Inspired by efforts from around the country to rescue one cat that was the topic of an editorial in a Texas newspaper in September 2002 and branded as a “terror,” this site is designed to share rescue stories and provide rescue resources to help you save a stray! Please submit your own rescue story to admin@savesamoa.org.

Samoa was originally dubbed “Osama” by the writer of the editorial in the Texas newspaper. The author claimed that this cat was terrorizing people of the neighborhood, himself included. “Osama,” this writer claimed, “lived to make life miserable for anyone who happened into his path” – attacking children and other cats “for no reason,” killing birds and eating garbage. “This was a smart cat,” he said, “who could not be trapped or caught.” The article told of one neighbor chasing after the cat with a baseball bat after another “unprovoked attack” on a child. The author of the editorial concluded, “Feral cats have no business setting up shop in a residential neighborhood.”

Obviously this editorial infuriated many a cat-lover and feral caretakers everywhere. The author was inundated with e-mails and letters from horrified people, upset and angry at the author’s seeming inability to understand the circumstances of the cat. Among those notes were some that offered advice and help regarding humanely removing the “menace” from his neighborhood, including many from members of TheCatSite.com, where the owners of this website first heard of the story.

The author of the editorial initially responded guardedly to offers of help, and networking began between cat-lovers from as far away as New Jersey, Colorado, Oregon and Ohio. Through this Internet networking, a local Texas contact was found who was willing to help this cat, renamed “Samoa,” (an anagram of Osama) by those now involved in his rescue. The author of the editorial was put in contact with Judi Glidewell of Critter Camp, who came out to survey the neighborhood in order to devise a plan to trap the cat.

Samoa was successfully caught in October 2002. Much to everyone’s surprise, Samoa was not a feral cat at all! Samoa was simply a terrified former pet, and when offered love and proper care by the staff of Critter Camp, he turned into a great big loving mush. In fact, Samoa was already neutered, a sure sign he was somehow separated from a former loving home.

This was quite a learning experience for all involved – especially the author of the original editorial. He was inspired to write several follow-up pieces about his experiences with Samoa. One was about the capture of the cat, giving credit to Judi as being a “cat rehabilitator par excellence.” He also wrote a column about the “Women Who Love Cats,” who not only berated him for his initial one-sided view of the situation, but took the time to teach him valuable information about feral cats, abandoned cats, TNR (trap-neuter-release) programs, and the horrors too many cats are forced to face.

Happily, Samoa was adopted into a forever home in December 2002. His people continue to lavish love on him, and will do so for the rest of his days.

To read the whole account of Samoa’s rescue, as it happened from the time the article was brought to the attention of one group of cat lovers at TheCatSite.com through to his adoption, please click here.