Rescue cat who dresses up like barista becomes Instagram star

A couple have spent $20,000 dressing up their cat in cute outfits - including as a barista.

Kathy Guo and Sam Xie, both 32, post videos of their nine-year-old ginger tabby, Waffle, making her signature drinks to their 28,000 followers on Instagram.

The couple adopted Waffle from a rescue center in 2015 as Sam always wanted an orange-looking cat to match his love for Garfield.

Sam, who is the self-proclaimed "crazy cat lady" of the relationship, runs the Instagram page and the couple dedicate their weekends to filming and editing content.

They script the videos throughout the week before spending around six hours filming clips - allowing time for Waffle-sized acting breaks.

He estimates they have spent around $20,000 on running the page - including outfits, props, accessories, recipes and a giant $2,000 coffee-cup-themed cat tree.

Waffle owns over 16 aprons and has dozens of accessories - including capes, bowties, hats and jackets.

Despite Waffle's clear talent, Sam revealed part of that $20k has gone up on repair costs to their flat from Waffle's occasional drink-making accidents.

The couple spoils Waffle and spend around $500-$800 a month on food, supplements, grooming equipment and her costumes.

Sam, a chief operating officer for Nala Cat's cat food, from Santa Clara, California, said: "It's a lot of work. The coffee videos - even a minute long - can take five or six hours a video.

"Half that time goes into recording waffle - cats don't stay still!

"We have to film bits and come back to when she's ready to do it again.

"We always have to incorporate her paws into something - so it's more work than it seems.

"We usually script out what we want to do for the week and then dedicate Saturday for filming and Sunday as a back-up.

"We try and put our own spin on the recipes and I try to do something more unique for my audience as I know the majority of our audience is in the US.

"We also sometimes make cat-friendly recipes so Waffle can have a treat as well!

"Waffle is the bright star of our lives.

"Waffle was adopted when me & Kathy first moved in together and she's been through the toughest parts of our lives with us."

Sam initially launched the page in 2017 to gain some experience using social media for a new job.

He said: "When I was a social media intern right out of school they didn't want me to operate their Instagram account without any experience so they suggested I make one for Waffle to practice.

"The pictures began to get traction and it built up and then we really focused on it in 2019."

During Covid, Same launched his own Etsy shop to sell some of the costumes they were buying for Waffle.

But the shop really took off when Sam custom-made an apron for Waffle.

He said: "We sold two or three thousand of those.

"I thought that would work for a cat - it's easy to put on and you can adjust it very easily.

"Obviously, I had nothing to put into marketing but I just thought I'd take something really popular and make it cat-themed.

"They're all cat-themed versions of brands like Starbucks, McDonald's, Wendy's, Chipotle and Burger King!"

Sam says the hardest video to make was a collaboration with Kody, a feline chef.

The video shows a split screen of the two cats making a strawberry latte in sync.

He said: "It was really hard to coordinate and we had to make them do exactly the same thing at the same time but it's definitely my favourite."

Alongside her collection of clothing accessories, one of their biggest individual purchases for Waffle is her own coffee cup cat tree.

Sam said: "We had it custom-made from wood and it was almost $2,000.

"Her monthly bill on average per month can be anywhere from $500-800.

"She has top of the line food, supplement, treats, bottled water, grooming supplies, monthly subscription toy boxes, her Instagram filming supplies, new costumes, etc.

"We also contribute to an emergency saving fund for her monthly."

Waffle's impressive coffee-making skills have attracted the eyes of brands who have sponsored her.

Sam said: "We have a pet supplement brand deal which is a long-term one and we've been working with them for over a year now.

"We've had some litter box ones too.

"By doing coffee videos it actually opens coffee up to more stuff so I did something with my local coffee shop too.

"It certainly opens up more avenues!"