When the Hardest Decision Is Also the Right One: Why We Need to Go Back to Arizona

Since relocating Cat Mama’s Sanctuary from Phoenix to West Virginia nearly a year ago, we’ve been doing everything we can to stay grounded, care for our cats, and continue our mission of providing a lifelong safe haven for those who have nowhere else to go.

But the truth is—we’re struggling.

In the ten months we’ve been here, we’ve lost eight cats. That’s the same number we lost in four years back in Arizona. Each one was a painful goodbye, and many of them were unexpected or surrounded by medical challenges we couldn’t solve:

Simon – respiratory failure

Vinnie – respiratory complications

Ursula – sudden mouth cancer

Jade – kidney disease

Simba – kidney disease

Hadi – unexplained mystery illness

Sunny – same, a sudden decline without answers

Christopher – a one-year-old kitten who died during his neuter from anesthesia complications

We’ve done everything in our power to give our cats the best possible life here, but something doesn’t feel right anymore. The vet care we’ve had access to here has fallen short, and trying to get the proper help has been an ongoing challenge. Our outdoor space is smaller, the weather often keeps the cats inside, and the overall environment just isn’t working—for them or for us.

This isn’t just about sadness. It’s about discernment. We’ve been praying, listening, and trying to stay strong, but it’s clear now: we are being guided to return to Arizona.

Why We Need Help

We’re not a big organization. We don’t have a team or staff. This sanctuary is run by one person and supported by a small community of animal lovers who believe in what we do. And right now, we need help.

• We’re carrying a backlog of medical bills, including multiple upcoming dentals (each over $1,000)

• The cost of living in WV has been higher than expected, and resources are more limited

• We can’t rescue new cats because this location isn’t set up for expansion

• And we are preparing to start training in holistic healing—so we can better care for the cats we have, and support others in our extended cat community, too

But most importantly, we need help to get home. Back to our vets, our network, our community, and our peace.

Why We’re Making This Move—and What We Need

We moved to West Virginia to be closer to family. And while we love them and will miss them deeply, we’ve realized that staying here isn’t fair to us—or to the cats. They deserve a space that supports their well-being, freedom, and healing. And we deserve to live somewhere we can fully carry out this mission without constant struggle and loss.

We’re planning to return to Arizona, where our sanctuary once thrived—with better access to vet care, our support network, and a climate that allows the cats to enjoy their outdoor space year-round.

Our goal is to relocate between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That gives us just a few months to raise the funds, organize transport, and secure a new space for the sanctuary. But we can’t do it alone.

What We’re Asking

We’re aiming to raise $50,000 to cover:

• A moving truck and safe transport for 50+ cats

• First, last, security, and pet deposits for a new sanctuary space (estimated $15,000–$20,000)

• Veterinary care, including multiple dentals and ongoing medical needs

• Supplies and safe outdoor space (fencing, catios, etc.)

• Relocation travel and setup costs

• Education and certification in holistic healing to serve the cats more fully

This number isn’t inflated—it’s what we realistically need to move the sanctuary safely, responsibly, and with the foundation to thrive once we get there.

How You Can Help

If you feel called to help us return home, there are several ways to support:

• Make a donation (one-time or recurring)

• Share our story on social media

• Send supplies or sponsor a cat’s medical needs

• Pray, send good energy, or just hold space for us

  
  

We’re not just trying to survive—we’re trying to return to the place where we can fully live out the work we were called to do. This mission has always been about more than rescue—it’s about honoring life, answering a deeper call, and creating peace for those who’ve never had it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Whether you give, share, or simply stand with us in spirit—we feel the love, and it helps more than you know.

Summer Snow

Founder, Cat Mama’s Sanctuary