Bruce and Terry Jenkins run a unique sanctuary for elder cats in Jonathan Napolitano’s cozy documentary Cat Town, USA.
Cat Town, USA is a warm hug of a documentary. At any festival, or just the filmscape on the whole, you’ll find many stories of heart-wrenching, terrifying tales of war and strife. They have their homes and are incredibly important. But just as important are the reminders of the kindness and love on this Earth. Of sitting back and enjoying peaceful moments with people, animals, and soft places. Jonathan Napolitano’s Cat Town, USA is an easy slice of a life documentary following Bruce and Terry Jenkins and their unique retirement home for cats.
I’m a fan of niche slices of life, of people living their best lives in the way that works for them, even as many others may say “really?”, whether it be just living their world or especially in a documentary for all to see. At 2018’s SIFF, Cat Walk explored the cat show circuit; as an amuse bouche was Cat’s Cradle, the short expanded into the feature-length Cat Town, USA; both directed by Jonathan Napolitano.
Cat’s Cradle, of the short’s title, is the home for up to thirty senior cats. A retirement home, if you will. Bruce and Terry Jenkins are the wonderful humans who care for them on their sprawling property in Lutz, Florida. They are a great pair of people, sweet eccentrics who first built a mini-town in their backyard as a special playground for children. Over time, that “for children” became “for cats.” Especially senior cats. Kittens get all the love – yes, they are the cutest little mewers, but it’s harder for the older fuzzbuckets to be taken in. Luckily for a selection of cats near Tampa, the Jenkins are there to provide love and care.
As an owner of a senior cat, my Harley is sixteen (and going strong, save some kidney issues), it’s heartwarming to see so many cats cared for so well, with such an outpouring of love. Bruce and Terry have a love of animals and what they do. They work so well together as a pair, with the well-oiled machine of perfectly matched people, building on one another’s strengths. We see how they keep it going, talk to the people in their lives, how loved they are, and how much love they put out. It’s engaging watching them go through the ins and outs of running their sanctuary: the upkeep and growth, balancing the food and medicine needs of dozens of cats (and a few other animals!), and being members of their community.
I loved letting the documentary flow over me. Cat Town, USA is the sort of dropping cameras into people’s (and cats’) lives for a period of time and just presenting what is found, with said people filling in the wider picture for context. There isn’t a dramatic push, in a good way. There are situations presented, such as a health scare in a human, but it’s more in the “it happened while filming.” I’m glad it’s this and not a “documentary about the fight to keep the sanctuary open,” but “let’s watch this sanctuary thrive for 75 minutes.” It’s a refreshing lightness in an often dark world.
I could watch B-roll of cats just being cats for hours. Of course, I can! Cat’s Cradle has 24/7 webcams of the cats, along with shows by Bruce. See www.cats-cradle.org for live webcams, information about the cats, and to help Bruce and Terry on their wonderful mission.
Cat Town, USA is a feel-good documentary of people and cats living their best lives, existing in a cut-filled bubble. It’s a beautiful lightness, a purr-fect pitstop of lightness and love. Cat lovers, make a visit to Cat Town, USA (and support the Jenkins’ or your local cat charity of your choice).
Cat Town, USA is presented through the Seattle International Film Festival, running in-person screenings May 15th – 25th and selected online screenings March 26th – June 1st. See Siff.net/festival for more.