Kat Pawz Updates
January 7th, 2025 the world lost Brittany Coleman, Kat Pawz Sanctuary's Cofounder
Founders & Sisters: Brittany and Payton Coleman
Kat Pawz is Brittany’s legacy and will carry on with the help of our friends and family.
-Payton Coleman
Since Brittany's passing we are temporarily closing public intake and are focusing on the 80+ long term sanctuary resident cats. Many of whom are special needs and hospices cases. During this time, our family is restructuring the Sanctuary so we can set up a happy, healthy, sustainable future.
In Honor of Brittany
Please let her compassion inspire you to help out with animal rescue efforts.
Today is Brittany's Birthday
May 24th
To celebrate her birthday, we wanted to tell the world a little more about her.
May 24th, 1990 - January 7th, 2025
Brittany was the purest soul I've ever known. Even at 34, she retained a childlike innocence , unmarred by the cruelty and unfairness of this world. She made sure people around her felt comfortable and important.
She would spend her last dime on a cat in need and would feel guilty if she ever spent money on herself.
Please enjoy this playlist, as you scroll along.
Our Brittany would have wanted it that way.
Happy Birthday, Brittany!
She slathered everything she ate with mayonnaise and would defend Britney Spears with her last breath.
Brittany was at her happiest just sitting on the couch, surrounded by cats, and watching Twilight.
#TeamEdward
She loved writing, playing piano, dressing up, and attending conventions.
She was a shining star and always amazing at knowing what to say, talking to people, and uplifting them. She knew what it felt like to be bullied and made sure no one felt small around her.
When she wasn’t hard at work with AT&T, she was using every spare moment to rescue and take care of the cats at our sanctuary. Much of which included sleepless nights of bottle-feeding kittens and early morning drives to the spay and neuter clinic.
Growing up, cats have always been a huge part of our lives and creating a Kat Pawz Sanctuary was something we always dreamed about.
She was a happy-go-lucky, enthusiastic, goofy gooober, who could make anyone she met smile and laugh.
Rescuing is an exhausting and thankless job but Brittany would never complain. She knew she was making a difference in the lives of the innocent and that was all that ever mattered to her.
If you never had the privilege of meeting or knowing Brittany, I hope this gives you a small glimpse into the amazing human she was. Her impact was immeasurable and her loss is nothing short of immense.
The world is much darker without her, but we hope her light and goodness inspire you.
Brittany put on a bee suit to rescue a kitten under a local business.
AT&T: Brittany Behind the Scenes
Brittany's Interview with Cats.com
Ways to Help Continue Brittany's Legacy
- Be kind and compassionate.
- Get involved with animal rescue, TNR, volunteer, donate, foster, promote adoption, and remind people to spay and neuter.
- Follow and share Kat Pawz Sanctuary on Social Media.
- Watch, subscribe, and like our YouTube channel. Once we get enough views, we can make money for the sanctuary through ads.
- Donate towards her Legacy fund.
One of Brittany's favorite things to do at the Sanctuary was to spend time with the feral cats and get them to trust her. She was so excited about a new project we were working on at the Sanctuary, a fenced in safe haven where they could happily live out their lives. She passed before the project was finished, however we are determined to make her dreams come true.
Eventually, the plan is to set up a live stream so supporters can tune in and see what the cats are up to.
Social Media Links
Brittany's Legacy Fund
The money collected from this fundraiser will go towards finishing out the catio and cat house for feral and Fiv+ cats. An area very close to Brittany's heart, where she spent most of her time.
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Newsletter
May 23rd, 2025
Written By: Dashia Wathen
Kat Pawz Volunteer
Dear Brittany,
The first time I visited Kat Pawz Sanctuary, I almost started crying. Not because I was sad, but because I couldn’t believe such a magical heartwarming place existed. What you and your sister, Payton, have accomplished is what fairy tales and dreams are made of.
After getting to know the both of you I couldn’t help but feel like family. You were so excited about the future of the Sanctuary and all of the possibilities. This passed year, you had started updating the website and we brainstormed a bunch of different ideas, and events that we could incorporate for people to enjoy and ways to raise money. One of the things you were excited about was to start up a monthly newsletter that included sanctuary updates and stories about the cats. Without you we are all lost at how to even begin writing, so I’ve decided to start them, by addressing this one to you.
I have started digitizing your Sanctuary’s paper records, and have came across records for over 600 cats, that you have helped since starting your 501c3 Nonprofit in 2021. That doesn’t even include all of cats you have helped TNR. How amazing is that!?
