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It All Started With a Mamma Cat Giving Birth To Three Beautiful Kittens!

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Our Story

Mission 1001 Cats is a journey to photograph 1,001 cats, give each a name, and tell their story so the world sees them not as strays, but as lives worth respecting. It started in my garage with a mamma cat and her three tiny kittens. I kept my distance but cared for them, watched them play, and slowly, I fell in love with their little world. Then tragedy struck. One of the kittens was dying because of a human. Someone’s cruelty ended a life too soon. I tried to save him, holding him in my hands, but it was too late. I looked up and saw his sibling silently crying beside their mother. Yes, crying. That moment broke me. I never knew a cat could show that much emotion. It changed something inside me. That day, I made a promise: If no one else will speak for them, I will. I’m a photographer—and my camera became my weapon of compassion. That’s how Mission 1001 Cats was born.

Reviews

  • Greta Vernon


    I bought this frame because I love cats, but what I got was something way deeper. The photo feels alive, like the cat is telling its own story. It’s simple, beautiful, and honestly makes me pause every time I walk past it. So glad I found this.

  • Salman & Shuvana

    We didn’t expect a cat photo to move us this much but the one we got from Mission 1001 Cats felt different. There’s something raw and real in the way the cat looks at you… like it’s lived through things and still holds on to hope. The frame is simple and elegant, but it’s the story behind the photo that hit us hardest.

  • Janet Burtnick

    Any idea when Vol 2 will be released? 
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Goal

  • 1. Ending Cruelty

    We don't ask everyone to love cats, but we do urge kindness. If someone dislikes cats, we simply encourage them not to harm or mistreat them. Cats, just like humans, have families and deserve to live peacefully. If you can't love them, just let them be.

  • 2. Part-Time Guardians

    Even if you can't adopt a cat, you can still help. Occasionally offering food, water, and a bit of protection from harm can save a life. Small acts of kindness create big changes.

  • 3. Inspire Adoption

    We strive to inspire more people to consider adoption. Welcoming a cat into your life not only provides a loving home but also adds immense joy and purpose to your own life.

Cats

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THE FIRST ONE

Chester

On that day, I set out to take my first picture of a cat for this mission. I was nervousabout how to start and what kind of pictures I would get. I was walking and thinkingabout these things when I saw him. He was sleeping, so I thought I would leave himalone and take a picture of another cat. But then he looked up at me, looked at me for amoment, and then closed his eyes and went back to sleep. I was amazed. I didn't think itwould be that easy to get a cat to let me take its picture. But I knew he had given mepermission to start. I got very close to him and took the picture. And that's how myMission 1001 Cats began, with the permission of a sleeping cat named Chester.

Lens Fell Short

Wol, Fiol, Vole

When I was taking these pictures of the cats, if any of my family members had seen me, they would never have let me hold a camera again. Because at that time I was about 75% outside the railing of the fourth-floor roof, which means if I had moved a little, I would have fallen on top of these cats from the fourth floor. And I don't think I would have been able to stand up straight, my survival would have been in doubt (I said it a bit dramatically, right?). Anyway, the story will be read by many of my family members, so to calm them down, I'm making a promise at the beginning of the new year that I will never take pictures with so much risk again (remember the famous dialogue, promises are made to be broken!). Now let's come to these cats. They are all relatives, meaning they are from the same family. There are a total of 7 of them. Among them, I could only get these 3 in one frame. I used to give some food to these 7 plus 4 more, a total of 11, from my house from time to time, so they knew me. That day I called them, so they were looking at me with this look. I named them Wol, Fiol, and Vole.

THE TWO OF VERY FEW

Tai, Tatai

In my collection of photographs, kitten pictures are few and far between. A cat's motheris fiercely protective of her offspring, and I respect that. I don't want to do anything tomake her feel threatened. As much as I admire the beauty of kitten photos, I'm willingto make this sacrifice. That day, I spotted a cat and her kittens playing near a wall. Themother sat calmly in front of her kittens, keeping a watchful eye on them. Sensing thatthe mom was comfortable with my presence, I quietly captured a photo of the adorablescene. I named the kittens Tai and Tatai, inspired by their playful antics.

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Every Frame Makes a Difference

Your generosity directly supports our ongoing journey to photograph and frame 1001 cats, sharing their powerful stories and advocating for animal welfare worldwide. Join us in building a kinder, more compassionate world for cats everywhere.

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Photographer

One day, this mission will end, but the images, the stories, and the echoes of my voice against this cruelty will live on. It's a reminder to the people of this world that we can all live together in this beautiful world without harm or hatred. If you don't connect with animals, simply leave them be, but never cause them pain. They too feel; they experience the world just like us. My love for all creatures, especially cats, fuels this mission. Their grace, their vulnerability, their ability to soften even the hardest hearts, these are the reasons I chose them as my voice. Now, it's up to you to amplify this voice. Share the stories, spread the message, join me in this mission to end this cruelty

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Mission 1001 Cats Photobook: Vol I

This photo book will make you laugh, maybe cry, and above all, inspire you to help create a world where cats thrive. 50+ unforgettable photos and true stories take you inside the lives of cats.

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