Rufina

Name: Rufina
Born: 2024
Young Female Rooikat/Caracal

Rufina was born as a naturally wild “rooikat” in a forested area of a conservation area in the Free State, South Africa. She should have never had to be in captivity but her mother was slaughtered by poachers so that she, a baby, could be kidnapped and sold on the “black market”. Rooikats still exist naturally as wild cats in many parts of South Africa and should be protected as they are, as well as their environments. However, before Rufina could be sold, the poacher was caught out and Rufina was confiscated. Love Lions Alive sanctuary was contacted to take the young cat in. We built her a small enclosure full of activities for her to do. She was an energetic spitfire of a cat, which is why it is particularly tragic that she passed away in a veld fire that ravaged a chunk of the Love Lions Alive sanctuary in 2024. Rufina was a spark of joy and energy and should have been roaming freely in the forests alongside her mother.

We are heartbroken by Rufina’s story but even more impassioned to fight for the justice of cats of all kinds in South Africa and in the world
Rufina is now with her mother, playing in heaven
We are so sorry that we did not get to see you grow up,
Rest in peace, Rufina.