Guests staying at Four
Seasons Resort Lanai or Sensei Lanai, a Four Seasons Resort will have the
opportunity to visit the Lanai Cat Sanctuary with a complimentary tour offered
three times a week.
During the 90-minute visit with the “Lanai Lions,” visitors
can hand out treats, offer ear scratches, or simply sit quietly with a shy cat,
introducing them to human interaction. Over time, this human exposure
transforms these previously unadoptable cats into potential companion animals
so they can find their forever home.
Located on a four-acre fully enclosed outdoor sanctuary on
the Hawaiian island, the Lanai Sanctuary, founded by Kathy Carroll, a spirited
cat lover, is now home to more than 700 rescued cats and one of the island’s
most cherished nonprofit organizations. Cats are rescued from protected areas
where native and endangered ground-nesting birds co-exist. Felines are also
rescued from Lanai City, home to 3,000 residents. Since 2014, the Sanctuary has
brought in more than 1,800 cats with more than 1,000 adopted.
Lanai is the only island
in Hawaiʻi with an
island-wide agreement allowing feral cats to be relocated to a sanctuary rather
than euthanized — a model that has made the
organization a global example of compassionate, conservation-minded animal
welfare. The team also built a medical system to ensure that every cat has an
individualized care plan.
During the visit, guests can also learn about the
Sanctuary’s mission from its staff and volunteers and discover how the
organization also safeguards Hawaiʻi's
vulnerable native bird populations, including Uau (Hawaiian Petrel), Alae
Keokeo (Hawaiian Coot) and Uau Kanai (Wedge-tailed Shearwater).
The Lanai Sanctuary is open from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm 365 days
a year with free admission. Funding comes from vacationers who visit the
sanctuary and provide financial support. Animal lovers not traveling to Lanai
can participate in “Adopt in Place” or “Rent a Piece of Purradise” programs
that help fun and support the organization and mission.
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