From City to Village: How We Became a Sanctuary for Cats

The Purr-fect Move

Moving from the city to a village is a life-changing experience, but little did we know that it would also change the lives of several feline friends. This is the story of how we went from having two cats to a bustling family of ten, and it’s dedicated to Cale, our first feral cat who left paw prints on our hearts.

The First Two: Vacation Rescues and Friend Adoptions

Thirteen years ago, we moved to a village near the city with two cats in tow. One was a vacation rescue, and the other was adopted from friends who had saved a pregnant stray. We thought our little cat family was complete, but fate had other plans.

The Feral Gentleman: Cale’s Arrival

Just a few months into our village life, we noticed a male cat wandering around our backyard. A quick investigation revealed that he had no owner. So, we took the responsible step of neutering him. Cale, as we named him, soon became a regular in our backyard, though he always maintained his feral ways.

Cale was a bit of a character. During his recovery from neutering, he mistook a mirror for a window and kept jumping at it, thinking he could escape. It was both amusing and heartbreaking to see his wild spirit so desperate for freedom.

An Unexpected Addition: The Pregnant Visitor

Just when we thought our feline family was settling down, another cat appeared. This one was heavily pregnant. We quickly set up a cozy nest in our garage, and within a week, she gave birth to six kittens.

What melted our hearts was the sight of Cale sticking by the new mother throughout her labor and after the kittens were born. It was as if he knew he was the father, and his presence was both touching and beautiful.

The Circle of Life: Spaying, Adoptions, and “Foster Failures”

We spayed the new mom when the time was right and found loving homes for most of the kittens. However, one kitten became our “foster failure”- we just couldn’t part with him. He stayed last and for half a year no one asked for him to be adopted.

Cale, as we named him, soon became a regular in our backyard.

A Tribute to Cale and Our Feline Family

Less than a year after his arrival, Cale disappeared. Despite his feral nature, he had become a part of our lives, and his absence was deeply felt. He may have been nobody’s cat, but he was a significant part of our family.

This story is a tribute to Cale, who taught us that love and family come in many forms. Though he was our first feral, he won’t be our last, and his memory lives on in every rescue we make.