Animal Zone: The Cat’s Meow: Paradise Found on Lāna‘i - Season 14, Episode 12


Tucked away on the tranquil island of Lāna‘i lies a true paradise for pussycats — the Lāna‘i Cat Sanctuary, where more than 800 contented felines roam freely under blue Hawaiian skies. Founded in 2004 by Kathy “Cat” Carroll and her husband Mike, this feline refuge began with a single, scrappy inspiration — a little injured kitten named Toulouse, named after the French artist Toulouse-Lautrec. Moved by Toulouse’s resilience and the plight of Lāna‘i’s feral cats, Kathy and a small group of animal lovers created a safe haven that would protect both the island’s cat population and its native birdlife.


Back then, Lāna‘i had no veterinarians and no sanctuary for its streetwise felines — but Kathy’s compassion and creativity changed all that. Today, visitors to the sanctuary can witness what she envisioned: cats of every color and character living in harmony — napping, playing, and occasionally engaging in a little cat-chatter before dinner is served at the aptly named “Catfurteria.”


Executive Director Keoni Vaughn and Director of Operations Joe Adarn

-a show us around this remarkable refuge, where each furry resident has found peace, purpose, and the occasional belly rub. The sanctuary’s centerpiece is a towering mango tree — famous not for its fruit, but for the dozens of cats who prefer to lounge among its shady branches. Photos of these treetop tabbies have gone viral worldwide, turning the Lanai Cat Sanctuary into the island’s number one tourist attraction, drawing between 15,000 and 20,000 visitors every year.


Adoptions are free, love is abundant, and the mission is clear: to give every cat a chance at a better life — whether on the island or beyond it. Many of these whiskered wanderers have found homes across Hawai‘i and in nearly every U.S. state.


For more information or to meet the cats of paradise, visit LanaiCatSanctuary.org

Uploaded on Oct 27, 2025 at 8:00 am