Tag: CATS

Thirty Cats, One Memoir, and the Power of Showing Up

‘Poets Square’ is the new memoir by Courtney Gustafson. Photo: Barnes & Noble

📚Poets Square: A Memoir in Thirty Cats

How One Woman, Thirty Feral Cats, and a Bit of Dumb Hope Sparked a Movement of Care

What happens when you move into a new house—and discover that it comes with thirty feral cats?

In “Poets Square: A Memoir in Thirty Cats,” Courtney Gustafson shares the deeply personal and unexpectedly viral story of how a scrappy colony of stray cats transformed her life, her neighborhood, and the way she thinks about care, resilience, and community. (Penguin Random House, 2025)

A Pandemic, a New Relationship—and Then, the Cats

When Courtney moved into a rental in Tucson’s Poets Square neighborhood, she was already in survival mode. She was navigating a new relationship, working a job that didn’t pay enough, and dealing with mental health challenges—all during the chaos of a global pandemic.

So, when she realized her new home came with thirty unclaimed, unfixed, and hungry feral cats, her initial response was: not my problem.

But the cats had other ideas.

With their pleading eyes, visible ribs, and litters of kittens born in the gravel driveway, they became impossible to ignore.

From Reluctant Rescuer to Accidental Influencer

Courtney hadn’t planned on becoming an animal rescuer. She certainly didn’t anticipate the grief, exhaustion, or heartbreak that comes with trying to help creatures in need—especially within a system that fails both animals and people every day.

But in feeding, fixing, naming, and loving this colony—Monkey, Goldie, Francois, Sad Boy, and so many others—Courtney found something she didn’t expect: a way forward through her own personal darkness.

As she began documenting the daily lives of the cats on TikTok and Instagram, she quickly amassed a devoted following. Poets Square Cats became a viral phenomenon—and the support from her online community ended up saving her home.

A Story About Cats—and So Much More

This memoir is more than a chronicle of rescue work. It’s a meditation on what it means to show up—for others, for yourself, and for the broken spaces in between. Courtney takes readers from dark alleyways to trashed living rooms to her own front yard, revealing a raw, powerful journey that’s as much about humanity as it is about cats.

With tenderness, humor, and hard-won wisdom, “Poets Square” is a story about finding hope where it seems least likely, and building community—even when the world feels like it’s falling apart.

About the Author

Courtney Gustafson is a cat rescuer, community organizer, and creator of Poets Square Cats. She lives in Tucson, Arizona, and shares stories (and cat updates) with thousands on TikTok and Instagram.

Praise for “Poets Square”

“Truly moving; a heartfelt exploration of the humanity at the heart of animal welfare. Courtney masterfully weaves together stories of cats with stories of her own life and the lives of her community members—raw, flawed, and striving for goodness in a complex world. Her journey from cat observer to dedicated caregiver and community builder is profoundly inspiring.”—Hannah Shaw, New York Times bestselling author of Cats of the World

“Courtney Gustafson writes with uncommon grace about the castoff, the abandoned, the invisible. This book should be read and treasured for its ability to make the reader more human and humane.”—Lauren Slater, author of Blue Dreams and Lying

“Poets Square is charming and tender, funny-sad, quirky in the best possible way. It’s a story about care and compassion and acts of kindness big and small. I flew through it— and I’m not even a cat person.”—Chloë Ashby, author of Wet Paint

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Theater review: ‘Cats’ at the Majestic Theatre

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The North American tour company of ‘Cats.’ Photo: Matthew Murphy, used with permission.

Now playing at the Majestic Theatre is ‘Cats,’ one of the biggest hits in theatrical history and there are still four more performances this weekend. ‘Cats’ is a sung-through musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on the 1939 poetry book “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by T. S. Eliot. It is the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night they make the “Jellicle choice,” deciding which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life. Showtimes are Saturday at 2p.m. and 8p.m. and Sunday at 2p.m. and 7:30p.m.

‘Cats’ begins as the cats gather onstage and describe the Jellicle tribe and its purpose. ‘Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats’ Once they notice that they are being watched by an audience, they proceed to explain how the different cats are named. ‘The Naming of the Cats’ After Victoria’s (Caitlin Bond) ballet solo to signal the beginning of the Jellicle Ball, ‘Invitation to the Jellicle Ball’ Munkustrap (Dan Hoy), the show’s main narrator, explains that the Jellicle patriarch, Old Deuteronomy (Brandon Michael Nase) will make an appearance and choose one of the cats to be reborn. Munkustrap introduces the night’s contenders one by one, including Mistoffelees, (PJ DiGaetano) Rum Tum Tugger (McGee Maddox) and Bustopher Jones (Timothy Gulan). In the end, Old Deuteronomy chooses Grizabella (Keri Rene Fuller), a very old and mangy cat, to be the next one to go the Heaviside Layer and be reborn ‘Journey to the Heaviside Layer.’

From the graceful dancing of the Cats during The Jellicle Ball to the swagger of ‘The Rum Tum Tugger,’ there is something for everyone in this production because the music ranges from classical to jazz. Act I ends with a preview of the popular ‘Memory’ with Grizabella performing the entire song when she addresses the Cats towards the end. The definite audience favorites were Macavity (the evil criminal of the bunch, who can never quite be caught in the act) and Mistoffelees (he is small, black and can do feats of magic no other cat can do) as well as Rum Tum Tugger. Show highlights include Mistoffelees’ dance solo and Grizabella’s rendition of ‘Memory, which drew the most applause and cheers from the audience and is one of the most poignant moments of the show. With beautiful melodies, an extremely talented cast and amazing costumes, this timeless musical does not disappoint. ‘Cats’ is sure to entertain longtime fans as well as newbies and is a must-see for audiences of all ages.