Daily Inspiration: Meet Ashley Kline

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Kline.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started working when I was 15 years old, long before I understood what “career” or “success” really meant.

I was washing dishes, prepping food, and doing whatever I could to make a few dollars. I worked my way up to hosting and serving, and by the time I was 18, I was running restaurant floors, working double and triple shifts, and wearing exhaustion like a badge of honor. At the time, I thought that was the dream — long hours, fast money, and the feeling that I was needed. I truly believed that was what life was all about.

Like so many people, the pandemic became a turning point for me. I was given an opportunity through a family connection to start building websites and helping with digital businesses and brands. That season taught me more than I could have imagined. I wasn’t just learning technical skills — I was learning how businesses operate behind the scenes, how they scale, what leadership does and does not look like in practice, and most importantly, what values actually matter to me.

I got clear on what energized me, what drained me, and what kind of work I wanted to be part of. I realized I wanted to build something that genuinely helped people and created positive impact, not just “performed it.”

in 2025, At 27 years old and after dedicating three years of my life to one main client and believing deeply in that partnership, I was unexpectedly asked to step away. At the time, it felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. I had poured loyalty, creativity, and my whole heart into that work. What I didn’t realize then was that the experience was quietly teaching me to reclaim myself — my voice, my joy, and my sense of direction. I took time to grieve, to rest, and to heal. My body eventually forced me to slow down when I became seriously ill and was hospitalized due to stress. That moment became a wake-up call to choose a different path.

Out of that pause, clarity emerged.

I knew I wanted to build a life that allowed me to be present — at home with my rescue cats, caring for my grandmother as she battled stage-three breast cancer, and creating something that felt meaningful and sustainable.

That’s when Stray Cat News was born. It started as Stray Cat Collective — a small, heartfelt project sharing my cats’ daily lives, reviewing products for cat parents, and educating others on feline behavior and enrichment.

What began as a personal passion quickly grew into a platform. Today, Stray Cat News gains more than 100,000 views across platforms each month, covers cat-related stories from across the U.S., with a special focus on Pennsylvania and the communities we call home.

We publish five stories a week, Monday through Friday, and partner with animal rescue leagues, nonprofits, cat cafés, and advocates to share real stories, real education, and real hope.

I’m endlessly grateful for every chapter — even the hard ones. Each experience taught me something I needed to learn to become who I am today. I truly believe life is always working for us, even when it doesn’t feel that way in the moment. No one can take away our joy, our curiosity, or our ability to build something aligned with our values — and Stray Cat News is a reflection of that belief.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been smooth? Not at all — but I don’t think it was ever meant to be. Not for any of us!!

One of the biggest challenges has been building a news-based digital publication in a world that rewards clickbait, outrage, and empty headlines. Meaningful stories take time. Education takes patience. Community takes consistency. When so much of the internet is designed to be polarizing or addictive, choosing substance over shortcuts can feel like swimming upstream.

Another major challenge has been sustainability. Stray Cat News was built to work with animal rescue leagues, nonprofits, and small community organizations — not around them or on top of them. That means being creative about how we generate income while still staying accessible and ethical. Many rescues are already stretched thin, and we never wanted cost to be the reason a good story or a vital resource didn’t get shared.

Paying the bills while honoring that mission has been one of the hardest — and most meaningful — parts of the journey. I’ve learned that money doesn’t come first; trust does. Community does. Impact does. When people can see what you stand for and feel the intention behind your work, sustainability follows in its own time.

What’s been incredibly rewarding is finding solutions that support everyone involved. We now offer free promotions for animal rescue leagues, nonprofits, and ARLs — always. At the same time, we’ve created affordable partnership options for businesses who want to support the mission. Our highest promotional package is currently $155 and reaches over 100,000 viewers, which allows us to keep the platform running while continuing to serve the organizations that need visibility the most.

The road hasn’t been easy, but it’s been deeply aligned. Every challenge has pushed us to innovate, to listen more closely to our community, and to build something rooted in service rather than shortcuts. And that’s a challenge I’m grateful to keep taking on.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What makes our work unique is how we tell these stories. All of our content is written from the point of view of our rescue cats, which keeps things approachable, honest, and a little playful while still covering meaningful topics.

It allows us to educate without lecturing and to talk about serious issues in a way that feels warm and hooman.

We’re also very intentional about who we work with. We only partner with brands and businesses that align with our values and mission. We’re not interested in promoting products just because they come with a paycheck, and we’ve been mindful about not becoming another platform where everyone is advertising the same things. Our goal is trust first, always. If it’s not something we’d use, recommend, or stand behind, we don’t promote it.

What I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built and the impact we’ve been able to have while staying accessible. We always offer free promotions to animal rescue leagues, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations, and we keep our paid partnerships affordable so small businesses can participate without being priced out. Stray Cat News exists to serve, educate, and uplift, and every decision we make comes back to that purpose.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memories have always centered around animals. My mom is a huge animal lover and advocate, and she opened so many doors for me at a young age by encouraging curiosity and compassion. She took us to zoos, animal interaction experiences, and always made space for questions and empathy when it came to animals.

One memory that really stands out happened on a family trip to the Dominican Republic with my mom, brother, and grandmother. On our very first day, I noticed stray cats roaming around the resort and immediately had questions. I wanted to know where they came from, if they were safe, and if I could feed them or bring them inside. One night, I spotted a black cat I thought was absolutely beautiful and decided that the logical solution was to bring him back to our room and hide him under the blankets so I could keep him safe for the night.

Of course, my mom walked in, heard the meowing, and quickly uncovered my plan. She did make me bring the cat back outside, which was absolutely the right call, but what mattered most to me was that she never made me feel bad for caring or for wanting to help. That moment stuck with me, and looking back, it feels like an early glimpse of the work I’d one day build my life around.

Pricing:

• The Purr-Bono Package For rescues, ARLs, TNR programs, and nonprofits only Price: $0.00 1 Instagram feed post or carousel 1 Instagram story with link 1 full news article feature on Stray Cat News Recognition on our “STRAYZ Approved” page “STRAYZ Approved Rescue” badge for use on their website
• The Catnip Starter Pack Price: $25 1 Instagram story shoutout 1 Facebook shoutout 1 product feature via reel or photo 500-word SEO-optimized news article with backlinks
• The Full Belly Feature Price: $100 1 Instagram post and story 1 Facebook feature post Pinterest pin shared to three boards 1,200-word SEO-optimized news article with backlinks Homepage icon feature for seven days
• The VIPurr Takeover Price: $155 Instagram feed post, story, and highlight save Facebook feature with 48-hour pin Pinterest pin shared to three boards plus a repin 2,500-word SEO-optimized news article with backlinks Email newsletter feature sent to our cat parent audience Seven-day homepage spotlight as our “Weekly Legend” Exclusive homepage icon placement for seven days
• Custom pricing for product reviews + collabs please contact us at [email protected] for more details

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.straycatnews.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straycatnews/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STRAYZCatCollective/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/straycatnews/