Brunet and Blonde, revisited

Lindor in regal mode  (MW)

It’s interesting to look back at some of our cats when they arrived with us, and see how they’re doing today. Five years ago Lindor and Parker came to us – they just happened to arrive at the same time and were put in adjacent cages to acclimatize.  

Exploring on the cage-tops  (BC)

Black Lindor came to us from the Shelter with a reputation for ambush attacks from the shadow of his cage; Debbie was on staff there at that time, and said that it took some care to be cleaning in the cat room without becoming a Lindor target. There are many cats who come from an experience of freedom and don’t do well within the confines of a Shelter environment. Many of these do much better when they arrive at the Sanctuary and have more space to move or to hide in, according to their needs. 

Snoozing on the table puts you closer to the treats  (KN)

Once released from his cage, Lindor made himself at home around the DoubleWide and the back courtyard. He’s a beautiful fluffy boy, but the fluff extends between the ears – he’s not the smartest cat we’ve ever had!  Initially he was a bit reactive, and we all gave him some space. He’s not particularly cat-social, though he doesn’t really mind other cats being around – he just doesn’t socialize with them. What he has discovered is that when humans sit down around the courtyard table for coffee, there are sometimes goodies on offer!  We are told that cats don’t taste sweet stuff – but Lindor leads the queue when Timbits come out, and can often be found trying to cat-burgle his way into the box.

Big and fluffy  (KN)

He likes attention – he’s not really a lap-cat, but he loves to be petted, and he has joined the ranks of the cats wearing a bandana during visiting hours as a signal that he is adoptable.  If you’re into big fluffy cats, he’s a winner!

Parker doing a little exploration  (KN)

His blonde counterpart, Parker, had been surrendered for aggressive behaviour, and sadly, that has not changed much. Occasionally she can be seen out in the courtyard, but the upper shelves of the Laundry Room are very much her turf, and she defends them against all invaders.

This shelf is Parker's favourite perch (MW)

Her blonde prettiness is irresistible to the uninitiated, but it only takes a smack or two to realize that the collar this girl wears is not just decorative – it’s a real warning. She does have some favourite humans who are permitted to offer petting when she’s in the right mood, but most volunteers have learned to be wary around her, and that contact with her is likely to produce blood.

Hard at work, being fluffy and cute  (KN)

I usually do DoubleWide feeds from the sink, and most of the time it’s black Cole sitting there and stealing the first bite on every plate – and Parker is at floor-level, growling to keep other cats away from her plate. Just occasionally, Parker beats Cole to the top of the washing machine, and then I find myself being very cautious as each plate is filled and moved. This level of aggression is often seen in feral cats and is usually fear-based; Parker’s not a feral, and she fears nothing; this is straight dominance, and letting everyone know that what Parker wants, goes! 

Good-naturedly posing as the Easter bunny (KN)

I wonder how these two would have made out in a jurisdiction where there wasn’t a no-kill Sanctuary option. As it is, they both have space and time to meet their needs – Parker has her shelves where she can get away, and our patience with her swatting; Lindor has attention and love and the possibility of eventually finding his own home.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright

Owen

Owen  (KN)

Of the little colony of cats who came in from the Kootenays last year, the majority remain shy and wary of much contact with us, though most of them no longer confine themselves to Pen 8, which was their first home here. Just two of them really embraced Sanctuary life:  little SweetPea built on the socialization she had from foster-mom Kati, and showed herself willing to be petted and cuddled;  it wasn’t long before she was adopted. (Her sister Curious is still not happy about much in the way of human contact.)

Owen  (LBF)

Handsome Owen has always been the most outgoing of the remainder of the colony. Though he enjoys his cats-only bonding time with Basil and Percival Snugglebutt, he has embraced his inner Ragdoll and loves lap-time and treats with staff and volunteers.  

Hanging out with Percival Snugglebutt  (LBF)

When the Kootenays cats first came to us, we were told they were Ragdolls. In fact, we rarely have purebred cats of any sort at the Sanctuary – most of our cats are mixed-breed, and many have come to us as a result of not being spayed/neutered, so we never know quite what genetics are in play. In appearance, Owen, and many of the others, have a more Himalayan appearance – paler long-haired body, dark face and legs – but without the smooshed-in face of the purebred Himalayan. Owen steps outside the norm with snowshoe paws, and his body-coat is darker than the classic Siamese/Himalayan shading.

