The origin of Meowtel Inn

I entered the world of animal rescue at a young age. I’ve been a cat fanatic for as long as I can remember, and I’ve always felt a natural connection with them.

At 17, I began volunteering and working at a local rescue while attending college. I learned about responsible adoptions, veterinary care, the importance of intake, and the heartbreaking and rewarding realities of rescue.

At 20, I became an animal protection investigator and emergency responder. The experiences I encountered completely changed my perspective and deepened my commitment to helping cat's even more.

Over the past 25 years, I’ve continued to work with animals while building my career in another field. I spent many years fostering for the Humane Society, specializing in cats requiring additional behavioral assessment, socialization, or support for trauma and medical needs. I fostered hundreds of cats and was consulted on the development of feline socialization programs.

That work helped demonstrate that many cats labeled as “feral” were actually frightened or traumatized. It also contributed to changes in shelter practices, including eliminating euthanasia for behavior-related reasons.

I’ve always maintained a dedicated space for foster cats alongside my own. Over the years, I became increasingly frustrated with the boarding options available when I needed care for my own cats. Cats need space, patience, enrichment, and an environment designed specifically for them. Seeing photos of cats huddled in the corner with captions like “they’re having a great time!” never sat right with me. I knew there had to be a better way —one that actually considered their comfort, behavior, and individual needs - from the fearful to the rambunctious.

Too often, cats are treated as an afterthought in a dog-focused pet industry. Being confined to a small enclosure near barking dogs, in an unfamiliar environment with little interaction or enrichment, can be incredibly stressful for a cat. Many first-time cat owners simply don’t realize there are better options. I believed there needed to be an alternative—one designed specifically around the needs of cats.

That’s ultimately why I created Meowtel Inn: to give cats an experience designed around their actual needs—not simply a smaller version of a dog kennel or cute place to stay.

Although I've stepped back from frontline rescue work now, giving back remains important to me as others embark on their rescue mission. That’s why a portion of every Meowtel Inn booking is donated to the cat rescue community.

It has been incredibly rewarding to watch Meowtel Inn grow where it is today and to see how happy cat parents are when they discover just how loved, comfortable, and relaxed their cats are here.

There is no better feeling than knowing every cat in my care returns home to people who love them—and, in some cases, with their owners having a better understanding of their cat’s unique behaviors and needs.