Help Regina & Her Rescue Cats Escape Unsafe Housing on Kauai.

Hi, I’m Regina — the cat lady, living on Kauai since 2015. Originally from Las Vegas, I came to the island seeking peace after my mom passed, and I found it here — along with a calling I didn’t expect: rescuing and caring for abandoned, sick, and injured cats who had nowhere else to go.

Over the years, I’ve opened my heart and home to a large, bonded group of rescue cats. Every single one has been loved, vetted, and raised as part of my indoor family. They are not just pets — they are my babies, my companions, my emotional support, and the reason I get up every day.

Now, I’m facing something I never thought I’d have to do: leave Kauai — not because I want to, but because I must.

I’m Living in Unsafe Conditions — And I’m Out of Options

I’ve spent the past year trying everything I can to get repairs done in the house I rent. Ongoing issues I’ve documented include:

Despite repeated requests—and even after a mediation agreement—these issues still have not been fully addressed.

My bloodwork showed low-level lead exposure, and I’m deeply concerned about my cats as well, since they’re smaller and are more likely to ingest dust or debris.

I’ve contacted the County, State, and Federal agencies, and I was told my concerns were taken seriously. However, I’ve also been advised that agency involvement is limited and that I may need to consult an attorney. Meanwhile, despite repeated requests, repairs still haven’t been completed.

After I asked again for repairs, I was told the house would be sold at the end of my lease on March 31, 2026, and that no work would be done.

At this point, I can’t keep waiting. I have nowhere to live after 3/31, so I need to relocate off-island to a safer, stable place for me and my cats.

I can’t afford to stay, and I can’t afford to go—so here I am, feeling a little embarrassed, but making this fundraiser anyway.

Why I Can’t Just Rehome the Cats

These are living creatures, not shoes. Several people have just casually suggested I rehome some cats. Rehome to where? To who?

If you've lived on Kauai for any amount of time, you already know: the shelters are full. Foster homes are full. And most landlords don’t allow pets — let alone a bonded indoor tribe like mine. People leave the island and dump their cats, hoping someone else will help them. But most don’t make it. Having been part of the cat rescue community here, I cannot add to an already overwhelming burden that others are doing their best to carry.

My cats are indoor-only, fixed, chipped, and emotionally bonded to each other and to me. Many were traumatized before I took them in. Some are seniors. Several are kittens. One is deaf. They finally feel safe. Rehoming them would not only break their hearts — it would put their lives at risk. I made a promise when I rescued them: to care for them for life. They are my heart.

The Emotional & Physical Toll

What’s been hardest isn’t just the condition of the house — it’s the constant, quiet anxiety of trying to manage it all on my own. I’ve spent months trying to stay ahead of the damage:

The sad reality is, like so many others, I’ve been priced out of paradise. This is what “affordable, pet-friendly housing” on Kauaʻi looked like for me — a home with ongoing safety concerns and constant stress. I stayed because it was the only place I could keep my cats together. But now even that stability is slipping away — and it’s no longer safe to wait

✈️ Where We’re Going

Thanks to a generous couple — who happen to be cat people like me — I have a safe place waiting for me in Tennessee. A fresh start. A clean affordable home. Pet-friendly. No more having to plead for basic repairs or safety concerns to be addressed.

I’ll be traveling with my fur family and heading there solo — just me and the cats (and yes… I still need to figure out winter clothes!)

⏳ My goal is to leave the island by January 30th. Time is short, and I’m doing everything I can to prepare this complex move with the help of generous friends and the kindness of strangers.

What Your Support Will Cover

I'm asking for $15,500 to help make this move happen safely and responsibly. I’ll leave with only suitcases and start over from scratch.

Here’s where your support will go:

✔️ Airline-approved travel crates for each cat — already purchased

✔️ Vet care, rabies shots, and health certificates ($3800).

✔️ Transport to the airport in Lihue on multiple days ($380)

✈️ Flight costs for me: ($1,800–$2,000) (relocating with only what I can fit into suitcases)

Hotel stay in Seattle -$125

✈️ shipping logistics for the cats via Island Pet Movers ($8900) - includes air transportation, boarding overnight in Seattle with care, and getting them back on the next flight to Nashville.

Cargo van rental in Tennessee to transport us to our new home ($200)

I missed the shipping window for my car, so I’ll be selling it here and using those funds as well.

❤️ Why This Matters

I didn’t plan to leave Kauai — and I certainly didn’t plan to ask for help. I put this off as long as I could. But after trying every option available to me, I know we won’t make it unless I swallow my pride and ask for help.

If you believe in the power of rescue...

If you believe pets are family...

If you’ve ever had to walk away from a unsafe situation with nothing but determination...

Then please help us.

If we can leave by January 30th, my cats and I will finally be safe. No more worrying about leaks, no more worrying about lead dust, no more

constant worry about what might fail next.

Every dollar brings us closer to that future. Every share might connect us with someone who can help. And every kind word gives me strength to keep going.

Thank you for reading our story — and for being part of our rescue adventure.

With gratitude,

Regina & the Furry Floyd Tribe