Purest Shelter was founded by three graduate students in Seattle — Steve, Lee, and Johnny — who share a deep love for animals. Our story began not with a business plan, but with a profound loss and a desire to protect the ones we love, even after they’ve gone.

Lee and Johnny adopted a black-and-white American Shorthair named Dodo during their undergraduate years. Dodo was sweet and gentle, though he would sometimes cry at night during his early days at home, calling out for the siblings he was separated from. He eventually settled in, becoming affectionate and calm — especially when rewarded with his favorite chicken breast canned food.

Steve, on the other hand, rescued a playful tabby named Wolffy one late night during finals week, finding him shivering and alone on the walk home from the library. Unlike Dodo, Wolffy was wild and full of energy — always sprinting around the apartment, demanding playtime even in the middle of the night. He had a deep love for the outdoors, and Steve believed Wolffy had friends out there in the neighborhood. So eventually, Steve let him explore beyond the door. To Steve’s relief and surprise, Wolffy always returned, casually hopping back inside at dawn for breakfast and a nap.

Steve even created a small door on the windowsill so Wolffy could come and go freely, always returning to his favorite sunny spot by the window.

But one cold winter night, Wolffy left and didn’t come back. We searched everywhere, and finally found him injured in the bushes near our apartment. The vet told us he had likely been hit by a car. The damage was too severe. Steve held him tightly as the vet gave him a peaceful farewell.

Because Steve was far from home, cremation was the only option. Wolffy came back to us in an urn — small, silent, and heart-wrenching. Steve couldn’t bear to let him go again, so we carefully built a wooden box to house Wolffy’s ashes, his favorite toy, and his beloved tuna cans. He placed it by the sunny window, where Wolffy used to nap, and named it Wolffy’s Shelter.

When our friends heard this story, they encouraged us to share it — to create a shelter not just for Wolffy, but for other beloved companions who had left us too soon. And so Purest Shelter was born: a memorial urn and keepsake box for cats, designed with love by people who truly understand what it means to grieve a furry friend.

We hope that this shelter can bring comfort to those still wandering — far from home, living in rented rooms, searching for a sense of belonging. To anyone who has ever loved and lost a pet, may this be a small way to keep them close. May your companion stay by your side, even after goodbye. And perhaps, when we grow old, we’ll meet them again — in a place where the sun always shines, and farewells are never needed.