Love cats? Love Bruce Springsteen? You’re in the right place.
In 1985, founder Nina Themann was four years old, sneaking MTV on a wood-grain TV when she first saw The Boss. The swagger, the sweat, the boots and jeans— all of it captivated her. In him, Nina saw the energy of dreams—something essential, something bigger than the room she was sitting in. He carried the promise of more. His purpose, though unspoken, was unmistakable: to unite.
It was love at first sight.
Forty years later, in 2024, Nina saw Bruce Springsteen live in concert and fell in love all over again. The fascination was still there, but now it ran deeper. The experience was transcendent. Themes of time, mortality, chance and change, faith and perseverance—stories of what it means to live—washed over her. It was invigorating. It reminded her of who she was. And what she wanted. She wanted to save cats. And she had already begun.
She won’t live to be old. She’ll have no quality of life. If she were mine, I’d let her go. Her odds of survival are small.
Those are the things Nina—Bandita’s mother—was told.
Bandita cannot walk. She has a life-threatening autoimmune disease and has survived liver failure. She has three legs, and cannot move herself to the litter box or food bowl. And yet—does she enjoy every day of her life? Absolutely.
Against medical opinions, statistics, setbacks, and the doubt of those who underestimated her, Bandita and Nina fought for one thing: a chance at life.
Today, Bandita is a happy, healthy three-year-old special-needs cat. She loves mealtimes, Churu treats, camping, wand toys, watching cat TV and movies on her iPad, nice hotels, Airbnbs, head rubs, and snuggling with her mom.
She has taught everyone who knows her that compassion, sacrifice, devoted care, faith, patience, and unconditional love can help a cat with no odds knock the odds out of the park.
If this story speaks to you, you’re already part of it.
Your support helps us give cats like Bandita the care, dignity, and love they deserve—at every stage of life.
Our Mission
At Born to Purr, our mission is to save cats like Bandita—and cats deemed “too old,” “too sick,” or “too broken” to have any life left. We do this in the spirit of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: with fervor, relentlessness, humor, kindness, authenticity, community, and an unshakable belief in something larger than yourself.
Our Vision
We envision a sanctuary for cats with disabilities and illnesses, senior cats, and those who have been abandoned, forgotten, or never truly seen. We heal and rehabilitate through medical care, nutritious food, safe and clean shelter, and love. Senior cats retire in dignity. Cats eligible for adoption find forever homes. And for those who cannot be saved, we provide a peaceful, loving transition—never alone, never discarded. This is our letter to you. We want to see you in our dreams.
Our Board
Bruce Springsteen
Honorary Member