When Curtis McIff retired, he discovered a new passion in his garage.
He loved building furniture by hand, creating everything from full-sized Adirondack chairs for his home to miniature versions for his own cats. But while working on those tiny chairs, an idea struck him.
What if shelter cats had little chairs of their own?
As a volunteer at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, McIff had spent plenty of time caring for cats waiting to be adopted. He realized many of them didn't have enough comfortable places to rest, so he decided to put his woodworking skills to good use.
He handcrafted six colorful miniature Adirondack chairs and brought them to the sanctuary as a surprise.
The response couldn't have been better.
Placed throughout Cat World—the sanctuary's home for hundreds of feline residents—the tiny chairs quickly became some of the cats' favorite places to lounge. Curious kitties climbed aboard one after another, happily soaking up naps and sunny afternoons from their new seats.
Before long, word spread throughout the shelter.
Staff members from other areas began asking if McIff could build even more chairs for the cats in their care.
Then came another request.
Could he make tiny daybeds, too?
Without hesitation, McIff returned to his workshop and designed a cozy cat-sized bed to match his miniature furniture.
Today, his creations can be found throughout Cat World.
So far, he's handcrafted around 40 miniature Adirondack chairs and 10 custom daybeds, giving countless shelter cats a comfortable place to relax while they wait for families of their own.
For McIff, seeing the cats actually use his handmade furniture is the greatest reward.
“It does my heart good to see them facing the sun while lying in one of my chairs,” he shared.
His thoughtful project is a reminder that acts of kindness don't always have to be big to make a lasting difference.
Sometimes, all it takes is a few pieces of wood, a little paint, and someone willing to spend their time making life a little brighter for animals still waiting for their happily ever after.
