TikTok helped this Nova Scotia woman rehome 100 cats
When Angela Rafuse joined TikTok, she never imagined where the social media platform would take her.
“It’s truly amazing how quickly it has taken off,” said Rafuse.
Rafuse is the founder of My Grandfather’s Cat, a non-profit organization that helps seniors and those who are terminally ill find a new family for their beloved pets.
She was inspired to create the organization after adopting her grandparents 14-year-old cat, Mackenzie, after their passing in 2019.
“At the time, there wasn’t any other option other than a family member to adopt her or to put her into a shelter,” said Rafuse. “I didn’t want her to spend her final years in a shelter, so I decided to adopt her."
The feisty feline has a reputation for being a bit grumpy, explained Rafuse. One of her first social media posts was of Mackenzie batting at her face while filming a video with the cat.
"I thought it was a hilarious video,” said Rafuse. “I posted it to Facebook and my family immediately thought it would go viral.”
Within hours, the video had tens of thousands of views. Followers were also curious about the sassy cat’s history, along with others sharing their own stories of having to find homes for pets whose owners had passed or had moved into assisted living.
“They kept asking, ‘Why did you call her Mackenzie?’” said Rafuse. “I always would respond with ‘I didn't name her, she’s my grandfather’s cat,’ and that’s how we got the name for the organization.”
Since its inception in 2021, My Grandfather’s Cat has helped rehome 100 cats. The service is offered free of charge and is available nationwide.
“They get to interview each family that’s interested in adopting their animal, and ultimately they choose who adopts their animal,” said Rafuse.
Their online following has grown to over one million. Rafuse says Mackenzie has earned celebrity cat status, and is often recognized while out and about on their adventures together.
"One of the ways we fund the non-profit is through merchandise sales, and our Mackenzie sweaters are our best sellers by far,” said Rafuse.
To learn more about My Grandfather’s Cat, visit their website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
NDP house leader laments 'agents of chaos' in precarious Parliament
NDP House leader Peter Julian says there's more his party wants to do in Parliament before the next election, but if the current dysfunction continues it will become a factor in how they vote on a confidence measure.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
Here's what the jury didn't hear in Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial
A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
2 dead after fire rips through historic building in Old Montreal
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building in Old Montreal early Friday morning, sources told Noovo Info.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
Scientists looked at images from space to see how fast Antarctica is turning green. Here's what they found
Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.
Canadian family stuck in Lebanon anxiously awaits flight options amid Israeli strikes
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.