
Lana'i Cat Sanctuary: Established in 2009, the non-profit sanctuary was the brainchild of Kathy Carroll, who saw the need to provide shelter to the island's burgeoning population of feral cats as well as protect native endangered birds.

Bless the beasts: Nearly 600 cats of all shapes and sizes have a place to call home for the rest of their lives.

Get the party started: Upon arrival, visitors are greeted by felines ready to cuddle.

Life is purrfect: "Our motto here internally is every cat has a plan and every cat matters," said Lana'i Cat Sanctuary Executive Director Keoni Vaughn.

Fuzz facts: The non-profit sanctuary relies heavily on donations, and due to its location, many resources have to be shipped in.

Local flavor: The sanctuary only takes in cats from the island.

Intake form: When they arrive at the sanctuary, each cat is given a name, microchipped, given shots, then spayed or neutered, depending on its sex.

Social time: Beyond just feeding and caring for the cats, sanctuary employees engage in lots of socializing. "We get to see these feral or unsocialized cats who never trusted humans to begin with come around," Vaughn said.

Dream life: For many of the cats, this is an opportunity to live a life that's filled with food and lots of nap time.

Adoption option: About 54 cats have been adopted by visitors. Other visitors choose to support the cats by "sponsoring" them through a monthly monetary donation.

And as for the humans...: In 2016, nearly 10,000 people visited the sanctuary.



