A cat soap opera started as a creative outlet during the pandemic stars a shelter cat and his two furry brothers from Kentucky.
Motivational speaker cat Henry from Louisville, Kentucky, is a cat of many hats. The 9-year-old Flame point Siamese cat has been featured in Southern Living Magazine as a cat “on a mission to make people smile.”
Henry the cat via Instagram/henrysthoughts
His human Alyssa Keeling, a video and TV editor, instantly knew he was the one when she met him in a shelter. But, she wouldn’t know until later that her cats Henry, Curtis, and Otis, would be the inspiration for a Cat Soap Opera called Winds of Change, now in its second season on YouTube.
Together, she says her three cats are “constant sources of love and comfort and humor in this weird world.”
Winds of Change and a Cat Soap Opera
“Just as life is ever-shifting, so are the Winds of Change,” the Cat Soap Opera begins. The funny short videos began when the pandemic sidelined Keeling’s job.
“So I did what anyone would do. I dug a green screen out of the garage, wrote a script, threw some costumes on my cats, and got to filming. And just like that, Winds of Change was born,” she says on Instagram.
Image via Instagram/catsoapopera
Despite the difficult year, making the show was “one of the happiest times” of her life, and it grew from there.
“I have made a LOT of videos in my life, but never have I made something so ridiculously fun and just all-around me,” she said.
From left: Otis, Curtis, and Henry with Alyssa Keeling
Before long, many other rescued cats and dogs had starring roles after Keeling sent green screen kits across the country. When life became so difficult and dramatic, finding humor in a drama about cats was the right medicine. Now with a big base of fans, it’s always a treat when a new episode in the saga debuts.
Quirky Cat Comedy
Keeling describes Winds of Change as “the cat soap opera comedy full of riveting twists, turns, passion, hospital things, clones, evil, beers, wines, and forbidden love. Starring cats and dogs of Instagram!”
Part of the quirky fun of the series comes from the silly and surprising dialogue with monotone voiceovers. The awkward maniacal laughs never get old. Each cat and dog has a unique character, and you find yourself wanting to know what will happen next despite yourself.
Henry plays two roles in the show: the dashing lead Valentino and his clone, Dyllon, created by Dr. Rinaldo (played by a Jesus action figure).
Valentino’s brother Chaz (played by Otis) is the flannel-wearing bar owner cat who makes the best “beer wines.” In real-life, Keeling adopted depressed Otis from a shelter, and he changed her life in magical ways. The way the sad shelter cat transformed once he found a home was featured in The Dodo.
“The power of adopting a pet❤️ Otie has added so much magic to my life just by being himself. Thanks for letting me share him with you!”
A running joke is that Chaz is always lying down on the job. Meanwhile, Chaz’s friend is the other recurring human character, Global Pop Phenomenon Justin Timberlake (played by “himself”).
Meanwhile, Henry’s brother Curtis plays glamourous Rosette, the blond boutique owner and love interest for the Dyllon and Valentino.
Curtis as Rosette, screenshot via YouTube
In real life, Curtis, 7, had real-life drama, overcoming congestive heart failure when he was three. Followers helped support Keeling and her husband, and they attributed all the love to helping Curtis pull through.
“Curtis reminds me that life is precious and to be grateful for and find goodness within each day we have in this life,” Keeling wrote on his birthday.
What will happen next as Chaz and friends try to stop “The Catnippers” and “an evil plan that will hurt everyone?” Tune in to find out.
Finding Joy and Overcoming Grief and Depression
While Winds of Change is a hoot, Keeling and her boys tackle many real-life serious subjects on Instagram. For instance, she talks about overcoming grief and her own struggles with depression. As always, there are messages of hope shining through with the helpful steps she and the kitties share.
Meanwhile, there are always surprising stories, like Otis becoming Snowtie the Snow Scientist and Explorer. In this creative world of cats, there are neverending fun and unexpected surprises. We would expect no less from life with rescued cats, and Keeling has an imaginative talent for sharing it with the world.
You can catch the Winds of Change on YouTube and Instagram.
Below you can see Episode 1:
