Long-Term Cat Care

Of course all cats in our sanctuary will be spayed or neutered. We are passionate advocates for spay/neuter of all cats on O‘ahu. If everyone were on board, we would not have an overpopulation problem.

Our fencing will be modified deer fencing and/or small gauge chain link, either completely enclosed or with an angled top edge so cats cannot climb out. The perimeter will be kept clear and checked daily for signs of wear.

Cats will have a variety of shelters, either donated as kits or built by volunteers with reclaimed materials. Large islands of tall grass will provide natural, comforting hiding places for feral, unsocialized cats.

Quality food and fresh water will be provided at central cafés and also at smaller stations throughout so shy and territorial cats do not have to venture far. For every 500 cats in our care, we expect to go through 2,000 lbs of food per month.

We are committed to preventing toxoplasmosis from reaching the ocean. We will have managed litter boxes using organic litter and will install an industrial swale to capture surface runoff.

Pōpoki Place will not accept cats from the general public. We will partner with agencies managing protected habitat, and with established shelters to optimize shelter space for readily-adoptable cats.

The beauty of a fresh-air habitat is natural enrichment. Cats will be able to climb and sleep in trees or in built towers that maximize vertical space. Visitors and volunteers will give the friendlier cats pets, toys, and treats, providing positive human interaction for socialization.

Pōpoki Place will partner with local community college vet tech programs to provide routine care, and will have a vet visit regularly to prescribe medications and perform procedures, including compassionate euthanasia as a last resort to end suffering.

Older cats and FeLV cats will have their own enclosures, where they are less vulnerable and are monitored more frequently for health. 

Our volunteer opportunities will delight school groups, families and organizations, looking to make a difference while having fun with animals.

Pōpoki Place will educate people about responsible pet ownership and fragile native species, because we need everyone to be a part of the solution.

We're looking for 10+ flat acres of land that's easily accessible by tourists. We're in talks with state agencies about potential land partnerships, but that necessitates a slow process. In the meantime, we're exploring leads for privately owned land.

We are seeking angel investors to help us get this project off the ground. Initial costs will include land clearing and prep, building materials for the enclosures, and cat care supplies. The total amount we need depends greatly on whether or not we need to purchase land.

We know the broad strokes, but once we have land, we'll be able to design the project in detail to meet high animal welfare standards, as well as thoughtful land stewardship, incorporating native plants and organic farming and mitigate fire hazards.

The first things we need to build are the core set of enclosures. They will be built following the LCS model to safely acclimatize and contain feral cats. The fences will essentially be predator fencing turned inwards.

Whether through purchase or through sponsors and donors, we will collect the start-up supplies we need (food, bowls, and medication) to begin feeding and caring for cats.

We will start small with a strategic intake of ~50 healthy feral cats to ensure that we have a sustainable system for operations and admin and that cats are safe and content. Then we will scale up. Our dream is to have several, large-scale locations across the island and the state.