Author: Shadow Cats

In Memory of Elsie       2/7/2009 – 2/19/2024

There will never be another like our Elsie.

Elsie was found many years ago lying by the side of a dumpster. Half her body was paralyzed but she was alert and desperately needed help. Found by a wonderful person in the rescue world, she was rushed to what was then Central Texas Cat Hospital. Back then the amazing Dr Smith cared for her and determined that her paralysis was permanent. Shadow Cats believes every cat deserves a chance at life, so with the help of Central Texas Cat Hospital, we figured out how to give this brave girl the best life possible.

She became the official greeter at CTCH, her day job, and she had such a following back then. There she stayed until her official retirement to Shadow Cats Sanctuary.

Elsie was one of the most popular cats at the sanctuary; everyone loved her and she loved everyone. She had a presence, and such a wonderful spirit, Harmony Room will never be the same. She participated in so many photo shoots and fundraisers and was part of the soul of the Sanctuary. Elsie was a bright star shining brightly at the sanctuary, always there with a greeting for us.

Elsie was known around the globe, and loved by friends locally, nationally, and internationally. Our beautiful girl was an icon.

Elsie was the sweetest cat you have ever met. She would look at you with those big eyes and you would be smitten. She loved affection, loved her head and chin scratched, things she could not do herself because of her paralysis. She would melt into your hands and give love back; she was the most adorable cat. She would play with toys and loved to play with a wand toy. Our girl could be frisky at times too! And stubborn, she knew what she wanted and would let us know! She had a special kitty wheelchair but much preferred to scoot around on her own. And scoot she could! She was so fast! She would go out onto the catios and always find the perfect sunbeam and go up and down the ramp at the sanctuary. She would always be first when she heard the treat bag shaken. She would be looking through the door of the ramp into Harmony room and knew what time food should be ready! Meal times were very special – she had her unique table that her legs could fit under. This was made by a wonderful volunteer. Elsie would regularly invite guests to dine with her, quite a posh affair sometimes, even with a centerpiece on the table.

Because of her paralysis, Elsie has needed help with bodily functions every day; she wore diapers and she did her best every day to act like any other cat, like most cats with disabilities do. Ever mindful, Elsie always had quality of life. She was amazing, and with those stunning eyes, she was so beautiful. She was a happy girl!

Recently Elsie has struggled with urinary infections and a sudden downturn in overall health. She told us she was tired, her big sparkly eyes had dimmed, her time had come and she had to leave us. She passed ever so gently surrounded by all those who cared for her daily, and she was given lots of kisses sending her on her way to the Rainbow Bridge and gentle whispers in her ears telling her how much she was loved. Thank you to our amazing staff at the sanctuary who cared for Elsie every day. The incredible bond they had with her was a beautiful thing to see.

There have been tears and more tears today and when we think of Elsie there will be moist eyes always. But we smile and know she had a chance. Shadow Cats and all your support gave her that chance. She lived a good life, and just celebrated her 15^th birthday. She was loved to the moon and back by so many. How wonderful is that! We are the lucky ones; we had the privilege of caring for this incredibly special girl.

Words do not come easy to say how devastated we are at the loss of Elsie. There is a void that no one cat can fill. Our hearts hold joy and happiness but today they are heavy with sadness. Elsie was the most precious kitty. We could write for days and more about the wonders that were our beautiful Elsie.

Our sweet sweet girl Elsie is reunited with her best friends in the whole wide world, Poptart and Rafiki. They are waiting for you, Elsie. The three amigos are back together.

Even with physical disabilities, her life had meaning and she mattered. She was brave, she was courageous, she was fearless.

Always and forever in our hearts, sweetheart, loved beyond measure. There will never be another like our Elsie…

Thanks to all who cared for Elsie, our volunteers who showered Elsie with love, the veterinary care she received, her rescuer Leticia, her sponsors, and all who loved this very special girl from afar.

Elsie had 4 Sponsors

Kathy Harkness

Elvis and Lulu Mathieson

Jennifer Quayle

Kevin Hollembeak

In Memory of Purrsephone       8/24/2023 – 2/17/2024

When a kitten is found during TNR efforts, the usual protocol is to socialize them and try to adopt them out…except when they come back positive for feline leukemia!

Purrsephone joined us here at Shadow Cats in December of 2023 after one such situation, where the person who took her in needed a place for her and her sister, Penelope, to land. We were in desperate need of some kitten energy in Cookie’s Place…how could we say no to such a sweet Christmas miracle? These kittens defied all the odds, surviving where some of their siblings had not. They deserved a chance, and we were happy to supply it.

