(Jonathan Napolitano, 2025, USA, 73 minutes)
Terry and Bruce Jenkins, the couple at the center of Jonathan Napolitano's Cat Town, USA have lived a fairly charmed life. They spent their 30s sowing their wild oats, and when they were ready to settle down, they chose a spread in coastal Florida, where Bruce built a miniature western town, complete with water tower, for their kids to play in and around.
The two started out as dog people, but they had all this land and all these buildings, so they began by adopting a senior cat who was two weeks away from euthanasia, inspiring them to open Cat's Cradle Foundation, a cat sanctuary (after that recollection, they never mention dogs again). Since then, the couple has adopted cats who were abandoned, who didn't get along with other pets, or who were left homeless after their owners died.
All of their cats are seniors, meaning 11 and older. The oldest, Garfield, is 20. I had hoped my little grey cat, Lola, would live that long, and she came close, but this velvety orange tabby looks like she has plenty of life left.
Beyond the cats, the Jenkins have chickens, fish, ferrets, and a miniature horse named Shortcake, who seems to get along just fine with the cats. They no longer have Porkchop, a pig, for reasons Terry explains in the film.
These are people with good hearts, but there are limits, and they can't take in every senior Pasco County cat who needs a home, so Napolitano shares some of the letters they have received and introduces some of the cats they have taken in. Bruce says they receive one to two requests each day.
Napolitano also speaks with their volunteer, in addition to others who have benefited from or helped to promote their service, though their kids don't put in any appearances. It would be interesting to hear what they think about the sanctuary, and its unfortunate that neither of them are involved, because it's clear that Terry and Bruce, much like their cats, are slowing down.
Bruce, who serves as the sanctuary's cheerleader, accountant, and IT guy, becomes emotional when he talks about the cats they have lost. By comparison, the pragmatic Terry is stoic, so much so that she's the one who takes cats to the vet to be euthanized when their time comes. Though I've seen Cat Town, USA described as a "feel good" proposition, that's a bit of a stretch. A senior couple who looks after senior cats represents a risk–a risk worth taking, but a risk nonetheless. Things can, and do, go wrong.
The film ends on a happy note, though the insular nature isn't always to its advantage.
What worked in Suburban Fury works less well here, because it isn't clear what Terry and Bruce did before they retired, and where their money comes from. I'd imagine Cat's Cradle is a non-profit, and that they welcome donations, but I couldn't say for sure. Retirement income may also be a factor. I just know that they do it for love, because it isn't profitable.
I also don't know what they'll do when they're no longer able to continue. It would be nice to think the sanctuary will continue, but without a succession plan, that seems unlikely.
Even if it doesn't, though, it's clear they've done a world of good for dozens, if not hundreds, of Florida cats, and that's no small thing. Not least if the film encourages others to do the same.
After I posted this review, I did some digging. Find out more about Terry and Bruce Jenkins here. I'm happy to report that Garfield was still going at 23.
Cat Town, USA plays SIFF Cinema Uptown today, May 24, at 3:30pm. Jonathan Napolitano and producer James Gannon will be in attendance.
Color Book plays the Uptown May 24 at 5:30pm and May 25 at 2:30pm, Familiar Touch plays Shoreline Community College on May 25, and Sorry, Baby, followed by the closing night party, plays SIFF Cinema Downtown May 24 at 6pm. Cat Town, USA and Color Book will be available to stream May 25 - June 1. Click here to view the SIFF 2019 short, All Cats Go to Heaven, from which Napolitano expanded his feature. All images from the film.
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