Welcome to Our World!

Before diving in, let me take a moment to introduce myself. I'm Bre, co-owner of Special Little Whiskers Kitten Rescue – a cat sanctuary located in Decatur, Illinois. Now wait, don't start admiring me and my life until you really understand what it's like to live in a cat sanctuary. Sure, there's a beautiful magic between the humans and the cats here, but the house is never truly neat and orderly since there's always someone up to some crazy antics somewhere. Welcome to my life, where every day is an adventure, whether you're walking on two legs or four paws.

Through Human Eyes: What It's Really Like to Live in a Cat Sanctuary

I never planned to become the co-owner of a cat sanctuary. It's all my son's fault! Honestly, ever since he was a child he'd drag home stray cats. I call him "the cat whisperer" because there's never been a cat that didn't like him. In August 2025 he decided to go for it – to do all the necessary paperwork and become a 501(c)3. Now here we are, almost a year later and he's in vet tech school.

So, what is it like day-to-day living in a cat sanctuary? Currently we're surrounded with 13 cats (two more arriving on Wednesday) who currently call this place home. Each has their own personality, quirks, and story. Some are here temporarily, healing and awaiting a new home. Others are permanent residents—the seniors, the special needs cats, the ones who just need a little more time.

Each morning we prepare breakfast, knowing exactly who eats what food, who needs medication, and who goes in which room to eat (special rooms for special needs). As I move through our home, I know that I'm never alone. There's always a cat who's supervising, offering commentary through a series of chirps and trills.

People ask me why I do this. "Isn't it sad?" they wonder. "Don't you get attached?" The truth is yes, I get really attached to each one of them. I cry when one crosses the rainbow bridge. I celebrate when a shy cat finally purrs. I lose sleep worrying about the sick ones, spend my own money on things they need, and so much more.

What they don't understand is that this work fills a need in my soul. I've always been a caretaker, it runs in the family (both of my aunts were hospice nurses). In other words, they help me just as much as I help them

Through Feline Eyes: A Cat's Story Inside the Rescue

My name is Marbles (the humans call me that, anyway—I have many secret names they'll never know). I arrived before the sanctuary was even a thought. Eight years ago the humans rescued me from a snow storm in Pittsburgh when I was a kitten. I was hiding under a trailer then and now I'm king of this sanctuary – every cat knows it too.

Every morning I wake up in the bed of a human, huddled under the blankets, getting plenty of cuddles. As they crawl out of bed, I stretch luxuriously, extending each paw with careful precision. Below me, the sanctuary is coming to life. I hear the soft footsteps of the humans who serve us—though they don't know this.

Life here is nothing like the cold streets where I used to scavenge. Here, food appears in bowls twice daily like clockwork. There are scratching posts tall enough to really sink my claws into. Of course, there are other cats, but they know to leave me alone and play with their toys instead. They know and respect me as the old man on the block so when they join together in the sacred ritual of the 3 AM zoomies they leave me sleeping warm in my bed.

The best part is that the humans also respect our boundaries. They learn to speak our language. They know when I flick my tail that I need space, and when I slow-blink I'm showing that I love and trust them. They've also created lots of spaces for our every mood—quiet spaces for contemplation, play areas for the energetic kittens, and cozy nooks for elders like me.

While they may not realize it, this sanctuary isn't just their home. It's a promise to each of us that we matter, we're safe, and we have a real second chance at life.

Where The Feline World Meets The Human World

The beautiful thing about sanctuary life is the mutual transformation. Cats learn that humans can be kind, gentle, and trustworthy. Humans learn that cats are complex, emotional beings deserving of respect and patience. Together they learn each other's language so they can build a relationship that's based on mutual respect.

This is because whether you experience the sanctuary on four paws or two legs, there are a few profound principles at its heart. These include...

Safety first. Every cat deserves a space that's free from fear, hunger, and harm.

Respect always. Every cat is an individual with their own preferences, boundaries, and dignity.

Patience is required at all times. Healing happens on its own timeline, never ours.

Love is abundantly given. There's always enough to go around.

An Invitation From Everyone at Special Little Whiskers Sanctuary

From Marbles' perspective, the sanctuary is a kingdom where he reigns supreme, where sunny spots are plentiful and the servants (humans) are adequately trained. From my perspective, it's a place where I get to witness daily miracles—a formerly feral cat accepting pets, an elderly cat purring through their final days, a terrified stray discovering that the world can be gentle.

Both perspectives are true. Both perspectives are perfectly valid. This is sanctuary life. It doesn't matter if you walk on two legs or four, whether you're here to serve or be served, you're part of something special. Here species boundaries blur, patience pays off, and every day proves that kindness matters.

If you'd like to experience sanctuary life, subscribe to my channel, join us in our journey, donate to the cats in our care. The transformation works both ways—we invite them into our home and they change our lives for the better.

Purrs and gratitude,

Bre & Marbles (& the entire sanctuary crew)