Welcome Back to the Sanctuary!

Back courtyard  (MW)

 As the weather turns and the spring takes hold, we are excited to be opening the Sanctuary to visitors again.

Good buddies - Moxie & Pumpkin  (KN)

“In the old days” we had Sunday afternoons open almost all year round – but it was a fairly quiet affair, since we were still Richmond’s best-kept secret. That had been a result of dealing with a Richmond feral cat situation, a very full Sanctuary, and the tendency of people to dump cats off in the driveway, and it took some education to get people to take their cats to the Shelter for assessment first. Gradually the numbers decreased – but our costs expanded with an aging feline population. The decision was made to make the Sanctuary more public, and to ask for a minimum donation for admission.

Polydactyl Jackie O loves climbing  (KN)

Some enthusiastic social media nearly swamped us at the beginning, and produced too many people, too many cars, nowhere to park, and outnumbered tour guides and ambassadors!  We also noticed that the cats were overwhelmed, and knew we had to find a way of limiting the numbers.  Now we are asking people to book online, so that we can restrict the capacity in any hour, and we have some great volunteers around to answer questions. The cats who enjoy company are happier, and the ones who don’t, go find somewhere to sleep in a cats-only area.

Sweet Monty struggles between being shy
and wanting attention!  (MW)

Car-parking space is limited because of next-door Phoenix Perennials; we ask that visitors park out on No 6 Road and walk up the driveway, or have the driver do a drop-off at the gate before finding parking. The Adoption Centre is also on-site, but is not open to Sanctuary visitors unless they have a meet-and-greet appointment. 

Keke likes to be alone  (KN)

In common with other organizations, COVID has not helped! We totally closed down to visitors in March 2020 through to the following summer, and then opened only in the outdoor spaces. Volunteers and staff working in the buildings do so masked; in the outdoor areas there is some leeway, but with caution, so for everyone's safety we will be asking for visitors to be masked while with us. We are also keeping some areas closed.  The Double-Wide has the greatest number of caged cats receiving medical attention, so they will likely be kept in peace and quiet.

Dodger & Mr Pink would like someone to share their chair  (JK)

If we have enough ambassadors, we will be allowing limited visitors in the Single-Wide because cats like Mr Pink and Dodger do love the company. As always, no visitors are allowed in Old Aids, where the Leukemia cats live, but the FIV cats in New Aids and Val Jones may have visitors as long as there is an ambassador in with them.

Sophie is moody but cute  (KN)

New visitors have to be reminded that all of our cats are here for good reasons, and aggression is sometimes one of those reasons. There are cats who warn you of their aggression right away, and then there are the cats that go rub-rub-rub-CHOMP. They are a big part of why we don’t allow young children (under 6 years) at all, and why any children need to be under adult supervision. Even savvy volunteers get bitten or swatted from time to time, and all the bathrooms have peroxide and bandaids!

Rookie  (MW)

We ask that visitors do not bring treats for the cats;  experience has taught us that not only do the cats not eat their dinner, but we were finding a lot of throw-up. Instead, we can offer small bags of healthy kibble, to be doled out rather than tossed around in great handfuls. In any case, many of the cats would rather have your attention for petting and play, and you will find grooming tools and toys in each area (please don’t carry them from one area to another).

Ollie will probably hide away during visiting hours  (KN)

If you’re a return visitor to the Sanctuary, you probably know the areas you like to visit, and the cats you want to see. You’ll find “ambassadors” around – volunteers who may know that area, and can answer questions (or know who to ask). If you’re a first-time visitor, ask for a tour, and one of our tour guides will walk you around and do a general orientation – it probably won’t be your last visit!

For Sanctuary visit tickets: 

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/visit-the-raps-cat-sanctuary-2022-tickets-321012897217

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Jennine Kariya, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright

Two Beloved Old Gentlemen

 

Miller sunbathing   (MW)

A fine day in the Front Courtyard almost always sees the presence of two aging tuxies, enjoying the sunshine, and hoping for handouts.

Sylvester  (MW)

Sylvester came to us as a full adult.  He may have been TNR’d and then situated as a farm cat; he came to us when we had to bring the colony in.  He was very shy from the beginning, but without the usual horrified stare of a feral, so he may have had some handling as a youngster. He enjoys the company of other cats, though he's not really a cuddler.

