ö
Special thanks to
Penny Peerce and Goofy Girl Productions for creating these wonderful videos
for Shadow Cats!
WEOUR KITTY
NANNIES!!!
Every day, our
awesome Kitty Nannies, Shauna and
Ranie, keep the Sanctuary running
and ensure that our kitties have a
clean and safe environment. Read more about these
hard-working and dedicated women of
Shadow Cats!
The Sanctuary
About the Shadow Cats Sanctuary
Sheila and Dr. Roy Smith have always had a special
place in their hearts for feral and injured cats. In the
mid 1990’s they found themselves caring for more than
just a handful of cats in their home, and the idea for a
sanctuary was born. In 1997 what would become the first
phase of sanctuary construction was completed. They
designed an outdoor enclosure with wonderful airy spaces
to run, lots of nooks and cubbyholes for shy kitties,
and protection from the elements.
Over the next ten years the cat population grew, and
the sanctuary continued to expand. Now in addition to
the large screened Outback enclosure, there are several
porches, screened areas under the porches, and rooms
throughout the house connected with kitty doors and
tunnels. This allows most of the cats to have access to
both indoor and outdoor areas, and separate zones can be
created to segregate groups of cats as needed.
One of
the biggest changes at the sanctuary in recent years has
been a big increase in the number of resident cats with
feline leukemia. This virus is a death sentence for cats
in many shelters throughout the country, and makes them
almost unadoptable. Although they may not have long
lives, they can survive for several years and live very
normally and happily during that time. They are prone to
more frequent and serious health problems, though, and
the care that Sheila and Dr. Roy provide is just what
these little angels need.
Most of the residents of the
sanctuary have health issues like feline leukemia, FIV,
or other serious conditions such as stomatitis or
chronic renal failure. Often a feral cat will develop a
health problem and be unable to remain in their colony,
or a feral colony will become unsafe for its inhabitants
to remain there. Some cats have emotional problems due
to abusive backgrounds; others are just older or didn’t
ever get lucky in the adoption sweepstakes. While some
are adoptable, most will spend the rest of their lives
here at the sanctuary. Our focus at Shadow Cats is on
giving them the highest quality of life possible for
whatever time they have with us. Dedicated
volunteers help give each cat all the TLC they need.
Every single cat is unique and special in their own way.
It’s a privilege for us to be able to share in their
lives – take a look at some of their profiles on our web
site and you’ll see why we feel that way. You can also
check out the Kitty Cam and follow the exploits of our
feline leukemia cats in that room. And, we can always
use another volunteer!
OUR KITTY
NANNIES!!!
