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The Sanctuary is the Heart of Shadow Cats Rescue. Long before Shadow Cats Rescue became a non profit organization, we had only the name, the heart and the desire to help feral and injured cats.  With a compassionate and like minded husband, the kids long gone and a large spare room it seemed we had all we needed to care for the cats that came through our door. With a plan in mind, we ripped up carpeting, laid tile, painted walls and created cubbies for the rescue cats. We established a mini ER for emergencies. Dark, quiet crates held the feral cats prior to release. Not bad! This would work!
But as time passed and more and more cats came to us, the spare room grew into two spare rooms and then the office. We knew this couldn't go on! So many of the cats were special needs, feral or in some way unadoptable. Too many cats coming in and too few going back out! We began to look at our options.
We sat down and sketched out a tentative plan for the Sanctuary. We talked about how we would pay for it ourselves and how we would build it. How many cats could we have? After all we lived in an older area with no neighborhood association, but still we had houses on each side of us. How could we do this and still be good neighbors?
After months of planning and coordination we began. Weeks of construction and living with the crew coming and going sometimes took its toll but finally we had our Sanctuary! To us, it was beautiful! Even though it was all wire and wood, it created a wonderful outdoor space for the cats to explore. It took awhile but eventually they began to explore. First up one ramp and then down the other. In one cubby and out the back. Running up the enclosed trees. Ahh, life was good!
That was 1997.
Over the years, the Sanctuary has grown. It has 1700 square feet of living space for the cats. The ramps have multiplied and grown into multi level sunning decks. A second enclosure within the larger enclosure houses the FIV cats that bite. Another small and separate multi level area shelters the seven cats with leukemia. Two upper decks offer a climate controlled area in inclement weather. For the cats that will not come upstairs onto the decks, there are small houses in the lower areas that have heated beds during the winter. There is a large area under the decking that provides shelter and housing and stays cool during the summer. The sealed, concrete slab makes it easier to clean. We have incorporated a natural litter pan in the outdoor areas. Several enclosed mulched areas filled with cypress mulch and thousands of California Red Wriggler Worms work to break down waste and reduce any odor.
As time has passed, the wisteria, roses and honeysuckle have covered the wood and wire and incorporated it into the landscape. The Sanctuary backs up to the waters of Brushy Creek and there is a natural feel to the area. The neighbors? Well, I think they like it and consider it a resource to the neighborhood. After all, we don't have many stray cats around!
The Sanctuary is now but one part of Shadow Cats Rescue. After we gained our non profit status in 2004, we were able to open an Adoption Center in Round Rock. We have grown from a husband and wife that cared about the plight of feral cats to an organization with over 70 volunteers as of 2006. We have TNR'd over 1500 cats since 1997 and have placed over 300 hundred of cats into adoptive homes. We feed over 400 cats each day, rain or shine and maintain several colonies. Our mission remains the same — the only thing that changes is the number of cats we impact as we continue to grow.
And as for those first residents? Most are still at the Sanctuary — the Heart of Shadow Cats.
Next month we will start to introduce you to the residents of the Sanctuary. Each month we'll tell you about the felines that live here, how they got here and how they are doing now. For these cats, life is good.
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