Our Story

How one cat with a corkscrew tail started something bigger than we ever imagined.

Before There Was a Sanctuary, There Was Corkie

Corkie — the OG, the inspiration, the one who started it all.

My kids would talk about this cool cat that followed them to the school bus in the mornings and followed them home after school. They would sit outside and play with him for hours. They fed him pizza. We never found an owner, so we decided to take him to the vet and make him ours. I had never had a cat before — only dogs. What the hell do I do with a cat?!

The vet said he was the most laid-back cat he had ever seen. He had this odd little corkscrew tail — it had been broken at some point. He was maybe a year old, and someone had already had him neutered. We brought him home, he went straight to the litter box, promptly fell asleep on my daughter's bed, and never left. The cat distribution society had struck. We named him Corkie for his wonky corkscrew tail.

Corkie is 15 now. He has cancer. However long we have with him, he'll be loved and pampered. He was the first. The OG.

How the Sanctuary Was Born

When we moved to our farm, we quickly realized we weren't the only ones living there. Several cats already called the barn home, and more began appearing — hungry, abandoned, or simply trying to survive. Some were tiny kittens who needed bottle feeding. Some had medical challenges that meant they couldn't live safely outside. Others simply needed a warm barn and a full bowl.

So Corkie's Cat Sanctuary was born. Today, 18 rescued cats call the sanctuary home, and several more visit the farm regularly for food and shelter.

At Corkie's Cat Sanctuary, we provide:

Daily feeding and clean water.
Safe shelter (indoors and barn, warming shelter space).
Veterinary care when needed.
Spay/neuter and rabies vaccines.
Long-term protection for cats who have nowhere else to go.

Our barn cats aren't just survivors — they're part of a working, balanced farm environment.

And our indoor cats? They're the ones who needed a little extra help along the way.

Our Mission

Our mission is simple: rescue, feed, provide medical care, and offer a safe place for cats who have nowhere else to go. Corkie may have inspired the name, but every cat here carries that same spirit of resilience. Like Corkie, they all remind us that every cat — no matter where they come from — deserves kindness, safety, and a place to belong.

Built for Them

This catio was a family project — assembled together from a kit, with everyone pitching in. It's a safe, multi-level space where the outdoor cats can rest, stay warm, and feel secure no matter the weather. Built with love by the whole family for the cats who call this farm home.