May 24,2019. It was a beautiful sunny and blue-sky day. Chad and Aki were propagating plants in their greenhouse. They heard their dog ‘Zsa Zsa’ barking far away. They didn’t check her, because they were in the middle of propagation, and they thought she would soon stop barking. However, she didn’t stop barking. Chad went to check on her. When he came back to the greenhouse there was a tiny creature in his hand. 

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Zsa Zsa taught us that this world is not all about humans. We are living with a lot of life, and all life matters. 

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Chad loves animals. He has lived with dogs, cats, birds and other animals. Aki loves dogs, she has had dogs since she was a child, but she never had cats and never thought of having one.  

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That sunny day, Aki saw the tiny creature in Chad’s hands was fluffy, muddy, vulnerable, and one eye was closed. Aki couldn’t say anything. Zsa Zsa was standing by her, and she sensed Zsa Zsa voice say, "help the kitten". They kept the kitten with them. They continued to propagate then Zsa Zsa started barking again. Quickly, Chad went to look. 

He came back with another tiny creature. This time it was two tiny kittens! It seemed like Zsa Zsa winked and said to Aki, “Aki, you know what to do.” They took them inside their house. Chad cleaned them with a damp cloth, and went to the store to get kitten food... Aki was just monitoring them.  It is hard to say “No” in front of them, so Aki accepted them into her life. The three kittens need them, the kittens love them.  

Three months later, Chad and Aki went to Japan for 19 days. Aki missed the kittens so much. Yes, She became a cat lover. 

Zsa Zsa and the kittens went together like peas and carrots. They slept together. Zsa Zsa played with them every day. 

However, the time came. February 6th, 2021, Zsa Zsa passed away. They were so depressed. The three cats also knew Zsa Zsa doesn’t come back anymore.  

Life continued. April 19th, 2021, A cat came to their back porch. She stayed and she didn’t leave. They took her to the vet. She didn’t have a microchip. She became a family member.  

In 2022, Aki saw two cats on their property. She and Chad started to feed them. Every day more cats came. They liked to monitor cats. One day, they found two kittens. They were only able to catch one of the kittens. They named her Ceviche; she became part of their family. Every cat has a unique character. No one is the same. 

Summer of 2023, they found six kittens on their property. They contacted all rescues, but all were full and overwhelmed. Aki saw Ceviche’s sister, the kitten they couldn’t catch, living outside, a question came to her mind. "Why does she have to live in a harsh environment?"  

They googled feral cats, and they found “Furball Farm Cat Sanctuary” in Minnesota. The farm is a feral cat sanctuary. Each cat can live out their life in a cage free safe environment. They are the feral cat's LAST resort.  

This inspired them to start Coneco Neco Cat Sanctuary at their ALPS 7th Chakra Farm.  80% of Alps 7th Chakra Farms profit goes directly to the sanctuary cats.  Funds go to spay/neuter/health, food, cat facility comfort features etc.  

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That day, if Zsa Zsa didn’t find the kittens, our life would be completely different.  

Aki had no idea she would become a cat lover and save cats. 

Zsa Zsa led us to this way.  

Thank you Zsa Zsa.  

You are not only our hero and mentor. You are this areas stray cat savior.   

Without you, we wouldn’t know the beauty of cats. 

A home and care facility where feral cats who cannot be domesticated can live in a free roaming, safe, comfortable and healthy environment with other cats for the rest of their life.

(Shelters are temporary places where cats are cared for in a safe environment until they find a forever home and typically the cats are kept in kennels)

Zsa Zsa, Chad and Aki’s Doberman, brought them awareness of the feral cats' plight and taught them “all life matters”. The mission: all feral/stray cats are spayed/neutered, get the health care they need, have a safe free-roaming environment with nutritious food and plenty of space to be a cat. The sanctuary will reduce this area's increase of cat population and the associated spread of disease that comes with overpopulation. Ultimately creating an overall healthier community for the residents and their pets.

Chad and Aki’s dream is to build a facility for feral cats similar to Minnesota's cat sanctuary. The facility will have a safe comfortable space indoor and outdoor for the cats. There is an isolated place for the intake of new feral cats until their health check, neuter/spay is complete, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a cat clinic. 

The facility is full service, once a feral cat arrives they receive all of the basic care they need. It is either their forever home or if they become domesticated they become available for adoption. A true sanctuary. 

Co-neco(Ko-neko) means kitten in Japanese and Neco(Neko) means cat in Japanese. (Kitty Cat) In English our sanctuary name translates to kitty-cat cat sanctuary. The name contains the wish that all cats can live happily and safely.