‘I gave up my house and turned it into a cat sanctuary where 100 cats live in the present’: Homeowner’s heartfelt decision to help 15 stray cats becomes a life mission, as she creates a cat sanctuary and furever changes the lives of all strays in her city

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Sep 21, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

Selflessness in the name of felines is most certainly an act of kindness that could land a person at the entrance to those pearly gates if they do so exist. And the kindness and selflessness of the woman that this story is about is certainly of that kind. For where some people might say that they will go to volunteer at a shelter, or heck even set up a shelter or rescue service, this woman said nuts to that I'm going for the whole enchilada.

So when she got her hands on her first ever house, which happened to come with 15 stray cats as standard, she felt it was only right to give them the space that they deserve, after all they came with the house. But as word got out, the need for her help grew and so did the space in her home for her rescued clouder of cats. Until one day, she herself had to move out to make even more room for her growing number of feline guests. What a purrecious soul she is.
 

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    I would like to share my story with you, in hope that I will encourage more people to help when they can, as this is the most rewarding experience I've had in my life. About 4
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    Cheezburger Image 10556488704
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    years ago I bought an old house for myself. It was the happiest day of my life, and I had big plans for it. I
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    Cheezburger Image 10556488960
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    dreamed of having a little mermaid themed bathroom, build an amazing boardgames nook in the garden and have the coolest walk-in wardrobe ever. Little
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    did I know that in no time none of that would ever matter again... The house came with about 15 strays, roaming around in the garden. I quickly saw
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    the potential problem and scheduled them for sterilization. I then thought i'd let them stay in for a day or two, to recover from the surgery in a safe place. Guess what?
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    D 1
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    They never left I became the 15 cats lady, and soon enough people would call me to ask for help with a cat here, a cat there, a litter of kittens, and so on. My attitude
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  • Well, you know what they say, go big or go home. And it seems that when you do both at the same time then some seriously wild things start to happen. It is rather hard to conceive of just how many cats 15 cats is to begin with, let alone all the others. 

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    towards that? Take the cat now, figure it out later! I am a resourceful person. I always found a way, no matter how difficilt life got. I was
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    always able to find side gigs to cover extra costs or find ways to save money. I learned how to do basic med care at home and how to Isave on vet costs.
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    Ed
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    Many vets in town know me, and they all help me as much as they can: discounts, advice, teaching me how to do things at home. I
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    gave up my house and turned it into a cat sanctuary where 100 cats live in the present. I rent a
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  • Holy guacamole, she gave up her house? This is a true act of selflessness. Though that being said with so many cats in the building it would not be especially habitable for any hooman. It is hard enough living with one or two cats as it is, but living with 100 would likely be unmanageable.

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    small apartment nearby and everything I had was 100% catified. This is my biggest accomplishment in life, and I am happy and lucky to have found my calling. I
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    know thay this is just the beginning, because I intend to forever change the life for all strays in my city. We do not have an official shelter here, even though we are close to 100k people. I
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    know that one day I will make it possible for every cat in need to have a place they can call home
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