A South Texas cat sanctuary struggling to care for injured and hospice cats was on the brink of closure when a TikTok influencer and his community came to the rescue. The sanctuary director described the interactions as a miracle.
Spencer And SB Mowing
Spencer from SB Mowing, posting as @sbmowing on TikTok, is renowned for his altruistic efforts in finding and cleaning overgrown lawns across the country, particularly for those unable to do it themselves. His journey, documented through videos online, has amassed nearly 10 million followers on TikTok and over 2 million on YouTube.
During a visit to Corpus Christi, Texas, in February, Spencer encountered an injured cat hidden in the weeds of an unruly lawn he was mowing. The cat, later named Esbee, had multiple puncture wounds from a suspected animal attack that had developed into an infected abscess.
A Desperate Situation
Spencer contacted local rescues, but only Edgar and Ivy’s Cat Sanctuary agreed to take in the wounded feline. Anissa Beal, the sanctuary’s director, noted the urgency of Esbee’s condition, stating that “Esbee, no doubt, would have died within the next 48 hours from sepsis.”
Grateful for the sanctuary’s efforts, Spencer gave them all the money he had on him, $100, and decided to start a GoFundMe to further support their work. He assured Beal he might be able to raise up to $10,000 through his online following.
An Overwhelming Response
Beal was initially happy simply with the $100 donation, unaware of the wave of support that was about to come. Within the same day, Spencer uploaded a video featuring the GoFundMe link, and donations began pouring in, eventually totaling $190,000. Additionally, Spencer’s community sent four truckloads of items from the sanctuary’s Amazon wishlist.
Before these donations, Beal had funded most of the expenses – approximately $80,000 annually – out of her own pocket. She had reached her limit and was contemplating ending the project. “I kept praying that I’d get some sort of a sign if I should continue,” she said. “He saved us.”
A New Beginning
To show their gratitude, Edgar and Ivy’s Cat Sanctuary allowed Spencer to name their newest building. He chose “SB Mowing Community Wellness Center,” emphasizing that it was about his community’s support.
Esbee the cat has since made a full recovery and remains a permanent resident of the sanctuary. Beal received numerous requests to adopt him, but she decided to keep him to ensure his safety. “I felt it was the right way to keep him safe for the rest of his life, not just while he was in his 15 minutes of fame,” she said.
A Brighter Future
Since the donations, Edgar and Ivy’s Cat Sanctuary has rescued over 700 cats and hopes to save many, many more in the future. As for Esbee—he has become the alpha male of the sanctuary.
References:
MySA: Over 700 cats saved after TikTok star saves injured cat, raises $190K
@sbmowing on TikTok
SBMowing on YouTube
Edgar and Ivy’s Cat Sanctuary
GoFundMe: Support Edgar and Ivy’s Rescue Mission
