How A Couple Turned Their Rescued Cat Into A Social Media Sensation With Rs 16 Lakh Investment

Pet owners often go above and beyond to make their furry friends special, and Kathy Guo and Sam Xie are perfect examples of this. The couple have made their rescue cat, Waffle, a female orange tabby a social media sensation with her charming Starbucks barista themed outfits. As their feline’s online fame grew, people started inquiring about purchasing the outfits. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xie began selling aprons online. To promote their products, the couple has invested over $20,000 (approximately Rs 16 lakh) to dress up Waffle. They spent money on props, coffee, aprons and even a custom Starbucks themed cat tree, which is worth $2,000 (approximately Rs 1 lakh).

Speaking with Fox News Digital, Xie said, “To help market my aprons on Instagram, that’s when Waffle The Barista was born. A lot of people out there love coffee, and we thought, ‘Why don’t we use Waffle’s paws to do it so it looks like she is the one making the coffee’.” She added, “We began dressing Waffle up when she was really young (2016). We just did it for fun and giggles back then. We started with really easy things like collars, bandanas, capes etc., and we gradually increased to more difficult costumes like the ones that would require her paws going through.”

On Instagram, Kathy Guo and Sam Xie had shared a creative and hilarious rescue story of their cat. As per the video, Waffle, along with her siblings, was found abandoned on the streets. A rescue group called 4 Paws Strong took them away from the streets. Kathy and Sam saw Waffle’s picture online and felt a connection and decided to meet her. They adopted her instantly and brought her home. To support the family, Waffle didn’t just relax at home, she explored various activities and discovered a love for coffee. The cat now enjoys working at a cafe called Meowbucks.

Reacting to the post, a user wrote, “$100 tip. Damn. This cat must be good at his/her job.”

Another shared, “The hardest working kitty.”

“Aww, Waffle, you are absolutely purrrfect,” a comment read.

One more asked, “Waffle needs a TV spot. Did you ever reach out to Starbucks?”

Sam Xie mentioned that Waffle often visits a nearby Starbucks and has even received special employee pins from the staff. The cat even likes Brown Sugar Oatmilk Iced Shaken Espresso.