To Shadow Cats, the pair came, and they were so incredibly tiny! Penelope was a little on the thicker side, but Purrsephone was so small…she could practically fit in your hand. Where Penelope was outgoing and affectionate, Purrsephone preferred the comfort of a cat tunnel or bed. As her rambunctious sister climbed the walls around her, Purrsephone would inspect you from a safe distance. Still, if you looked through the isolation window without the sisters knowing, you may have been shocked to find Purrsephone balancing on top of a cat scratcher or climbing the walls with her sister! At the time, it seemed that she was just a little more private about her chaotic nature.

So tiny, so timid…with such a sweet little face, but looks can be deceiving! And our precious Purrsephone proved to be quite the little pistol as we found out during her integration into Cookie’s Place. Small in stature, big in personality. Purrsephone was ready to duke it out with the best of them, puffed up and spitting as the bigger cats looked at her curiously…and maybe with a little confusion! Bob and Pixie had quite a time trying to raise Purrsephone and Penelope to play nice, but it didn’t take too long…our girls blossomed and fit right in.

Ferris would often position himself outside of their condos, waiting patiently for their debut, gently stroking the air around them in an effort to smooth over the little pistol’s tiny temper. Jacky looked on with a tilted head. Everyone seemed ready for the girls to be a part of the family, and it didn’t take long for us to start seeing cute little tabby streaks dashing along Cookie’s Place from door to door to catio and back. Pawl absolutely adored these kittens, and they were often seen running back and forth, pleasant and playful.

When she’d sufficiently tire herself out, Purrsephone could be seen snuggling with her sister Penelope…though Penelope never did grow out of resting with her foot in Purrsephone’s face. But she didn’t mind, she was just happy. Finally, our precious girl could live out her life as a kitten, free of worry about meals, safety, shelter…she got to live life simply and to the fullest.

Unfortunately, our time with leukemia cats is sometimes shortened. Purrsephone had to be taken to an emergency clinic after she was observed having some labored breathing. We hoped for another diagnosis, but we had a feeling it was one we are all too familiar with—pleural effusion, spawned from her leukemia, and with no cure. We had given Purrsephone the gift of love, of a full belly, warm beds, and plentiful cuddles. We had one last gift to impart, the gift of a gentle passing. She nuzzled into our hands and licked our fingers, soaking up the affections we could muster through the tears and laughter about her little quirks, and the funny way people would mispronounce her name, like pursey-phone.

Until the end, our girl lived up to her namesake, Persephone, goddess of springtime and love. She grew warmth within our hearts, brimming with love she inspired, and reminded us that even the smallest life, the shortest life, deserves a chance to flower and bloom. Purrsephone did just that. Now, she carries her warmth to another plane, where many Shadow Cats wait to welcome her across the rainbow bridge. Where she can inspire growth even still, an eternal garden, a grove for all our beloved cats to frolic and be free.

We will miss Purrsephone terribly, but feel incredibly blessed to have had her touch our lives even for a short time. We will never forget her, and have immense gratitude for those who loved her in her lifetime. Thank you to her sponsor, Pam Lind, for loving Purrsephone so wholly. Thank you to our amazing staff, our incredible volunteers, the wonderful woman who brought Purrsephone into our care, and all who have been touched by her story.

Purrsephone had 1 Sponsor

Pam Lind

In Memory of Ozzie       1/12/2016 – 2/17/2024

Ozzie was a street cat before he was ever a Shadow Cat, wandering the rough and tumble kitty streets of Kerrville, TX. He clearly got in a scrape or two as he tested positive for both feline leukemia and FIV in the care of Freeman-Fritts Vet Clinic & Shelter. This limited our Ozzie’s options, but thankfully for him (and mostly for us) we simply couldn’t resist his tomcat cheeks and sweet disposition when we were asked to intake him in December of 2021.

Our sweet Ozzie’s fight did not end on the streets though, as he later contracted FIP. Ozzie fought and overcame it, going on to have several happy years at Shadow Cats despite all the odds working against him. He often confused and amused us with his silly personality, which was surprising given his looks! It seems his time as a street cat made him far more approachable than we could’ve anticipated. He had less of the standard regal catitude—he was far more dorky, clumsy, and downright loveable. With Ozzie, you’d find yourself fixed with a quirked brow and a smile as you analyzed his silly antics. He’d go into these euphoric fits after getting a good tummy rub, wandering off to headbutt and rub against the nearest inanimate object. We assumed this was just a purely blissful display, a strange token of gratitude not even the other cats seemed to understand. Ozzie was a strange, special boy, and we loved him for it.

