Arguably the world's greatest collection of cats in a setting that is perfect for them.
Make no mistake about it, our trip to Maui and Lana'i revolved around one stop - getting to visit the famed Lanai Cat Sanctuary.
Weather cut our trip to Lana'i extremely short, but we were not leaving the island until we had our visit with the cats.
After riding our 4-Wheelers to the Kaunolu Village Site, we next rode past the airport and to the Cat Sanctuary.
Once we arrived, we were greeted, checked in and allowed to enter the common area for the cats. Immediately upon entering, 12 to 15 cats ran up to us, each vying for a spot on our laps or some affection. Several small quarrels broke out as each wanted their share of the attention.
After spending some time with the initial group of cats, we wanted to explore more of the sanctuary. It's remarkable how the fenced in area houses over 600 cats. As you walk along, you find them in small little houses, in trees, on tables, in bushes. Everywhere you look, there is a different color/size/personality closely watching you.
You'll find spaces known as Kittengarden, the Catfeteria, and several tiny cat homes. There are shaded places, spots to sunbathe, trees to climb, and cat wands to chase.
We learned that all cats here are neutered/spayed and found on the island of Lanai. Each cate is brought up to date on shots, named, and microchipped. Some cats can even be adopted into forever homes (although I'm not sure that life can get much better than this for the cats.
It was also interesting to note that these felines were also putting the native bird population at risk, so keeping the cats happy and healthy in one location can save other endangered species on the island.
Off to the side of the main living quarters is a senior center. This is where some of the older cats are housed, away from the excitement of the the greater population. We were sure to spend some time here as well, as these cats likely do not receive as much affection as the rest of the bunch.
Due to weather, we did not get to spend a lot of time at the sanctuary and had to say our goodbyes (I was particularly attached to a large tan cat names Macchiato). We gave our donation, bought a shirt, and were on our way.
It was an absolutely fulfilling experience and next time we go to Hawaii, we will likely go out of our way just to visit again. Here's to the health and safety of all of the cats in the sanctuary!
Know Before You Go
It's best to check their operating hours prior to visiting.
Use caution when handling cats - many of them are tame, but a loud noise may spook a cat and cause it to attempt to flee.
Be sure to wash your hands before and after entering. Cats are clean animals, but it's still best to practice good hygeine.
Please give a donation when you visit. If you can afford a trip to Lana'i, you can certainly give back to helping the plight of this sanctuary.
Resources
Location
You can access the sanctuary via Kuamalapau Highway by normal transport or via the dirt roads by the airport via ATV.
Video
The video shows the grounds and the cats of the Lana'i Cat Sanctuary.
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