A Purrfect Week in Myrtle Beach! 🌴☀️

Article and photos by: Shannon Kowalok

Sometimes a trip is more than just a vacation. It’s a chance to return to a place you love, celebrate special memories, and reconnect with some familiar faces (and furry friends!).

We just enjoyed a wonderful week in Myrtle Beach celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary, and the weather couldn’t have been more purrfect! ❤️

Our days were spent enjoying the sunshine, walking the beach, and hunting for shark teeth. You could say we were doing a little hunting and pouncing of our own, much like our favorite Boardwalk cats! 🦈🐚

But as always, some of the most special moments of our trip involved the cats.

One thing that really stood out this trip was how many visitors stopped to ask about them. We had the pleasure of introducing tourists to the Boardwalk cats, sharing their names, pointing out where they could be found, and letting people know the best times of day to catch a glimpse of them.

It was heartwarming to hear how many people were relieved to learn that the cats are being cared for. Several visitors commented on how healthy and happy they looked. Some expressed interest in donating or checking out the wishlist to help support their care.

One gentleman even took out his phone right there while we were chatting and followed the Cats of the Boardwalk page! He thanked me and everyone involved in caring for these little residents. Moments like that remind us just how much these cats mean to people, even those who are only visiting for a week.

“Remember… sometimes the best treasures you find on the beach aren’t shark teeth. They’re four-legged friends 🐾 waiting to greet you.” — Shannon

We even met a lovely family visiting from Germany! 🌎 It was a reminder that the Boardwalk cats have fans from all over the world. How amazing is it that these little beach residents have made their way into the hearts of people from so many different places?

And now for a few personal highlights!

🐱 Mama: We hadn’t seen Mama in over a year, so getting to see her again was such a treat. It was wonderful to reconnect with a familiar face!

🐾 Scooter: This one might have been my favorite surprise. Scooter actually let me PET him! And not only that, he gave me a little rub against my leg. If you know Scooter, you know what a special moment that was! ❤️

😻 Screech: Of course, Screech was his usual playful, charming self. Every day, as soon as he spotted us, he came running over. He certainly knows how to make an entrance and capture everyone’s attention! He’s also my personal favorite (although I try not to play favorites 😉). Everyone who walks by inevitably asks me, “Is that your cat?” And honestly, in a way, he is. ❤️ He may not live in my home, but he certainly has a special place in my heart. We also noticed he’s quite the favorite of a young business worker in the area. We spotted them treating Screech to Churu on more than one occasion. Clearly, Screech has quite a fan club, and he knows exactly how to work it!

🐈 Sharkey: We can’t forget Screech’s sibling! Sharkey, who hangs out outside Sharkey’s Bar, gave us a little evening entertainment. Every evening, when we called for her, she’d pop right up out of the dunes as if she had been waiting for us all along! She’d roll right over for pets and even show off a few tricks in exchange for a Churu treat. She’s quite the little character, and those evening visits were something we looked forward to! ❤️

We came to Myrtle Beach to celebrate our anniversary, enjoy the ocean, and hunt for shark teeth, but we left with something even more special: new memories with old friends, wonderful conversations with visitors, and the reminder that a little community of cats can bring so much happiness to so many people.

Thank you to everyone who stops to ask about the cats, follows their stories, shares their photos, and helps support their care.

Whether you’re a local, a returning visitor, or someone traveling from halfway around the world, you are part of what makes this little community so special.

Until next time, Myrtle Beach! We’ll be back to see our furry friends again. ❤️🐈🌴