By the Light of the Moon

Hi Everyone. As you know, we are in an urgent situation and need to move this year before our lease ends) as we cannot continue renting. We want rescue to continue and still need your help! I am posting this update to also share some goodnews!!

We were able to purchase 5 acres of Agricultural Land this past week. However, the land needs so much work and there is a lot that needs to happen before we can move. I am still planning to purchase a barn type structure/prefab home for the cats but what’s really needed for now is:

funding to help get electric and plumbing to the land. I am still working with the jurisdiction to find out exactly what is needed to proceed as far as permitting and inspections.

Fencing costs – this is a very important aspect to making this a true sanctuary that is not only safe but where there is enough room for my cats and cats to come.

Making the structure liveable for the cats (insulation, heating/cooling system, a few appliances and animal wash type bath.

Thank you all for your help making our dream sanctuary.

Dear Cat Rescue Supporters and Friends- WE ARE MOVING & WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP!

By the Light of the Moon Cat Sanctuary & Rescue is a licensed non profit organization that currently houses over 90 cats on a revolving basis. My rescue focuses primarily on giving cats a second chance that are special needs, unadoptable and facing the risk of euthanasia at overly crowded kill-shelters. In 2022, I have rescued over 85 cats and this doesn’t include pregnant moms who had kittens in foster homes. I have also had more than 50 adoptions in 2022.

The past few years we have been renting and our Landlord has been understanding and even supportive up to a certain number of cats. However, due to the uncertainties of renting(not owning) and the growing number of cats at our rescue, it’s imperative that we move as soon as possible. We have FAR out grown our current setup this past year and in order for rescue to continue, we really NEED YOUR HELP!

We are looking to purchase a property that has 1.5-3 acres that we can build upon. We are wanting to add a large steel barndonium that can be converted to a nice living space for the cats with an extensive fenced in area attached. Depending on the amount we are able to raise will determine the size of the barndonium. We are hoping for at least 2,000 sq. Ft. , if it’s lofted, we will later be able to add a second floor to increase our capacity.

The GoFundMe will help cover a sufficient down payment for the land, bardonium steel shell, concrete foundation, insulation, flooring, drywall, heating/cooling system, electrical/plumbing costs, and custom fencing. I will be able to finance a portion of the project, but we are estimating the entire cost of the project to be around $275k.

The barndonium will be large enough to have separate areas for sick cats. I will be able to rescue FeLV and FIV+ cats and other special needs cats. The structure will allow sufficient space to have a separate area for a future in house area for vetting and a separate area for bathing the cats.

An essential part of this project is to have custom built large cat runs attached to the barndonium so the cats, especially the ferals, can enjoy life at the sanctuary and get plenty of entertainment and exercise. The enclosure/ fencing will keep the cats contained and safe, either closed off at the top or with, “coyote rollers” ,at the top to ensure predators are kept out and the cats are kept in (see photos for reference). We want to give our cats the best lives possible with many coming out of tough situations and harsh environments. They deserve the best- whether they forever stay in the sanctuary or whether they find adoption/ forever homes which is always my goal.

If for some reason we are unable to raise a sufficient amount for our dream sanctuary, we will opt to place a used small prefab/mobile home on the land with extended fencing. Most likely electrical and plumbing work will be needed either way. We are turning to our community to help make the dream come true. I am humbled and grateful of any support I get either way it goes!

I’m reaching out to you and my community to help so I can continue the work of rescuing. Thank you for entrusting me with your donations so that together we can make a difference and help MANY more cats.

Here is my link to my Facebook. We would love for you to keep up with us.

https://www.facebook.com/By-The-Light-Of-The-Moon-Cat-Rescue-Sanctuary-104955850944956/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

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I would like everyone reading and supporting me to know a little about me, what I do, my beginnings and the cats in my care.

Not only do I solely run a rescue with about 100 cats, I also care for and maintain 4 feral colonies. Every night without fail, I drive around to the locations to go feed the feral cats. I have been doing this for almost 5 years and hope that one day we can bring them all. I worry about leaving them behind without a caregiver and I always hope I can one day just bring them all to a sanctuary where they are fed, cared for and have shelters.