He seemed to hit things head first, for some reason, including your hand when he wanted to remind you of what your priority should be—petting him! And then when you’d give him what he wanted, ample chin scritches and love, he’d flop and roll in the most dramatically sweet display! What a personality our boy had, even if he did turn medicating him into a Scooby-Doo style hallway chase. We cherished our time with Ozzie, happy to have given him safety, shelter, a warm and sunny catio to bask on, plenty of food (of which he was happy to eat most anything), and all of the love in our hearts. We wish that were enough to keep Ozzie going forever, but in the end, he had one more hurdle to cross—a cancer diagnosis. We guided Ozzie over the rainbow bridge, wrapped in the warmest of blankets, and surrounded by loving hands giving him plenty of pets and many forehead kisses.

We will feel Ozzie’s absence in many corners of the sanctuary, but we can continue with our hearts feeling fuller having known him at all. Ozzie had a chance at Shadow Cats that he never had on the streets, and he reveled in that chance, living life to the fullest and touching many hearts as he did despite all odds against him.

Thank you to his sponsors, Amy J, Stuart M, and Kathy M. Thank you to his amazing volunteers, the incredible veterinary care he was given, and our caring loving staff that nursed him to the very end. And a huge thank you to his rescuers, we have been blessed to have this boy at the sanctuary. We will miss you, our beloved Ozzie boy.

Ozzie had 3 Sponsors

Amy Juried

Stuart McKnight

Kathy McElroy

In Memory of Rafiki       11/29/2015 – 1/9/2024

All cats are special but then there was Rafiki. He was the most brave and courageous cat.

There are some cats that you just have to say their name and a smile comes to your face. Rafiki was one of those cats. He was the coolest cat, the happiest cat, he was hip, he had a swagger, he had that “je ne sais quoi”, he had an appealing quality and the biggest personality, a love bug, a cuddler, he was so handsome, he gave the best kisses, he had it all, he was the total package. And we didn’t mention the best fashion sense any cat could possibly have! Rafiki was known for his very dapper sweaters and onesies, he always looked so debonair!

Rafiki had Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that manifests in fragile skin that can tear easily and can lead to difficulty in healing and also pendulous skin. Rafiki suffered from all these conditions. He had operations to remove pendulous skin and he had staples when his skin had torn. So many staples and glue, yes glue, when his skin would tear. Rafiki had the best care and always recovered well. He defied the odds! He always overcame his obstacles. This is why he always wore his sweaters and onesies to protect his delicate skin and he wore his cone with great pride! He had quite the wardrobe – striped ones, camo ones, flowery ones,. He had his seasonal wardrobe, too – his fall sweaters and his Christmas onesies with reindeer, and he always wore his collars with such self-confidence, he knew he was cool!

To know Rafiki was to love Rafiki, and so many did, a favorite of so many, near and far. He was a hospital cat at one point, always greeting clients at Central Texas Cat Hospital. He came to Shadow Cats after retiring from his day job. He was an adventurous boy; he loved to be out on the catios, always on the highest shelf, he loved to explore, loved watching the action outside, he did not know he was any different, he was just a cool cat! He had no fear and would scare us with his high-jumping antics, but he would just give us that side look as if to say “I’m fine, don’t worry! “ Our boy could be a rascal at times! His bathroom habits were not stellar! You know he was more like a toddler than a cat!

When you walked into the room, you only had to call his name and he would strut to meet you as though he had a story to tell and would give you the best greeting with kisses and licks. Loving and so sweet, he never met a stranger be it cat or human. He had lots of kitty friends he cuddled with every day. He loved our attention, pets, and head scritches. He was the happiest of cats! Nothing stopped him from living his life to the fullest every single day! Always with a cheeky cute look on his face, he was the absolute best!

We said goodbye to our beautiful boy Rafiki today. Our hearts are broken; the sadness we feel at your loss has been almost too much to bear, and tears have flowed freely. Rafiki’s condition suddenly deteriorated, this obstacle he could not overcome, and he told us that he was tired and a gentle passing was our final gift to this special boy. He left us surrounded by love and light, gentle whispers in his ears, telling him how much he was loved and cherished. We are comforted that although not old in years Rafiki lived every day to the fullest. It was filled with adventure and was truly his best life. He lived every day as one of the most loved cats by so many all around the country. We told him all the time how famous he was! He was a star.

