Shelter Shout Out: Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary

We cannot express the level of appreciation we have for the animal welfare groups we have the privilege of working with. The amount of effort, passion and time put into caring for the animals in need is worth recognizing! Our Shelter Shout Out series is one way that we like to highlight some of these groups and the amazing work they do.

This month, we’re here to talk about Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary (BCR) in St. Pauls, North Carolina. I got to chat with Katherine, who was kind enough to take the time to talk with me about BCR’s, the work they do and to just talk cats in general (which is my favorite thing to talk about, by the way). Katherine has been with BCR since 2012 and became a staff member in 2018, wearing many hats in fundraising, email marketing, donor relations and more!

In 2005, mother and daughter shelter volunteers, Alana Miller and Stephanie Mathews began to realize that blind shelter cats often ended up on the euthanasia list at local shelters simply because they were blind and were considered “not adoptable.” Alana is known for so aptly explaining, “These cats don’t know they are blind, they just know that they are cats; they act like cats.” They aren’t helpless, or handicapped – they’re still cats who just navigate the world a bit differently than most but are still worthy of love and care. And so, Blind Cat Rescue was founded by this duo as an answer to the call and need for a safe place for blind cats.

“These cats don’t know they are blind, they just know that they are cats; they act like cats” – Alana Miller, Founder, Blind Cat Rescue

In 2011, BCR expanded as a sanctuary to provide care for FeLV+ (feline leukemia virus) and FIV+ (feline immunodeficiency virus) cats. These are illnesses that affect the immune system, and a positive test result often leads to a cat being put right on the euthanasia list. Just because these cats have immune system illnesses, that doesn’t mean they can’t live happy, fulfilled lives.

After talking with Katherine, it became clear that providing the absolute best quality of care to the cats at the sanctuary is paramount. In addition, BCR prioritizes educating the public about blind, FIV+ and FeLV+ cats. These cats have a stigma of being sick, handicapped, hopeless and not adoptable… None of these things could be further from the truth.

As an aside, I can absolutely attest to the importance of education on these topics. My cat, Fish, was diagnosed with FeLV back in 2020 and initially I was under the impression that there was no hope. The more I learned and the more I talked with our vet, the more I was able to provide Fish with the care she needed. Now here we are, over 4 years since her diagnosis and she is still living large and loving life!

Another thing I learned from Katherine is actually how most cats become blind. Of course, some are just born blind, but a lot of times cats lose their vision due to an untreated upper respiratory infection (URI). I never would have associated a URI with blindness, but if left untreated, it can cause the cat’s eyes to rupture. This is just another reason why it’s so important to pay attention to your pet’s behavior and health! What may seem like just a “cold” could actually be something more serious that needs attention.

At this time, there are 60 cats who have all found their forever home in the loving care of the folks at BCR. Alana Miller’s philosophy, right from BCR’s inception, is that these cats have been through so much by the time they reach their doors that this is it. This is their forever home and they will never have to experience any more trauma in their lives. That is a promise made to all cats that have and that ever will call Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary home.

Blind Cat Rescue has leveraged its social media following to raise awareness and provide educational materials to people all around the world. Not only that, they have a 24/7 live feed on their website so you can watch the cats living their best lives! It also demonstrates that BCR stands by what it says about how the cats are their number one priority over anything else; their facility is spotless, the cats are given plenty of care, attention and necessary treatment… The transparency, passion and diligence definitely help BCR to stand out – everything they do is truly out of love for these cats.

I was also lucky enough to talk with Katherine about some of the most inspirational rescue stories, such as Uncle Fester’s story. Uncle Fester was trying to survive in the world as a blind street cat. BCR was eventually called in to help and the first thing they do for all new rescues is to perform a full medical workup. As horrifying as it is, Uncle Fester’s x-rays showed that he was full of bird shot and had other wounds, too. He was given the necessary medical treatment, plenty of love, got all healed up and now is one of the most loved and iconic residents at BCR.

I can’t forget to mention a very special Mr. Betty – for all those wondering, yes, Mr. Betty was thought to be a female and yes, Betty White is his namesake. This story is the quintessential “right place, right time” situation. A delivery driver came across a poor, emaciated and injured Mr. Betty on the side of the road during a delivery route. After realizing he was alive, the driver immediately knew she couldn’t just leave him. *Insert fateful and possibly miraculous coincidence here* This delivery driver happened to regularly bring packages to Blind Cat Rescue and knew about its mission, so she drove as quickly as possible right to the rescue. Mr. Betty was immediately brought in for medical treatment and he was in such rough shape that there were concerns he may not make it. But Mr. Betty pulled through and is going to live the rest of his days out at BCR, happy and safe.

I could go on and on about each and every special kitty resident at BCR, but you can browse BCR’s website and read stories on all of the residents here! Fair warning, a lot of these stories are inspirational and emotional and may bring a tear to your eye!

Blind Cat Rescue continues to work hard every day to give these cats the happy, fulfilled lives they deserve. Thank you again to Katherine for taking the time to talk with us and for all the work that Blind Cat Rescue does!

Follow Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary on Facebook and Instagram.

Want to visit the sanctuary in person? Blind Cat Rescue is open for visitors from 12:30pm – 4pm ET, Monday – Saturday. Find out more info on their website.

Donate a Kuranda Cat Bed or Tower directly to Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary through their ShelterBeds Wish List!