All Connected

Oct 31, 2025

Talking about the "animals" is pretty misleading. Standing here right now, overseeing a miniature cat that is trying to get some food, despite the bigger cats constantly taking her food away from her, I realise just how much we have in common with these creatures. I also recognise just how attached I am to them - all of them. Our feelings about each other are individual based and our emotional connections are all unique. Every one here is a unique individual and I treat them that way. When one is hurt or dies, my heart also suffers. We are all connected.

(Photo) Mika and Frida, best of friends.

I love that, for the most part, these creatures living here do not discriminate. Skin colour, gender, sexual preference, spirituality - none of these things get in the way of being connected. People will tell me that, for instance, "cats and dogs don't get along". But we have observed that, when taught, they do get along just fine. There can be exceptions and we have learned to deal with that aspect.

Animals that refuse to be "connected" usually have a good reason to feel that way. And in every single case we've seen, the cause of that abnormality is related to a human interaction that has traumatised that animal. Some are able to work through it, some don't seem to be able.

But even abused animals live here. Some have learned to trust us and the other animals. Some have to have special handling. Some only relate to one of us caretakers. Sometimes they will bond with another animal - one that has not been abused - and they will adopt some of the trusting behaviour of that companion.

Taking care of 50-75 animals ("great and small") at a time requires a lot of patience, observation, and understanding. It also absolutely requires us to treat each animal with respect as a unique individual.

This is the story of a unique individual.

“Beautiful” is his name. He was born across the street in a vacant lot and has long hair and looks like he should be a Royal Guard at the Vatican.

Here in the Rescue & Sanctuary we try to get everyone neutered or spayed. The male cats become especially troublesome if they are not neutered. They wander off, fight, and come home only when they need costly vet care.

“Beautiful” was about 75% feral and hard to catch, but we did. He fought the transport case at every step and had to be tranquilised at the vet. Once he calmed down, we went home and left him overnight for his operation.

A day later we picked him up and he was still a bit dozy until we got home. As soon as we opened the carry-case he bolted. we didn’t see him for about 6 months. And when we did see him, it was about two miles away, hunkered down behind a shed in the backyard of a group of Jamaicans living a life of drugs and loud reggae music - 24 hours a day. The lines of people buying drugs sometimes blocked the road, which was their eventual undoing.

(Above) The transformation of “Beautiful” probably came from living with Aliens!

And after 8 years, “Beautiful” came back to us. He is a different person these days. I firmly believe the marijuana fumes and the happy reggae music transformed him into a laid-back dude.

He loves the other cats and even tolerates the overly-playful kittens. What a change! He has even surprised me with a consistent affection for Anastasia and I. From being a cat who didn’t want to be touched at all he has turned into a cat who begs for petting and attention. And he never leaves the garden in front of our Art Studio. We consider him both a friend and part of our family. It just took a while to get to this point.

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