Words cannot express how much we will miss you, precious Rafiki. You were loved deeply. The Harmony room will never be the same without you there to greet us with kisses and licks. As we walk up the ramp you will not be there looking through the door and waiting to slip by us as we opened it so you could run down the ramp. Oh, Rafiki you were such a character! The joy you brought us was immeasurable. We will miss your antics, and we are honored to have been part of your life and so grateful you were part of ours. The memories you have left us will stay with us always; we will cherish them and you will live in our hearts forever. The many tears we have shed will dry and we will remember you with a smile Rafiki, every day. As we look up we know one of the brightest stars is you, we know you are strutting at the Rainbow Bridge, dressed in your best onesie, greeting all the Shadow Cats that have gone before and you are telling the best stories of a life well lived.

Rest easy, our beloved Rafiki, our ‘One Cool Cat’. There will never be another like you, you had it all, the total package….

Thanks to our amazing compassionate staff who cared for Rafiki every day and the wonderful veterinary care he received. Thanks to our volunteers who showered him with love, his sponsors and fans everywhere

Rafiki had 4 Sponsors

Michelle Swann

Sharon and Ben Mineo

Terri Egan-Torkko

Debbie Childers

In Memory of Queenie       1/18/2014 – 1/8/2024

A lot of cats find their way into Shadow Cats after surviving against all odds, through TNR work, cruelty seizures, hoarding situations, or as a last resort after suffering substantial medical difficulties. Queenie’s story is more gentle, though perhaps no less of a tearjerker. She lived with her favorite person and a few other cats, including Poco! She knew tremendous love in her lifetime, the comfort of a home, and a loving embrace, but her life changed in 2022 when she lost her person.

She was rescued, but she and Poco struggled to adjust to their new lives. Her rescuers plead to keep them together, a bonded pair, as they traversed this new territory of grief. Thankfully for this bonded pair, Shadow Cats had room, and we welcomed them into our lives with open hearts and hands at the ready for some well-deserved pets. Shadow Cats previously had a ‘Beauty Queen’, so that’s when the darling nickname Queenie was born, and she wore it so well.

Over time, they adjusted and grew into expected and known fixtures in our lives. Queenie found a favorite spot on the windowsill in the Oasis kitchen, spending many of her days sunbathing sweetly. She ruled over her domain with a merciful paw, though every now and then she wasn’t afraid to smack a certain Calypso that encroached upon her space on the windowsill. Mostly, though, they napped together on soft blankets, watching the sun rise and set, and Queenie enjoyed even the littlest of life’s splendors on her perch.

When she wasn’t on her perch, she waited expectantly on the kitchen counter for someone to exit the laundry room or slink into the kitchen so she could receive eagerly anticipated pets…and treats! Our Queenie certainly had a greedy streak, and every day when the staff cracked open cans of wet food for feeding, Queenie could be found sampling the main batch before it hit the masses. Quality control is a very important job, after all, and our benevolent ruler was kind enough to risk it herself for her subjects! What a thoughtful girl.

And so very gentle. Queenie had this way about her—these big doe eyes that reminded me of Twiggy, the model’s. She’d look up at you, so soft, so tiny, and when you’d move to pet her, she’d vibrate with the sweetest purr. Gentle, so gentle. Gentle as her passing from this life and into the next. She left us as calmly as she walked with us in life, surrounded by loving hands, a laugh about her quirky little personality, and so many tears shed. We knew it was her time to go, struggling to keep on with masses on her liver, and she left us with a final breath. Perhaps a sigh of relief, with no more pain to feel, and with her favorite person’s lap waiting to be warmed across the rainbow bridge, and so many other Shadow Cats waiting to greet her across its rippling waters.

Queenie, you will be so incredibly missed, for not even the wallflowers go without our love, our affections, our entire hearts. Thank you for loving Queenie—the volunteers, the staff, Louis R and Michelle P who sponsored her, and any listening to her story now. She was a special girl, and she will never be forgotten, forever memorialized in our garden and in our hearts.

