Lifestyle

5 Ways to Support Cat Rescue With Feline Fashion

By Kezia Willingham

, October 31, 2014

I am in the stage of life where I am busier than I would like to be. As a single mother of two human children who works outside of the home in a full-time, professional job, I generally feel like I am rushing around like a madwoman five days a week. Free time is not something that I have a lot of.

That being the case, I don’t devote a whole lot mental space toward deciding what to wear. Generally speaking, my fashion objective is to leave the house fully dressed. On top of that, or maybe because of that, I am basically a T-shirt and jeans type of gal. If it were up to me, I would throw on jeans and a tee every day.

Therefore, on weekends, I joyously look forward to my preferred mode of dress.

But even that is not so simple. There are about 80 bazillion choices when it comes to T-shirts. Haute couture, name brand, Hanes white, crew neck, or v-neck. The choices really are limitless. So with that said, here is my solution: cat-rescue tees!

I made a decision a while back to buy T-shirts that support animal rescue, with an emphasis on felines. Why kitties? Because I adore them so much. Cats were my introduction to the rescue world. My involvement with rescue started with a dream in 2012 and hasn’t quit since I adopted my first cat, Miko. I like cats and kittens and feel good supporting anything having to do with their welfare.

Here are several ways you can add to your feline tee obsession and support feline advocacy in the process:

1. Buy from local rescues

Here in Seattle there are a number of choices when it comes to rescue organizations. I like to buy a shirt from them every now and then because not only will I feel proud of what I am wearing, I know some of the money goes right back into rescue efforts. It’s a win-win as far as I am concerned. Motley Zoo Animal Rescue in Redmond has some of the best rock-themed rescue tees out there.

2. Buy from a national rescue

You can get cool T-shirts from the ASPCA and other large rescue organizations, which are cute and go right back into the animals, just like at your local rescues. I got a bunch of T-shirts from the ASPCA last spring.

3. Shop at Target or JCPenney

I swear, every time I go there, I can find a cat themed T-shirt or sweatshirt. I support buying cat-themed clothing in general, as you can use these items to show support for the cause. Besides, cats are just plain cool.

4. Participate in a charitable walk or run for a shelter or rescue group

Usually when you sign up for these events, you get a T-shirt along with the registration. Not only is it fun to sport your tee while you walk, but you can wear it again and again! I get a lot of comments and questions when I wear these shirts. It’s another way to support the cause and look great at the same time!

5. Accessorize!

I found the most adorable Betsey Johnson kitty themed fashion earrings at Macy’s. I don’t normally spend lots of money on things like this, but I had to when I found these! Kitten accessories are one of the coolest things out there. Like I said, I am a minimalist when it comes to my own personal fashion aesthetic, but cat earrings, necklaces, and baubles are super cool. I don’t think you can ever go wrong with any of them.

The greatest thing about making a goal to step up your feline fashion game is that it is totally possible, even if you are not wealthy and don’t have a lot of time to devote to such things. Ever since I made this decision a few months ago, I have been pleased with the success I have found with relatively little effort. I hope you’ll join me!

Get more cool cat clothing and accessories:

About the author: Kezia Willingham is a Breadwinning Laundry Queen who works as a Health Coordinator for Head Start. She is a regular contributor to Catster and Dogster. Her writing has appeared in Literary Mama, the New York Times, the Seattle Times, and multiple anthologies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family, which includes a number of rescued cats and dogs. You can follow her on Twitter.