February's Rescued Spotlight: Crepes & Alana Grelyak

Hey everybody, it's Truffles! A few weeks ago I told you about Rescued: The Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes, an anthology of rescue cat stories compiled by Janiss Garza, who writes the Sparkle Cat blog. Each author featured in the book has nominated a cat rescue and was assigned a month to promote the book, with a third of the profits from that month going to their rescue. I am so excited to announce that I will be interviewing each author and/or their cat over the next 12 months!

February's focus is on Crepes and her human, Alana Grelyak, authors of the Cat in the Fridge blog. These two were so much fun to interview!

Truffles: Welcome, Crepes and Alana! Mommy and I love reading your blog everyday and it is such an honor to get to chat with you. For readers who aren't as familiar with your story as we are, could you tell us how you found each other, knew you were meant to be together forever, and what your relationship is like today?

Crepes: Hello, Truff!  Gosh, thanks for having me here. I really appreciate it.


Alana: Me, too! We’re fans of your work and pleased to be here.

C: Oh. How did you get here?

A: I came with you. I drove the car.


C: Oh, right. Anyway, the way we found each other is that I was getting the VIP treatment from Tree House - food, water, a box to play in - and then MomFOD here came to pick me up for temporary safe keeping.  Now, I may have misunderstood the original meaning of the word “temporary,” because I thought it meant for a limited time. And yet, I am still in her house.

A: What Crepes means to say is that she was rescued from a very bad feral situation by Tree House Humane Society and fostered by my husband and me. We decided to adopt her because we loved her and also because she has some special needs that we thought would make it a bit harder for her to find a home.  I think you can see what our relationship is like based on this conversation.

Crepes, how did you come to be chosen as the cover girl of Rescued?

C: Charm, beauty, grace, and style.

A: Yes, Crepes, all those, plus the fact that I used to do journalistic photographer. Janiss Garza, our editor, liked my photography and asked if I would be willing to take some photos to meet specific style requirements. Naturally, Crepes was chosen as the subject.

C: Because of my Charm, beauty, grace, and style! I already said that.

A: I think you need a nap.

The rescue group you're supporting in Rescued is Tree House Humane in Chicago. Can you tell us about the work they do and how you're involved with them?

C: They neutered my family.

A: Which is a good thing, Crepes! Crepes’ family was an out of control feral colony in a factory. Tree House does amazing TNR work around Chicago and they stepped in to collect the kittens and make the living situation safer and healthier for all involved. I have been a volunteer with them for the last ten years in various ways - as a photographer, performer at their events, writer, cat socializer, foster mom, etc. - and am very proud of the work they’re doing for Chicago and its homeless kitties.

Congratulations on winning at the Catdance Film Festival with your amazing CATastrophes web series! Crepes, do you enjoy being a film star, and what are you currently working on?

C: Yes, I love it. While I detest the long hours on set and frequently retire to my green room -

A: which is my desk drawer...

C: I love the accolades. I love seeing myself on the big screen. My big brother Rocky, also a tabby, was our great star, and since he passed away, I have taken it upon myself to step in for roles he would have otherwise played. Now, I have to admit that I myself wasn’t actually in the winning Catdance film, I was still at the house while it was being filmed and take credit for promoting a safe, enjoyable, and cat-filled work environment.

Photos Courtesy of Alana Grelyak

My blog readers love cats and mysteries, and I understand that you're a mystery-writing feline yourself! How did you create the Harry Sheets Mystery Series, and when can we expect future installments?

C: Oh wow! I didn’t realize anyone had noticed that! It was so early in my blogging career. So far, I’ve only done one short mystery. It’s based on Harry Sheets and his three-legged sidekick Pancakes, who have to solve the crime of who puked in mom’s shoe. I was very inspired by my big brother Niles, who always leaves hair on the sheets. I would like to write more of them. Do you think I should?

How did your blogging adventure begin and how are you using your blog to advocate for animals?

C: When our film “Catalogue,” our very first cat-themed movie, was a finalist in Catdance 2013, we wanted to have a fun way to remind people to vote. Naturally, I thought my life would be the best topic and so I began writing about all the things that are important to me. People actually started reading, so I started promoting adoption! And it worked!

A: I serve as the editor to try to reign in some of Crepes’ narcissistic tendencies -

C: This is the last interview you drive me to.

A: - and frequently serve as the go-between for Crepes and rescues around the country. Each week, we post a special needs bachelor/ette who is looking for a home and is considered less than adoptable. So far, we’ve raised more than $3000 for charity and have been able to donate more than 5,000 meals to hungry kitties.

C: Not one of which has invited me to dinner to thank me, I’ll have you know. 

A: Crepes, sometimes I have no words for you.

C: I’ll remind you of that next time you’re using your words to shush me off the counter. I have rights!

Photo Credit: Victoria Sprung Photography, LLC

Lastly, what are some things we can all do to help animal shelters and cats that are waiting for their forever homes? The need just seems so great and overwhelming at times.

A: The needs are great, for sure, but because of that, almost ANYTHING you do will be helpful. Creative talents are wonderful because you can write, photograph, or donate artwork as part of a fundraiser. You can stay informed about their events and help them share important things on social media. You can share adoptable kitties online or even sponsor them, as I know you do, Truffles. It can even be as simple as this: each time you go to the grocery store, buy one can of the best food you can afford to buy. Put it in your closet at home, and at the end of the year, you will have a whole case to donate to your local rescue.

C: Excellent idea, MomFOD. You probably got that from me.

A: Yes, Crepes. I did, indeed, get that idea from you.

Thanks, Truffles!