Smush is known for her quirky good looks and her even quirkier obsession with bread. But she’s more than a social media supurr star, she’s an outspoken advo-cat fur TNR and rescue.

KATNISS: Smush, why are these causes so close to your heart? Is it because mew are a rescue cat yourself?

SMUSH: That’s part of it, fur sure. But after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, I saw pets who were abandoned because people had to flee and couldn’t affurd to take them with – or had no home to take them to. I couldn’t furget those images on TV. Pets left behind, or on the beach… 

KATNISS: I remember seeing that, too, and feline helpless. But you didn’t just watch the devastation – you took action.

SMUSH: SMUSH: Yes – I purrsuaded my Meowmy to travel to Puerto Rico after the hurricane. She’s a purrfessional photographfur and she was hired by Maddie’s Shelter Medicine at the University of Florida. While in Puerto Rico, she realized Maddie’s was strictly funded by grants and donations and she started thinking that maybe I could help because lots of animal lovers follow me on social media. While she was there, she didn’t just photograph pets in need – she adopted one. A dog brother fur our family. 

KATNISS: Pawesome. So how did your non-purrofit, the Smush Foundation, come about?

SMUSH: Meowmy was inspired by her trip to Puerto Rico and realized she might be good at fundraising by using her photography and videography skills, and having me as a spokeskitty. We raised nearly $4,000 dollars for the shelter medicine purrogram at the University of Florida after that furst trip.

KATNISS: It’s great that you’re using your pawpularity fur good. You can reach so many people on social media. 

SMUSH: Well, sometimes I feel like leaving social media behind. It was never my dream to be an Internet celebricat – there can be so much drama, catfights and hissyfits. It’s not my thing. I’d rather hang with my meowmies and my fur siblings (including a hedgehog!) and just be an ordinary cat. But I keep up with Instagram and Facebook because I hope to make a diffurence.

KATNISS: You’ve now raised over $14k fur animal welfare organizations like Operation Catnip, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine at the University of Florida, Santuario de Animales San Francisco de Asís, Spayathon for Puerto Rico, and others. Very impurressive.

Cats waiting to be “nipped” and spayed.

SMUSH: We’ve also been active in trying to create awareness fur the cat meat trade in Southeast Asia It’s extraordinarily cruel. My furiend Helen, a cat at the Paws for Compassion rescue center in Vietnam, was rescued from the streets and is now about to be adopted into a furever home. She doesn’t have eyes, but she’s a happy cat who deserves to be loved. Four Paws International is dedicated to stopping this horrific animal meat trade.

Helen

KATNISS: I am purrsonal furiends with a dog who was rescued from the meat trade. I applaud you and all the others who are trying to shut this down.

SMUSH: I want to give back, I want to do something pawsitive with my fame. That’s what’s impurrtant – not how many followers I have. Although, I do love my followers. I’ve made some good furiends, met many talented artists and some people have even sent me bread!

KATNISS: That’s a purrk! Thanks Smush, fur all you do. It’s nice to know you’re more than just a purrty face. 

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The Smush Foundation’s mission is to raise money for animal welfare organizations, including animal shelters, rescue groups, and shelter medicine programs, and to provide education, instruction and support on marketing and photographing techniques designed to increase animal adoptions. To find out more, visit their website or click here to donate. You can also follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

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