Hill House Haven

Handsome Mango  (MW)

It was just the way my Kitty Comforter shift worked out last week – I ended up spending a lot more time in the Hill House than I usually do, and renewed all sorts of friendships with cats who were choosing a cosy corner on a not-very-nice day.

Inside the Hill House  (BC)

The Hill House is the Front Courtyard cabin that lies between the Val Jones pen and the Old Rabbit Area (ORA), both of which I’ve written about before. It gets its name from cat-lover Stanley Hill, whose family made its refurbishing possible as a memorial, and he would have loved the bunch of cats who were making themselves at home in it when I visited.

Solar, sitting by the ORA window   (MW)

As I wrote last week, many cats are territorial – they like to be in a familiar space, and can sometimes be a little hissy when a feline stranger intrudes. The Hill House is actually a space in which intrusions are frequent, and most of the residents shrug them off. The covered courtyard known as the Old Rabbit Area has many very shy residents, and the permanently open window between the two areas makes it possible for the ferals to venture out into a safe space with (mostly) friendly cats. 

Tamale, who lives mostly in the ORA  (LBF)

While I was there, handsome Tamale ventured through the window, and though he clearly didn’t want physical contact, he was ready to let me talk to him, and to see that there were tidbits on offer, when he felt brave enough.  We think Tamale may be the brother of short-haired tuxedo Boston in New Aids; Boston accepts belly rubs now, and thinks humans are a Good Thing, when they approach gently.

Kia's look clearly says "Leave me alone!"  (BC)

Many of the Hill House regular residents, are exactly that - regular: this is where to go to find grey Solar or friendly Kahlua.  Kia will be found in her open cage – this grumpy girl was not happy about coming into our care, and she is one of the cats that has claimed her cage, refusing to move.  The two big Hill House cages are prime real estate because of their size, and it may well be that she has to be evicted to make room for a pair of cats who need to room together (Benjamin and Olivia once had this cage), in which case she will be forced to find another corner in which to indulge her Garbo-cat tendencies. Kia doesn’t encourage either feline or human sociability; minimal petting is tolerated, and then you can see her planning where to deliver the go-away smack.

TicTac with her boyfriend Mozart   (BC)

At the other end of the spectrum I could also find Mozart and TicTac cuddled together in a very small bed.  Handsome Mozart is one of a group we called The Teens; cats who came to us past the easy socializing stage, and who have taken their own sweet time about making human friends. Pretty Pistachio from that group got adopted, but Benny, Leo, and Caleb are still with us. Mozart’s striking looks always draw attention, but he’s actually pretty shy around people, and the Hill House is his favourite hideout.  TicTac came to us from the Adoption Centre last year as one of the cats with cage aggression, who was not showing well to potential adopters.  Once out of her cage and in the company of other cats she calmed down – and all the more so when she met Mozart, who she adores. He tolerates her attention and consents to share his bed, but I think the relationship is a little one-sided.

Sam - as content as he can be, surrounded by other cats  (BC)

I am interested in the fact that Sam also chooses to make the Hill House his base.  Most of us love Sam – but warily;  Sam desperately needs a cat-savvy human who is prepared to have Sam be a one-and-only, and he is incapable of demonstrating that to a visitor without getting distracted by other cats – at which point (much of the time) he gets really reactive.  Sam has never recovered from losing his owner, and he does NOT like this place – but most cat-savvy people already have cats. Still, Sam chooses to claim a corner of the Hill House, and as long as other felines don’t get too close, he enjoys the warmth and the proximity to treats.

Pretty Speckle  (MW)

Lots of beds and shelves mean that this is a popular place for sleeping, snuggles and socializing.  Speckle can almost always be coaxed off the trolley shelves to accept tidbits and treats. She has really blossomed from the wary girl she used to be when she first arrived.

Jenny - wary, but interested  (BC)

The big table on the left hides the litter boxes, but also provides a surface for cats who prefer to hide on the higher shelving, and occasionally venture down to try a little flirting with a human visitor.  Newcomer Jenny has joined the many black cats in the front courtyard;  it’s nice to have her be so identifiable by her white markings, and even nicer to see her starting to accept attention from us.

Toes - taking shelter in the porch area   (BC)

Even on the way out, there are cats who prefer the shelter of the porch to the more open courtyard. Tortie Toes and newcomer Frank had both decided that they would opt for cover;  Toes is often in the Yellow Shed when not sitting on the box-pile, but was happy to have a little attention from her corner in the Hill House porch; newbieFrank is still working out which corner he will claim as home, and I hope he will eventually come inside and join the Hill House Club.

Frank likes to tuck himself away in a box   (BC)

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult & Michele Wright

Location, location...

Some of The Crew  (LBF)

The group we call The Kamloops Cats (though we have many others from Kamloops!) came into our care from Sammy's Forgotten Felines more than three years ago and were initially established in a closed Pen 6 while they settled to a new situation.

