Every blanket we make starts with someone else’s cat. Ours started with China, the little cat who found us.
Found on China street
We found her on our own street, a street called China, so the name picked itself. Her front leg had been broken and had healed on its own the wrong way: the elbow pointed down and the paw turned up, so her elbow brushed the floor. It never stopped her. She did everything, even when it hurt, and somehow she made our home hers from the very first day.
Proud, and very clever
My wife, Mila, showed her the litter box once. Just once, and from that day on she used it, in her own way: instead of stepping all the way in, she would back up until only her rear end reached the box. It still makes us smile. She was proud and sure of herself, affectionate when she decided to be, and completely obsessed with white phone charging cables.
My work companion
I work from home, and she was always there: on the desk, on the keyboard, curled up on my lap while I worked. She was my secretary, my company through every long day. That’s why we have hundreds of photos of her, and why every one of them matters so much to us.
Saying goodbye
China was never a healthy cat. Her immune system was weak, her mouth was always sore, and dust in the air hit her hard. In 2022 she couldn’t eat anymore. Even opening her mouth was painful, and she had become so thin. Our vet told us that letting her go was the kindest thing we could do, and that if we loved her, it was an act of love.
That day I lay down with her for one last nap. I couldn’t sleep. I tried not to cry, but the tears came on their own, and by the end she was soaked in them.
Keeping her close
Back in 2018, while she was still with us, we had a blanket made with her photo on it. We still have it at home, and today it holds more than a picture: it holds her.
When you love a cat like that, you want to keep them close: on the sofa, on your lap, in a portrait you can wrap yourself in. And one day, when they’re gone, you want something beautiful to hold on to.
Why PersonalizedCat exists
We make these blankets for the cats who share our homes and our days: to celebrate them while they’re here, and to keep them close long after. We think of China every time we make one.
— Ivan