(Some of our cats living at the sanctuary)

Before I first started my rescue in 2018, I was renting from my current landlord. After the loss of my favorite black kitty Moonriver, my special boy who passed away on his first birthday. I would find comfort in feeding the strays and ferals that seemed to just show up all the time right outside my door, more came, I decided that I would start a cat rescue and sanctuary for ferals in Moonriver’s memory. At first I wanted to focus primarily on rescuing black cats but how could I ever turn down a kitty in need? I have a special place in my heart for ferals and black cats, but also geriatric, special needs and those that are forgotten.

I feel that cat rescue is my purpose in life and the reason I’m here on this earth. It’s something that I’ve committed to doing the rest of my life. Everything I own belongs to cats ,my car, my bed, my kitchen, and my money. This also means I can’t use my kitchen and I have no space of my own. I can never leave or go out of town because rescuing is an all day everyday job. I have so many cats that gets medicine everyday, fluids, insulin injections and so forth. For this reason, I have to always stay close by in order to monitor the cats. So please clearly know, wherever we all move, I will be living with the cats.

Not only that but everyday I make home cooked meals for my cats. The ingredients I use range from chicken, liver, pumpkin, rice, broccoli, coconut oil, iodized salt, vitamin mix for cats, and often times I mix this with a grainfree canned cat food.

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Please also allow me to introduce some of my rescues in this section. I wish I could tell everyone’s story but it would take a book.

Louella, my girl that I rescued from Fulton county shelter last summer was on schedule to be euthanized. She couldn’t use her back legs and had no control of her bladder and bowels. I took her to a vet that strongly recommended to euthanize her due to quality of life. I got a second opinion and sadly, the same suggestion. I took her home. She’s been with me for 9 months! I have to help express her bowels everyday. She also wears diapers and I have to wash her bottom everyday. She is very social and wastes no time scooting up to people sliding around on her diaper to greet everyone. I am sure Louella will always be a part of the sanctuary and that I will always be here for her.

I recently got this little black kitten named Phantom, she had some broken bones and her entire ear to me looks like it was burnt off. No one knows the story behind what happened to her but I sure hope she was not a victim of abuse.

She made fast friends with an orange kitten named Indigo , who was born with a neurological problem that makes his back legs wobbly, but he is doing great. Whenever the two are separated they scream for each other until they are together again, I have never seen such a bond between 2 cats. I’m sure unless they get adopted together one day they will also always have the sanctuary as their home.

There’s also sweet cookie who was at risk of being euthanized. Vets could not determine what was wrong with her after rounds of steroids, antibiotics, antifungals, topicals. I finally decided that this was a major flea allergyand got her the correct treatment. A couple months later she was a brand new cat, was adopted and is the queen of her new home! Please see her transformation and how beautiful she is, I’m very thankful to have given her a chance.

There’s so many more but lastly, I would like to introduce Falcor, a young purebred mainecoone. He was in such poor condition when he came to me from a breeding situation. He was surrendered along with several others, the breeder being evicted but was not taking care of her animals. There was clear signs of abuse and suffered hematoma, a blow to his head (admitted by the breeder that surrendered him) causing his ear to lay flat on his head. His teeth were so bad, he smelled terrible and his coat was filthy. I tried to get him transferred to a better equipped/bigger rescue that focused on fancy cat breeds but none would/could take him. Fortunately, this boy got signed up with cuddly and he was able to get the care he deserved! I am so grateful to be a part of rescuing and helping this poor boy. He is now residing in his foster home.

I’ve also rescued many seniors from the shelter and gave them hospice. They all have their unique story, but my favorite one is senior girl Elaine who was blind and surrendered by owner at a shelter. She was waiting for months when finally her plea reached me through a friends. She was relieved to be out of the shelter but I knew she needed more love and attention than I could give her. I carried her around to make sure she wasn’t lonely but she just stuck to her little safe spot away from all the cats. I really wanted to find her the perfect home. I am so happy to be a part of rescuing her because she went to best home ever. She is treated like a baby and a princess, getting spoiled. These are the moments that make me love what I do!

There are so many more stories! We desperately need your help to get structures and housing up for these cats and safely move them all over!