When most people go on vacation, they look to unwind in the sun or maybe take in the culture by exploring local towns. But not Hannah Shaw and her husband Andrew Marttila, who visited 30 countries as part of their mission to find out how stray cats are cared for around the world.
Known globally as the Kitten Lady (@kittenxlady on Instagram), Shaw, 37, has spent years advocating for stray cats and saving the lives of countless neonatal kittens who would have been euthanized in shelters without her help. From fostering animals, to running a nonprofit, and educating people about kitten welfare, it’s also important for Shaw to switch off from time-to-time.
Indeed, she explained to Newsweek that she and Marttila, 39, try to take a vacation each year to take “a break from cats.” That plan didn’t quite work out however, because wherever they went in the world, they found themselves drawn to cats and wanted to learn more about how strays are looked after in different communities.
“I found it fascinating to learn about the cultural contexts in which cats live, and the way that factors like history, religion, politics, access to resources, even climate and architecture, play such a determinative role in the lives of cats,” Shaw, of San Diego, California, said. “We were so drawn to learning about the unique challenges and opportunities cats face—and the different ways of caring for them around the world.”
@iamthecatphotographer / @kittenxlady
Visiting 100 cities in total, the duo traveled the breadth of the world, from Japan, Malaysia, Montenegro, Athens, Nepal, to Dubai. They met with local animal rescuers, advocates, and volunteers in each destination to find out how they care for the cats in that area, and what they’re doing to combat the challenge of strays.
This was the inspiration for the couple’s new book, Cats of The World, which incorporates many of these unique experiences with Marttila’s photography (@iamthecatphotographer).
Shaw, who has saved the lives of more than 1,000 animals to date, told Newsweek: “I think one of the most beautiful surprises was learning that there are truly people showing kindness to cats in every corner of the world. There was no place we went—be it a city, rural community, or a remote island—where we couldn’t find people working to help cats. I think being an animal rescuer can feel quite isolating for some, but I hope these stories will shine a light on the universality of compassion that truly exists in every community.”
Gathering all these experiences over the last few years has helped Shaw realize how differently America treats kitten welfare. Most shelters across the United States euthanize kittens under the age of 8 weeks old because they require round-the-clock care, which shelters can’t provide.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates that approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized each year, including 390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats.
@iamthecatphotographer / @kittenxlady
Shaw explained that traveling the world made her see “how unique it is that we institutionalize and euthanize so many kittens.” Following this, she’s even more motivated to enact change and find solutions for these sweet, helpless felines.
“I believe that in America, our over-emphasis on pet ownership, paired with our over-reliance on shelters, has disempowered community members from seeing that we are ultimately the solution to community-based issues,” she told Newsweek.
Shaw continued: “So many communities show beautiful coexistence with cats. I think one program that stood out was in Athens, where we worked with a group that goes by Nine Lives (or Seven Souls in Greek). They have sterilized thousands of cats around the city, and each day, volunteers spend an hour or two walking in their assigned area to care for community cats. Even though these cats may not have a home, they are safe and cared for by a rotation of loving people.”
@iamthecatphotographer / @kittenxlady
For cat photographer Marttila, one of the most memorable experiences occurred while they were in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. They met with a group of rescuers and traveled deep into a rural community where residents welcomed the couple into their homes. They were from different parts of the world, with vastly different lifestyles, but they had one thing in common: a mutual love of cats.
“It felt as though our love of cats was not just a proverbial key to city, but it unlocked an instant respect and understanding between us,” Marttila told Newsweek. “I am so unbelievably proud of what we were able to accomplish. What was once an aspirational pipe dream is now tangible, and I hope it will forever alter the way we, as cat lovers, treat one another around the world.”
@iamthecatphotographer / @kittenxlady
The book documents the couple’s travels to far-reaching corners of the world, but Shaw and Marttila hope that there’s something for everyone inside. Whether it’s encouraging people to help in their local shelter, foster a kitten, or even just to learn something new about a different culture, they hope to educate people on the plight of stray cats around the world.
But the travel doesn’t just end there, because Shaw and Marttila will be visiting different states across the U.S. this month as part of their book tour. Throughout the tour, Shaw wants to encourage people to get out there and adopt a kitten or cat, so she’s partnered with Hill’s Pet Nutrition who will cover the cost of up to 400 adoptions along the way.
“I hope people will discover that there isn’t just one right way to be a cat, and there isn’t just one right way to be an advocate,” Shaw said. “I hope that people will find themselves softening into curiosity about cultures that may be unfamiliar to them and feel inspired.”
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