Behind The Print: Herding Cats and Healing Hearts with Kayla Delcoure
Welcome to the latest episode of Behind The Print, where we bring you the creative stories of industry leaders shaping the world of professional printing. In this episode of Behind The Print, we’re joined by Kayla Delcoure, creator of The Pawtistics, author of Nine Lives, and manager of mischief to a lively crew of cats. Kayla shares how her journey from viral videos to heartfelt poetry has helped her build a community around humor, healing, and the deep bonds we share with our pets. From navigating the grief of losing her beloved Gizmo to celebrating the chaos of life with Floki von Thunder Paws and friends, Kayla shows how authenticity, storytelling, and print can turn everyday moments into lasting connection. If you love animals, resilience, or stories that touch the soul, this episode is for you.
“Yes, as a business and entity that started as only online, moving to a print copy of anything has allowed me to give content to consumers or to viewers or fans in a whole new way.” Kayla Delcoure
Transcripts from Behind The Print with Kayla Delcoure
Welcome back to another episode of Behind the Print Podcast, where we feature industry leaders and uncover the creative minds and their businesses within the world of professional printing.
Today’s episode is Herding Cats and Healing Hearts. Joining me today is the Pawtistics Manager of Mischief, Kayla Delcoure.
Kayla: Thank you. I am happy to be here.
Connor: How are you doing today?
Kayla: I’m doing pretty well. I’m actually getting ready for a convention. My hair is normally red, so this will be a shock for a lot of people who usually see me.
Connor: What convention are you going to?
Kayla: I’m going to Dragon Con Atlanta. It’s way bigger than a Renaissance fair. It’s from Thursday to Monday, and even though I live within driving distance, I stay in a hotel because it’s more fun that way.
Connor: That’s exciting! Tell me a little about yourself and what you do.
Kayla: I’m located in Atlanta. I do HR work during the day. After work, I’m a mother of two, a wife, and then the manager of mischief, or mom, to five cats and a ball python.
“I am very much a one woman show, as is seen with my book. Also because I did all of the writing illustrations, covers, marketing, all of that. I, the only thing I didn’t do for my book was the editing.” Kayla Delcoure
Connor: I was looking at your website. You offer mental health encouragement, cat videos, and cat-related merch. How did you start the Pawtistics?
Kayla: We got started in 2022. It wasn’t originally called the Pawtistics, it was Gizmo’s Best Life. I had adopted a tiny orange fluffy kitten named Gizmo right around Christmas. On day two of his homecoming, he was in my Christmas tree slapping ornaments off, banging them across the living room. He was a character, and I knew right away he was going to be something special.
I captured all my memories with him and my family. One video that kicked everything off was of him refusing to get out of a big tunnel that had been my children’s. Every time I pulled him out, he’d pop right back in. That video got picked up by licensing companies. I have a degree in mass communication and film, so I was familiar with that process. We ended up being published by The Dodo, and from then on I just posted online. People loved it, and I loved the happiness I could bring.
Sadly, in 2023 Gizmo passed away from FIP. It was very unexpected. FIP used to be 100 percent fatal. Treatments are only recently available, and they’re still hard to come by. He didn’t make it. I still had Floki, a crazy kitten we’d gotten for Gizmo, who was suddenly without a friend. So we went back to the same rescue where we got Gizmo, PPI’s Place Pet Rescue in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and adopted Mohu and Popper. It’s been chaos ever since.
The pain of losing Gizmo led me to a lot of reflection, and I think it helped others feel seen and validated. It ultimately led me to writing Nine Lives. No, I don’t believe everything happens for a reason, but I did get some good from that.
Connor: That’s inspiring. I also wanted to ask about the names of your cats. My favorite is Floki von Thunder Paws. How did you come up with that?
Kayla: It started as just Floki, but he kneads blankets very intensely. Every time he did something mischievous, I extended his name into Floki von Thunder Paws. It stuck. Bruce is another one—his full name is Bruer Wayne Mounding Star. Mushu is Mushu the Meatball or the Bowling Ball. Luna is just Luna, because she’s not a cat, she’s a goddess. And Popper is named after a character from Baldur’s Gate 3, a cute little kobold who always says “want a Reto.”
Connor: Bruce looked sinister in his picture on your website.
Kayla: He loves to sit up high and watch everything like Batman. He’s the oldest at eight. We got him when my son was ten months old, and they’ve grown up together. They haven’t spent a night apart since. That bond is very special.
Connor: Who do you typically serve with your consulting?
Kayla: I started consulting this April. There are three parts. First, cat advice. People fill out a detailed form, I take 48 hours to review and research, then we have a 30-minute consultation. I’ve had clients who just got their first cat and ask if behaviors are normal, and others who’ve had cats longer than I’ve been alive. I sometimes feel small, but I can still give ideas they hadn’t thought of. Imposter syndrome is real, but I’ve had 27 years of experience with cats.