Queenie had 2 Sponsors

Louis Rossi

Michelle Polanco

In Memory of Cinco       3/31/2005 – 12/9/2023

Despite our Cinco’s sweet and affectionate nature, she didn’t have the easiest start in life. In 2016, she was taken into the care of a Dallas-based rescue after a cruelty seizure. She was adopted and lived with a family for several years, but was returned due to their other cat’s aggression issues in 2022. It seemed unlikely that she would be adopted again in her golden years due to her new leukemia positive status, so this lucky girl found herself at our doorstep! Though, I think everyone knows and agrees that we ended up being the lucky ones.

It may surprise some of you, but she was actually pretty spicy when she first settled in at Shadow Cats. Our polydactyl girl was known to utilize her extra claw to menace the other cats in Cookie’s Place. The staff would often lovingly tease that Cinco “The Claw” had to be fed promptly…or else! She was later affectionately dubbed “lobster claw” and even earned the name “old lady baby” because despite being a senior girl, she looked like a kitten.

She was eventually moved to Cookie’s Annex, where she retired her claw sharpener and exchanged her sass in favor of a more regal and relaxed lifestyle. Loving hands seemed to gravitate towards her, eager to spoil her with pets, and not at all minding the amount of drool she’d lovingly unleash upon them in return. None of that mattered with such a sweet cat in your hand, so small, and having lived through such hardship, but so ready to love and be loved.

During our 2023 Christmas Open House, Cinco was a fan favorite in Cookie’s Annex. She perched herself up on one of the tiered cat trees (strategically, I think) and instituted the Cinco Tax. Any tour-goer that walked through felt compelled to give our sweet girl all the love and pets…she didn’t make the rules, it was just so! She was the star of the day, and everyone seemed mesmerized by her silly fanged smile, her sweet eyes, and the powerful purr that never seemed to stop even for a moment.

Cinco was so sweet, loving, and without complaint that you’d never know just how many medical issues she struggled with—kidney disease, a heart condition, leukemia. Though, it amazes me they were ever able to diagnose her with a heart condition given that she never stops purring long enough for you to listen to her heart! What a loud and proud purr she had. She was just happy to be loved, and even towards the end, when we learned she had developed a fatal laryngeal mass, she never stopped the outpouring of her affections.

Cinco was the kind of cat that proved how powerful and how healing the human-animal bond can be. Everything she did let you know that she loved you just as much as you loved her. She just made you feel warm, no matter the stress or hardship you may have suffered before stepping through Annex’s door. You couldn’t leave her without a smile, even if she did leave a bunch of slobber all over your petting hand!

She left us peacefully, surrounded by the same love she so selflessly left us with, just as she deserves. We will miss our special girl, and her special polydactyl high fives, but she has lived a long life despite all of the odds stacked against her. She’s touched each of us in her own way, and she’s left our lives feeling that much richer just having known her. Thank you, Cinco, for all you’ve given us. Thank you to the staff that cared for her daily, the volunteers and all-around fans who loved her, and to her sponsors Christina and Mary Ellen who helped us give her the best care possible.

Our hearts are heavy, our eyes teary…but how lucky were we to have known Cinco?

Cinco had 2 Sponsors

Christina Zimmer

Mary Ellen Taylor

In Memory of Smokey       12/4/2020 – 12/4/2023

Before our dear, sweet Smokey ever stepped paw through the doors of Shadow Cats, he was in the diligent care of Rowlett Animal Shelter. They searched for a solution for our boy for months, knowing that he was destined to live his life even with the odds of feline leukemia, FIV, and asthma working against him. Thankfully, he found a safe place to land with us, and we’ve been smitten with him ever since.

Though, if we’re being completely candid here, he was quite naughty when he first joined the ranks of our Shadow Cats! He’d swipe at your leg as you walked by, and picked fights with the other resident cats. He was a big boy bruiser, with a big fluffy belly to match. Eventually, he was given some medication to address his smoking attitude and plopped in a onesie, and his entire personality transformed!

His spicy moods simmered to something milder, and we found that underneath all of that posturing was the sweet Smokey we know and love now. His sweet heart softened, and his warmth melted our hearts. We got to know his cute little quirks—his cute little trill that sounds a bit like an airplane taking off because of his asthma (he made our hearts soar with this one), and all his sweet little chirps. He was a big snuggler and loved to be close to the other Cookie’s cats. We’d always find him nestled up with someone on a soft blanket—a true lover boy.