Sylvester sharing siesta space with Figaro  (MW)

He has been with us for 11 years now, and has some health issues that have the med staff keeping a careful eye on him.  He used to be a regular gate-greeter – mostly in hope of treats – and was always on the lookout for volunteer Karen Yu, who would bring a pocketful of goodies.  About 4-5 years ago, we were finding that there was a lot of Temptations-type throw-up after visiting days, and the decision was made to limit the treats. No more McDonalds-equivalent for cats like Sylvester; limited healthy kibble, and straight protein was the rule.

Anything tasty in that bag?  (ML)

I’m sure the odd cat-candy made an appearance, but Sylvester has become a devotee of people carrying bags of chicken tidbits, and he hovers hopefully, looking for handouts.  When I’m sitting on the bench by the gate he’s usually on one side of me, and on the other is handsome Miller.

Miller  (KN)

Miller has been with us a bit longer than Sylvester, but he came as a half-grown kitten, so he’s probably very close in age – we think they’re both coming up on 16 years. Miller and his two sisters, Fiona and Schatze (both now over the Bridge), were trapped as kittens near the Massey Tunnel. The construction workers there were feeding them, but felt they needed to be somewhere safe, and the Sanctuary was the place.  They were three little ferals with very different personalities: Fiona was friendly and ready to cuddle; Schatze did NOT like this place and kept escaping till we finally put her in Pen 4; Miller was shy – friendly enough with other cats, but slow to warm to humans.  Some cage time with Schatze helped there, as they took confidence from each other.

Fiona with Miller  (DW)

Fiona shared the front courtyard with Miller, though the two of them didn’t hang out together very much. Gradually, he became more people-oriented and learned that cuddles were a Good Thing. In the right mood, a spell of Miller Time became a treat all round.  Miller is one of those cats who like to be held upright, with paws making biscuits on the upper chest. He’s not always enthusiastic about being picked up, but he makes it very clear when he does want that attention.

Miller  (MW)

These two will be among the enthusiasts when we open the gates to visitors again!

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Moira Langley, Karen Nicholson, Debbie Wolanski, Michele Wright

Revisiting Pen 5

May & Adam  (KN)

The Sanctuary has been sited here since 1999, and many cats have come under our care in those intervening years. The majority of them have been ferals, and a lot of ferals don’t live long lives – longer with us than if they were truly out in the fields, but an early lack of care can affect them in later life.  We have had two significant generations of cats in Pen 5. The first group came to us as Steveston was being developed in the early years of this century, and we called them the Packers cats. BC Packers was known as one of the largest salmon canning industries, but by the ‘80s, the fishing industry was in decline, and the last processing took place in 1997.  As buildings were demolished and sites prepared for new construction, many cats were trapped by Carol and her Richmond Homeless Cats friends, and they were early tenants of the new Sanctuary.

Nevada - one of the Packers cats   (CF)

When I first volunteered twelve years ago, the Packers cats were getting very frail, and their numbers were diminishing. But there was no lack of new cats being brought in to the Shelter, and transferred to us when needed, and one such group joined the Packers cats in Pen 5. Initially it was kept as a closed pen, hoping that some of the inhabitants might return to the shelter for adoption – Katie, Moe & Theo all found homes. But when there are kittens, that’s what many people adopt, and the remaining adults stayed on, establishing the now open pen as their home.

Salish & Rudolph  (MW)

For some time it was also the pen of the bonded cats. Adam and May, Rudolph and Salish, Willow and Careen, the menage a trois of Chinook, Capilano and Walker – all devoted to each other, and rarely seen separately. In the last few years we’ve lost Chinook and Capilano, and sadly, Rudolph as well (to dental anaesthetic). 

Salish  (KN)

That last death was worrying because of Salish, who was devoted to her black buddy, but she seems to have adjusted well – she stays close to Adam and May, and though she’s still skittish about touch, she’s ready to emerge when treats are offered.

Walker  (MW)

Blond Walker lost both his loves: Capilano and Chinook had no great fondness for each other, but both turned to Walker as a calming influence, and he cuddled impartially with either of them.  He continues to sleep in Pen 5, but is to be found anywhere around the back courtyard, often in company with Pumpkin. The two of them are determined chickaholics, with a keen instinct for when tidbits are being handed out!

Careen  (MW)

Willow and Careen, who were always found together, appear to have separated. Careen still bases herself in the Pen 5 cabin but will often come out into the courtyard to visit if humans are sitting on the benches.

