Dancing with the Stars Judge Promotes Cat Adoption

Published February 29, 2012

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Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba is launching a new web show, Crib Cat, focusing on cat adoption.

When she’s not critiquing a Foxtrot or praising a Samba on the hit reality competition show, Dancing with the Stars, judge Carrie Ann Inaba is working to help cats in need.

After her beloved 19-year-old cat Shadow passed away in October, Inaba took the initiative to begin helping abandoned cats in need of safe and loving homes.

“[Shadow] was my best friend and had been through so much with me,” Inaba told People magazine. “After losing him, it made me realize that it's time to get involved.”

Inaba has long been an advocate for the feline population working with organizations like PETA and serving as the celebrity ambassador for Best Friends Animal Society, which works to put an end to homelessness among the pet population. She is also the host of this year’s 26th Annual Humane Society Genesis Awards, which pays tribute to the news and entertainment media that produce pieces to raise awareness about animal issues.

Now with Shadow’s passing, however, the Dancing with the Stars judge is taking a solo venture into working to raise awareness for homeless cats. Her new web series, Crib Cat, premieres on Petsami’s YouTube channel beginning this March.

Crib Cat will consist of short webisodes, each featuring a different adoptable cat selected by Inaba herself. With personal tips about how to create a good home for the featured cat—not to mention plenty of screen time for the adorable feline—Inaba hopes to aid in the quest to end to pet homelessness.

“I go to bed crying sometimes, because you can't save them all, but it's also so uplifting because you can go to bed knowing you did something. We try, and I feel good about that,” Inaba told People. As a proud owner of six rescue cats and a rescue dog, Inaba calls her participation with the various animal rescue organizations one of the most rewarding parts of her life.

What an amazing project! Share your thoughts about Inaba's work to promote pet adoption in a comment below.

Amanda Kelly

Amanda Kelly is an Editorial Intern for Digital Works @ NBCU.

She currently attends Iona…

Filed Under: News & Blogs, Celebrity
Tags: Cats, cat adoption, celebrity, dancing with the stars

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Comments (3)

Christine Michaels (Unverified)

Added 03-02-2012 01:03am

Hansel & Gretel and unnamed sister had a rough start. Born in a litter of 7 kittens, they witnessed one sibling get run over by car, then poor little Gretel was injured by construction equipment that ripped her fur from hind leg exposing her muscle.skin just dangling. But worse, I found her scaling a cement wall with her tiny nails (she was about 7 weeks) trying to get to her mommy on the other side. Wailing like a banshee I rescued her and her brother Hansel. The pain that spurred those piercing screams was a fractured leg. I also later rescued a sister who was adopted right away. But they were scared kitties surviving a rough world out there--downtown Miami surrounded by wicked machines. After cleaning her leg nightly, cradling her in my arms,cooing her and watching her play (laying sideways on her side) along with her brother, I smiled. She adjusted. She was happy to have mosquitoe-free,ant-free, humid and rainstorm free home with plenty of food and cat milk. She got used to being spoiled. Gretel, healed nicely and became a baby doll. But her brother was part of her recuperation. They were inseparable, often locked in an embrace, grooming eachother, napping and resting on the other's body. A number of potential adopters were only interested in adopting one kitten, Gretel. I could not sell them on benefits of adopting two and taking her brother, a knight in silver tuxedo with white undercoat. He's such a gentleman and still rinses his paws in water bowl to clean his hands of any litter residue. No kidding. How could anyone not adopt these sweet, affectionate older kittens? Gretel is worse than a dog and comes running when you call, snuggles with you in bed, and follows you like love sick puppy. She wants, she needs constant affection. Hence I could not, would not separate these siblings. Others I did all the time. But not these two. So there were not adopted but are a loving part of my brood, a total of six cats and one dog--like Carrie Ann--all cats I rescued from the streets and my dog came from a shelter! www.riverfrontcats.com

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Christine Michaels (Unverified)

Added 03-02-2012 12:52am

Wish I could attend the Genesis Awards. Alas we spend our discretionary income on vet bills, cat food, shelters...It would be incredible to see Ellen, Portia, Carrie Ann Inaba all in one room for a great cause!

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jmuhj (Unverified)

Added 03-01-2012 04:20pm

Though PETA is no friend of cats, Best Friends is a wonderful organization and I'm very glad this mainstream entertainment vehicle is being used as a platform to advocate for cats in need. Big props to the host for her efforts and for loving cats!