As a young child, I remember visiting the Hawaiian island of Lanai. As my parents and I explored the island, we always noticed that there were feral, homeless cats everywhere we looked. Unfortunately, these feral cats were destroying the local bird population and continuously seen as pests by the locals. As a result, these beautiful felines were being killed.
However, in 2008, Kathy Carroll came up with a plan in order to do something about the exploding feral cat population. Her interest in the issue began when she found a tiny, desperately ill kitten that required immediate veterinary care. In order to receive this veterinary care, however, Kathy had to hop on the ferry boat to another Hawaiian island, Maui, with the kitten, and take it to a vet there, as the vet hours in Lanai were limited to only a few hours per week. When Ms. Carroll returned to Lanai to get her kitten neutered, the vet suggested she begin a Trap-Neuter-Release program in order to help other kittens on the island, and gave her contact information for a local group to help get the idea off the ground.
The program was an immediate success, but marine biologists thought otherwise. As a native bird became endangered, Kathy was told that she would need to find a more permanent solution for the cats.
Kathy partnered with the Four Seasons in Lanai to produce a "Kitty Paradise." With $10,000 worth of PVC pipe, fence posts, deer netting, and various other supplies, Kathy and volunteers created a 15,000 square foot outdoor sanctuary for over 400 that live in the area. This enclosure features sleeping cubicles, hiding spots, irrigation pipes for playing, and even kitty jungle gyms. Additionally, there are natural toys, such as trees and bushes, for cats to explore, climb on, or sleep in.
However, this great sanctuary is not just for cats. Every year, over 900 volunteers, including tons of tourists from the nearby Four Seasons resort, come to play with the kittens, help out with chores, and get them acquainted to life around people. When you walk into the enclosure, you could be greeted by as many as 50 cats at once. Personally, that sounds like heaven.
Although the Lanai Cat Sanctuary is not able to place as many adoptions as other animal shelters due to the abundance of tourists on the island and few cat owner residents, Kathy Carroll feels as though she is making a difference in a different way. She is very pleased with the work that her and her team are doing, and hopes that other groups will incorporate the ideas that she has implemented into her kitty sanctuary. Her favorite quote is by Lily Tomlin. "I said, 'Somebody should do something about that.'"
Kathy Carroll realizes that sometimes, you have to be that somebody. She said, ""Doing something is always better than doing nothing, cat by cat and kitten by kitten."
As a cat lover, I am thrilled to see that Kathy has taken initiative and done something to help all of the beautiful creatures on Lanai, from the birds and geckos to the feral cats. Her idea has created joy for hundreds of cats, as well as the almost one thousand guests who visit her enclosure each and every year to socialize with the felines. I hope one day I can return to Lanai and see just how much her work has changed the dynamic of this beautiful island.
For more information, visit their website! http://lanaicatsanctuary.org/
