COMMUNITY & CULTURE
THE CAT’S MEOW
Tenth Life founder focuses on special needs felines
By ERIN WILLIAMS
Elizabeth Frick believes all cats should have
the chance to live a full and comfortable life.
No matter what type of mood you are in or how you
feel about the presence of animals in general, it’s hard to
argue about the cuddly, unassuming nature of a cat.
But what if the cat is missing an eye, or has diabetes,
or is in need of leg surgery? Aren’t they just as loving
and cuddly? According to Elizabeth Frick, founder
and director of Tenth Life Cat Rescue, the answer is
a resounding “yes.” Her organization is dedicated to
ensuring that these special cats end up in environments
that give them the love and attention they deserve.
She witnessed this firsthand during her time spent
working at Tree House Humane Society in Chicago, a
nonprofit focused on caring for cats with special needs,
and became devoted to the cause. “I learned about caring
for homeless animals and nonprofit organizations and
really grew a passion for both, she said. “When I worked
at Tree House I fell in love with the cats that needed
extra medical intervention or extra daily care that so
many other organizations don’t have the resources for,”
she said. “In the process of working there, I ended up
adopting a few cats who had pretty significant special
needs, and it just became a passion of mine.”
After moving to St. Louis with her husband in 2006, she
couldn’t find a similar place. “Even though there were
some great cat organizations, there weren’t a lot of them,
and they weren’t focusing on the mission that I wanted to
see,” she said.
A few years later, Elizabeth, who had just become a
new mother to daughter, Olive, adopted from Korea,
began conducting research to open a space to help cats
in the city. “I felt that St. Louis really needed something
for cats with special needs,” she said. “I didn’t see any
organization that gave priority admission for those cats,
and they deserved a wonderful life just as much as a
happy, healthy kitten.”
GAZELLE STL