Connor: Could you go into more detail about the problems you solve?
Kayla: Health issues come up a lot, though I always tell people to consult their vet first. I also get questions about giving medicine, stopping fights, introducing new cats, or helping indoor cats stressed by outdoor cats. I look at problems in a very focused way—I don’t think outside the box, I think in the box. I look at the limits and figure out solutions within them. Sometimes that means bringing in outside resources, but often it’s about using what you already have.
Connor: On your website and Amazon you sell merch. Do you design the artwork?
Kayla: I do for all but two designs. I’m very much a one-woman show, as with my book—I wrote it, illustrated it, did the covers, and the marketing. Only the editing was outsourced. A few designs are by guest artists who are credited and paid fairly. The rest are mine. I’m not a polished artist, but when I get an idea, I use my drawing pad and make it happen.
“Being able to open it and to smell the pages for all of my book people out there, being able to just feel the pages.” Kayla Delcoure
Connor: Tell me about your book.
Kayla: My book is called Nine Lives. It’s about the lifecycle of owning a pet, the chaos and silliness of having them, but also the heavy process of loss. I talk about anticipatory grief, which can hurt worse than grief after they pass because you know it’s coming.
One of the passages says, “All of this drama over a cat?” At the bottom it answers, “You don’t understand. He carried my soul.” That sums it up. Many people don’t connect with animals that way, but those who do need to be seen. You can’t take bereavement leave for losing a pet. If more people talked about it, there would be more emotional support for those grieving.
Connor: How do you stand out from other businesses in your field?
Kayla: I stand out because I answer only to the people I work with. I know my limits, I use science to back up what I say, and I always ask myself if I’d regret posting something if my mother saw it. I haven’t yet. I stand by what I say, and if I make a mistake, I own up to it. I expect grace because I give grace.
Connor: Can you tell me about some major milestones you’ve encountered?
Kayla: I’m only a few thousand followers away from a million. That’s a huge milestone, and I may even buy myself a plaque. Another milestone was selling out all my pre-orders for the legacy edition of Nine Lives. I had 50 copies available before release, and they sold out. I’ll be printing more because people are still asking.
Connor: Can you tell us about challenges or obstacles?
Kayla: Right now it’s more mental than anything. Approaching a million followers makes me check metrics too much. It feels like growth is slower, even if it isn’t. On social media you have to post constantly to stay relevant, which creates pressure. That pressure sometimes stifles my creativity. It’s a cycle, feeling pressure, not creating, then feeling worse.
Sometimes I just say forget it, record an unhinged voiceover, and post my cats being crazy. Those are the ones that usually go viral. They’re natural and unscripted.
Connor: How has print helped your business?
Kayla: Starting as an online-only business, print let me give fans something tangible. With the legacy version of Nine Lives, I sign it, and my cats sign it with paw prints. I made custom signatures for each cat. People get a keepsake that represents the love and tears I put into it.
Before Nine Lives I always wanted to make children’s books. Doing this poetry book feels like a step in that direction. I doodled throughout the book, and though I wouldn’t illustrate a children’s book myself, I’d love to collaborate with an illustrator. I have so many ideas I can’t capture in cat videos but can put on paper.
Connor: If you had a day completely free, how would you spend it?
Kayla: I’m kind of allergic to having nothing to do. I’d probably read and play video games.
Connor: What kind of games?
Kayla: All kinds. I rotate obsessions, it might be The Sims, Helldivers, or a cozy game like Tiny Bookshop. If I need to vent, I play Helldivers. If I’m relaxing, I play Tiny Bookshop.
“I always think it’s kind of funny because people say, think outside the box. I don’t think outside the box. I think in the box and there’s nothing in there, and it’s my job to think of what I can do in it.” Kayla Delcoure
Connor: How can listeners get in touch with you?
Kayla: The easiest way is to Google “The Pawtistics.” I’m on every platform except X under that name. Or search for Floki von Thunder Paws—you’ll find me. If he’s in real trouble, I call him Floki Elizabeth von Thunder Paws. That’s his hidden middle name, which everyone now knows.
Connor: Well, I’d say that’s a wrap on another episode of Behind the Print. Thank you for joining us, and thank you to our listeners. Remember, having a strong vision, building the right strategy, and using tools like print will help your brand stand out. Until next time, keep those creative sparks flying.
More Than a Cat Video, It’s a Community!
Kayla Delcoure, creator of The Pawtistics and author of Nine Lives, brings authenticity and heart to every story she shares. From viral cat chaos to the tender reality of pet loss, Kayla uses print to give her audience something tangible — a keepsake that carries love, humor, and healing. Her work proves that print isn’t just paper, it’s connection, memory, and legacy. Order today!
Listen to the full episode on Spotify or check out the interview on YouTube!
