Our Story – A private sanctuary for more than 100 cats – How it began…
CatSalvaCura did not begin with a plan to build a large organization. After Jerry Knoll moved to Moldova, he repeatedly encountered cats that were hungry, ill or had nowhere safe to go.
Some appeared on their own. Others were found beside roads, in car parks or near rubbish containers. Every rescue began with one individual cat – and with the decision to take lasting responsibility for that life.
One of the first was Flocki, a snow-white deaf tomcat who came looking for food and shelter shortly after Jerry’s arrival. Maxi joined later. Weak and ill, he was living on the property where the sanctuary stands today. With food, medical treatment and time, he became a healthy and trusting cat.
Flocki
Individual stories gradually became one large community.
A home that grew with the cats
When the original group of seven cats continued to grow, a larger house was built with their needs in mind from the beginning.
Today, the cats have access to a heated floor of almost 280 square metres, protected places to retreat and a spacious, secure outdoor area. They can run, climb, sleep and observe their surroundings, choosing for themselves whether they want company or peace and quiet.
The adult cats permanently integrated into the groups are neutered. Older and unwell cats receive the care they need.
CatSalvaCura today
More than 100 cats now live permanently in the private sanctuary. Every one of them has a name, an individual personality and a story of their own.
CatSalvaCura is not a public animal shelter. No additional animals are accepted, and cats are not currently being placed for adoption. The task today is to provide the cats already living here with a safe and fulfilling life for the long term.
This means providing food, litter, medication, veterinary treatment, cleaning, maintenance and personal attention every day. All care is privately organized.
The rescues are behind us. The responsibility remains.
Many of the cats’ individual stories can be found in their profiles. Anyone who wishes to support the existing sanctuary can buy a book or product from the shop or contribute voluntarily towards the ongoing costs of care.
Even during the planning phase, I found a skinny, flea-infested tomcat full of ear mites on the new property. He was coughing and so weak that he didn’t even hiss at me — a total stranger — but instead croaked at me trustfully on the long-abandoned land I had just bought.
View of the primary safety outdoor area, in the foreground the 12×6 meter sand park, running, digging, doing business…
After a few weeks of regular proper cat food (he too was given DEFU food from the start) and a combination spot-on treatment (Nexgard), he began to thrive. I named him MAXI — and he even responds to it. Some of his “buddies” from the area, also homeless and in terrible condition — including some females — became regular food guests and were immediately neutered. So even before the house was finished, a friendly, peaceful group of cats had already found good food and shelter in the old storage hall during the rapidly approaching winter. Of course, this hall also needs to be heated in winter, with outside temperatures reaching minus 20 degrees Celsius.
Freedom in a protected sanctuary.
The extensive, openly connected to the indoor area, ca. one hectare freeroaming area allows for free play, fun and sunshine, nature, trees, grass, exercise and retreat – without leaving the protection of the sanctuary. The large fence allows for protected freedom.
See the extended outdoor protected area of our private cat sanctuary:
