We’ve shared stories of cat ladies before, but Chris Arsenault is New York’s very own “Cat Man” after converting his house into a sanctuary for 300 homeless cats.
Arsenault is a 58-year-old retired train conductor who transformed his home into a sanctuary to help him cope with the loss of his son Eric.
He told Daily Mail UK, “A couple of months after Eric died, I found a cat colony down by the tracks. I was a train conductor for New Jersey transit at the time.”
“There were thirty little kittens and I could tell they were sick. I knew if I left them there they would die, so I brought them home with me.”
Caring for the cats distracted Arsenault from his grief. In later years, he continued to adopt from rescues and shelters. Eventually, he converted his entire home into, what is now known as, The Happy Cat Sanctuary.
Arsenault currently houses 300 cats. And his sanctuary is aptly named for its numerous cat-friendly ammenities!
“It’s a big house and there’s a big backyard area,” Arsenault said. “Everything is kitted out for the cats. I designed and build it all myself.”
The 300 cats have free range throughout Arsenault’s entire home and garden— except for one 8×12-foot space.
“I have my own space in the house in the boiler room. I’ve built my own bathroom in there, and I have a little area where I have a microwave, a toaster oven and a sink. ”
He’s quick to note however, “It’s hard to keep the cats out of there at night, and a few seem to sneak in no matter what I do.”
Happy Cat Sanctuary has a strict spay-and-neuter policy for all cats entering their care— costs which Arsenault covers himself with the help of donations. Whenever possible, he also treats sick cats at home.
“I have to treat the sick cats too. To keep control of this, I use colored paper collars. Depending on their illness, I treat them with different medications, and if it’s something I can’t fix, I make sure the cat gets to the vet.”
“Last year I spent $22,000 on vet bills for the cats. I have every cat that enters the sanctuary neutered or spayed.”
Some people may be a bit apprehensive about living with so many cats, but Arsenault doesn’t find it odd at all.
“I don’t find it overwhelming even though there are 300 cats now,” he told Daily Mail UK.
“I truly believe that if you are passionate about something you can handle anything.”
“I really love what I do.”
The Guardians, a popular series on Animal Planet, featured Arsenault taking in 7 homeless cats.
Watch the footage below.
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