October 2025
Imagine: You’re ready to adopt a kitty, so you do a simple web search for “adoptable cats in Seattle.” You find yourself on SAFe’s Available Cats & Kittens web page. There, you see her. The cat of your dreams, or at least a photo of her, gazing into your soul from across the screen, beckoning with her doleful eyes and oh-so-adorable features. The minute SAFe’s Adoption Center opens, you’re there, ready to meet your new best friend.
Every time an adopter discovers their future companion from a posted photo, it’s thanks to the skills and dedication of volunteer photographers like André!
Meet Andre
Every Tuesday, André arrives at the Rescue, camera in tow, to snap the purrfect feline profile photos. Sure, it sounds fun, but it’s easier said than done! Teeny kittens on the move make it hard to capture anything but a blur, while other felines are so snuggled into cozy–but dark–nooks that they barely register on camera.
Where others may get frustrated, André takes all these different purrsonalities in stride.
“I really enjoy seeing all the friendly faces at the shelter and visiting the many different types of cats that are there,” André says. “It also gives me a chance to practice my cat nonsense conversation skills like, ‘Who’s a silly fluff bumble then?’”
With nearly two years of experience taking photos of SAFe’s “fluff bumbles,” André’s learned the tricks to getting the cats’ good sides. She’s gotten so good, in fact, that in the past year, she’s expanded into film.
“I also help shoot and edit videos that highlight adoption opportunities for cats with challenging situations,” says André. “It’s eye-opening to see how much work all the staff put into caring for the cats, no matter how difficult their stories might be.”
So far, André has filmed and edited videos for Charlie, a behavioral case, and Stella, who was in foster care due to an intensive medication schedule. She also filmed and edited the kitty spotlight video for the 2025 Nine Lives Gala, moving and captivating the in-person auction’s audience with Auggie’s story.
All three cats have since been adopted!
Why She Volunteers
“In 2020, I adopted two cats, Uno and Macha, from the ‘Youngest Old Cat Lady,’ Ashley Morrison,” André says. “Sadly, Macha died suddenly in 2023 and I learned that Ashley also died around the same time. It left me very heavy-hearted and searching for an avenue to give back to the cat community.”
This desire to give back led André to SAFe Rescue. It was a much-needed silver lining in a dark time.
“I found SAFe online and saw their call for volunteer photographers,” remembers André. “It was the perfect opportunity that blended my creative skills with an outlet for helping cats in need of care and love.”
Nearly two years later, André is grateful for the experience of helping cats in need and all the feelings that come with that.
“When I volunteer, it helps me disconnect with the daily grind and focus on giving,” she reflects. “It brings me peace and happiness and reminds me that it truly is more rewarding to give than receive.”
Outside of SAFe
Cat photography isn’t André’s only creative outlet. In her spare time, she enjoys experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. She’s also a fan of oil painting and sketching with charcoal and watercolor pencils. And she’s an avid traveler to boot!
“I recently visited Belize and last year went to Oaxaca in Mexico for Day of the Dead celebrations,” André says. “I’m currently working on some sketches inspired by my Belize trip and an oil painting dedicated to Macha inspired by Day of the Dead imagery.”
André meets lots of new cats every week, but there’s one very special kitty at home that she’s always happy to see!
“Of course, I love spending time with my cat Uno and inventing silly nicknames for her with my kids,” André tells SAFe. “Some of our favorites are The Scrumbler, The Fluffinator, and Bumble Gravy.”
Thank you, André, for lending your talents to help SAFe show off Rescue cats in the best light!