Chaga, Chamomile & Creamsicle - best pals  (JS)

Many of them were orange, in various shades from deep gold to blond, but we also had a few non-orange ones – grey Chamomile and black Chaga were clearly related to the other floofs, but there were also a few shy tabbies, both brown and grey.  

Thorne has lots of floof to groom  (KN)

About a year later, we welcomed two more cats from the same colony who had been fostered out, but refused to tame; it had been decided that they would do better with their feline family. Big tabby Thorne seemed to recognize his former pals and settled quickly;  shy Daffodil, though clearly showing the orange floof genetics, stayed apart and found her alternative community..

Many cat-tree beds to choose from  (KN)

Most of the Kamloops cats like to be together. 

Kelvin & Cheddar are the devoted couple - always together,
though still a bit wary round people  (KN)

But unlike the Pen 3 cats from Calgary who visit around freely, but base themselves firmly in their own pen, this family tends to relocate as a group. In the summer of 2022 the hot weather made Pen 6 an uncomfortable place to be, and the whole colony moved out, preferring the cat-trees around the TeaRoom and in the breezeway;  in the winter they moved inside the tea-room TeaRoom itself, searching for warmth, and we frequently found piles of cat-cuddling on the table or the cage-top.

Room for a cuddle-puddle, high and out of reach   (JS)

When the weather improved, they relocated again – this time, not back to Pen 6 but to the much larger Pen 5 – some of them opting to base in the cabin, while others preferred the shelves around the back. The braver ones learned to interact with visitors here – pretty blonde Rapunzel loves to play and flirt, and comes looking for petting. Chamomile, Chaga and Creamsicle preferred to hold court with visitors right at the courtyard corner, where they could be admired; collectively, they are braver than when we encounter them separately. 

Evening conference - clearly drawing the other cats
into plotting larger dinner portions!  (JS)

I have often written about the Sanctuary’s Garbo cats – the ones who don’t like other cats, and prefer to be alone, or just in one-on-one interaction with humans. Our Kamloops cats are at the other end of the spectrum, and are very bonded with each other; colony is clearly a key concept, and they will often move around as a group – it’s like walking through a shoal of goldfish.

They're from Kamloops - they don't fear the snow!  (LBF)

Now, as we head towards the colder weather, we’re seeing a repeat relocation as the clowder returns to the warmth and food of the tea-room. They can still get warmth and food in Pen 5 – every cabin is insulated and has a heater on thermostat.  But the TeaRoom gives them the opportunity to sleep together in piles rather than on separate shelf beds, and they also know that it means they will likely be the first to be served in the evenings.

...but warmth and comfort comes first!  (BC)

It’s not so hard to live a cat’s life at the Sanctuary!

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson, Justin Saint

Another FIV Sweetheart

Chance (KN)

In the last few months we’ve had the addition of some very special cats to our FIV colony. I introduced Trooper in August, and Hank and Goose last month. As we’ve got to know them, we’ve also had another special boy in the background – and he is starting to blossom.  His name is Chance - a name he shares with one of the first cats I met at the Sanctuary, and who Claire Fossey described as "a furry disaster"

The battered boy - a picture from his Victoria foster

This second Chance came to us last July from Broken Promises rescue on Vancouver Island – we think he’s about 5 years old.  Even more than Hank, he’s a poster boy for an FIV stray – a big blocky cat with the musculature and large jowls of a late-neutered feline. He has the crumpled “cauliflower” ears of a long-time boxer; in his case, fighting may not be so much the cause as ear-mites leading to haematomas that never received any care. He reminds me of our beloved Bossanova – the ears are part of that, but the sad eyes and the hissy fearfulness that gradually gave way to trust complete the picture. When he was trapped there were obvious signs of fighting wounds, and he had care from a loving foster before he was transferred to RAPS.

Still wary, but hopeful  (BC)

He spent the first six weeks in a cage – initially with a drape in place, and some aggressive hissing coming from behind it. Many newer volunteers, in this situation, quietly pull the litter box out for scooping and place food and water for him without disturbing him.  The Kitty Comforters push the boundaries a bit, and several of us would climb into his cage with him, even if only to talk.  We discovered that a back-scratcher was a useful tool to allow him to experience touch at a remove, and found that he adored scritches round his head and ears – what he didn’t enjoy was having his drape moved, but once it was out of the way, he became quicker to settle down to enjoying caresses and melted into the petting hand.

Under the chair  (BC)

In the usual way, once the med staff decided it was time, Chance’s cage was opened, and having lived for a few days pretending the barrier was in place, he ventured out and went to ground under the adjacent chair. This presented a little more challenge – entry to the cabin usually meant discovering a Kitty Comforter lying on the ground, and coaxing Chance to emerge – all the while gently dissuading the other FIV cats who felt that humans lay on the ground for their benefit, and gathered around for attention.  Occasionally Chance would take some human-free time to climb the cat-tree and find a place in the cage-top beds, but he really preferred being at floor-level, and where he could retreat to a hidden place.

