Pigeon Forge’s Smoky Mountain Cat House Profiled on TV
One of Pigeon Forge’s quirkiest shops has made its TV debut! The Smoky Mountain Cat House was profiled on WBIR, the NBC affiliate in Knoxville, TN. This popular destination offers a seemingly endless variety of unique cat memorabilia, with everything from cat clocks to cat jewelry. If you have a feline friend back home, you definitely don’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind store. You can watch the segment profiling the Smoky Mountain Cat House below:
History of the Smoky Mountain Cat House
The Smoky Mountain Cat House was established in 1985 by Cheryl and Phil Anderson, who relocated to Pigeon Forge from New Orleans. After their big move, Cheryl knew that she wanted to start a new career in the Smokies, but she wasn’t sure what type of business she would like to get into. When Cheryl talked about her career options with her best friend, she received some sage advice: do something related to cats.
To say that Cheryl Anderson is a “cat person” would be a severe understatement. Cheryl’s love for cats borders on obsession, but it is this burning passion for everything feline that has made the Smoky Mountain Cat House so successful.
Armed with inspiration from her friend, Cheryl set out to make her dream a reality. The Andersons purchased an old river cottage located steps away from The Old Mill and transformed it into a mecca for cat lovers. According to Cheryl “everybody thought I was crazy, and I proved them wrong”.
Cat-tastic Creations
The Smoky Mountain Cat House is filled to the brim with fun cat-themed items. Visitors to the shop will find home decor, T-shirts, sleepwear, handbags, clocks, pillows, wallets, change purses, and many other items with a distinctly feline design. The Cat House’s handmade cat jewelry is especially popular and has a loyal following online.
In addition to all of the cat-themed items for humans, the shop also offers a number of gifts that you can buy for your pet, including toys, cat grass, and water fountains. The Cat House’s inventory is always changing and growing, so you never know what gems you’re going to find.
Make Some Furry Friends
Of course, the Smoky Mountain Cat House wouldn’t be complete without some furry friends to play with! Guests at the shop can get to know Mo, Luna, Bella, Leeloo, and Ziggy, who all belong to the Andersons. These friendly cats are always looking for attention and a good scratch behind the ears.
If you think that Mo and the gang are the only pets the Andersons have, you have vastly underestimated Cheryl’s love for cats. Besides the five cats who live at the shop, Cheryl also has seven cats who live at her home and two who reside on the back porch. Additionally, Cheryl cares for a few feral cat colonies in town, which brings the grand total of cats in her life to 24!
With two dozen cats under her wing, Cheryl Anderson is definitely in the right line of work. If you would like to meet Cheryl and some of her beloved pets, plan on visiting the Smoky Mountain Cat House during your next vacation. The Cat House is located at 3327 Old Mill Street in Pigeon Forge.
More Places to Shop in Pigeon Forge
Looking for more great places to purchase souvenirs from the Smokies? Check out our complete guide to shopping in Pigeon Forge!
