The Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, famous for being the home of over 100 big cats, has a new resident: Santana, a 12-year old bobcat. She was recently rescued from Geuda Springs, Kansas, after the man who owned her died in an accident and his wife was unable to care for the cat. A call went out to all sanctuaries in the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance that care for smaller cats, and Turpentine Creek was the only sanctuary with room to take Santana in.

 

Though it was at first thought that Santana was a lynx, Turpentine Creek staff found that she was actually a very large bobcat, which are closely related but tend to be significantly smaller. She was originally purchased in Montana, was spayed and declawed and had been living alongside a domestic cat. 

 

Before being brought back to Eureka Springs, she was given an exam and a rabies vaccination by a local veterinarian. Turpentine Creek has said that she has a sweet disposition and is settling in well, despite quite a bit of surprise at her new tiger neighbors. The staff hopes that she can eventually be introduced to the other bobcats that already call the refuge home.

 

Santana was the TCWR’s third rescue so far this year; in May, TCWR took in an African serval named Lexi from owners who could no longer care for her and in June it rescued a lion named Lady who was left abandoned in a closed facility. Another serval, Jake, was rescued at the end of 2021. May 1 of this year marked the 30th anniversary of the Wildlife Refuge, and in that time they have helped over 500 big cats find forever homes in accredited sanctuaries. 

 

“There never seems to be an end for the need, though we’ve been working hard to stop private ownership,” Tanya Smith, President and Co-Founder of Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, said. “We never want to think we will pass away leaving our pets homeless, but that happens more frequently than most people are aware. It’s hard enough to place elderly cats or dogs, but when you have what is basically an apex predator, there just isn’t much of an option left for these animals if their owners pass and it can create a burden on loved ones we leave behind. Our hearts go out to the surviving spouse, and we are glad we were able to help her during this time of need and loss.”

 

If you are interested in learning more about the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge or supporting its rescue efforts, visit its website.

 

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