Tracy Hitchcock

Director of Business Development

I’ve lived with cats at every moment of my life. They are the shizzle, in my humble opinion. Independent. Cuddly. Odorless. Curious. Clever as hell.

Hazel is my girl. My son actually picked her out just nearly three years ago (thanks, Simply Cats), but now he’s grown, and I get Hazel all to myself. Yes, that means I also get the litter box duties and have to vacuum cat hair from the chairs. But I also get all the cuddles, the playing, and the conversation — all life-giving moments in these days of isolation. She loves to curl up in the bathroom sink while I’m getting ready for bed — praying I’ll leave the faucet on a slow drip so she can lick it endlessly.

If I had it to do over again, I’d train her on a leash and in a front-facing baby carrier. Because #fairness. I think cats have gotten short-shrift in being welcome at every brewery, outdoor café, park, market, festival, and on and on. Or even the office. It’s so hip to have a ‘dog-friendly workplace,’ and I get it: dogs are cool. I’m not bashing dogs here. Relax. But I want to have my “fur baby” with me literally everywhere, too.

Hazel and I have talked about leash training as a fun little activity while staying at home, but so far, she’s having none of it. For now, she much prefers climbing all over my home office desk and hopping onto my keyboard during Zoom calls. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Brandon Stoker

Art Director

First and foremost: I don’t think we need to draw a line in the sand when it comes to our furry friends. They’re both pretty awesome and both provide us fickle humans with love and companionship. But enough politically-correct pandering to both sides of the debate: I’m pretty much a dog person.

When I recently decided to get a pet, I (simplistically) figured I was choosing between two options: 1) an independent furry friend that takes care of itself but gives minimal “love” and 2) a furry friend who needs as much attention as a toddler, is as messy as a toddler but gives “love” like an overbearing mother with empty-nest syndrome. Now, I’ve got an appreciation for any creature, humans included, that can freakin’ take care of itself — heaven knows I’ve barely crossed that threshold myself — and major props to the cats for being the only animals to have domesticated themselves. No wonder they don’t need us! That said, when choosing said pet, I was living alone for the first time in my life and in a new town, so I was pretty much searching for a super-sized dose of dopamine.

Is my precious girl Dolly annoying sometimes? Oh, yes. Her fondness of french-kisses whilst I’m driving is worrisome and developing healthy boundaries while working from home has been a challenge, despite the many conversations we have about it. Most trying of all: her penchant for frozen doggie poops have tested my gag reflex regularly this winter. I don’t think cats do that, and I praise their wisdom in that situation. But I still wouldn’t trade Dolly for anything.

Adie Bartron

Senior Account Manager

You guys, everyone knows cats are the superior creatures of the animal kingdom. First of all, they are so dang cute. (Please see Exhibit A of my two fur babies – Honey and Juju.) They love to play. They’re small enough to hide in bookshelves. They make the best sounds — our home is humming with meows, peeps, chirps, and purrs. They gallop around our living room like a pair of tiny horses. And ohmygod, those toe beans! Lastly, and I debated on including this fact, but it really helps make my case, cat people are scientifically proven to be smarter than dog people (OH NO, I DIDN’T).

Okay, okay, I hear you, dog people. Yes, cats can have their downfalls. They can occasionally get themselves into trouble (one of my cats definitely didn’t eat an air plant and have to have emergency surgery two days after I adopted her) and sometimes don’t have the typical agility one might expect in a feline (I mean, hasn’t everyone’s cat fallen in the toilet at least twice? No? Just mine?). Even so, nothing has made the transition to working from home smoother than having these two cute colleagues posted up beside me all day. #catmom4life

Julie Stevens

CFO

I mean, look at this picture of Scooter? What else do you need to know??