Castle, a male cougar, arrived with his sister Vista here at the sanctuary in 2006. They were less than a year old at the time.
Every cat we rescue comes with a story, one you’re not truly sure of. We were told they were taken out of the wild by an individual, then seized during a drug raid and held by state authorities before coming to us.
They arrived with physical issues and stunted growth. Vista has neurological problems which makes coordination very difficult for her. They were a very bonded sister and brother from the time they arrived.
Life at the Sanctuary
Eight years after we took them in, their original rescuer reached out to us and provided more information about their history. What an emotional and touching email to receive. You could feel her love for Castle and Vista through the words she wrote. Castle and Vista owe their lives to this one very caring person and to all of you who have made their lives at The Wildcat Sanctuary possible.
“Vista’s issues are due to Ivermectin toxicity. She went blind and paralyzed in just a matter of hours. The vet did not expect her to last the weekend, but she did. She recovered her eyesight within a few days, but her rear leg coordination never improved. Seeing Vista that sick still haunts me. I had to separate Castle from her to be able to safely give her fluids and he laid against the cage door for the entire three days.
Thank you for doing what you do and for the updates on Castle & Vista. Their life with people started very tragically and I am always impressed with how far they came in accepting our presence. I would not blame them if they slinked in the shadows, but babies are resilient. ”
Castle watches over his sister and guards her. The incredible bond they share is no surprise, given all they’ve been through in their tumultuous lives. Castle enjoys sitting atop his perch, surveying the land around his habitat. He’s much more elusive at mealtimes than his fiery cougar neighbors, preferring to eat at his own leisure – after all, he is the king of the Castle.
How You Can Help
Rescuing young wild cats is such an expensive commitment since it means 20+ years of care. That’s why our sponsorship program is so important. It helps provide the best life possible for those we’re able to rescue.
Would you consider becoming Castle’s sponsor parent, or even giving a one time donation toward his care? There are buttons at the top of this page that make it easy to do. And, it makes such a difference for him – thank you!
