A creative volunteer at a cat rescue came up with the purr-fect way to advertise its felines up for adoption.
Kayla Delcoure, who runs social media for Pippi’s Place, a nonprofit in Atlanta, crafted CatVana ads, molded after those on Carvana, the online used-car retailer.
In the parody post, which was featured on its Instagram and Facebook pages on Wednesday, the cats are advertised like the vehicles would be on its site.
Listed are four-legged fur babies such as a “2014 Furrari” named Arlis (black exterior, power napping), a “2015 Furcedes” called Buddy (custom grey saddle kit, seat heater) and Cassie, a “2022 Meowzda” (custom multicolor exterior, self-cleaning).
Delcoure said the inspiration came from her husband’s recent car shopping.
“My husband has been wanting to buy a truck for months, and occasionally brings me his phone to show me the listings,” she told NPR.
“On Tuesday morning while I was brainstorming cute ways to display all nine of Pippi’s Place’s available cats in one post, my husband walked into my office to show me a truck listing.”
She then got to work, and created the page by browsing through Carvana’s website.
“Different amusing descriptions kept popping up in my head, like the ‘four-paw-drive’, ‘rear air vent’, and the rest of them, so I went ahead and made the individual listings as well,” Delcoure explained to the outlet.
The post was also shared on Reddit, where it garnered 65,000 up votes and over 1,500 comments, which couldn’t have come at a better time.
“Right now, we’re working through kitten season, so we have a high volume of tiny kittens who are too young to be adopted out and some with illnesses and injuries that need to be treated before going to furever homes,” Delcoure said. “Our volunteers are working literally around the clock (every four hours) to care for these kittens.”
Through the social media buzz, the nonprofit has received an outpouring of support, including donation inquiries. It even got an application from a family in Canada, who wants to adopt the “Furrari” Arlis.
“They’re willing to go through the adoption and transfer process to bring him home,” Delcoure said.