Willow  (KN)

Willow has become much more migratory, no longer confining herself to Pen 5 – in fact, she can most often be found in Waldi’s Hut at the south end of the courtyard, where she can get some space to herself – but she too joined in the courtyard cat-party last weekend!

Kramer  (MW)

Kramer joined the colony about four years ago, and remains the odd guy out – he doesn’t interact much with the other cats, but he has clearly made the Pen 5 cabin his home, and rarely ventures further afield. He is very happy to have human attention, but on his terms. Sadly, one of the attentions he doesn’t enjoy is a long-haired cat’s consequence to solitary living – he doesn’t appreciate having to be de-matted (though he’s not yet been in a bad enough state to need a lion-cut!)

a pleasant afternoon on the Pen 5 porch   (MW)

Many other cats wander in and out of the pen – it’s a favourite bathroom for the DoubleWide cats who prefer not to use a litter-box. And it’s one of many areas that will need a good work-party to make it look clean and inviting before we welcome visitors back to the Sanctuary at the end of the month.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Claire Fossey, 

Karen Nicholson & Michele Wright

Everybody's Friend

Cornelius  (LBF)

We are used to thinking of dogs as social animals, and cats as the opposite, and there’s some truth to it. But at base, like all sweeping statements, there are many examples of exactly the opposite.  Just the way we describe a group of cats as a COLONY offers the reminder that many cats just love the company of other felines, and the fact that we have so many antisocial cats at the Sanctuary is not so much about the way cats are in general, and more about the specific cats who are here because they need us.

Cornelius with Holly  (LBF)

We do get cats who come in ones and twos, but as a Sanctuary, we are uniquely fitted to help when larger groups of cats arrive.  Sometimes a cat-loving owner passes or has to go into care; sometimes another shelter asks us to take in ferals; sometimes it’s a hoarding situation. That was the case last year when we helped an Alberta rescue out by taking a number of cats. In our usual way, the moms and kittens went into fosterage, and the young adults came to the Sanctuary and ended up in Pen 3.

Cornelius & Jenkins  (LBF)

It was evident from the first that these were not all ferals, like the Pen 6 cats, and some had clearly been socialized. Several cats were easily identified as potential adoptees, and in fact, the first pair (Shimmer and Finneas) have already gone to a loving home, and others, like Lucius and Jenkins, will not be far behind them.  But the guy who seems to be the ringleader of the bunch, Cornelius, is not quite ready for that.

Cornelius with Scarlett  (KN)

Cornelius is a cat’s cat. He’s a social butterfly, making nice with all the rest of his buddies, and getting to know some of the other cats as well. It was Cornelius’s determination to explore outside the pen (he was a determined gate-buster) that got the med-staff to open it for the whole colony, and Cornelius has led the way in exploring the whole of the back pen complex.

Cornelius  (LBF)

He’s not adoptable yet – he allows select people to pet him, but is still wary.  But he’s a flirt as well – even before he was allowing touch, he was walking in front of volunteers, stretching out his back legs in a sort of walking sploot, and rolling over as if to say “see how cute I am!” He is very food-motivated, and will come running from the back of the pens if he thinks there’s anything on offer. And he is the consummate ham; Lisa takes themed pictures for Valentines and St Patrick's and spring – and Cornelius is happy to pose and play.

Mr Springtime  (MW)

Many other social cats are social mostly within their own group – we think of the Pen 2 family, and the cats in Pen 5: mutually inter-dependent, but mostly ignoring the other cats. Cornelius is happy to make friends everywhere; I don’t think he’s ventured into the Tea Room yet, but I’ve found him in all the open pens at some stage. He can often be found with the other orange floofs in Pen 6 – though that’s tied in with being coaxed into a photoshoot!

Cornelius & Ginger  (LBF)

I don’t know whether he has had any influence on our shyest boy at the back. Mercury would normally do anything rather than be around humans, but in recent weeks he has started to join the crowd when treats are on offer – mostly lurking on the edge, but darting in for his share when it’s offered. A recent video from Lisa sheds a possible light on his appearances.

There are some cats who seem perfectly happy to make the Sanctuary their home. For Cornelius, it looks as if he’s a kid who’s found himself living in the greatest summer camp – why would he want to be anywhere else?  Party on, Cornelius!

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Karen Nicholson & Michele Wright