He’s had many odds against him from the start, but he’s lived an incredible two years here at Shadow Cats, forming unbreakable bonds with the other kitties and all the humans who ever had the pleasure of knowing and petting him. Unfortunately, on his third birthday, he asked us for a final gift—the gift of a painless passing, surrounded by loving arms and sweet kisses. Smokey battled an infection for several days at the emergency clinic, but his other diagnoses made it too difficult to conquer. We let him go and poured all of our love into him before he passed. He truly knew just how loved he was, and left us purring.

Now, Smokey can breathe free and clear over the rainbow bridge, free to be a kitten again with all of the sweet ones who have left us. We will miss you so much, Smokey, but we have no doubt in our minds that he knew just how treasured he was in those moments of his peaceful passing.

Thank you for loving Smokey—the incredible volunteers, the amazing staff at Shadow Cats, his kind sponsors Mary Ellen and Marina, and all who ever gave him a sweet pet and a gentle kiss. You’re the reason our fighter fought the way he did for a chance at this life, and the reason he got to leave it warmer and fuller than when it started. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

Smokey had 2 Sponsors

MaryEllen Taylor

Marina Piasecki

In Memory of Athena       7/24/2022 – 11/30/2023

Our beautiful girl, Athena.

Sometimes life can be cruel and animals suffer. Athena was found in Austin with a rubber band tight around her neck. She was taken to Austin Animal Center where the rubber band was surgically removed. During all this, another twist, she tested positive for FeLV. She came to Shadow Cats to recover and be loved. This was a year ago.

Athena was a little bitty thing. She had experienced cruelty and pain but all she wanted was love from us and to give love in return. She trusted us completely, which was a miracle after all she had been through. To say that she was all over you when you walked into the room was an understatement; she was in your face immediately with loud purrs, kisses, head bumps, and snuggles. She wanted as much love as she could get and we were so happy to oblige.

With lots of care from our amazing staff, Athena recovered so well from the injury that we hoped not to see any long-term effects of the rubber band as she got older, and we hoped all the bad things that happened to her were erased from her memory.

Athena was a delight! She lived life to the fullest; she had so much energy, she could be a blur in Cookie’s running from room to room, full of energy, sliding through the cat doors out onto the catios, jumping on the highest shelves, always looking to play and enjoy every moment. She was the same way with all the other cats, in your face, as she was with us. She just wanted to soak up every moment of the day being busy and doing as much as she could. She would then flop into a cuddle puddle with the other kitties and sleep soundly. For a girl who knew such cruelty, she was amazing! She was happy and content. She made us feel happy and content seeing her enjoying her life.

Some of our kitties bond with some of our staff, and Athena chose Lauren, one of our assistants. This was a sight to behold – Athena would run to her, it was incredible! She just loved to be perched on Lauren’s shoulder, and the bond was deep. Lauren was her person and she made Athena feel like a princess every day. After recovering from her injuries, our precious Athena battled with FIP and successfully completed her treatment. We had a celebration party for her a few weeks ago. A few days ago she relapsed, undergoing treatment again.

Leukemia has also raised its ugly head over the past few days. Athena has become too weak to fight any longer; FeLV does not play fair. Our final gift to precious Athena, a gentle passing surrounded by all those who loved and cared for her. Many tears have fallen, but we celebrate the year she has been with us. She has been a joy. It has been a year filled with lots of smiles and laughter watching our sweet girl beat the odds if only for a short while.

Her year was full of love and hope, playing with lots of kitty friends, filled with love from all of us humans,, and daily shoulder rides from her special person Lauren. She truly lived her best life in her time with us and we are comforted by that. She had a hard start in life and struggled with health issues but being with us at Shadow Cats she knew every single day how special she was and was showered with love by so many.

Beautiful Athena, you will be missed terribly. It will be impossible for us to ever forget the wonderful memories you gave to us. You will be in our hearts forever, sweetheart. We know you are across the Rainbow Bridge running and playing, free of all suffering. Say hello to all the gang that have gone before.

Thanks to our compassionate staff who looked after Athena every day. Thanks to Lauren who was her person. Thanks for the veterinary care she received. Thanks for the love she received from volunteers and her sponsors, Amy and Erin.

Athena had 2 Sponsors

Erin Johnston

Amy Juried

In Memory of Tabby       10/17/2006 – 11/27/2023

Gorgeous Tabby!

