Four Cats Lost Everything After Their Owner Passed Away—Now They Need Your Help

When multiple people reached out about four cats in desperate need of help, we knew we couldn't turn away.

Their owner passed away in and the home was under contract to be sold. With the new owners preparing to move in within days, people were trying to give the cats away for free simply because they needed to be gone. These cats had already lost the person they loved. Then they were left outside with access only to a garage, forced to endure a cold, snowy winter while trying to survive on their own. Thankfully, they are safe now.

Meet Basil, Sage, Wasabi, and Miso—four sweet cats whose lives were turned upside down. While all four are understandably frightened after everything they've been through, they have shown us nothing but gentle, loving personalities. Unfortunately, their medical needs are significant.

Basil was found to have only half a tail, likely from an old injury. Sage has no tail at all, though it's unclear whether this was congenital or caused by trauma. Both girls needed veterinary care, vaccinations, testing, and microchips. Sage's coat was so severely matted that she required a full lion cut to relieve her discomfort.

The boys face even greater challenges. Both Wasabi and Miso were found to have Grade III/IV heart murmurs during their veterinary exams. Additional bloodwork, including a cardiac proBNP test, revealed elevated results for both cats, raising concerns about underlying heart disease.

Before they can safely undergo anesthesia for their neuters, they urgently need cardiac ultrasounds to determine whether their hearts are healthy enough for surgery.

We have already spent approximately $500 on each boy for examinations and diagnostic testing. Their cardiac ultrasounds will cost an additional $550 each. If cleared by the cardiologist, they will still need neuters, vaccinations, FeLV/FIV testing, and microchips. Miso also has extensive matting that will need to be shaved under anesthesia.

These four cats have experienced loss, uncertainty, and neglect. Now they have a chance at a fresh start—but they need your help to get there.

Your donation will help cover the medical care needed to ensure Basil, Sage, Wasabi, and Miso are healthy, safe, and ready to find the loving homes they deserve.

Please consider donating today and helping these four survivors begin the next chapter of their lives.

7/14/26 Update

Basil, Sage, and Wasabi have all come through their veterinary care beautifully. They are now fully vetted, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and ready to begin the next chapter of their lives. Despite everything they endured after losing their owner and being left without a home, they have shown just how resilient and loving they are. This week, we'll officially be listing all three as available for adoption, and we couldn't be happier for them.

While we're celebrating their progress, one member of the family still has an important journey ahead.

Miso is still waiting for his surgical consultation, which is scheduled for August 7th. During that appointment, the specialist will evaluate his condition, determine exactly what surgery he needs, provide an estimate for the cost, and help us plan the next steps in his treatment. Because of his medical needs, Miso cannot be neutered until after his surgery and recovery.

Although we're still waiting for answers, we're hopeful that Miso will soon be on the road to recovery, just like his siblings.

Your kindness has already helped transform the lives of these four cats. Because of your support, Basil, Sage, and Wasabi are healthy and ready to find the loving homes they deserve. Now we're asking you to stay with us a little longer as we help Miso overcome this final obstacle.

If you're able, please consider making a donation to help cover Miso's upcoming surgical consultation, treatment, and the medical care he still needs before he can begin his own search for a forever home. Every gift, no matter the size, brings him one step closer to the healthy, happy future he deserves.

7/14/26 Update: Update on our 4 cats left outside when their owner died

Basil, Sage, Wasabi, and Miso have been adjusting well to indoor life! The two girls - Basil and Sage have gotten spayed and vaccinated. Sage had so many matts on her, we ended up having to give her a lion’s cut. She feels so much better and is much friendly. As far as the two boys (Wasabi and Miso) - they both had their cardiac echos performed. Wasabi’s echo went well and although he has a heart murmur of a 3, he does not have to be on medication and was able to get neutered. Unfortunately Miso’s echo did not got as well as expected, but we are actually thankful that he had a heart murmur because we would not have known about the other issues he has going on. Miso had an unexpected finding called a “peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (often called PPDH). In plain English - he has an abnormal opening/defect between the abdominal cavity and the sac around the heart and part of his lover and gallbladder are sitting up inside the pericardial sac around the heart. What this means is that he needs to have surgery to repair this and it can only be done by a board certified surgeon. We have a consult appointment with the surgeon next month and then we will work on getting a surgery date. We are also hoping that during the surgery, they will be able to neuter him.

All 4 of these cats are very sweet and they seek out getting attention from people and they have also started learning how to play which is nice to see. All 4 really love each other and they are often found laying together (see the last picture of the 4 of them all together)

Thank you to everyone that has donated and shared these guys!

8/1/26 Update

A huge thank you to every person that donated or shared our post. These 4 cats survived the harsh winter living outside after their own passed away :( Since being in our care 3 of the 4 cats are fully vetted and ready for adoption. One of the cats (Wasabi) needed to get a cardiac ultrasound because of a grade III heart murmur. - thankfully he does not require any medication :) The last cat (Miso) is scheduled for a surgery consult next week because not only does he have a heart murmur but he has a birth defect and a hernia that is impacting him.

All 4 cats are getting more comfortable and we are really starting to see their personalities come out. We can’t wait until they get adopted so they can begin the next chapters of their lives.

Thank you again for all the support.

8/2/26 Update

We are so excited to share a final update on Basil, Sage, Wasabi, and Miso!

When these four cats first came into our care, they had just lost the only home they had ever known. After their owner passed away, they were left outside through a harsh winter with only a garage for shelter while the home was prepared for sale. Their future was uncertain, but thanks to your incredible generosity, their story has become one of hope.

Today, Basil, Sage, and Wasabi are fully vetted and officially ready for adoption!

Basil and Sage have both been spayed, vaccinated, microchipped, and have recovered beautifully. Sage is especially enjoying life after her much-needed lion cut, and both girls have blossomed into affectionate, loving companions. Wasabi's heart murmur initially raised concerns, but after receiving a cardiac ultrasound, we were relieved to learn that although he does have a Grade III murmur, he does not require heart medication. He has since been safely neutered and is also ready to find his forever family.

Miso's journey has taken a different path. His cardiac ultrasound revealed an unexpected congenital condition called a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH), a birth defect that allows part of his liver and gallbladder to sit inside the sac surrounding his heart. While this diagnosis was unexpected, we're incredibly thankful it was discovered before it caused a life-threatening emergency.

Miso has now completed his surgical consultation and is working toward the specialized surgery he needs before he can be neutered and begin searching for a forever home.

The best part of all? These four cats have truly come out of their shells. They've learned that indoor life is safe, they've discovered the joy of toys, they eagerly seek out affection from people, and perhaps most heartwarming of all—they still adore one another and are often found snuggled together, just as they did when they first arrived.

From all of us, thank you for making their second chance possible. Your donations helped provide examinations, cardiac testing, vaccinations, spay and neuter surgeries, diagnostics, and the specialized care these cats desperately needed after losing everything. Because of your compassion, three of these sweet cats are ready to begin the next chapter of their lives, while Miso is receiving the expert care he needs to get there too.

We can't wait to celebrate as each of them finds the loving home they deserve. Thank you for believing in Basil, Sage, Wasabi, and Miso. Your kindness has changed their lives forever. ❤️