I met Hanna over the phone back in early 2022 when Good Cat Network was just two months old. We were encouraged to collaborate by a county council member on a project that would help mitigate the cat overpopulation on Maui.

Hanna is a scientist, one that studies endangered birds at Maui Forest Bird Restoration, and is well versed in the problems that cats can pose to their populations. She’s not just any scientist, either. She was just interviewed for the NY Times in an interesting, yet sobering piece about how climate change is affecting extinction species scientists (this is a pretty big deal!) Click below for the full article:

The Scientists Watching Their Life’s Work Disappear

Admittedly I was a bit nervous about talking to a “bird person” because it is well known that the “bird people” and “cat people” are usually butting heads (and not in a cute cat kind of way.) Plus, coming up with a plan to decrease the entire cat population of Maui while being brand new to the non-profit world was alone overwhelming. Also, I am not scientist. I love science but it certainly wasn’t something that people know me for. I am just a regular old a cat lady.

Despite the anxiety from my end, the conversation went surprisingly well. We were honest with each other. Hanna wasn’t dismissive of my views and made me feel comfortable talking about tough subjects. I learned that Hanna rescues feral kittens and her family loves cats. She just believes they should remain indoors. I told Hanna I have been interested in the new studies on toxoplasmosis and cat-range behavior and we talked about all of the ways we could work together. While we might have disagreed on some things, it was clear that this “bird person” and “cat person” had a lot in common.

Despite Good Cat Network testifying in front of the county for funding for the final proposal and getting a warm reception from council members, we realized our non-profit was far too new. The elements in the proposal needed years of planning before being implemented. So, we continued on with our Operation Aloha Cat program and Hanna continued on with her research – but we hadn’t forgotten about each other.

Fast forward to right after the devastating Maui wildfires, Hanna reached out to us about a sweet cat named Cosmo that she rescued as a feral kitten and her six year old daughter had fostered and socialized. Cosmo had an adopter, but the person backed out. Hanna was about to go on a trip to Australia and she didn’t have time to find another home for Cosmo. So, she reached out to us to see if he could be entered into the Good Cat Network Operation Aloha Cat program. We were happy to help.

The first person I thought of as a foster was Lisa. Lisa is one of Good Cat Network’s first volunteers and she is a constantly helping others and other organizations in the community. Lisa has quite the affinity for black cats, one being a foster fail from me. She foster failed a tiny skin-and-bones kitten named Merlin, who was found by my neighbor on Thanksgiving Day, 2021. Now he’s a big happy boy who sleeps on Lisa’s pillow every night. Lisa studies ancestral healing and spirituality and has one of the biggest hearts I know of.

Cosmo was dropped off to Lisa’s by Hanna for his quarantine/flight foster period and the connection Lisa had with Cosmo was pretty much instant. She was in love! She joked about keeping him nearly every day – even until the morning of his flight on Tuesday, November 21st to Seattle Humane. Lisa always sends her flight foster cats along with a sweet protection amulet that reads:

“Keep these kitties safe from harm, help them travel and be calm. As their new adventure starts, they will forever be in my heart. So mote it be Aloha Oe”

Cosmo’s story illustrates how different rescuers can be, but if we simply share compassion – listen to each other and work together, we can move mountains (or fly a lot of cats!)

Cosmo, we love you. We love that you love being carried around by children, and taunting dogs to play. We hope you get the most loving home imaginable. Go to Seattle Humane today to check him out!