Do 'Christmas at the Catnip Cafe' and 'The Nine Lives of Christmas' Exist in the Same Universe?

Major spoilers ahead for Christmas at the Catnip Cafe.

Hallmark has a well-known habit of including surprise cameos, and fans love spotting familiar faces. This trend continues with Paul Campbell and Kimberley Sustad, both of whom have acted in and written Hallmark films together. Sustad, who co-wrote the Three Wise Men trilogy with Campbell, appeared in all three installments. She also makes a brief appearance in Christmas at the Catnip Cafe, which features Campbell and Erin Cahill and premiered on Sunday, November 30, as part of Hallmarks Countdown to Christmas lineup.

The story centers on Dr. Ben Kane (Campbell), a veterinarian, and marketing executive Olivia Pierce (Cahill), who unexpectedly inherit half of a cat caf. The plot follows their comedic and heartfelt clashes as they try to decide the future of the caf while managing very different visions.

Sustad appears during an event at the caf as an unnamed character, a common pattern for Hallmark cameos. She shares a playful scene involving a cat and a (somewhat chaotic) story time with Campbells character. Cats make everything better, right? I love them, she says. She then jokingly suggests, You should really think about adding a fireman to the whole thing Cats love a man in a uniform. I have one at home. The conversation ends with her character leaving, leaving fans speculating.

For longtime Hallmark viewers, this cameo may feel like a subtle reference. Sustad previously starred as Marilee in The Nine Lives of Christmas (2014) and its 2021 sequel The Nine Kittens of Christmas, where she played a veterinarian whose love interest was firefighter Zachary, portrayed by Brandon Routh. The sequel concluded with Marilee and Zachary reunited, engaged, and adopting a kitten. If Sustads line about a fireman at home refers to Marilee, it could imply the couple is still together. Alternatively, it might simply be a playful nod to her earlier films without explicitly linking the characters.

Fans might also remember that Paul Campbell made a cameo in The Nine Kittens of Christmas, helping Marilee with a kitten. He appeared briefly as a firefighter, adding to the network of playful crossovers Hallmark is known for.

Viewers are left wondering whether Sustads cameo was meant to signal continuity for Marilee and Zachary or simply serve as a fun Easter egg. Either way, it adds an extra layer of charm to Christmas at the Catnip Cafe and delights Hallmark fans with familiar faces and references.

Author: Sophia Brooks