Erin Cahill Spills the Cozy, Cat-Filled Secrets Behind New Hallmark Film “Christmas at the Catnip Cafe” (Exclusive)
If you ask Hallmark fan-favorite Erin Cahill what her holiday season looks like this year, the answer is simple: joy, gratitude, and… cats. Lots of cats.
Premiering tonight (November 30) on Hallmark Channel, Christmas at the Catnip Cafe is the network’s newest feel-good gem — one that stars Cahill as Olivia Pierce, a big-city marketing executive whose life takes an unexpected (and adorably furry) turn when she inherits half of her late great aunt’s cat café in upstate New York. The only problem? The other half belongs to charming town veterinarian Ben Kane, played by Hallmark heavyweight Paul Campbell, who has zerointention of letting the place close.
When Celeb Secrets caught up with Cahill at Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas Party in Nashville on October 19, she was glowing with excitement, and, in typical Erin fashion, overflowing with genuine warmth. “My emotions are so happy… and grateful,” she told us on the carpet, calling the Hallmark family “a dream come true… the kindest people in the industry.”
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It’s that spirit of connection that Christmas at the Catnip Cafe absolutely nails. Olivia arrives ready to sell the café for a down payment on her dream condo back in Oakland, but the town’s holiday traditions — and yes, the café’s furry residents — quickly work their magic. As she teams up with Ben on a three-week fundraising blitz to help keep the café afloat during the most important month of the year, the two find themselves building more than just Christmas events… they’re building something real.
And while the romance is swoon-worthy, the cats just might be the real scene stealers. Cahill told us that filming with them produced some genuinely magical moments — including one unforgettable feline co-star. “There was a sweet kitten… every time I would go to shake Paul’s hand, the cat would put its paw in my hand,” she laughed. “It happened like four times in a row. They called cut and we were like, ‘Ahh, this is amazing!’”
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Beyond the paw-fect cuteness, the movie holds the classic heart Hallmark viewers wait for all year. Olivia not only connects with Ben and the community but discovers the emotional reason behind her aunt’s mission at the café — a revelation that becomes the “cat-alyst” (yes, Hallmark went there and we love them for it) for her own holiday transformation.
More than anything, Cahill hopes the film brings the cozy holiday comfort viewers crave this time of year. “I hope people feel seen. I hope they feel inspired. I hope the movie feels like a warm hug of love and connection,” she shared. “And I hope they’re entertained.”
Trust us, they will be.
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And yes, Cahill’s real-life holiday traditions are just as heartwarming as her movies. “On Thanksgiving and Christmas, we make macaroni and cheese no matter what,” she told us. “Basically all my traditions involve food… and watching movies.” Honestly? Same, girl.
With irresistible chemistry, a meaningful message, and a parade of adoptable kittens ready to steal your heart, Christmas at the Catnip Cafe is everything we love about Hallmark wrapped up in one cozy bow.
Christmas at the Catnip Cafe premieres TONIGHT, Sunday, November 30 at 8pm ET/PT on Hallmark Channel and streams next day on Hallmark+.
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