“Eco-Cat” booklet sales surge in St. Matthew’s boutique

BY MARGRET BRADY NANKIVELL

An interview on CBC national radio of Miss Jessie, a feline member of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in the Glebe, has boosted sales of her eco-cat advice booklet “A Guide for Cats Who Care.”

At $10 each, the revenues help fund St. Matthew’s Green Team initiatives and she has raised enough money to buy and install a reverse-osmosis water treatment system for St. Thomas Anglican Church in Moose Factory, Ontario. The new system, ordered for the parish hall of St. Matthew’s partner church, will save on the use of plastic bottles there.

The 18-year old calico and accomplished feline writer (yes, she does need help with a human keyboard), was nominated as a climate champion on the popular CBC radio show on environmental issues: “What on Earth with Laura Lynch”.

Jessie was interviewed by the show’s producer Rachel Sanders in a final segment of the one-hour program and she meowed on cue very nicely.

Jessie says she enjoyed the experience, especially because before the interview she was given a pinch of locally sourced cat-nip to steady her nerves.

Copies of the booklet are sold through St. Matthew’s online Treasures Boutique and were on display at the church’s recent Earth Day celebration and lunch. Their sales have already topped $600.

Jessie hopes the publication will inspire eco-cat activism across Canada and is pleased that she has several new “paw pals”. These include Callie in Courtenay, BC (who suggested the term paw pals), Haddie in Chateauguay, Quebec, and Pickles

in Kitchener, Ontario.

The booklet includes a dozen tips for ways cats can help conserve the environment such as drinking from natural water sources such as rain puddles, avoiding car travel, and reducing food waste. Dogs can learn some lessons from the booklet too.

Her other publications include “Cat Tips in Covid Times”, “A Cat’s Christmas in Covid Times” and “Jessie’s Favourite Recipes” with sales going to St. Matthew’s outreach projects.

The success of her eco-cat booklet has been a big breakthrough for her, though. As one reader emailed, it has been “a CATegorical success.”

Footnote: Jessie has been blessed several times at St. Matthew’s Blessing of the Animals service, including when she was just a little kitten.