The Lanai Cat Sanctuary on the Hawaiian island of Lanai is a unique four-acre open-air refuge home to over 700 cats, created to protect both feral cats and the island’s vulnerable native bird species. Founded by Kathy Carroll in response to the island’s growing population of unsheltered cats and the threat they posed to endangered birds like the Hawaiian petrel, the sanctuary transformed an old horse corral into a safe, nurturing environment with specialized enclosures for cats of different needs. The sanctuary reduces roaming cats through trapping, spaying, and neutering, while providing food, shelter, and socialization to help cats find loving homes. It also serves as a rare example of cooperation between cat and bird advocates, with the sanctuary playing a vital role in protecting Hawaii’s native birds from predation.

Supported largely by donations and welcoming over 12,000 visitors annually, the nonprofit spends about $2 million a year to maintain the sanctuary, offering programs like “Rent a Piece of Purr-adise” for donors to sponsor cat dwellings. The sanctuary takes in 150 to 200 cats yearly, including emergency rescues such as those from the 2023 Maui wildfires, and facilitates 50 to 100 adoptions annually across the U.S. Visitors come for affection and sometimes leave with new feline family members or even celebrate special occasions like weddings surrounded by cats. The sanctuary’s mission is to foster “pawsitivity” by turning feral cats friendly and ensuring they live out their lives safely while protecting the island’s delicate ecosystem.