Catskills Cattery Team

Elena

Elena grew up in a zoo; her father was a cat and dog breeder. Following in his footsteps, Elena bred English bulldogs for about five years in the 2000s. Since 2013, she’s been begging her husband Phil to start a cattery after falling in love with the Minskin breed at an AKC Meet the Breeds event — and discovering that she could own Minskins, despite her cat allergy, because they’re hypoallergenic.

A former professional dancer and science teacher, Elena became a nurse in 2013 and uses her medical knowledge in her breeding practice.

Stuffings, the original Stud of the Cattery, is Elena’s spirit animal.

Phil

Elena’s husband and a lifelong cat and dog owner, Phil finally agreed to start a cattery with his wife in 2019.

Phil has nearly two decades of experience in digital marketing and advertising; he designed this website and runs the cattery’s social media channels.

Of course, Phil also helps Elena care for the cats and their kittens.

Chimichurri, aka Chichi aka Choochi, is Phil’s spirit animal.

Anna

The 13-year-old daughter of Elena and Phil, no one is more excited about or dedicated to Catskills Cattery than Anna.

A whiz at science like her mother, Anna plans to study medicine or veterinary medicine at Cornell University when she leaves home after high school.

Anna is in charge of wrangling kittens, weighing kittens, repositioning nursing kittens, cleaning kittens, and feeding and checking in on our mammas.

She’s also our resident cat photographer.

Elton, the second Catskills Cattery Stud, is Anna’s spirit animal.

Ella

Ella tolerates cats.

The 16-year-old Tik Tok star does have a box in her room for those rare occasions when her bedroom door is open long enough for a cat or kitten to sneak in.

When Ella is not getting hundreds of thousands of views on her social media posts, she’s usually writing music or painting something incredible.

Moo is Ella’s spirit animal; she really likes this one.