(Her name means "noble strength.")

Before Healing Paws Cat Sanctuary ever existed, someone contacted me about a very sick litter of five, two-week-old kittens who had lost their mother. One tiny kitten was much smaller than the others and couldn't walk properly because of what we would later learn was permanent nerve damage in both of her back legs.

Of course, I took them in.

As soon as they arrived, I knew they were battling distemper and were all fighting for their lives. I spent countless hours through the night giving medications, fluids, warmth, and love. Sadly, despite every effort, four of the kittens didn't survive.

Only the tiny runt remained.

She weighed just four ounces, was incredibly weak, and still had a long fight ahead of her. Day after day, week after week, she received around-the-clock care. Eventually, Audie made a full recovery from distemper. Although the nerve damage in both of her back legs would be permanent, she has never let it define her. In fact, she still races around the house with her siblings like she owns the place—especially at 3:00 in the morning!

Today, Audie is proof that a disability doesn't have to limit a life filled with happiness, love, and determination.

Watching Audie grow made me realize something that would change my life forever. There wasn't a safe place for special-needs or feral cats like her to live. In the wild, she would never have survived, yet she had every bit as much will to live as any other cat.

That realization became the foundation of Healing Paws Cat Sanctuary.

What began with one tiny four-ounce kitten fighting for her life has grown into a lifelong mission of rescuing cats in need, preserving a historic piece of Oklahoma, and building a sanctuary where every animal is given the chance to live a safe, happy, and loved life.

Audie wasn't just our first inspiration...

She became the heart of everything Healing Paws stands for. 🐱💕

While our story began with one tiny kitten, it continues to grow every day. We invite you to continue exploring the "About the Sanctuary" section to discover the history, mission, and vision that continue to shape Healing Paws Cat Sanctuary. 

** Audie peacefully crossed the Rainbow Bridge in September 2025. Though she is no longer with us, her courage and determination continue to inspire everything we do. Every cat who finds safety at Healing Paws is part of the legacy she began.