Sweet dreams, dear Lea – November 2025
We are heartbroken about the passing of Lea, a Savannah cat who was deeply cherished by the WildCat Ridge Sanctuary family. At 12 years old, Lea carried herself with a quiet confidence and a strong sense of self, leaving a lasting impression on those who had the privilege of caring for her.
During a routine wellness exam, our veterinary team discovered that Lea was experiencing difficulty eating and would benefit from dental care. While under anesthesia for a complete exam, her heart unexpectedly gave out. Despite immediate and extensive lifesaving efforts, Lea passed away, likely due to an undiagnosed heart condition. Her loss was sudden and devastating, and she is deeply missed.
Lea may have been soft-spoken in nature, but her presence spoke volumes. She was observant, expressive, and unmistakably clear about her expectations—especially when it came to mealtime. Her bond with her best friend, Sephora, brought comfort and warmth to many moments, often finding the two of them curled up together in a shared bed.
From our animal care team:
Lea was a very quiet girl who knew what she wanted, when she wanted it. The looks that she gave the keeper team were full of direct judgment and certainty of where she wanted her plate of food placed. She was shy but also confident when in her element. Her best friend at the sanctuary was Sephora, a bengal, they would always be caught snuggling up in a bed. Her quiet presence and authenticity will be truly missed by our WCR family
Lea’s gentle spirit and quiet strength will forever be a part of WildCat Ridge Sanctuary. She was loved deeply and will never be forgotten.
Lea’s History
Sometimes social media can be a wonderful thing. We were contacted by a woman back east who had trapped a feral cat out of a colony that she was feeding. She thought the cat could possibly be a Savannah and wanted our opinion. We were shocked to see that the cat was indeed a Savannah cat!
Working together her rescue group vetted the cat, spayed her and then Sarah flew out with the little girl, she named Lea. She hasn’t warmed up to people but lives in SC3 a new building for hybrids and domestics. There she has her best friend Leo, an F1 Bengal and the other cats. We are thrilled to be able to provide a lifetime home for Lea and can’t thank Sarah enough for caring about this feral girl.