Chance thinks Henrie is a great cuddler

It’s wonderful that we have so many friendly cats in this pen – cats that are just longing to have someone with whom they can cuddle. Trooper, Biggie, Simon, Hank, Boomer, Angus – they all want attention, and the first four at least would do really well in their own homes (Goose went to his new family last week!) - but the fact that they all want attention means that Chance is very wary about emerging from hiding. 

Cuddles with Marty - and Trooper wants in...   (VE)

Our regular NewAids volunteers have proved to be most successful – they may not be labelled Kitty Comforters, but they sure have the gift!  Once the dinner plates are out and the cats otherwise occupied, Chance is more willing to risk himself and climb up for a cuddle – and the worried face relaxes to the point where you can see the smile emerging.

Look at that smile!  (KC)

Chance’s life has probably been a series of battles with other tomcats, and at the moment he’s actually happier with humans than he is with the other felines.  But he’s come so far from the fearful boy of the past summer; once he becomes fully comfortable with the largely non-aggressive encounters with a testosterone-free community of cats, we hope his growing confidence will make him an active member of our FIV family.

Hey Hank - can I share the lap?   (BC)

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Katy Cobb, Brigid Coult, Vince Edwards,

Henrie Morgan, Karen Nicholson

Geovana

Geovana (KN)

We’ve had our share of cats who have arrived as ferals, and blossomed into friendly companions as soon as they know that they’re safe.  But we also have those ferals who remain wary and untrusting, even though they remain basically indoor cats. Geovana is one of the latter.  She’s a local girl, found and trapped with a single kitten on River Road, not far from the Sanctuary in the summer of 2021. Not only did she have a kitten, but she was found to be pregnant, so she went into care with foster-mom Kati, where she safely birthed another three kittens.  In the wild, it’s likely that few of the kittens would have survived; with our care, all four were eventually tamed and adopted.

The intimidating stare  (BC)

Mama Geovana was decidedly not a candidate for adoption – she was a very spicy lady; once her kittens were weaned, she came to us at the Sanctuary. She was featured in one of the first season shows of our Pets & Pickers series, but fame didn't warm up her personality!

Hiding is the first defence; hissing is the next  (KN)

Meeting her in her Sanctuary cage for the first time involved a lot of hissing and spitting on her part. It’s disconcerting for a new volunteer to have this directed at you, but it’s important to remember that for most cats it means defence rather than aggression; it’s an expression of fear, rather than of wanting to attack. She was perfectly ready to swipe a sharp set of claws at someone who moved too quickly, and was certainly not ready for touch, but she needed to learn that Sanctuary humans meant her no harm, and the first stages of learning that involved having Kitty Comforters simply sitting with her and talking quietly.

Cage-top exploration (BC)

Some cats respond well to this; for others, more time is needed.  Geovana was not keen to interact with us, and her cage was opened;  like many other ferals, she stayed for awhile, in a place in which she felt familiar – and then she ventured out and vanished.  Initially she stayed close by: on the cage-tops out of reach, or on the back deck with the other ferals and semi-ferals. The latter is a good space, because many of the latter are happy to make friends with or mooch from visitors with toys and tidbits, and it can provide a good example to a watching cat. 

Enjoying a peaceful moment   (KN)

The med staff actually needed to watch Geovana carefully at first;  new cats often pick up a cold or an eye infection while their immune system adjusts to a new situation. Geovana developed a very goopy eye that needed monitoring and occasional eye-drops – something of a challenge, when they didn’t want to have to cage her again.  But gradually she came to the realization that though it was unpleasant being caught and treated, nobody was actually hurting her. And gradually, her explorations took her further afield, so we would occasionally encounter her in the back courtyard or in the Newcomers area.

Claiming a cage for some quiet time  (BC)

I have sometimes met her curled up in an otherwise-unoccupied cage, and though she looks uncomfortable initially, she is beginning to be more accepting of volunteer attention, allowing the occasional touch, and enjoying a little grooming. Initially very much a feline loner, she is starting to socialize with other cats a bit more.

Tyson is The Boyfriend  (KN)

It’s possible that Love is the Answer!  Apparently she has quite a crush on stocky black Tyson. During the day they do their own things – Tyson enjoys the weekend visitors (Sunday visitors only till next spring!) and explores the back courtyard; Geovana finds a hideaway in Newcomers or the DoubleWide.  But late in the evening, the med staff tell me that Geovana can often be found settled in the cage next to the med-staff (a cage also known as Tucker’s bedroom), and Tyson will visit her there, or when he appears, she will get up to follow him around. Sadly, I have no photographic evidence at this stage...

A much more relaxed Geovana  (BC)

For the greater part, Geovana is one of the semi-ferals at the feral end of the spectrum; she’s mostly a “you may look at me, but not touch” lady.  But she was very young when she came to us, and she’s still got as much time as she needs to get used to her surroundings, and to the humans who care for her, and respect her hissy defence.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson