I’m sorry to be coming to you with sad news of a loss at Carolina Tiger Rescue. Just over 21 years ago we had the unexpected arrival of a baby serval. Todd and Erica lived together for many years when we suddenly found out she was pregnant with Santana Serval. This was particularly surprising because Todd had a vasectomy over five years prior. Even though this was unexpected, we of course celebrated Santana’s arrival and were dedicated to giving him the best life possible.

For 21 years we have taken care of Santana and were privileged to get to know him. Shockingly at his age, he showed no signs of some of the common “old-man” issues. He showed no signs of arthritis and generally was an easy-going cat. Sadly, we noticed one afternoon that he was having some labored breathing. We discussed with our vets our options and began treating him with injectable meds for pulmonary effusion, likely caused by heart failure. The next morning his breathing had improved and we started him on oral meds for heart failure. Sadly, that afternoon Santana was again having very labored breathing and additionally was having issues with his back legs. When we got him under anesthesia it was very easy to see that he had thrown blood clots, and one was blocking blood supply to his right rear leg. Given the difficulties he was having even with medications on board, we made the decision to let him go. While the disease seemed to come on quite suddenly, it is likely that he was experiencing issues for a while, but was able to compensate and show no signs as his body was able to slowly adapt to the changes in his heart.

Santana was quite the character from day one. Being an only kitten meant he was incredibly spoiled. In fact, he was so popular that he was featured on the local news and brought in a wonderful volunteer that was with us for many years. While I have raised many kittens over the years, Santana certainly has his own distinct personality. Serval kittens are typically pretty calm and easy going. Santana took that script and flipped it. He moved at a thousand miles an hour, every day, all day. Somewhere along the way he earned a very long nickname that I can’t remember completely now, but went something like “Bitey, Scratchy, Climby, Chewy.” He kept us on our toes and laughing (maybe sometimes crying?) every day.
As he grew, he went through his rebellious teenager stage, until he finally settled into a very laid back gentleman. At one point he even made friends with a tiger that lived next door to him. We would often find the two of them bounding along the fence line, just to change direction and do it all again. He was a quintessential serval and often caught wildlife that came just a bit too close to his enclosure. All of that to say he was an incredible cat who has made an impact on many lives. I will certainly hold a special place in my heart for Santana and will miss him terribly.

On a personal note, I have been a part of Santana’s life from his first day and was able to be there to say goodbye. Over my 25 years at Carolina Tiger, I have watched this organization grow and evolve into what we are today. Part of that transition included ending the breeding of small cats, which was part of the mission of our founder. That transition was a hallmark moment for us. Some people remark that I have been at the same sanctuary for 25 years and I couldn’t disagree more. The sanctuary I started at has seen so many evolutions over the years that it is essentially unrecognizable. Santana was that small bridge between the organization I started with and the organization I work for now. I am thankful for my time with him and excited to see what Carolina Tiger will evolve into over the next 25 years.

Thank you to all of our donors that have been with us as we have grown into who we are today. For those new to us, thank you for joining us on this wonderful journey. Your support allows us to care for the animals that call Carolina Tiger home and to fight for those that are in need of rescue. I hope Santana’s legacy is being an example of how a wild animal should be treated and respected.

With a heavy heart,

Kathryn Bertok, Assistant Director