Cats Past and Present in Our Care
Every cat who has found their way to our home has an individual story. We never planned to care for so many cats, but one by one they arrived needing safety, patience and love. This is how our family of former strays came to be.
Blondie — Where It Began
Our story began with Blondie, the first stray to make our home her own. We had Blondie desexed, believing we were helping just one cat—but she was only the beginning.
Norman
In 2019, Norman arrived. He was a gangly, extremely affectionate boy who seemed certain to have belonged to someone. Despite our efforts, nobody came forward to claim him, so Norman became another much-loved member of our family.
Smokey and Gidget
Next came Smokey and her daughter, Gidget. Smokey is FIV-positive and, with proper care, safety and plenty of love, she has transformed into a beautiful long-haired cat. Gidget, her spirited ginger daughter, quickly earned the affectionate nickname “the little ginger ninja.”
Scruffy
Scruffy was a slightly unusual-looking tabby boy who was as wild as wild could be. He arrived with a large cut above his eye, which Cathy patiently treated. Although he was initially frightened and wary of people, Scruffy gradually learned to trust Cathy. Today, he loves her very much.
The Laundry Family
After Cathy’s beautiful dog sadly had to be put to sleep, a little black cat appeared. She looked heavily pregnant and apparently decided that our outdoor laundry was the safest place to have her babies. She chose what appeared to be a comfortable bed, not knowing it was only an old doona suspended between the wall and the washing machine. One tiny black kitten slipped from the doona and fell into the space below. Fortunately, Cathy heard the kitten’s frantic meowing coming from the laundry. We rescued the little kitten and brought the mother and all five of her babies safely inside. They have remained with us ever since.
A Permanent Home
The cats were originally offered for adoption, but we could not find people willing to commit to keeping them safely indoors. Rather than place them in homes where they could face further danger, we made the decision that they would remain here at the sanctuary.
Caring for Ten Cats
Today, caring for ten formerly stray cats is a significant responsibility. Food, litter, desexing, veterinary treatment, flea and worm prevention, bedding and other necessities place considerable pressure on the household budget. However, each cat is safe, loved and cared for—and they will always have a home with us. They did not all arrive together, and we never planned to have so many. One by one, they simply found the people and the place willing to help them.
