This story begins in 2018, when a beautiful stray cat appeared on my porch in Hamden, CT. My husband and I named the cat Iverson after our favorite basketball player, but once we discovered she was female — and the proud new mother of five kittens — her name was officially changed to Ivy. With the help of neighbors and friends Alexa and Robin, Ivy and her babies were trapped ,spayed/neutered, and given medical care.

That’s when Robin, a lifelong animal lover, stepped in. She agreed to foster them, built them a catio and even a kitty room, and eventually decided she couldn’t part with them. Along with her senior cat, Moo Shoo. Ivy and her kittens had found their forever home.

But shortly after the kittens first birthday, Robin was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer. Despite her illness, she made sure her cats would always be cared for. Her dying wish, written into her legal trust, was that Ivy and her kittens would stay together in her home under the care of someone she trusted.

Robin passed away in October 2021. She left $100,000 in trust for the cats’ care and named me (Jennifer) as well as her close friend and like a daughter, Alexa ,as trustees, along with another close friend of Robin’s ,Diane, who was appointed to be the trust protector . When we sat down and figured out the expenses with their life expectancy of 15 years+ , we realized that wouldn’t cover all with homeowners insurance each year , taxes , house maintenance , kittie food , litter ,scratch pads , necessities as well as basic and sick kittie vet care . At that point , I , Alexa and Gary another good friend and cat care giver for Robin ,each added $10,000 of our own, bringing the trust to $130,000 in hopes of making it last. My mother, lovingly known as Bubbe, moved into Robin’s home in 2022 to care for the cats. She has poured her own savings into the house, paying utilities, taxes, and repairs, while also creating special routines like nightly storytime and sing-alongs with the cats. But caring for 7 cats (now 5 after Moo Shoo passed at age 22, and Bro Bro Babe passed from kidney issues in 2024) and maintaining a home has been far more costly than anyone imagined. The trust has been drained by:

• Veterinary care: both routine and emergency visits that come with caring for multiple cats.

• Major home repairs: flooding, roof leaks, septic replacement, tree removals, and storm damage.

• Everyday expenses: food, litter, insurance, and property costs.

The cost of all of this has drained the trust significantly, and we are now running out of funds to continue caring for the cats as Robin had wished. Which was supposed to last 15–20 years is nearly gone in just three. Within the next 6 months , the trust will be completely drained .

Today, there are five beloved cats:

• Ivy (mom)

• Brave Boy (only son)

• Purrrfect (Girl)

• Rocket (Girl)

• Dancer (Girl)

They are now 7 years old, full of life, and can live another 10–13 years with proper care. Bubbe is fully committed to loving them, keeping them together, and honoring Robin’s last wish but she cannot do it alone anymore.

How you can help:

Your donations will go directly toward:

•Food, litter, and supplies

•Routine and emergency veterinary care

•House maintenance, insurance, and basic expenses to keep the cats in their home

If you cannot donate, please share this story. Donations of supplies, children’s books (for their nightly storytime!), or even help with repairs are also deeply appreciated. Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping us keep Bubbe and the Catio Crew together. Robin’s wish was for them to stay safe, loved, and united and with your support, we can make that happen.