Christmas at the Catnip Café (2025 Hallmark)
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Cast: Paul Campbell, Erin Cahill
Director: Lucie Guest
Writer(s): Tracy Andreen, Elena Valdez
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Hallmark Channel)
Olivia Pierce (Cahill) is a marketing executive from Oakland, California who is this close to realizing her dream of purchasing a condo, but she’s a bit short on the down payment. When she learns that her late great aunt left her half of a cat café in upstate New York she thinks it’s the Christmas miracle she needed – as long as she can sell and close the deal before the holidays. Olivia’s plan hits a bump in the road when she meets Dr. Ben Kane (Campbell), the veterinarian who owns the other half. The café serves an important role in the town – helping homeless cats find forever homes – and he has no intention of closing up shop. Christmas is the most important time of the year as they plan many activities to help raise funds and get them into the black. Olivia and Ben strike a deal – she agrees to help him plan the fundraising events at the café over the next three weeks in exchange for Ben promising not to drag his heels on selling at the end of that time. Unless, Ben notes, she ends up changing her mind – a lot can happen in three weeks, after all. As they work together and a spark between them grows, Olivia becomes part of the neighborhood, gains an appreciation for the café’s adorable feline inhabitants and what it means to Ben, as well as to the entire community. And when she learns the surprising reason her great aunt opened the café in the first place, that just might be the cat-alyst for change that will give them all a Merry Christmas. Starring Erin Cahill and Paul Campbell.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
The movie starts with CATS, as promised. They play with Christmas ornaments and lights.
The movie has a short, random flashback to little Olivia. She likes cats and is a kid. Flashback over.
Grown-up Olivia is looking for a new condo, but where will she put all her cats?!?! Oh, wait, she is afraid of cats from her childhood, maybe? Look, Olivia just wants to buy a condo. She learns she inherited a Cat Cafe from her Great Aunt, and she is a co-owner with a guy named Ben.
Ben is a small-town vet. He isn’t interested in selling the Cat Cafe, which everyone seems to know what that is. It looks like hell. Cats roaming around will nilly, there is coffee… but not to go!!!!???? Ben and Olivia don’t see eye to eye, and their first meeting doesn’t go well.
Olivia stays at her Great Aunt’s house, and Ben asks for help finding a binder with a how-to for something called Cat Nip Christmas. Olivia agrees to help him with the Cat Cafe’s last event if he decides to sell. Ben agrees, convinced that Olivia will change her mind after seeing how the Cat Cafe builds up the community.
The flashbacks keep coming, and I’m assuming they are of her great Aunt.
A puppet show happens, and this must be Paul Campbell’s passion project. I feel like he’s seen The Sound of Music one too many times. Everyone leaves because the show is not a hit.
Ben is sad because his dog, George Bailey, died. Olivia can’t relate because she doesn’t do pets, but she did save a cat from a tree once with her Great Aunt.
The Cat Cafe starts soaring in popularity, and Olivia falls for the cats and later Ben. At the Mistletoe Market, if you are caught under the mistletoe, you have two options. Kiss or sing a Christmas carol loudly. (Don’t threaten me with a good time.)
Olivia spends time with Ben and his family. She appreciates his devotion to family, fun, and animals. Olivia even starts wearing cat t-PJs. Ben and Olivia bond over wanting to go to Paris and make out while decorating a tree in the cat cafe.
Ben tries to tell Olivia that her Aunt gave her the cafe to get her to stay in town, and he hopes he has charmed her by now, but Olivia wants that condo! (And gurl, you should have it!) She tells him that asking him to leave her life for him is a lot to ask. (THANK YOU!)
Then Olviia sees a cat on the ride back and has a change of heart. She rushes back to stop the sale, but Ben has already signed the contract. The bad suit guy lets it slide because he makes friends with a cat, too. Cats save the day!
Side Note/Stray Thoughts
Listen, I just watched Good Boy, and that dog actor can out-act every cat actor in this movie, NO CONTEST.
Overall rating
Pour it up
Put a Cork in It
Christmas Feels
🎄🎄 (2 Christmas Trees)
Enjoyment Level: 🍷 (1 glass of wine.)
What did you think of this movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media @LifetimeUncorked
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*Photo Credit: © 2025 Hallmark
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