An animal shelter in Texas is sharing the heartwarming story of Princess Cecily, a stylish rescue cat who inspires through her history of determination and resilience. This glamorous feline social media influencer even does it with a sense of flair.
Fashionable cat influencer shares a heartwarming message
In Corpus Christi, Texas, the remarkable Princess Cecily holds court in a renowned cat shelter, showcasing elegance, resilience, and style.
A Siamese Mix with a beautiful white and gray coat, Princess Cecily is known for her fabulous outfits and the empowering message she shares. The glamorous feline now resides at The Cattery, a Texas cat rescue dedicated to providing a compassionate alternative to conventional animal shelters by offering a no-kill, cage-free sanctuary for homeless, abused, or abandoned cats.
Established in October 2007, The Cattery depends on the kindness of compassionate individuals who bring in stray and surrendered domestic cats.
It was through this compassionate effort that Cecily found her way to the shelter, where she now reigns supreme.
“We got Cecily in April of 2018 (when) she was only seven weeks old,” Katie Hatfield, social media manager for The Cattery told KRIS 6 News. “A Good Samaritan had found her and her two brothers. Cecily was noticeably different right away (…) but she was still such a sweet little cat.”
Cecily was born with a condition called Manx syndrome, which affects her spine as well as bladder and bowel development. Her back legs were deformed, leaving her paralyzed and requiring amputation.
Despite her disability, Cecily’s playful personality and stylish outfits define her, not her limitations.
”(The outfits) started almost right away,” Hatfield said. “Cecily needs to wear a diaper because she can’t control her bottom half, and the only way we’ve found to keep the diaper on is a full body harness. (So) she’s been wearing clothes her whole life and we decided to make them cute and fashionable because she had to wear them anyway.”
Stylish rescue cat’s story moves the masses
Cecily’s story and sense of style not only resonate within The Cattery but also extend to her social media presence. Her Instagram account boasts an impressive following of 16.7K devoted fans.
“Cecily’s social media took off because we have a heavy focus on being positive and overcoming challenges,” Hatfield said. “Cecily is inspirational in the way that despite her disability.”
“She still lives a normal life, is very fashionable, positive, sweet girl who loves to snuggle, chase her friends and play,” Hatfield stated. “People seemed to really connect with that image we helped create for her online.
The Cattery’s other work
The Cattery not only focuses on rescuing and finding homes for cats in the community but also provides a low-cost spay and neuter clinic for both pets and stray cats.
The shelter operates on private funding, enabling them to uphold a no-kill policy for all their beloved residents, as stated by Hatfield.
Moreover, The Cattery hosts a walk-in wellness clinic every three weeks, offering essential services like vaccines, flea/tick prevention, microchipping, and more, to assist cat owners in maintaining their pets’ well-being.
Reaching a broader audience
Cecily’s social media influence plays a significant role in spreading The Cattery’s mission to potential cat owners and rescuers, allowing their organization’s message to reach a broader audience.
“(Cecily) has helped us reach even more people in many ways, including a feature on the Hallmark channel during Kitten Bowl VIII,” Hatfield explained. “Also, growing our reach has helped us find more supporters and people who love cats and want to help us save them, which people can do from anywhere since we started growing our social media accounts.”
For additional information about The Cattery, you can visit their website.
