first permanent sanctuary for cats

Rescuers establish their first permanent sanctuary for cats
Maui News, Hawaii - October 18, 2006

[Excerpt]

With the purchase of a 2?-acre Upcountry property in August, 9th Life has established a permanent no-kill sanctuary for cats that Tavares said is the first on Maui.

Fourteen cats, including the rescued tabby, have been moved to the location, living in a screened lanai, laundry room, living room and bedrooms.

More than 100 other cats, now housed at another leased location in Haiku, will be moved to the property once there are accommodations, Tavares said.

She said the group is hoping to raise $50,000 to turn a barn into a cattery with indoor and outdoor areas, as well as to build other catteries on the new property. Eventually, she hopes to convert a large laundry room into a surgical suite and recovery area where cats can be spayed or neutered.

“We have got a lot of room here,” Tavares said. “What we don’t have is a lot of money. We can help as many cats as money allows.”

Along with taking in homeless and abandoned cats and trying to find homes for them, 9th Life has provided spaying and neutering for cats in an effort to try to humanely control the cat population on Maui.