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Fort Catamo Cat Sanctuary

The True Story Never Before Told in Its Entirety

By Danny RaneyPublished 6 years ago 5 min read
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The Legend of Fort Catamo and why there is not only a physical aspect to this place but a spiritual side.

Well, first of all, some people may ask, "Why now?" Why keep part of a true story hidden for over seven years? Believe it or not, I had my reasons but now it's time to tell the whole story on what happened that dreadful night that almost took down this "cat sanctuary" almost before it got off the ground.

Seven years ago late one night the police came calling. In fact, a couple of police vehicles parked outside the premises of my house.

Supposedly there was a loud disturbance here but no indication of violence. I had left with one of my daughters shortly before the officers arrived and had no idea what had transpired at my residence while we were gone to eat dinner.

However, when we got back I noticed my rifles and carbine and hand gun were lying on my waterbed. Both guns had been unloaded.

According to my wife at the time one of the officers was Hispanic and the other was Caucasian.

Two weeks prior, I had spent night and day for over a year building this large cat cage, or whatever it was, to contain roughly 35 feline creatures at the time.

The officers said there was a complaint from a neighbor concerning loud hollering. There was a planned discussion going on that night and unfortunately, the back door to the house was open which created a sort of amplified effect that could have made things seem more like a disturbance than loud talking.

Anyway, my wife told me that the officers came in and took down my rifles. However, I wasn't bothered by that. I just matter-of-factly shook it off as no big deal. But I was bothered by what she told me about the Hispanic officer's remarks about my Bible study room.

Her words were, "The Hispanic officer asked me if you were in a cult?"

Donna told me she told him, "No!"

Then the Hispanic officer I guess looked around at all the cats and added, "Is your husband crazy?"

So I guess in a sense, being a Christian and owning a lot of cats is a sure sign that a person is a nut. That's okay, I have been called a nut before when it comes to my witnessing out on the streets about Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour. And all I can say is this, "At least I am a nut screwed on the right bolt."

Anyway, after the arrival the next day of three patrol cars and Animal Control, I was cleared of any wrongdoing. But this also was the day my cat sanctuary came out from under a veil that had kept this institution secret for over a year.

So what now? Where do I go from here? Only a couple of years ago I was not fond of the feline population until an old declared cat showed up at my front door at a time I had just gotten released from the hospital. Supposedly, suffering from lung cancer, my lungs were getting worse day by day according to the x-rays.

Churches all over town were praying for my recovery. I was running a103-degree fever with fierce-like pain in my back as if a knife was gouging my lungs out. And then as if that wasn't enough agony, all the pain was followed by a deep hoarse coughing sound which seemed to never end.

Finally, after listening to the Word of God on my 200-disc CD player around the clock for a week and a half, and being comforted by an old declared cat lying on my chest with one claw over my heart, a most welcomed "catscan" was performed on me. That "catscan" a couple of days later would reveal that I had escaped cancer but the culprit that was attacking my lungs was known as "Hystoplasmosis," a disease caused by bird droppings.

My change in heart toward cats, a deeper meaning toward life, my confrontation of sorts with the police officers a year and a half later, were all actually the seeds planted that would birth a vision known as Fort Catamo.

In San Antonio, Texas back during the 1800's there was a place in human history called "The Alamo" where combatant soldiers made a stand to fend off the Mexican Army led by General Santiana. Hence, with the encounter with the Hispanic police officer and the defending of the cat sanctuary, one does not have to imagine too long to figure how the name "Catamo" came about.

Unlike "The Alamo" Fort Catamo is not a place of human history that made a stand to defend an army or nation. Neither is Fort Catamo a fort from some glorious past which was later transformed into some kind of makeshift prison. Fort Catamo is not a place which can be found in the Holy Bible, nor can it be found in any history book or historical register.

However, no one can ever say that Fort Catamo has never been attacked. And nothing can ever say that Fort Catamo will never fall just as "The Alamo" did in human history long ago.

But one thing I can say, as "Captain" here at Fort Catamo, and that is, "If this place does ever fall, I can say that 'once upon a time,' Fort Catamo's flags flew high as its founder gave it all he had with very little support behind him.

"Fort Catamo," a cat sanctuary where it's founder's mission is to rescue feral, abused or unwanted cats and house them in a safe environment.

The message here at Fort Catamo is hopefully a "message of hope" for all animals. One that can somehow show the world that all of God's creatures have value regardless of whether or not they are tamed pets or animals out in the wild.

My vision here may never totally materialize. And one day I may see this place fall to the ground in a heap of ashes. But one thing is for certain, and that is, "my love for God will never fall from my heart."

"I promise...no one will ever take that away."

Blessed-cerely yours,

Captain of Fort Catamo

Daniel Raney

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