Ashukalee

Ashukalee ("Sugar") was born on April 15, 1999 at The Rare Feline Breeding Center, where Gloria Johnson, CRC Founder, was earning her 1,000 hours to be licensed to own and exhibit big cats. Originally named Sugar by an employee, she became a favorite to Gloria when she was returned from neo-natal care (about 8 weeks old). Sugar’s official name is now Ashukalee, from the Seminole Indian language meaning  sugar.

Look familiar, Sugar graces every page on this Website.	Sugar relaxes and shows a paw to the photographer.
Sugar strikes a regal pose.

Gloria and Sugar spent much time together, along with Sugar’s brother Spice. But, unfortunately, at around 4 months old Sugar began exhibiting the symptoms of calici virus and rhinotraceitis (both usually fatal viruses). It is not known how she contracted these illnesses, because she was vaccinated. She did, however, become terribly ill. She couldn’t eat because her mouth was full of painful blisters and she bled from the nose and mouth. She began to lose weight quickly so Gloria force-fed her with large syringes using kitten milk replacement formula (KMR), baby food, yogurt and pureed chicken. She also received daily antibiotics to avoid secondary infections while her system was so weakened. Her illness lasted a full 10 weeks and during that time Gloria slept in her den box with her with blankets wrapped around them in 40-degree weather. The bond that formed was not to be ignored. When Gloria went home to Tallahassee on weekends Sugar would not eat. The end result was that Gloria sold her house in the City and found an appropriate farm on the outskirts of Tallahassee and immediately built an enclosure for Sugar following State guidelines. Each time finances would allow the enclosure was enlarged so that it is now 13 times larger than required. The habitat is L-shaped and in the corner of the L is an above ground swimming pool which the cats happily use. 

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Page updated: 12/18/2005