Many mourn Everett’s ‘Youngest Old Cat Lady,’ Ashley Morrison
Ashley Morrison posted this image to her Instagram account on Dec. 30, 2022. In the post’s caption, Ashley mentioned her struggles with psychological well being and reported 2022 was “easily the most tough yr of my life” and she “wouldn’t have survived without the need of my mother, and near loved ones and mates guidance.” (Photograph delivered by Cindi Morrison)
EVERETT — She was known globally as the “Youngest Outdated Cat Lady.”
Her life centered all over cat rescue, fostering, adoption and “spreading joy through mini lions.” Her Instagram had playful kittens and her specific manufacturer of humor.
Alongside with cute kitties, there was a different side Ashley Morrison shared with her practically 250,000 Instagram followers on @youngestoldcatlady: Her battle with mental illness.
Ashley died by suicide on April 6. She was 31.
Ashley Morrison pictured with 1 of her rescue kittens. Although not all were in her house, at just one time Ashley had 33 cats under her treatment. (Photograph supplied by Cindi Morrison)
Ashley grew up in Everett. She moved to Los Angeles in her early 20s to go after a career in performing. Her favourite assert to fame was showing up in a Taylor Swift movie.
She returned home immediately after three decades to end her degree at the College of Washington Bothell. She traveled thoroughly, to five continents, 31 nations around the world and 40 states, section of which was a semester at sea in college or university.
Immediately after her father Jay Morrison died by suicide in 2015, she and her mom, Cindi, right away fostered 3 cuddly kittens who necessary to be bottle-fed close to the clock.
“It’s what received us by way of,” Cindi Morrison said. “People would occur in excess of to mourn with us and we’d all sit around the desk and bottle-feed kittens in its place of acquiring extensive faces and crying and not being aware of what to discuss about.”
Ashley began to share images of these three kittens on social media with pals and family. It turned so preferred that she arrived up with Youngest Outdated Cat Girl as her moniker, making content material that has led to a quarter-million followers on Instagram and one more 183,000 on Facebook.
Ashley Morrison with a whisker tattoo on her finger. Her everyday living centered all-around cat rescue, foster, adoption and “spreading joy via mini lions.” (Photograph offered by Cindi Morrison)
When Ashley recognized how a lot superior she and her followers could do in the cat planet, she launched the nonprofit Ashley’s Kitten Academy to financially aid other people foster felines and the TNR (Lure, Neuter, Release) of feral cats.
At just one time she had 33 cats beneath her care, but not all were in her house. Some had been in foster households or at her mom’s home.
“I did it with her, for her,” her mom claimed.
Ashley designed her an Instagram spin-off as @youngestoldcatgrandma.
“The query she was most generally asked was how she was ready to give those people darling kittens away,” Cindi Morrison claimed. “Her answer was: ‘I cry every time, but I know there are so many extra that need to have my help.’”
Due to the fact of her perform, others were being inspired to get started fostering.
@youngestoldcatlady Even manufactured it to the front website page of Reddit! Kitty kisses. #catvideo #kitten ♬ first seem – Youngestoldcatlady
“To meet up with Ashley is to like Ashley,” her mother reported. “She was just a fantastic soul but regretably had a psychological illness that she could not get previous. She was normally the funniest a person in the area, entertaining every person.”
A number of yrs just after her father’s loss of life, she made a decision to converse out about suicide on her web page.
“She said, ‘People just sweep psychological wellbeing challenges underneath the rug and it’s just not proper. Persons want to realize that it is an ailment, just like most cancers or any other disorder,’” Cindi Morrison claimed.
On what would have been her dad’s 62nd birthday past month, Ashley wrote a prolonged write-up about the stigma of suicide, ending with, “Feel absolutely free to use this as an excuse to consume cake in his memory these days.”
News of her dying blew up on social media this 7 days.
Ashley Morrison pictured with a person of her rescue kittens. Though not all ended up in her home, at one time Ashley experienced 33 cats under her care. (Picture supplied by Cindi Morrison)
Reddit threads praised her “unfiltered reality.”
“Ashley was transparent about her personal struggles, but I am so, so heartbroken that this is how her story finished,” a publish stated.
Stated a different: “Ashley was so public about her psychological health struggles …. I’m happy she’s at peace, but I wish it didn’t finish this way. She was a fantastic foster and an totally hilarious internet presence.”
Above 8,300 Instagram comments on her final article arrived from all more than the entire world.
“You served preserve so a lot of lovely lives,” one go through. “Wish we could have performed much more to assist you.”
Ashley scheduled her ultimate publish before she died. It came out a couple days following her demise, shocking and saddening her family and thousands of followers.
Ashley Morrison’s headshot. Ashley moved to Los Angeles in her early 20s to pursue a vocation in acting. (Photo supplied by Cindi Morrison)
“Hello all, Thank you for the years of help and a great lifestyle you have specified me. I do not want anyone to get this as a sign to stop. I have been having difficulties for so long,” it browse in aspect.
The Day by day Herald does not generally publish messages remaining by people who die by suicide.
“It was not actually a suicide be aware, it was just a thank-you and goodbye to her followers,” Cindi Morrison explained. “We considered it was critical to share it to glow a light on the health issues that so numerous are battling with.”
She stated the relatives needs to thank every person for their outpouring of like and the flowers sent.
“My residence is overflowing with flowers and I just cannot acquire any longer ideal now,” she explained. “If you would like to take this occasion to consume some German chocolate cake, it was her complete preferred. Please assume of her when you take in it.”
Flowers are welcome at a celebration of daily life that will be held at a afterwards day.
Memorial donations can be produced to National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Nationwide Alliance on Mental Health issues, Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Undertaking in Lynnwood or an animal rescue of your decision.
Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443 [email protected] Twitter: @reporterbrown.
Enable is obtainable 24/7
The National Suicide Avoidance Lifeline is 800-273-8255.
Text 988 to attain the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline: 988lifeline.org
Nationwide Alliance on Mental Ailment Snohomish County: namisnohomishcounty.org
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