Meet Santa Maria!
We just discovered an “oopsie” and realized that Santa Maria and her two daughers had NOT been posted online for months! For anyone reading this bio for our mamasita, just know that we have notes going back to February.
6/20/26 - Here is what the foster mom has to say about this beautiful tabby: Santa is a very chill adult cat with impeccable manners. She is gentle, silly at times, loves to sleep/nap (especially up high on the top of the kitchen cabinets or in the cat tree), has the cutest little meow, which at times may surprise you because she sounds like a baby kitten. She is living at Casa de ARWOB, which means she lives with her daughters Pinta and La Nina. They are almost a carbon copy of their mother, BUT the difference is the nose color and the white markings on the face. Santa needs to be adopted into a home with other cats or a single cat. She tends to bully her daughter Pinta – in fact, both Santa and Nina bully Pinta for some reason, which means we would love to find a separate foster for Pinta and another foster for Santa and Nina. Santa does NOT bully any of the other cats living at Casa de ARWOB, so it seems to be a “family matter.” Santa is the type of cat who is gentle, calm and smart. She spends most of the day on her own, but several times a day she will come and find you by jumping into your lap. This is when she is seeking loving pets/kisses. She will occasionally also chill by your computer when you are working. She will randomly get the zoomies and play with toys on the floor, specifically anything large like a tennis ball so she can do the bunny kick. We believe she was likely a great hunter as a past stray, so she just loves the laser pointer and feather wands that she can “hunt.” She is super loving and will jump up on the counter in the morning to greet you. Santa is also a very clean kitty with excellent litter box skills.
Santa Maria would be a great cat for anyone that wants just ONE pet in the home. She does live with other cats and won’t take any sass from the other felines, but she won’t start anything either (at least not among the other dozen cats living at Casa de ARWOB). She has zero interest in dogs, so when a foster dog enters the room, she quickly excuses herself and gets up high on the counters. She is not stressed or bothered by the dogs. She is just not interested in being friends with them at all. We suspect she would be great with children, as she is easy to approach and doesn’t mind being picked up or petted. BE AWARE that she is the first cat to run and hide when people enter the home. She will either jump high on the kitchen cabinet or get inside the cabinet under the sink, closing the door behind her. Ha, ha! Consequently we expect that she will not show well with potential adopters, so do NOT expect fireworks when you meet her. If you are choosing a forever pet based on the initial interaction or a “connection” with her, you will NOT find that with Santa Maria. It will take her days if not a week to gain trust and start roaming the room or around the house. We would like to find someone that is interested in a foster-to-adopt trial for 2 weeks or more. We need someone who understands this kind of personality and will help her feel comfortable over time, by helping her to come out of her shell so she can bond with her human(s). Santa is healthy, up to date on medical, spayed, and has tested negative for FeLV/FIV. If you are interested in this beautiful sweet girl, please fill out an online application at ARWOB.org right away!
3/6/26: Mama Santa Maria is weary and shy in her new environment, but once she feels comfy, she loves to explore. She is the type of kitty who loves to perch, whether it be on your lap/chest/shoulder or the highest spot in the house. She is a very quiet and loving kitty, who is very friendly towards people once she feels comfy in her new surroundings. If you don’t like lap cats, then this girl is not for you. She can be stubborn about lapsitting once she trusts and feels comfortable around you.
2/23/26: The three girls are living at Casa de ARWOB in the cat room on their own. Mom wants nothing to do with her daughters. She does tolerate them, but we believe she would be best as the only cat in the house. Santa will need someone who will give her time to acclimate as her first instinct is the hide or climb up high where she feels more safe. Nina is very outgoing and will seek petting and attention. She would likely be a good kitty for a home with other cats, as she is very indifferent towards them. We have yet to see both sisters interact, mainly because Pinta will need a very experienced cat owner, as she is an angel but VERY shy. She does enjoy being petted, but when she is put down onto the floor, she will seek refuge into a cubby or under something. She would be fine with other cats, but likely will ignore them until she feels comfortable. ALL 3 girls can be adopted as a singleton. We do not recommend dogs or children for Pinta, but Santa and Nina could get used to easygoing kids/dogs if given time to adjust. We can certainly see the girls seeking attention and playing when they feel comfortable in their environment, which could take a month or longer.
Original Rescue Story: This beautiful trio of girls consists of Santa Maria (the mother kitty) and her daughters Pinta and La Nina. They came to ARWOB in late January when we received a plea for help from their owner’s neighbor. The girls were owned by an elderly lady that lived alone, who found the mama kitty in the streets when her kittens had just been born. Several of the kittens didn’t make it, but Pinta and La Nina survived. The elderly lady took in the little family to nurture them. She built a catio for them and kept them in the catio since she was allergic to cats. Sadly, the lady passed away in December 2025 and the cats were left in the catio until the neighbor figured out what to do with them. After 2 months of feeding them and checking in on them, they tried to get a local city shelter to take them in, but couldn’t find any help. They finally reached out to rescue groups and since ARWOB had room, we took them in. They are now fully vetted and ready to find their forever homes! If you are interested, please complete an online application at ARWOB.org right away!
