We started in 2007 with two pet cats and no intention of adopting any more. We became concerned after noticing a group of cats living behind a local restaurant.

The spay/neuter clinic we used wanted us to sign a release allowing them to euthanize any cat that tested positive for FIV or FeLV. We objected to this, and after much discussion came to an agreement with them: if a cat tested positive, they would perform the surgery only if we promised not to release the cat back into the outdoors. Mollie’s Cat Place came into being when we brought home our first FIV+ cat, a grisly old sweetie with a collapsed ear whom we named Sam. Over time, Sam became the elder statesman of our cat clan, breaking up fights by standing between the two combatants, and jumping in to defend our other cats if a strange cat challenged one of them.