Animals have the amazing ability to connect with people and make them feel loved, important, and to be there in a way that words can’t even begin to describe. The night you passed, I remember crying with Payton at the sanctuary, one of your kitties climbed up her lap and started licking the tears away from her face.
Love & Miss You,
Kat Pawz Volunteer
Dashia Wathen
Thank you to everyone for the kind words, support, donations, and help.
You would be so proud of your family! Your Mom, Sherry, has taken over your cat house duties, and your Dad, Rob, has gotten busy with construction projects to turn the sanctuary into something magical. The exterior fence of the catio is now complete. The screened in the front porch so the indoor kitties could enjoy a little fresh air and nature. The next goal is to buy or get him to build some kennels, so when we do start intaking again we will have a place to help isolate and medicate them.
Your little sister, Payton Coleman, is doing a phenomenal job and doing everything she can for the well being of the cats and the future of Kat Pawz Sanctuary. I don’t know how she does it. She would probably joke and say caffeine helps, so if anyone knows anyone who could help her get a sponsorship from Coca Cola or install a fountain at Kat Pawz Sanctuary, we would all be eternally grateful!
But who you would be the most proud of your furchild, Greta. She is a super star and she looked so cute running on her cat wheel for Animal Planet’s 2025 Puppy Bowl! Our kitties were fabulous in their commercial, I am so sad that you weren’t here to watch it with us. Most of them have been adopted by now, but a few of them are still available and looking for their forever homes.
Some Kitty Biographies
Written by the Coleman sisters
Giuseppe
The Guardian
Giuseppe appeared to us on a warm summer evening. Cowering in fear in the woods behind our home, and full of cuts and obvious neglect, you could tell that he was looking for help but was nervous to ask. Immediately we grabbed food and water and placed it out for him while we watched. It was at that moment that Giuseppe knew we were going to keep him safe. While he gobbled up his food as fast as he could, we decided to test the waters and attempt to pet him. He instantly accepted. Within a few days of meeting Seppe, we were able to finally get him the medical treatment he needed. We found out Seppe was an older gentlemen, around 11 years at the time, with rotten teeth, abrasions from defensive wounds and he was cryptorchid. Seppe has been with us for over 3 years now and we can't image life without him. He is the most loyal, loving and protective cat we have ever had in our of our years. He has an intuition you would have to see to believe. Today he loves to spend his days at the pool, eating goodies and watching tv with his moms. Oh, and did I mention that he only uses the potty outside?
Lola
Lola was on a euthanasia list at a county shelter. She was not able to be put up for adoption at the county shelter due to her missing a back foot and possibly needing surgery. We stepped in and grabbed her and her sister before they could euthanize.
Yoda
Yoda was an owner surrender, along with her daughter Maxine, after being in the same household for 12 years.Yoda, at no fault of her own, was no longer wanted. When we picked up Yoda, she was in bad shape. She was extremely sick and needed immediate care. Upon her vet visit, Yoda needed dental surgery, had hearing loss from a severe ear infection, and was on the brink of having pneumonia from the terrible respiratory infection.After getting Yoda's medical needs taken care of, she was able to finally be her bubbly, caring, loving self. Yoda is very fond of kittens and loves to help us take care of any orphaned or abandoned babies. She also makes sure to keep everyone in line. Yoda now spends her days lounging with her friends, soaking up some sun, eating Arby's roast beef sandwiches, all the while knowing she is forever safe for the rest of her days.
"The Bears"
T'challa, James Buchanan and Wade were all found on a college campus trying to survive on their own. We noticed Wade's eyes looked different and thankfully, he was trusting and came right up to us. He had eyes, but he was blind. We then saw his brothers waiting nervously behind him. Fast forward a few days and we had all of them safe in their new home and it was time to get medical care. All three were cryptorchid, had no third eyelids, and a few other birth deformities. The doctor said they were most likely being bred to be dwarf cats but since they came out wrong, they were tossed aside. After some surgeries for each, and both eyes removed for Wade's health, they are the absolute treasure of our lives. We call them our bears because they are always down to snuggle, are warm and comforting, and can heal any internal wounds. If you're ever having a bad day, you can grab a bear and instantly feel happier and worry free. The bears are fully indoors as they need a clean atmosphere due to not having third eyelids, which protect cats' eyes from debris, dirt, dust, etc., but they don't seem to mind.
Wade Update -
He ended up, eventually needing both of his eyes removed.
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