On the first morning that author Courtney Gustafson spent in her new house in Poets Square, she noticed little paw prints everywhere — the roof, driveway and front steps. Shortly after seeing the paw prints, she glimpsed the cats, all 30 of them.
One by one, cats revealed themselves, and Gustafson and her partner named them. She began to feed them and eventually started trapping them to get them veterinary care. Then, Gustafson did something that, unbeknownst to her, would change her life forever: she posted a video of some of the cats on social media.
The video was a hit, and more videos led to online followers, a new career path, and a new community for Gustafson. She was still taking care of the cats on her property, but she also was looking after cats all across Tucson. Gustafson got involved with local TNR (short for trap, neuter, release) volunteer groups and began helping people care for stray and feral cats in the city. Her social media accounts amassed over a million followers. In 2025, Gustafson finished writing a book and published Poets Square: A Memoir in Thirty Cats.…