Flash back to Fall of 2017

Well I can’t believe that this idea of therapy cats that came to me sitting in church is really going to happen. You see, our pastor gave us a challenge to use our loves, hobbies, and interest as a way to access and engage with people. To use the talents, and resources that God has blessed us with to create relationships with others. I knew right then and there that my way to people was with cats. Yes, cats. You see there have been many changes in my life over the years. I have changed from being a kid and turned into an adult. I became a wife at 19 to the best husband in the world, a mother at 24 of a special needs child who has taught me more then any adult ever has, and blessed with a second child when I was 28 who has been by my side even encouraging me on my bad days and becoming my lifelong friend. I have had dabbled a couple hobby business, started hundreds, ok thousands, of craft projects and even finishing a few. I have lived in 4 different houses, moved 5 times and only had one company that gave me a paycheck thanks to my dad. The changes in my hair styles, well let’s say I have loss track of that years ago along with the many clothing styles and trends. But over the years two things have stayed true to my heart. My need for Jesus Christ to lead my life and my obsession of cats. So at the age of 36 when I was sitting in church being challenged to reach out and create relationships with others I knew that cats was my answer.

Okay, back up a little, the idea of cats was already on my mind that day as they are every day. On the way to church I saw 3 in fields mousing and it made me remembered the joke I made to my husband as we were looking at our dream country home we just moved into weeks ago. The joke that he could have the big barn and do what every he wanted to with it if I could get the garage next to it so I could fill it with cats. His non-thought-over answer was “sure you can do that.” Well there is one thing that you don’t give a Steensma (my maiden name) unless you really mean it, that is permission to do something crazy, because it will happen. I had no idea how it would happen but it was going to happen.

So here we are 2 years later and my crazy idea of interacting with people using cats is off and running. I am so blessed that I get to spend every week enriching others lives just by sharing the love of a cat.

Jen Kuyt founder of Country Cat Lady and The Catz Den - 2019