Owen with shy Bailey  (LBF)

Owen’s not the largest of the group – that’s probably shy Basil’s role – and none of them are really at Ragdoll size, though cats from feral beginnings are often smaller because of early malnourishment. But Owen obviously likes people; he asks to come up on a lap, is easily handled and loves his treats and fussing.  

Independent and confident  (BC)

He has now joined the ranks of the “bandana cats” wearing an identifying scarf on visiting days, and we would love to see him adopted to someone who recognizes his cat-colony background and who can give him time to settle into new surroundings with a family to love him.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

Lulu

Lulu  (KN)

Looking over the crowd gathering for chicken-tidbits-dessert last week, I was surprised to realize that I’d never blogged little grey/white Lulu, who is another of our chickaholics.

Lulu  (MW)

Like Woody, who I introduced in August, Lulu came to us from Kitty Cat P.A.L.S. (Prevent a Litter Society) in the Comox Valley. Woody and Heidi came because they were FIV+ cats. Lulu and her buddy Scooter came a year later – they weren’t FIV+ but they were neither so feral that all that could be done would be to release them to a barn-cat program, nor tame enough to adopt out. We hoped that time with us would give them options.

Lulu exploring  (KN)

Lulu and Scooter had the usual caged period with us, giving them the chance to get to know the humans who would be caring for them. Once the cage door was opened, Scooter went to the cage tops and joined the look-but-don’t-touch semiferals there; she would smack at hands offering petting and treats, and it took some time for her to accept that she liked both.

Scooter on cage-tops  (KN)

Over the past few months, Scooter’s confidence blossomed with the encouragement of Kitty Comforters Mel and Scott, and I am delighted to report that not only did she relocate to the back courtyard, but that her confidence increased to the point that she has been adopted by them, with shy black Bagheera. Watching Scooter enjoy cuddling with Scott made us all so happy!

Tyson & Lulu - BFFs  (KN)

Lulu, from the beginning, was more of a flirt with cats and humans alike. She made herself at home in the DoubleWide and then in the back courtyard; she accepted gentle petting, though she was never willing to lap-sit or to be picked up. She adores black Tyson, who is one of our adoptables, and we hoped that his calm ways might rub off on her, but she remains arm’s-length flirty with most of us. For a while, she and Tyson were often found together; now it seems to be just occasional visits.

Lulu (KN)

Around a crowd of cats she remains a little wary, hovering at a distance, but quick to venture forward if she sees an opening to claim a tidbit. She will allow a little stroking, though like many cats, prefers head and chin-rubs to full body petting. She’s probably six or seven years old, and technically probably past becoming adoptable – but then, we might have said the same of Scooter, so there’s always hope!

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Karen Nicholson & Michele Wright

Tashie

Tashie  (JN)

Tashie has been with us at the Sanctuary for a year now – she was surrendered for “inappropropriate urination” through the Fraser Valley Animal Hospital, and brought to us by one of our RAPS vets. 

Tashie (BC)

We think she’s around 16 years old, and she’s found her home in the SingleWide community with some of the other oldies.  In many ways, the SW has taken over the place held by the Moore House as a senior cat refuge; we have many other old cats around the complex and we wouldn’t relocate them from the places they love, just based on age, but it’s a good place in which to introduce older cats coming to us for the first time.

finding a convenient pile of laundry  (BC)

Tashie had her introductory cage time in the adjacent office, and when it was time to join the main community, it took awhile to convince her that she couldn’t just return to the office. Now she no longer hovers at the door, but has found her favourite places to snuggle out of the way. Like most of the seniors, she sleeps a lot, and is happy not to be disturbed;  when active, she enjoys a little human company, sharing the armchair and occasionally occupying a lap. It’s at times like that, that we become aware of her aging – like many senior cats, her weight has decreased and petting reveals the bone structure of her body. But she still has spring to her; she hops up to a higher level with ease, and her appetite is good.

Tashie  (KN)

Her facial ‘tache markings are obviously the source of her name. Louise tells me that she appears to use the litterboxes well for the most part, but like pretty Celeste outside the DoubleWide, she pees in them, but deposits her poop elsewhere.  Aw, Tashie – it’s a good thing that you came to us – we just do another load of laundry! 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Joanne & Karen Nicholson