Our story
Cats of Eden is a Dutch foundation that fosters, cares for, and helps find good homes for abandoned cats and kittens on São Miguel, Azores. We also support other organizations and fosters in their rescue, care and TNR (trap, neuter, release) efforts. As the founders are residents of Amsterdam, many of the cats are adopted to new homes within the Netherlands. But, we have former fosters all over the world too - Germany, Canada, US, Dubai and beyond.
The big picture
Our story has just begun! Although we help several cats already now, our goal is to become a cat sanctuary. The sanctuary will come into operation when we raise enough funds to build an 860m long fence and build proper facilities.
Once fully operational, Cats of Eden will be a no-cage, no-kill cat sanctuary. Cats and kittens in need will be well cared for and either adopted to good homes or welcome to live out their best lives at the sanctuary. Set on a 12k m2 plot of land, the sanctuary will consist of a large care facility, separate enclosures and cottages for FIV and FELV cats, and a home with enough room for the humans, special needs cats, and young kittens.
Hello. Nice to meet you!
Ed and Tamar - two creative, Halloween-loving, gaming nerds who adore animals. Tamar, whose fondest childhood memory is sitting in her grandparents barn with cats and kittens all day long. Ed, who grew up in a family not fond of animals at all, so with conviction swore he’d be “covered in cats when he grew up”.
What brought us to the Azores
A few years earlier, Tamar needed a quick break from her hectic job in Amsterdam and wanted to see her mom who lives in Canada. So, they met in between the two continents on this idyllic island in the middle of the Atlantic.
While out site-seeing, they spotted a tiny kitten in the middle of the road. Emaciated, flea-ridden and its eyes and nose caked shut with dried mucus, Tamar cradled it and warmed it on her lap while googling the closest vet.
At the vet, Tamar met Sofia, who just happened to be there that day. Sofia, who heads efforts to trap, neuter and release stray cats as well as care for colonies, opened up Tamar’s eyes to the plight of the many abandoned, forgotten kittens and cats on São Miguel.
The vet gave all the care it could, but that little kitten took its final breath in Tamar’s arms on a Sunday afternoon. Seeking to heal the grief, Tamar (who‘d extended her trip for the kitten and was now on her own) went to volunteer at the vet clinic.
In a small back room at the clinic there were about 30 cages of cats and dogs - all without a home and appreciative of some cuddles. Tamar asked which was the least adoptable and was led to a 9-month old black kitten with one eye. Ninja came to live with Ed and Tamar in Amsterdam.
Then along came the pandemic
15 years after eloping to Vegas, and following an ambitious dream to start a cat sanctuary, in 2019 Ed and Tamar took another leap together and purchased land on São Miguel.
The plan was to rent the property to tourists for 10 years, save up funds and build everything needed, and then open up an amazing cat sanctuary - maybe in 2030? Also, make building plans, do fundraising, learn Portuguese, and get a driving licence. Best laid plans, huh?
With the mandate to work their day jobs from home and barely any tourists to speak of, Ed and Tamar hunkered down in their strange little paradise. And the cats just came right to them…
