The first decade on Salt Spring Island was a transformative time for the study cats. What began in Vancouver as a group of rescue cats and a fledgling business in a rented home. grew into a permanent home where their lives could be observed, documented, and continually improved.

The move to Salt Spring Island in 1999 was life-changing for all of us. Nineteen cats made the journey and settled into the first facility we owned. During these years we built a beautiful glass-walled outdoor habitat, allowing the cats to safely enjoy sunshine, fresh air, and the sights and sounds of the natural world. Many of the photographs on this page were taken during that period.

These years also brought both arrivals and departures. We said goodbye to the old battle-scarred tomcat who had survived a difficult life before joining our study group, but not before he enjoyed several peaceful years of safety and comfort on Salt Spring Island. We also welcomed a tiny orphaned kitten, giving us the opportunity to learn firsthand about raising kittens without a mother. Eight of the original adult rescue cats left the study when the founders of Feline Future parted ways.

As the remaining study group matured and three new SPCA kittens joined the project, so did our understanding of feline nutrition and care. While the business project continued to grow, the cats remained the centre of daily life and the reason for everything we did.

In 2003, the study group moved once again—this time to the current facility at Three Gables Farm. There, the cats gained access to an even larger and more natural environment. Extensive outdoor enclosures were built using specialised cat fencing, creating a safe space for climbing, exploring, resting in the sun, and watching the activity of the farm. A rescued mother cat and her three tiny kittens came to stay as foster cats, while two kittens from breeders joined the study group permanently.  Cattle and sheep also became part of daily life, making the property feel very different from the urban neighbourhoods where many of the cats had begun their journey.

Looking back, these years were defined by growth, change, and an ongoing commitment to improving the lives of the study cats. The facilities expanded, knowledge accumulated, and the cats continued to teach us lessons that would shape the next decades of the project.