Meet Ash & Kai
Every Murrena product begins with two very important opinions.
Ash and Kai are the inspiration behind Murrena and the reason every product is tested before it reaches your home.
Like most cats, they have very different personalities, preferences, and opinions about what deserves their attention. If something isn't comfortable, interesting, or sturdy enough, they make that clear very quickly.
Living with them has taught us that great cat products aren't just about appearance. They need to encourage natural behaviors, withstand everyday use, and become something cats genuinely choose to use.
Before a product joins the Murrena collection, it spends time in our own home, where Ash and Kai help us evaluate it for comfort, durability, functionality, and overall design. Sometimes they approve immediately. Sometimes they don't - and those products never make it into the collection.
They continue to remind us every day that designing for cats means paying attention to the smallest details.
Ash
Ash came into our lives thanks to a simple Google search for kittens looking for a forever home. Among all the little faces, one tiny kitten from the Bastrop Animal Shelter immediately caught our attention. There was just something about him that made us get in the car and drive to meet him.
The moment we walked into the shelter, we knew. Ash greeted us with loud purrs, tiny paws kneading away, and the sweetest personality we could have hoped for. We fell in love almost instantly. After completing the adoption paperwork, we had to wait just a few more days before bringing him home - but those days felt like the longest weekend ever. We spent every moment getting everything ready, counting down until he could finally come home.
When the day finally arrived, it felt as though Ash had always belonged with us. He settled in effortlessly and filled our home with happiness from the very beginning.
Ash is endlessly playful and wonderfully mischievous. Cardboard boxes, scratching posts, furniture - if it's scratchable or chewable, he's determined to test it. But beneath all that playful energy is the gentlest, most affectionate cat you could imagine. He doesn't care much for sleeping on the sofa if there's a warm lap available. He'll always choose cuddles, gentle touches, and being as close to his humans as possible.
When it comes to food, Ash has very high standards. Finding meals that truly earn his approval can be quite the challenge, and he isn't shy about letting us know when something doesn't meet his expectations. Thankfully, product testing is a responsibility he takes much more seriously.
Today, Ash is one of the biggest reasons Murrena exists. Every new product is first introduced to him, and if it doesn't earn his curiosity, comfort, or approval, it doesn't become part of our collection. His opinion matters more than anyone else's - and he knows it. 🐾
Kai
When we decided to adopt a kitten, we always knew one wouldn't be enough. We wanted two companions to grow up together, and although Ash was the reason we first visited the Bastrop Animal Shelter, Kai found us instead.
As we were getting ready to leave after meeting Ash, we turned around and noticed a tiny white and grey tabby sitting quietly in the corner of his enclosure. Unlike Ash, who greeted everyone with confidence, Kai looked frightened and unsure of the world around him. The moment we saw him, we knew we couldn't leave without him. He belonged with us too.
Kai wasn't quite ready to come home yet. While we spent the weekend preparing for our new family members, he had to stay at the shelter a little longer under veterinary care. It was difficult waiting, knowing Ash was already home while Kai still needed a little more time.
The day finally came, and we drove back to bring him home. He cried almost the entire journey. Everything was unfamiliar, and unlike Ash, who embraced every new experience, Kai was terrified.
Fortunately, the two kittens had already been introduced at the shelter, knowing they would be adopted together, so they settled into life as brothers quickly. They played, chased each other endlessly, wrestled over toys, and slowly learned that this was their home.
Kai, however, needed much longer to trust us.
For quite some time, his favorite place was underneath the bed, where he felt safe. He wasn't interested in being held, and every new sound or unfamiliar situation made him cautious. Trust wasn't something Kai gave away freely - it had to be earned, one quiet moment at a time.
Little by little, he began to come out of his shell.
Today, Kai is impossible to miss. He has the loudest purr you'll ever hear, an endless love for food (there's very little he'll say no to), and enough energy to turn almost anything into a toy. He wears his heart on his sleeve - when he's happy, everyone knows it; when he's upset, you'll know that too. He has big feelings and an even bigger personality.
But the most rewarding moments are the quiet ones. When Kai chooses to curl up beside you, starts purring before you've even touched him, or gently asks for affection, you remember just how far he's come. Watching him grow from a frightened little kitten into a confident, loving companion has been one of the greatest joys of our lives.
Like Ash, Kai is an important part of Murrena. Every product we create is tested in our home first, and Kai never hesitates to share his opinion. Whether it's a new bed, toy, or scratching post, if it earns Kai's trust and approval, we know we're on the right track. 🐾