Catnip Connections is run by Freddie Katelnikoff with their business and life partner Melissa Kinney. Together, they craft cat toys and accessories for cat lovers and anyone looking for fun cat-themed earrings, pins and bookmarks.
The company started off with handmade cat toys and has evolved since then. They also sell stud earrings, necklaces, pins, bookmarks, stickers, and more!
For cat owners looking for jewelry, Catnip Connections also sells paw stud earrings.
Their cat toys include teaser toys that look like Gold Fish crackers, dinosaurs, salmon, witch hats, logos and designs from Animal Crossing and Gravity Falls, and other fun designs that are perfect for any cat owner.
Even though Freddie was always scared of putting themselves out there, making cat toys gave them a way to step out of their comfort zone and show their work to the public, as well as learn how to do Etsy and other things involving their business.
While Freddie did do beadwork with their mom as a child, they really reconnected with beadwork and other cultural practices through the Alutiiq museum and other resources that offered the young business owner opportunities to learn and teach others.
“Growing up my mom was very interested in reconnecting and that really passed onto me,” Freddie said. “It’s important to me to carry on my people and practices with beadwork and with naniq carving, just occupying space and letting other Alutiiq/Indigenous people know that there is a space for us.”
You can buy their cat toys and jewelry, as well as find out which events they will be vending at, on their website. You can also stay -up-to-date on their latest activities on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
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