Gracie, like many of our rescued cats, didn't have the best start to life. She was born at Exotic Animal Paradise, a roadside zoo in Springfield, Missouri. At a very young age Gracie developed a condition called Entropion, where the eyelids fold inward and constantly rub against the cornea causing irritation and if left untreated scarring. Unfortunately Gracie did not receive the medical care required in time and scar tissue developed. Her condition was eventually treated, but it was too late. As a result of the scarring Gracie is 90-95% blind in both eyes. Although she no longer experiences any discomfort, she will never regain her sight.
Thankfully for Gracie in August of 2006 Exotic Animal Paradise's owner decided to close the facility and Gracie found her forever home. We were able to rescue Gracie, along with her sister Thor, their mother (Raja) and their father (Mohan). When Gracie arrived she was underweight but otherwise mostly healthy. While it took her a little while to feel completely at home, with the help of her sister she settled in pretty quickly.
Some of her favorite things to do were sleep, play with her enrichment (especially pumpkins), clean herself, clean her sister, avoid mud at all costs and relax in her hammocks. She was one of our most vocal cats, especially when food was involved. Sadly, Gracie passed away on May 28th 2024 surrounded by those that loved her. She will be forever missed here at the sanctuary. We hope that one day there will be no need for sanctuaries like us, but until then, with your support, we will continue to give animals like Gracie a voice!
