Abby – RIP

Acquired From: Save-a-Life Rescue

RIP Abby, who passed suddenly from undetected cancer on April 3, 2017

Abby was the start of the Sanctuary dream… After losing her beloved Sadie, Rita began volunteering at the weekend pet adoptions for Save-a-life. On her very first day, a couple came in to “return” Abby, whom they adopted 5 years prior, because she was too sickly and they could no longer afford the vet bills. She was also on a special food; it’s hard to manage that with hundreds of cats to care for. Save-a-Life asked Rita to take her home so she could get the special care she needed. Not only did Abby get whar she needed, it was also determined by Rita’s vet that Abby was not at all sick! She had a giant fur ball in her stomach that was causing her to have stomach and bowel issues. Once that was cleared up, Abby lived to the ripe old age of 14!

Boo-Boo – RIP

⭐ Boo-Boo – The Elder Statesman of Snacks

Boo-Boo has traveled over the bridge on March 17, 2026 at the rip ole age of 17. We had a very special relationship and I miss him very much.

“I may be old… but I will STILL get to the food bowl first.”

Boo-Boo is the senior statesman of the household — dignified, wise, and allegedly retired from his alpha days. Allegedly.
Because every now and then, he’ll remind the youngsters that he once ruled this kingdom with an iron paw and a perfectly timed stare.

But these days?
Boo-Boo has simplified his priorities. His life philosophy can be summed up in three sacred words:

Food
Food
And oh yeah… food

He is the household’s unofficial Meal Time Inspector:

• First to the bowl
• Last to leave
• Quick to report any delays in service
• And unafraid to express “constructive criticism” (loudly)

Despite his age, Boo-Boo still knows how to throw his weight around when necessary — especially if someone dares hover near “his” breakfast. The younger cats have learned: when Boo-Boo wants the bowl, give Boo-Boo the bowl.

Fun Fact:
If there were a theme song just for Boo-Boo, it would be “Don’t Stop Believin’… There’s More Food in the Kitchen.”

Cupcake – RIP

Acquired From: Save-a-Life Rescue

RIP Cupcake aka Cuppie, she passed May 6, 2022, and re-joins her litter mates, Lovey and Dash…

Cupcake, now 12, came to us as a feral along with 3 of her siblings. Unfortunately, two of them have now passed from Cancer. Only Cupcake and Brownie remain. Cupcake is suffering from issues which makes getting enough nutrition from her food impossible without medication. For a time, she was on weekly B12 injections. While the B12 injections are now only monthly, Cupcake must also have VedCo PancreVed Powder mixed into her wet food twice a day so she gets some nutrition from her food. Even so, she continues to be frail and we don’t know how long she will be with us.

Her favorite thing in life is to snuggle with her cat buddy, Peanut Butter (grey tabby behind her in the photo) and watch TV while sitting on our laps.

Dash – RIP

Acquired From: Save-a-Life Rescue

RIP Dash, he passed September 29, 2021

Dash came to us as a feral along with 3 of his siblings. His passing was extremely hard on his sister, Cupcake, and his best pal, Boo-Boo kitty. We fought the good fight against cancer, but it won… Dash had a wonderful 12 years with us, but it’s never long enough… At least he didn’t die without knowing love…

Lovey – RIP

Acquired From: Save-a-Life Rescue

RIP to sweet Lovey boy who passed in November, 2021 after a brave fight with cancer… Twice!

Lovey was a feral kitten who came to us with his siblings Dash, Cupcake, and Brownie when the rescue Rita was volunteering with had no room and no one who could tame them. While Lovey became incredibly sweet to Rita (and a select few other people) and the other cats, he was still scared of people and loud noises. He lived a wonderful life in the Sanctuary with his siblings and had he best love and care right up until we had to send him over the Rainbow Bridge… His only remaining sibling, semi-feral Brownie, still remains safe and loved in our Sanctuary and enjoys being with all the other cats.

Maxwell – RIP

Acquired From: Neighbor of the late owner

RIP Maxwell, who was with us for a mere 2 months and passed peacefully on November 5, 2020

We got a call from a couple who noticed Maxwell outside their home, hanging around in their backyard. Maxwell’s owner had passed away, and the family just tossed senior cat Maxwell (we named him, original name unknown) out into the street to fend for himself! Oh no, we could not let that happen! So even though we were in the midst of Covid-19 back in September 2020, the good samaritan met Rita at a vet’s office, so we could take him info our Sanctuary. Maxwell was a real sweetheart, but he was very old and fragile. Our vet estimated he was around 15 years old, so his month on the streets really took its toll, but the last two months of his life he was. happy and very very loved…

Mimi – RIP

Acquired From: Owner Surrender

After an all-to-brief stay at the Sanctuary, Mimi crossed the Rainbow Bridge on December 8, 2021 after a 2-month stay

Mimi came to us in October 0f 2021. An old diabetic cat who needed more care than his human could give, we brought here to the sanctuary and got her settled in. We were told she didn’t like other cats, but she enjoyed hanging out with Rita’s cats and the other Sanctuary cats, occasionally rolling around on a catnip banana and chowing down with Rita’s cat Deckster, who became one of her pals. Unfortunately, she had been without vet care for a while, and was on the wrong dose of insulin as a result. She stopped eating in December, and our vet Dr. Glenn said her organs were failing. It was time. We invited her original owner to come help her transition over the Rainbow Bridge, as we knew she would get comfort from him… She knew love and snuggles at the end from her owner and from her extended family here at the Carolina Cat Sanctuary.

