Nathan the Cat Lady slinks in to Midsummer Scream!
The animal rescuer, who is coming to the Long Beach Convention Center, describes how he uses his acting talents and content creation to rescue animals.
Nate Hehn, whose superego is Nathan the Cat Lady, uses his skills and talents as an actor, a social media force, an animal advocate and a darn nice guy to entertain people and at the same time to draw them in to the many ways to save the lives of pets. If you’re planning on skulking down to the Midsummer Scream festival during the weekend of Aug. 15, you can meet him there, curled up next to the Black Cat Lounge where he’ll be stalking fans and cat adopters.
Nathan may wear a bathrobe, but he isn’t one to pigeonhole himself into the stereotypical representation of a cat lady. For one thing, he’s a guy. For another, he’s not traditionally dotty — there’s a method to his eccentric videos. His hair is too short for the pink rollers. He rescues cats, but he saves dogs, too.
On the other paw, he has more than two cats at home, and there’s a good chance that if you visit him and sit on the couch, the seat of whatever you’re wearing will be coated with fur when you get up. And of course, he’s all things cat.
I met Nathan at the 2024 Midsummer Scream, and it turned out that he was more than just a cat lady. He started out by getting a cat to keep his roommate’s cat company. When the roommate moved out and wanted to make a Sophie’s choice of keeping one cat and getting rid of the other, Nathan refused to separate the bonded pair and took both. He got another cat when his ex-girlfriend’s mother found an abandoned kitten on the roadside and called Nathan. Nathan took the kitten home, and one of his own cats lay claim to him. By the time his new roommate moved in with his own cat, Nathan was a cat lady. Read the whole story here.
It wasn’t long before Nathan discovered the entertainment value of cats. He made audition tapes, many of which you can see on his website and YouTube channel. Those tapes led to connections with organizations like Los Angeles-based Stray Cat Alliance, which helps community cats and helps the people who want to help cats; hosting events, and forming Nathan’s Fosters, which includes a sanctuary and TNR (trap/neuter [and spay and microchips and vaccinations]/release).
During the past year, Nathan has been hitting rescue hard, as he put it. He’s expanded his activism to include dogs, and his cats don’t seem to mind. He implemented the transformation of an animal-testing lab to a sanctuary where 190 beagles and 90 cats are learning what it’s like to be loved animals instead of experimental subjects. In April, he went to Spain for 10 days with a team from Daphne Legacy Tours and its founder, galgo advocate Christina Azharian Taylor, and rescued 32 galgos (hunting dogs that resemble greyhounds and are tormented and killed by their owners) and three cats.
“We send them home on the plane in crates,” Nathan said. “We had to take them through customs.”
Nathan said that legally, each person on the team was allowed to bring back eight dogs each if the members adopted them in Spain.
“So technically, we were their humans until we got them all adopted!” he said.
As ever, Midsummer Scream will be a buffet of creep, rich in eldritch offerings. Nathan, a horror buff, plans to rub elbow bones with the rest of the attendees.
“I love the haunted houses, the escape rooms!” he said. “Trapping in downtown LA often feels like a haunted house, so I’m used it.”
And oh yes, Nate will be selling his bathrobes. If you’re a guy cat lady, too, but can’t see yourself in a robe with “cat lady” embroidered on it, there’s a Cat Dad one just for you!
Midsummer Scream takes place Aug. 15–17, Friday– Saturday, at Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. Tickets available here.
YOURS DROOLY
All cats are black, even the torties, tabbies, calicos, Siameses, longhairs, shorthairs and medium hairs. It’s a mysterioso spirit thing. All the haints in the Black Cat Lounge are rescues from Kitten Rescue in Los Angeles. More cats and adoption information are available here.
Warning: Enter the Black Cat Lounge at Midsummer Scream at your own risk. You will be surrounded by angels and demons — you won’t know the difference — and each will possess your soul and spirit. Take one or two home, and you’ll haunt each other forever. It will be the best thing that can happen to both of you.
Introducing Wren, known as Miss Congeniality amongst her peers! This little fluffball is the purrfect blend of playful energy, curiosity and charm. She is obsessed with wand toys and can be entertained for hours, literally), with them. Wren will always take a break in between playing to find her human so that she can sneak in some cuddles and purr her heart out.
Meet The Munst Cats, a lively group of kittens named after the iconic Munsters They’re a clawsome mix of spooky charm, playful antics and endearing mischief.
Lily, a bewitchingly adorable kitten, purrfectly embodies her namesake's spooky elegance.
Herman, the kitten named for the Munster dad, is a fur fest of mischief with a big personality!
Marilyn Munster, the stripey kitten, is a simply enchanting blend of playful mischief and charm.
Eddie Munster, the foggy-gray spirited kitten, is a little ball of curiosity and charm, with a playful streak as wild as his namesake.
TAIL-WAGGIN' AND NOSE-BOOPIN' EVENTS
Long Beach TNR and Community Cat Coalition August meeting
Do you conduct TNR (trap/spay-neuter-vaccinate-microchip-release of stray cats) with a passion and want to share resources with and get support from an equally engaged community? Are momcats having kittens in your neighborhood, and are dadcats yowling at them to make more? Are you on your last shred of yarn trying to figure out what you can do? Join with this grassroots meeting, the first in Long Beach to focus on combining forces to humanely stop the birthing of unwanted kittens in the urban wild. Includes demonstrations from rescues, experienced trappers, and announcements and tips from LBACS cat coordinator (yay!) Lindsie Merrick.
The Coalition meeting takes place Saturday, Aug. 9, 12:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. at the Education Center at Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, at the entrance to El Dorado Park. No parking fee for shelter guests.
Zazzy Cats Kitty Rescue fundraiser
Fun and funds to benefit a great cat rescue and their cat sanctuary project! See flyer for information!
Benny’s Birthday and Love Your Pet Party
Benny the Cat is turning 8 years old this year, and that’s reason to celebrate! After the abuse he received at just a few months old, at the hands of a heartless owner, it was doubtful that he’d see even his first birthday. But his now-mom Bev, the staff at the shelter, and Helen Sanders CatPAWS provided the care he needed, and he made it. Read his story here.
To celebrate Benny and all the little lives he’s had an impact on, CatPAWS throws a party for him every year! Read the little flyer above for information, including ticket sales, and join Helen Sanders CatPAWS for fun, games, prizes and celebrating Benny’s survival of abuse and leading his best life!
Benny’s Birthday takes place Saturday, Aug. 23, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at Seal Beach Marina Community Center, 151 Marina Dr., Seal Beach. See flyer and visit this link for all information.
Need a low-cost veterinarian, information about trapping community cats, places to volunteer, rescues and shelters to adopt from — anything pet related? Follow this link for resources. Please add your own ideas in the Comments section.
We need your support.
Subcribe to the Watchdog today.
The Long Beach Watchdog is owned by journalists, and paid for by readers like you. If independent, local reporting like the story you just read is important to you, support our work by becoming a subscriber.
