Picture Perfect Cats with Brian Vermeire & Kristina Hughes
Featured on Community Cats Podcast
Kristina Hughes and Brian Vermeire joined Stacy LeBaron on the Community Cats Podcast to discuss rescue work, fostering, entrepreneurship, cat enrichment, and the story behind the invention of Frame Your Feline — a wall-mounted feline furniture system designed to transform cats into living works of art. The episode explores everything from rescue advocacy and cat behavior to ugly cat trees, website design, fostering, and why cats naturally gravitate toward enclosed elevated spaces.
👇 Listen the full podcast here.
About the EPISODE
Hosted by Stacy LeBaron, this conversation dives into the personal and professional lives of Kristina & Brian — from their rescue efforts and entrepreneurial background to the creation of Frame Your Feline.
Topics discussed include:
Rescue and fostering experiences
Community cat advocacy
The problems with traditional cat trees
Designing cat furniture for real homes
Website design and entrepreneurship
Why cats love enclosed spaces
The psychology behind feline enrichment
How Frame Your Feline evolved from prototype to product
Helping rescue cats get better adoption photos
The importance of making cat products both functional and beautiful
The episode balances humor, rescue passion, and practical product design while highlighting the emotional connection people share with cats.
From Cat Trees to Cat Art
The origins of Frame Your Feline began after Kristina & Brian became increasingly frustrated with traditional carpeted cat trees.
The problems were familiar:
Difficult to clean
Bulky
Visually unattractive
Full of carpeting that trapped odors and fur
Destined for landfills after only a few years
After unsuccessfully trying alternative enrichment products — including a cat exercise wheel that none of their cats would use — they began brainstorming a new idea.
What if cat shelves and framed artwork could become one integrated system?
That simple question eventually evolved into Frame Your Feline.
Why Cats Love The Frames
One of the most fascinating parts of the conversation focuses on feline behavior.
Kristina & Brian discovered that cats instinctively gravitated toward the frames because the structure creates the psychological feeling of being inside a box — despite remaining visually open on all sides.
The result:
Cats lounge comfortably
Groom themselves
Sleep inside the frames
Observe household activity
Watch birds through windows
Naturally pose for photos
The founders repeatedly describe the system as becoming a “magnet” for cats throughout the home.
Built With Real Homes In Mind
Unlike traditional cat furniture, Frame Your Feline was intentionally designed to complement modern interiors instead of dominating them visually.
The system combines:
Wall-mounted shelves
Premium framing materials
Interchangeable artwork
Modular layouts
Durable construction
Easy-clean surfaces
The episode also highlights the engineering process behind the product, including Brian’s father helping test:
Structural integrity
Torque resistance
Jump impact
Weight support
Long-term durability
Rescue, Fostering & Community Cats
Because this episode appeared on the Community Cats Podcast, a large portion of the conversation focuses on rescue work and community cat advocacy.
Kristina & Brian discuss:
Trapping and neutering a stray named Scrappy
Foster-to-adopt experiences
Living with multiple rescue cats
The emotional reality of abandoned animals
The importance of community involvement
Their long-term dream of supporting spay/neuter initiatives
They also explain how Frame Your Feline can help shelters and rescues capture better adoption photography by naturally encouraging cats into visually engaging poses.
Designed To Be Easy
The podcast also explores the installation process behind Frame Your Feline.
To simplify installation for everyday cat owners, the system includes:
A leveling template
Drill guides
Step-by-step instructions
Video walkthroughs
Beginner-friendly installation support
Kristina even jokes about never having used a drill before filming the installation videos herself.
The goal:
Make installation feel approachable instead of intimidating.
Key Takeaways
Frame Your Feline was created as an alternative to traditional cat trees
Cats naturally gravitate toward enclosed elevated spaces
The frames provide cats with a “safe box” feeling
Traditional cat trees often become difficult to clean and maintain
The product was engineered for durability and safety
The system blends feline enrichment with home décor aesthetics
Rescue organizations can benefit from improved cat photography
The founders are deeply involved in rescue and fostering efforts
The installation process was intentionally simplified for beginners
The product was extensively beta tested with real cat families
Notable Quotes
“Cat trees are an abomination.”
“Frame Your Feline becomes a magnet.”
“They feel safe and secure like they’re in a box.”
“The cats are using it every single day.”
“It’s all of those things… and it’s just not ugly and carpeted.”
About Frame Your Feline
Frame Your Feline creates premium wall-mounted feline furniture systems designed to turn cats into living works of art.
Each system combines:
Elevated feline enrichment
Interchangeable artwork
Real framing materials
Modular layouts
Modern home aesthetics
The company also actively supports:
Rescue efforts
Fostering
Community cat advocacy
Adoption awareness
Better cat photography for shelters and rescues
