The Catography Story
I found out about Lanai Cat Sanctuary while I was deep in research mode for a trip to Mauii. Having been obsessed with cats all my life, when the sanctuary popped up, it looked like heaven on earth for cat lovers. It was hard to believe this place was for real, so of course we had to go there and find out....
Accompanied by my partner, Tom, we embarked on an early morning journey aboard the first ferry to the enchanting island of Lanai, leaving Maui harbour as the sun rose. An hour later, we were on the little island of Lanai. which, itself is divine, with crystal waters, soft sand, and dolphins playing on the horizon. Dreamy.
A local taxi took us further up the hill to the top of the island, and there we actually entered dreamland. We'd seen the videos and pictures, but nothing can really prepare your heart for the sheer number of cats there to welcome you. It really was real. The large enclosure fits the lifestyle of every kind of cat living there. Kittens to elderly, unwell or on the mend, shy to brazen.
Wooded with small trees to look down at you from, shrubs to survey you from, tall tufts of wild grass to hide in, and custom-built huts and mini houses for the more social inhabitants, each cat has its own place it feels comfortable in. Some are so shy you may just see them peeping from their grassy burrows, but most of them revel in the human attention and are not shy to show it!
So, immersed in the warmth of the Hawaiian sun, we spent sunup to sunset on the island, engrossed in the company of the very hospitable cats—feeding, playing, and capturing their charm with my camera. As I lay in the grass, put to work as a human mattress for the cats lounging on me, a revelation washed over me: I could replicate this experience back home.
In a flash of inspiration, I had a cat-shaped epiphany. The plan struck swiftly: visit cat sanctuaries, photograph their inhabitants, champion their cause, and transmute the images into captivating artwork. There are cat sanctuaries all over the world, so many cats to meet. So we started in Birmingham.
In 2018, we initiated our mission at Cramar Cat Rescue and Sanctuary in Hopwood, South Birmingham, and met some gorgeous cats and brilliant staff. And just when we are ready to travel around more UK sanctuaries, Covid hit.
Undeterred, I seized the opportunity presented by the pandemic. With travel restrictions in place and sanctuary visits postponed, I delved into artistic creation, transforming my vast collection of feline photographs into captivating pieces of art.
So many cats, so little time. Just one day on the island gave me a lifetime of ideas and catapulted me into action.
In the future I hope to colaberate with the sanctuary for upcoming shows and projects right now its just ideas, but look what an idea can do.
I would dearly love to go back one day, but in the meantime there are cat colonies to visid slightly nearer. Next trip, Greece.
Hawaii is a hell of a long way to go to visit 700 cats. But if you're ever in their neighbourhood, I thoroughly recommend the best therapy you could ever have.
If you want to find out more about Lanai Cat Sanctuary and their story, or if you'd like to donate to the upkeep of the cats, click the button below....
Lanai Cat Sanctuary