ABOUT THE PUNCHY CAT

Hello! I’m Molly, the creator behind The Punchy Cat. Here’s the story of how my brand came to life.

Inspired by my rescue cat Percy, I took a stab at making cat toys in 2015. Combining my love of crafting with my desire to spoil him, I created a cloud toy with rainbow fringe—and it was a big hit! Encouraged by Percy’s reaction, I made more and shared them with friends to test with their cats. Before long, I started selling the toys at a local art shop and occasional holiday craft markets, alongside my other creative projects.

Fast forward to March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world. Like so many others, I found myself laid off from my job. Suddenly, I had endless free time paired with overwhelming uncertainty. Seemed like no better time to listen to my gut and "just go for it!"  So, I did! I built a little online store dedicated to selling my handmade goods—including my cat toys—as well as a curated selection of lifestyle products and called it Maudeflanderz.

Not long after starting Maudeflanderz, I realized that cat toys were my favorite thing to make. Watching cats enjoy my creations was so rewarding, and the product allowed for endless creativity. The customers who loved my toys were incredibly kind and supportive, turning each sale into a meaningful connection over our shared love of cats. These interactions created a sense of community that inspired me to keep creating and growing.

So I decided to pivot from Maudeflanderz and focus solely on cat toys and accessories.  

I launched The Punchy Cat in June 2021 with the goal of bringing fun and quirky cat toys to cats and their people while connecting to a community of fellow cat lovers like myself. It took a lot of time and fine tuning, but I’m so happy to have landed here as a full-time cat toy maker. 

The Punchy Cat products are designed and made in my basement home studio here in Iowa City, IA where I live with my husband Donnie and our pets.  Charlie is the buff kitty you see in my product photos.  Hank is the cuddly beagle you’ll see on my Instagram. When I’m not working on The Punchy Cat I enjoy watching women’s basketball, thinking about UFOs, planning my next snack, and doing cozy things at home.  If you made it this far, you get a star! Thanks for being here.   Love, Molly.