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