Missouri-Based Cattery Takes the Absolute Cutest Photos of Their Newborn Kitten Named Tamale
In Burlington Junction, Missouri, a Sphynx cattery is turning newborn kitten photos into a full-on internet event. The Naked Ladies Cat House, a TICA-registered cattery, has built a reputation around careful breeding practices, detailed kitten care, and some seriously memorable themed photo shoots.
This time, the star is Tamale, a tiny kitten who was photographed at just a week old in a Halloween-inspired session that quickly took off online. Between the adorable images, the cattery’s adoption process, and the debate that always seems to follow breeding stories, there is plenty for people to react to.
And once Tamale enters the picture, it is hard to look away.
1. Sweet Tamale, you are a gift to the universe.

2. Naked Ladies Cat House is an "Open" Cattery. By this, they say they "accept visitors by appointment only and encourage all adopters to come visit where their baby grew up."

3. Their cats are adopted out as pets explicitly and are not intended for breeding at all. They also offer zero stud services.
Studs are male cats kept specifically for breeding services.

4. All of their adoptions are done through an application and waitlist process.

The question of whether or not we "should" breed purebred cats is something directed at the breeding community on a regular basis. Egyptian Mau breeder, Pipps Egyptian Maus (another cattery with TICA certification) says, "When we use the word 'should,' we are incorporating ethics (ethos) into our argument."
"While I agree that allowing cats to breed indiscriminately and leaving kittens to fend for themselves in the wild is certainly cruelty to animals, and some breeding facilities are no better, I have a hard time believing that God has a problem with our CFA and TICA registered cattery breeding a litter of kittens a year to provide excellent companions."
5. Kittens should stay with their mothers for a minimum of 12-14 weeks. NLCH's policy of 14-16 weeks is fantastic.

6. Kittens separated from their mothers as early as 8 weeks are at risk for developmental, social, and health issues.

7. Tamale is so cute.

That is a lot of effort for one tiny kitten, and the photos show it.
And if you love a happy ending after a wedding stunt, the shelter cat tossed instead of a bouquet will melt your heart.
Allow us to momentarily pause the stream of adorable Tamale photos to show you how much thought is regularly put into The Naked Ladies Cat House's photos of their kittens. They're clearly experts!

Many of their photo sessions include holiday themes; how could you not love that?

It's impawsible not to love.

Sphynx cats exist due to a naturally occurring genetic mutation, but it wasn't until the 1960s that selective breeding began. They are intelligent, energetic, and curious cats, even if they are most notorious for appearing to be completely naked.
Litter-ally adorable. See what I did there?

On Cloud Nine

Oh, sorry, did we fail to mention the maternity sessions, too? Equally precious, seriously.

A proud mama-to-be

Okay, maybe you're not sold on the relevance of continued breeding, but you certainly cannot deny that Tamale here is a cutie-patootie; that would just be heartless. They clearly care about each and every cat that graces the world through their cattery.
Want more “sweet and spicy” cat chaos, see Mama Chorizo’s charcuterie-themed kittens next.