Are ‘Christmas at the Catnip Cafe’ & ‘The Nine Lives of Christmas’ in the Same Universe?

Author's Summary: Kimberley Sustad's cameo in Christmas at the Catnip Cafe hints at a shared universe with The Nine Lives of Christmas through playful references to her past role as Marilee, a vet linked to a firefighter, sparking fan speculation on connections between these Hallmark cat-themed tales. (168 characters)

Plot Overview

The story in Christmas at the Catnip Cafe follows Ben, played by Paul Campbell, and Olivia Pierce, portrayed by Jill Wagner, as they inherit a cat café and clash over its future direction. During a café event, Kimberley Sustad makes a brief appearance as an unnamed guest. She holds a cat and chats with Ben about the venue.

The Cameo Dialogue

“That was really cute,” she remarks, referencing a story time. “Cats make everything better, right? I love cats. A lot.” When Ben starts to reply, she cuts in: “You should really think about adding a fireman to the whole thing… Cats and a man in a uniform. I have one at home.” Ben asks if she means a cat; she says, “A fireman. And a cat. Two, maybe three.” Then she leaves.

This exchange nods to Sustad's earlier Hallmark roles without naming characters directly.

Links to Prior Films

Sustad starred as Marilee, a veterinary student turned vet, in The Nine Lives of Christmas (2014) and its sequel The Nine Kittens of Christmas (2021), romanced by firefighter Zachary (Brandon Routh). Those movies end with the couple engaged and adopting a kitten after reconciling. Her lines here suggest Marilee and Zachary remain together. Paul Campbell also cameoed in The Nine Kittens of Christmas as a silent firefighter helping Marilee with a kitten.

Shared Universe Debate

The cameo could confirm a shared universe or just be a fun callback to past projects. Fans often spot these crossovers in Hallmark films by Campbell and Sustad.

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Yahoo Yahoo — 2025-12-01

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