Wendi McLendon-Covey is sharing what it means to her to be a devoted cat mom — and why helping animals in need is such an important part of her life.
In a recent interview, the actress reflected on her love for rescuing cats while discussing the second season of her sitcom St. Denis Medical.
“When they show up in your yard and they need you, we can’t look away,” said McLendon-Covey, 56, about her and her husband’s shared compassion for animals.
She added, “I think my first pet was a kitty, and she was just so grateful to be rescued. It’s such a small act, but a meaningful one — to show that someone’s looking out for the little creatures. Everything else might be going crazy, but we found this little life and we’re going to nurture it and give it a good home. Maybe that makes a difference somewhere.”
McLendon-Covey went on to describe why her feline companions bring her so much joy. “They’re cuddly, they’re cute, they’re hilarious. Each one has a personality and their own little way of communicating. Watching them is fascinating — that’s a hot Friday night for me, just throwing treats to the cats,” she said with a laugh.
The Reno 911! star also believes caring for animals is a way of responding to life’s greater callings. “When the universe tags you and says you’re it, you’ve got to step up,” she said.
Her latest rescue mission? A cat named Harvey. “He just showed up in the bushes,” she recalled. “It’s taken forever to bond with him, but now he lets me pick him up. He’s still a little too feral to come inside, but I’ve made him a cozy area in the backyard where he feels safe. So yeah, my babies.”
Beyond her love for animals, McLendon-Covey also has a soft spot for holiday décor. “I love decorating. I love crap,” she joked. “When Halloween’s over, we go straight into Christmas — just swap the pumpkins for lights and the witch hats for sugar plums. From September to January 1, that’s my decorating season because when it gets dark early, you want to look at something pretty.”
As for Halloween, the actress says she often sees fans dressed up as her iconic characters. “I see a lot of Clemy, Deputy Johnson from Reno 911! A lot of Beverlys from The Goldbergs. And of course, plenty of crazy cat ladies — because that’s what I am,” she said. “People send me pictures saying, ‘Thought of you, you were my inspiration.’ That’s really fun.”
St. Denis Medical airs Monday nights on NBC at 8 p.m. and streams on Peacock.
