Wildcat Sanctuary Unveils “Catio Town”
SANDSTONE, Minn.–Can you imagine living in a jungle, a Barbie Dreamhouse, or even in the set of the hit tv show “Friends”?
At the Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, rescued hybrid cats get to live in these fun rooms.
The Wildcat Sanctuary is known for their tigers and lions but today, they’re celebrating a new home for their hybrid cats.
“We are so thrilled to give these cats a second chance at life. So many of them are caught between two worlds, wild and domestic. And here at the sanctuary, they not only get to live, but they get to thrive,” said Tammy Thies, Executive Director at the Wildcat Sanctuary.
The cats have rooms with fun themes, to give them a cozy environment.
“Of course we had to do an up north log cabin theme. One of our favorites is under the sea. And of course, pop culture, we wanted to do “Purrbie” room,” said Thies.
The rescued hybrids are often bred for their appearance and are often sold for thousands of dollars.
“These are cats that are crossed with wild cats, like African Serval, or Asian Leopard cat, and a domestic cat. So many people tried to make them pets, and they ended up in shelters, rescue groups, and oftentimes on the euthanasia list,” explained Thies.
But their wild side still lives on in ways that is unappealing for the owners of these cats.
“Bad behavior, aggression, territory urination, not using a litterbox. And so, we were their last hope,” said Thies.
Today, the sanctuary unveiled their new catio town that the 30 hybrid cats now call home.
The 1-million-dollar project ensures these felines have everything that makes them both safe, and comfortable.
“This building came together from generous donors of ours, and a few foundations. They’ve supported us rescuing tigers and lions, through trafficking trades. But they also have huge hearts for the small cats that have nowhere to go,” said Thies.
The Catio Town can have a city population of up to 50 cats, and the Wildcat Sanctuary is looking forward to helping these cats continue to thrive.
