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    karma is a cat

    Cat lady Taylor Swift inspires $13 adoptions at Houston Humane Society in honor of her Eras Tour shows

    Steven Devadanam
    Apr 18, 2023 | 6:26 pm
    taylor swift with cat olivia

    Find your future Olivia Benson (pictured here staring off at something next to Swift) with HHS' new promotion.

    Taylor Swift/Instaggram

    Megastar Taylor Swift has many titles: pop culture icon, Grammy Award winner, singer-songwriter.

    But we're guessing one title she will never shake off is cat lady. A simple scroll through her 'gram reveals she's pawsitively (sorry) obsessed with her three cats: Olivia Benson (named after the Law & Order heroine), Meredith Grey (so named for the Grey's Anatomy protagonist), and Benjamin Button (after Brad Pitt's reverse-aging hero).

    To honor Tay Tay's three Houston shows this week, Houston Humane Society is hosting a "Lucky 13" cat adoption event. Dubbed The Forever Home Era — to toast her Eras Tour stops — the event makes cats housed in the shelter for more than 30 days available for adoption for a mere $13 (a nod to Swift's lucky number).

    Typically, Houston Humane's cat adoption fee is $50. Prospective pet parents can scroll through future fur babies here — remember, the kitties need to be in the shelter 30 days or more. The adoption offer runs through Sunday, April 23 — Swift's last show date.

    Fans of Swift know that the pop princess is so cat-focused that she took a "cat class" during production of the film adaptation of Cats (she played Bombalurina in the movie).


    View this post on Instagram
    A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

    “I have cats,” she explained to Time in 2019. “I’m obsessed with them. I love my cats so much that when a role came up in a movie called Cats, I just thought, like, I gotta do this,” she said. “Like, this is my calling in life to do this—for the ladies.”

    Her cats have starred in commercials, in her video for "Me," all over social media, and even on her cakes (see above). Swift even had earrings made in Olivia Benson's likeness, a move that Olivia probably appreciates — but surely would never publicly express gratitude for, given that she's a cat and all.

    “They’re very dignified," Swift noted in the Time article of her kitties. “They’re independent. They’re very capable of dealing with their own life.”

    Apparently so, as apparently Olivia is worth (read this while sitting) an estimated $97 million, according to The Ultimate Pet Rich List (which exists, apparently). Benson's worth, per the list, comes from her music videos, her own merchandise line, and cameos in big-budget ads for the likes of Diet Coke and Ned Sneakers.

    Sadly, Swifties can't bring their kitties — even newly adopted ones — to her Houston shows (our Gabi De la Rosa plans your fit for the show here). But no doubt, they'll have fun serenading their new furry friend with all of Tay Tay's jams (as one does with any cat).

    Meet the adoptable cats at The Houston Humane Society’s Audrey Jones Beck Adoption Center (14700 Almeda Rd.).

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    a new record

    Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo commits over $30 million to education

    Jef Rouner
    Dec 2, 2025 | 10:00 am
    Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo cattle exhibition
    Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
    The money supports studies in fields such as animal husbandry.

    The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues its annual tradition of breaking its own record when it comes to educational endowments. On Giving Tuesday, the organization pledged to disburse $30,353,380 in 2026 in the form of scholarships, grants, and other funding.

    “This milestone moment of reaching $30 million in a single year highlights the Rodeo’s unwavering dedication to Texas youth and education,” HLSR president and CEO Chris Boleman said in a statement. “Thanks to our loyal donors, sponsors, more than 36,000 volunteers and dedicated attendees, 2026 will reach historic heights in supporting the next generation of leaders, agricultural professionals and organizations that share the Rodeo’s mission.”

    This brings the total of education funding provided by the Rodeo since 1932 up to $660 million. Last year's $28 million commitment also set a new record.

    One innovation this year is the establishment of the Area Go Texan Vocational Scholarship, a program that expands on the relationship with 68 Texas counties through the Area Go Texan affiliate program. One student from each county will receive $6,000 toward a degree or certificate in a vocational field at a Texas nonprofit college or university. Another $500,000 in vocational scholarships will awarded to 10 schools in 2026. Guidelines for applying can be found at this link.

    In total, the Rodeo will hand out $15,126,000 in scholarships, $11,273,500 to junior exhibitors, $3,430,880 in grants, and $523,000 in graduate assistantships. Grants will be awarded to 82 Texas institutions and organizations, such as Arts for Rural Texas, BridgeYear, The Bryan Museum, Diversity in the Arts and Entertainment, Greater Houston Partnership Foundation, Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Space Center Houston, Texas State University Development Foundation, and University of St. Thomas at Houston.

    Money for the annual endowment is raised through the annual auctions, sales of livestock and art, and through charitable donations. The goal of the endowment program is to promote study and research in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other fields that directly benefit the Rodeo.

    The Rodeo is scheduled to run from March 2 – 22, 2026. More information on performers, attractions, and vendors can be found at RodeoHouston.com. Scholarship applications are open through February 2, with funds being awarded in summer 2026.

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