Missy – RIP

Acquired From: Lancaster SC Shelter

RIP MISSY, whom we lost to Hyperthyroidism at the age of 20, on January 26, 2024

Thriving at age 19, Missy is a Norwegian Forrest Cat who has been with us she she was 15. She and her sibling, (the late) Scooter, came to live in the Sanctuary when we received a call from the local shelter. Their owner had passed away, and these kitties were languishing in the shelter. Confused and broken hearted, these cats were pining away toward death until we took them into our Sanctuary, and our hearts.  Missy is loving her new life with all her many kitty pals and her new human at the Sanctuary.

Missy loves napping on the sofa and eating Temptations treats! And we learned recently that she also LOVES Pizza! We think her human shared many a pizza with Missy, as she perks up at the sight and smell of a freshly baked pie! 🍕

Oliver – RIP

Acquired From: Save-a-Life Rescue

RIP Oliver – went over the rainbow bridge on July 27, 2025 at the age of 15. I will miss this sweet sweet boy. 

Oliver was at an adoption event, where he was panic stricken.  The only thing that would calm him was is Rita stood by his cage and talked to him while petting his chin. Of course, no potential adopters were interested in adopting a petrified cat, so we were asked to take Oliver in, so he would have a chance at knowing a place where he would be loved. At Save-a-Life among the hundreds of other cats, Oliver would just get lost in the crowd. Here,  he has blossomed into a cat who loved to be held, and constantly wants affection. The other cats love him, too.

Sadie RIP

Acquired From: Owner Surrender

Scooter – RIP

Acquired From: Lancaster SC Shelter

RIP Sweet Scooter, he passed April 6, 2022, and re-joins his original Mom in Heaven…

17-year-old Scooter is Missy’s sibling, also a Norwegian Forrest Cat. As stated in Missy’s section, he came to live in the Sanctuary after his human passed away. He also had undiagnosed Hyperthyroidism, a common affliction in senior cats. Now on medication, Scooter is thriving here at the Sanctuary. Somewhat of a loner who chooses to spend his time in the office, Scooter has indeed made some new kitty friends.

Scooter’s favorite activities are eating and getting brushed.

Sonny – RIP

Acquired From: Lancaster SC Shelter

RIP Sonny, whom we lost to Stage 4 CKD (chronic kidney disease), March 17, 2021

We took in Sonny and his sister Smoochy at the tender age of 3-weeks old. Smoochy had a danglingly back leg and under shelter guidelines she was going to be euthanized, but the shelter director called Rita instead. At that young of an age, and needing to be quaranteined until she was old enough for an accurate SNAP test, we asked that her brother, Sonny, accompany her to the Sanctuary. Sonny was a sweet kitty who never did learn proper feline social queues. Although he could be a little bit inaprpopriate at times (hence his nickname of Mr. Inappropriate), he was well loved by felines and humans alike. We miss him so much, having only had 6 years with him. But he had a wonderful and very lovely life.

Smoochy – RIP

Acquired From: Lancaster SC Shelter

RIP sweet Smoochy, who passed in June 2025 at age 12, from complications related to Hyperthyroid.

Smoochy is a 3-legged cat who came to live with us at the tender age of 3 weeks. With a rear leg broken and dangling, she was set to be euthanized at the shelter, when the shelter director called to ask if we could save her. Of course! We took in both Smoochy and her brother Sonny (who passed away last year). Both Sonny and Smoochy were somewhat mentally challenged, since they were taken away from their cat mom and thrown into a ditch as such young kittens. Smoochy is still prone to litter box mistakes because of the odd way her brain works.

Smoochy is very attached to her chosen human, Rita, and barks at the other cats if they try to get too close to Rita! Smoochy also loves to chase the laser dot, despite her 3-legged status!

Zucchero aka Zookie Monster – RIP

Acquired From: Owner Surrender

Zucky passed on November 2, 2024, a happy and loved old man. We will miss him…

Zucchero came to our attention when his human emailed us. Unable to care for him due to a family situation, she was desperate to find Zucky a loving place to live out his golden years. Zookie Monster, as we call him, is a senior front-declawed deaf Persian cat who is eager to give and receive as much love and affection as he can! His previous owner found him wandering the streets of NYC, alone and already declawed 😿

Our vet, Dr. Glenn, says he is a wonderful cat and he enjoyed giving him a much-needed vet exam! He is a very healthy boy with PURRfect results on his bloodwork! He recently had some dental work done, so he is now 100% pain free when he eats! We will also be getting him groomed before he is adopted out.

Zookie Monster is a sweet and gentle cat, approximately 12- 14 years old. He is deaf and front declawed (not by us, he was found on the street that way!) While we love and adore him, we feel he would do better in a home as a single cat, or one with just 1 or 2 other gentle cats, with someone who knows how to care for Persians.