on when all these rescues pull together to make this happen. Instead of animals facing euthanasia in overcrowded shelters in California, where overpopulation is a big problem, Wings of Rescue gives them a chance at a new life in other states, where adoption rates are higher.

First here are some images from the loading portion in CA, courtesy of Jim Nista

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SO, Jim Nista, my pet photography contact in CA (and volunteer photographer at Long Beach Animal Care Services), sends me a message the evening before the mission asking me if I might meet the flight and take photos again. It then occurred to me that the rescue I volunteer my time taking cat photos at, Seattle Area Feline Rescue, just might have some cats on board, since we had started transferring in cats from CA (I found out we were expecting 11 cats on the flights). I would HAVE to go meet this year’s airlift and photograph the arrival.

*Images taken at Paine Field, Everett, WA. Note: Captions may look cut off on mobile, as opposed to on laptop/computer.

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This year’s Home for the Holidays Airlift apparently broke the world record for the most animals flown to rescues in one day, close to 1000. It took 24 planes to do that, flying them to rescues in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Washington alone received about 400 animals; PAWS, the NOAH Center, Kitsap Humane Society, Skagit Humane, and Seattle Area Feline Rescue met the approximately 100 dogs and cats from the flights at Paine Field.

Here are just a couple of shots after we continued our journey onto the rescue…I ended up helping settle the cats in for the night. Luckily I’ll be able to follow up with these little ones soon.

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Waiting to have cages set up for them.

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Tabitha waits patiently. Well, sort of.

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This kitten was in with another one until I realized they weren’t getting along, so they were separated. Then she was climbing the bars to get a better look at me. So we had to have a cuddle before I said goodnight.

I have so many thoughts and big feelings about this whole thing. I’m so grateful to the pilots who donate not just the use of their planes, but they also donate the fuel. I’m constantly grateful to volunteers at rescues and shelters everywhere for their tireless work with animals. I’m so glad there’s this massive effort to do something like this (and I know everyone involved wishes they could do even more). Yet, there’s always this frustration that there is such a need to have to move such a large amount of animals around to get them adopted. But it does feel good to know that we can come together to help find homes for dogs and cats like this. It’s really pretty amazing. Let’s keep being amazing, everyone!

Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet. ~Colette

Happy National Cat Day!

October 29, 2015January 14, 2016Leave a comment

You might have heard it’s ‪#‎NationalCatDay‬. A cat probably decided that! And if you have a cat at home, your cat will tell you that EVERY day is National Cat Day. But you know that there are tons of kitties out there without homes, and don’t live great lives. So today, while I snuggle on the couch with my awesome cats, I think of all the cats, big and small, young and old, who need a lap and someone to love/adore them. It’s why I do what I do! I’m so grateful to all the amazing people in shelters and rescues and feral projects everywhere for doing what they do for these amazing creatures that bring me such joy. They bring me joy just looking at them. Now go hug your kitty (even if they hate it)….

Songs of Life, ‘Feels Like Home’ | Seattle Pet & Lifestyle Photography

February 2, 2015January 14, 20163 Comments

Hello everyone! It’s been a while since I have a done a post for the photography blog circle I’m in but the latest song that came up for February – ‘Feels Like Home’ – really made me want to post a particular cat…this guy you see below, Scarecrow. Our blog circle (Songs of Life) centers around a song each month that serves as our theme for the images we post.

I actually had a ton of different ideas this month, and lots of things came up for me that I felt like sharing:

Going back to England at Christmas, which was so important for; it was just so good to be back amongst family at that time of year – the first time I had done so in 15 years (but I figured people wouldn’t want to see holiday photos in February)
Getting BACK home here after the holidays…I had missed my animals, and home so much, even though it was good to go away for a bit
The city of Seattle, because I have lived here for 20 years now, and I have a deep
Seattle City Skyline. Copyright K.A.Moore Photography.

connection to it; plus I had all these mushy feelings thanks to the Super Bowl (but I figured no-one would want to hear about the Seahawks right now…too sad). Although, you should check out my city skyline shot that I took last week larger, here on Flickr.

But then I realized, after taking photos – scroll down – of a cat (surprise!) the other day, that THIS is what I needed to post. I’m always thinking so much about what home means, when it comes to not actually having a permanent home yet; being around animals that need forever homes will do that to you. You will see below that Scarecrow came to us, well, looking like a Scarecrow. When he was dropped at the police station (see file photo below), he was covered in dirt and fleas, looked yellowish-brown, was unneutered (hence his great big baseball head!), and definitely needed some major TLC. He ended up at the amazing Seattle Area Feline Rescue and you can just see by looking at this cat, what a difference that meant.

Right now Scarecrow is in an amazing Seattle foster home and quite obviously it ‘feels like home’ for him. It’s sometimes a challenge to get a 12 year-old cat (a senior, but theoretically, middle-aged!) adopted, and so until the right person (is it you, perchance?!) comes along, that’s where he’ll be. Hanging out with other cats, playing with toys, rolling around in catnip, enjoying life inside with people that care for him and love him…life is pretty good for him now. But after his rough life so far, he deserves to always have a great home. Foster homes are literally the lifeblood of rescues and shelters because they enable animals to be rehabilitated, and re-socialized, and essentially mean more can be cared for. And the best part is that they feel like home.

So if you want to help homeless pets and can’t give money to a rescue, volunteer. If you can’t adopt another animal, you can foster! For so many rescued pets, it makes a world of difference.
*If you are in the Seattle area and want to meet this awesome cat Scarecrow, please email adoptions@seattleareafelinerescue.org

As for me, I’ll be posting info here soon about the in-home photography sessions for pets (and families) that I will be offering. I can’t wait!

Make sure to follow all the way to the end to link up with the next photographer in our ‘Songs of Life’ circle! The next link in the blog circle can be found below my images so be sure to follow the circle around!

*Please click on the images to get a better look.

Scarecrow, when he was brought to a police station, covered with fleas and dirt

Scarecrow, as he looks today

Playing with a carrot is very tiring

Scarecrow, supporting the Hawks

It takes a long time to get this sweet

Next up in this fabulous circle of amazing photographers is Sharon Spall of Sharon Spall Photography and you can find her post right HERE! She is a super talented photographer friend of mine, who I met while away at Clickaway, so it will definitely be something good…