Hello there! I’m Vanessa Morgan, founder and creative mind of Traveling Cats
For over 20 years, I’ve been snapping pictures of every cat I meet during my travels around the world. In December 2013, I realized I had more travel pictures of cats than “normal” ones, and I figured it could be fun to put them all on a blog. Two weeks later, Traveling Cats was born.
It’s an interesting project on many levels. The pictures are not just about the cats, but they also give a good impression of the cities and countries in which those pictures were taken. Also, whereas in some parts of the world cats look like little divas, in others they are unkempt, poor creatures.
My passion for this site helped it to grow quickly. Traveling Cats has since become the biggest collection of travel pictures of cats and the first online destination for travelers searching for cat-related activities.
Do you only publish your own cat pictures?
While most of the pictures are my own, I also publish submissions from readers. Go to Submit a Cat Photo to send your own pictures.
What type of camera do you use?
I use an Olympus E-PL 7, which is extremely lightweight, compact, and easy to use. It has the added advantage that you can use it in combination with lenses and flashes from other brands. I couldn’t live without it anymore.
Do you do something else in life apart from taking cat pictures?
I’m obsessed with horror movies, and I’m at my happiest at film festivals. I started my career as a movie critic, and I have written three books about the horror genre: When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies with Killer Animals, Strange Blood: 71 Essays on Offbeat and Underrated Vampire Movies, and Evil Seeds: The Ultimate Movie Guide to Villainous Children. I’ve also tried my hand on fiction books (Drowned Sorrow, The Strangers Outside, Clowders), a cat memoir (Avalon), and screenplays (A Good Man, Next to Her, GPS With Benefits). Three of my works have been turned into films. I’m also a programmer for the Offscreen Film Festival in Brussels.
When I’m not writing, watching horror movies or taking cat pictures, you can find me reading, urbexing, drinking tea, digging through flea markets, or going to restaurants.
Do you have a cat yourself?
No matter how many cats I meet during my travels around the world, my own pets will always be the most precious.
Unfortunately, my cat Avalon passed away in July 2013. I wrote a book about him: Avalon: a Heartwarming True Cat Story. He also had a part in the movies Strangers and Next to Her, and he appears in my horror stories A Good Man and Clowders.
In December 2014 I adopted Romero at the local cat shelter Cat Rescue. I wasn’t ready for a new cat, but I thought there were so many homeless pets that it would be selfish not to adopt one if I had the space for it. Romero has become one of the great loves of my life.
Where do you live?
I currently live in Sint-Pieters-Woluwe, Belgium. I also lived in London, Oudergem, Zaventem, Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, and Genval.
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