Floof or not floof...?

Winston's new look  (KH)

When Oscar and Winston came to the Sanctuary late last year, they had been surrendered to us for peeing problems – which our vets diagnosed as idiopathic cystitis. A period in a cage on a special diet was followed by release in the SingleWide, and no signs of stress that might provoke another flare-up.

Oscar & Winston out and about together (KH)

We hoped that they might settle down to an adoptable extent, but it appears that one or both of them still love to leave their signature as soon as a determined volunteer or staff member has scrubbed crucial corners down – those places cannot be left pee-free, and our boys are right on the spot to deliver!  We have had several cats who have been surrendered for bad bathroom habits that have probably been stress-related (think: a new baby, a noisy dog next door, family violence) and have shown no sign of it when with us, but when the habit continues, it’s more habit than stress. 

Looking alike, after their early shave cuts   (KH)

So Oscar and Winston have become permanent residents of the SingleWide.  When they first arrived they had had a pretty major shave in order to deal with an infestation of fleas, and they were both obviously embarrassed by their nakedness. But a nice warm cage in the office, and a procession of visitors to make a fuss of them did much to make them feel better about things, and eventually they were released to have the run of the building.

Oscar  (KN)

We tend to speak of them as brothers, but in fact Oscar is a British Shorthair, and Winston is a British Longhair. From his admission pic, we had an idea of how his fur would grow, but it felt like it had a mind of its own – over the past six months it grew and grew... Oscar recovered his fuzz and looked very teddy-bear-ish, but Winston seemed to get larger...    

(KH)

and larger...

(KH)

Cats with Persian genes – and there’s certainly Persian in a British Longhair – need regular grooming, and as the Sanctuary Salon blog illustrated, we don’t have enough groomers to stay on top of all the matting that goes on.  Winston looked wonderful, but under all the floof there were some nasty mats, and he was not happy about having them dealt with – so he was one of the cats who went to the hospital to have a complete lion-cut.

Posing...  (KH)

It’s obvious that he really approves!  From a cat who preferred lying around like a large dust-bunny, Winston has become active and enthusiastic about exploring – he can be found climbing on top of the cages more than being tucked in his favourite cat-retreat.  As the weather cools, he’s not affected – he can stay in the warmth, or venture out on the deck for a little fresh air, as he pleases.

Pre-cut, and still well-furred  (KH)

Unlike his initial get-rid-of-those-fleas cut, when everything came off, he has the classic lion-cut, so his wonderful head floof is still in place, and his legs sport home-grown Uggs – not quite the same length, but I don’t think he’s too concerned about fashion.  What does concern him is that he feels light and mobile again, and obviously enjoys the attention the new look has brought him.

Winston at optimal fur-length   (KN)

We're going to have to keep a close eye on him and give him a trim more frequently - perhaps find someplace between the extremes he's lived with this year.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Kim Howe & Karen Nicholson

Back Courtyard Adoptables

Peaches is pretty in pink - and selective about choosing petters  (KN)

Many of our weekend visitors walk into the Sanctuary with the expectation that they will be petting cats, and are surprised by how many cats don’t want to be petted.  For cat-savvy people, of course, that’s no surprise – cats operate on their own agendas, and even the friendliest cat will have its “I need to be alone” moments. But between the true ferals, the semi-ferals who are still very wary, and the cats with anger management issues, that’s a lot of our inhabitants that do not want to be touched, and the cats wearing collars are only the leading edge of that group.

Handsome Kramer sometimes wears a bandana,
but prefers to be aloof around strangers  (KN)

So visitors are always pleased to find a bandana-wearing cat – a sign that this is a potentially adoptable cat.  There are way more adoptable cats in the Adoption Centre, of course – many of them glad to leave the confines of a cage and make friends with a human.  But right now, Kitten Season has the Adoption Centre full of little ones, and we don’t want to stress a regular Sanctuary inhabitant by moving it into the middle of Kitten Life. There are a few cats around that might be adoptable if they could go with another familiar cat, but the ones presented today are definitely singletons!

Lindor is usually the first bandana-wearing cat
that visitors see  (KN)

At the moment we have just three cats in the Back Courtyard wearing bandanas – all three with very distinct personalities, and none of them cats for newbies; these three need cat-savvy humans.  Black Lindor came to us six years ago, surrendered to the City Shelter when his family moved. He hated cage life and reacted angrily to other cats and to the humans who cared for him; he was moved to the Sanctuary when it became obvious that he would not present himself well for adoption.  Once released from his cage, Lindor showed himself to be largely uninterested in the company of other cats; what he really liked was human attention, especially when food was in the offing - especially human food.

Lindor lying on top of grooming tools - is this a hint?  (KN)

He doesn’t like being groomed, which is unfortunate, because he has the sort of fluffy coat that mats. The shave job he received earlier in the spring was a little embarrassing for him, but it was obvious that he felt much more comfortable. He’s not really a lap-cat, but likes to be close enough for petting (on his terms).  He is a lick-lick-lick-nip boy – the nip is not nastiness, but more of a love-bite, but he’s probably not a good option for a home with the very old or the very young.  His favourite thing is lounging around and being fed!

Peaches in her earlier collar-wearing days with us  (KN)

Peaches also had anger management issues when she came to us and for her first summer she wore a warning collar. Her calico coat reminds us that some torties and calicos can be pretty spicy, and she’s quick to say “no more!” when she’s had enough. Like many cats, she found the proximity of others at the Adoption Centre hard to deal with, and being at the Sanctuary gives her space to be apart when she needs.  She’s about ten years old.

When she's had enough of visitors,
she tucks herself away in the tea-room  (KN)

Where she trusts, Peaches is definitely a lap-cat. When volunteers take a morning coffee-break, Peaches is usually there, going from person to person; and occasionally finding a lap that she will claim long enough for the volunteer in question to sing the song about “I can’t go to work – I’ve a cat on my lap!” She’s not so happy about socializing with visitors – too many people and too much stimulation – and generally goes and hides somewhere after the first hour or so of weekend visiting time.

Cassidy's table-top presentation  (KN)

Cat #3 is handsome Cassidy. We think that Cassidy and his brother Munch were probably dumped; they were found on the Sanctuary perimeter and trapped three years ago. After Munch passed, the staff felt that Cassidy would probably be a good adoption prospect – he’s social with both cats and humans, and on visiting days, settles himself on one of the tables and holds court with visitors. 

I know my favourite treat's in there somewhere....!   (KN)

He would probably do well in a home that has another cat, or with older children; the thing to be aware of with Cassidy is that he has been used to the outdoor life. Because RAPS has a policy of requiring adopters to promise to keep cats indoors, he would probably need a home with a catio, or a totally enclosed garden. Toys, perches where he could see out, and lots of attention should compensate for the indoor life – between coyotes, traffic, poisons and other human-caused perils, it’s a risky life for a cat that goes outside.

Despite the serious expression, Cassidy's a lovely cat  (KN)

All three of these cats would probably not do well in the confines of the Adoption Centre, but are happy and flourishing at the Sanctuary, and would probably also flourish in the right home if they can find their own people.

Blog by Brigid Coult

All photos by Karen Nicholson