A heart full of love that lives on.
Please meet Simba. Simba, a cat with a heart full of love, spent 11 years outside before I saw him while volunteering at another shelter. I was told that he was a member of the outdoor cat colony, and I noticed his stoic, kind, and noble nature, leading him to be named Simba aptly. I immediately felt a deep connection with him and knew I had to bring him home.
When he first came home, I could tell he had been waiting his whole life to cuddle on the couch with me and spend the rest of his days indoors. Simba, despite his rough past, was a gentle soul. He was patient and understanding, especially with his two orange brothers, Remy and Ziggy. They adored him, and he reciprocated their affection, often grooming them and sharing his food.
I brought Simba to the vet to determine his approximate age and see if there were any medical concerns to be wary of. The vet informed me that he had BB gun pellets lodged into his skin and was going to have all of his teeth removed. Despite these challenges, Simba began a new chapter with me and his two orange brothers (Remy and Ziggy), who adored and doted on him.
After a few months, I noticed something wasn’t right. A visit to the vet revealed devastating news – Simba had stomach cancer. I made the decision to start a rigorous chemo schedule to help slow the disease, and remarkably, Simba handled the treatments incredibly well. The doctors and staff adored him, praising his calm and trusting nature.
Simba sadly passed away on May 9th, 2023, just shy of a year from finding him.
Striving To Honor
Simba felt like my first “real” rescue and taught me invaluable lessons. He demonstrated that all cats, even the “feral” cats who spent their lives outside, long for a loving home and a forever family. Simba paved the wall for all incoming cats at our shelter, and his spirit reminds us of our responsibility to keep resilience and hope in our hearts, even when working with challenging cases. With the founding of Simba’s Sanctuary, we strive to honor Simba’s memory by providing a patient, loving, and safe environment for all cats who come to us, even the ones who are “feral” or “bad.” There is no such thing as a bad cat, and we strive to ensure that every cat we encounter only knows a life of love and protection; after all, there is no such thing as a scary cat, but rather a cat who is scared.
Though we have lost Simba, we know his spirit lives on through our commitment and determination to help and advocate for cats in need. My time with Simba was short, but I was beyond grateful for every moment I had with him, for all the lessons he could teach me, and for those lucky enough to meet him. Simba’s legacy reminds us that every cat, regardless of their past, deserves a life of love and protection. While we miss Simba dearly, we are grateful for the opportunity to carry on his kindness and legacy at our sanctuary.