Can you imagine that this beautiful girl was dumped at a shelter, unwanted? She was! Thank goodness that Shadow Cats was there to be able to rescue Tabby. We do not know what she endured before she came to us, but we do know that we had to do everything in our power to make this beautiful girl feel loved and cherished and feel at home. Very shy, she liked to hide in the cubbies, but she kept her distance. We would talk to her all the time telling her she was wanted, she was very much loved.

Tabby has been with us for many years, another of the old guard! There are some fond memories from many volunteers. Although she is still a shy girl to this day, one volunteer remembers she would play a game of “chase” across the cat’s trees. She would squat down and then pop up and Tabby would jump over, then go to the next tree and do the same. Shy, but she enjoyed a game of chase!

Not the girl to make too many friends, Tabby has had one bestie for years, Pebbles. They have always been a pair – you don’t see one without the other! They recently celebrated their 16th birthdays just 2 days apart. Such good buddies.

After the move to the new sanctuary, Tabby came out of her shell a little more. Never to be a lap cat but she has enjoyed our love and pets and she has made lots of new friends. Another bestie! Violet. The 3 girls were often seen cuddling, seemed like they got together and swapped stories of life at the sanctuary. The Threesome, always keeping an eye on us to see what we were up to!

Tabby has had health problems as we all do as we get older but today, unexpected and a shock to us all, Tabby suffered a neurological episode that she could not recover from. Rushed to the vet, the always devastating decision had to be made to let Tabby cross the Rainbow Bridge. She ever so gently and peacefully left us cradled in loving arms, knowing she was deeply loved and cherished, never unwanted!

Dear Tabby, you will be missed so much, Part of the older gang at the sanctuary, we are left with treasured memories. There are so many that are waiting to greet you, Tabby, all those that have gone before.

Fly high on your wings, sweet girl, you will always be in our hearts, always.

Our thanks to all who loved and cared for Tabby, our wonderful loving staff, our volunteers, and her sponsors.

Tabby had 3 Sponsors

Deborah Ackerman

Julie Ferguson

Cecilia Jones

In Memory of Pumpkin       3/2/2020 – 11/27/2023

The cheeks on this boy! One look at him and you knew you were in love!

That is exactly what happened to his rescuer. A good Samaritan in Palestine, Texas took one look at Pumpkin and she knew she loved him. He had wandered onto her porch, she started feeding him and she quickly knew he wanted a home. On a trip to the vet, he was neutered and given all his vaccines and tested as she was going to welcome him to her home and other kitties.

Pumpkin tested positive for FeLV and FIV, so he could not stay. We were contacted and we had space for Pumpkin and he was on his way to his new home.

The sweetest boy! After his quarantine period, he joined his roomies in Cookie’s Place and started to get used to his new home. A bit of a loner, although he enjoyed his time on the catios and all the love and attention from all the staff and volunteers, he did not take kindly to some of the young ones who can be a bit boisterous at times. He started pulling out his fur and we decided to bring him to the office area, which was a little quieter for him and he would have just one roommate, Athena. Athena was undergoing medical treatment then and Pumpkin became like a big brother to her. He would soothe her and they would be seen cuddling all the time. He sure was a great big brother! He was an old wise soul in a young body, and would look at you as though he understood every word you said! By the way, Pumpkin had to wear a onesie and a doughnut collar for a while, but he was a trooper and looked mighty fine in them!

After Athena recovered and was back in Cookies Place with her buddies we felt Pumpkin was ready for Cookie’s Annex, still a quieter room. He had missed the big catios and the high shelves where he could watch the world go by.

Over the past few months, Pumpkin has had the time of his life. He enjoyed the catios, soaking up sunbeams from the high shelves, watching all the happenings outside with the rabbits, squirrels, and birds, soft beds to sleep on, and all the love he wanted from staff and volunteers. Unfortunately, he has suffered from many health issues in recent weeks and despite all the veterinary care and treatment, his health has declined. A sudden downturn today, he was tired and told us it was his time. Held closely in loving arms Pumpkin gently fell asleep listening to sweet words of love whispered in his ears.

Pumpkin has been with us since early March and we thought we would have longer with this beautiful boy, but it was not to be. We will miss his sweet demeanor, his soulful looks, and those cheeks! You were loved so much, precious Pumpkin. Rest easy, sweetheart.

Our heartfelt thanks to his rescuer. Pumpkin was a joy. Thank you to his caregivers, our volunteers, and all who loved Pumpkin near and far.

Pumpkin had 2 Sponsors

Carol Alvord

Angela Coleman