Care for the Caregivers

January 2024:  KitKat (MW)
KitKat loved her people (especially Justin) for shoulder time
and lap-time - other cats, not so much....

As we enter a new year, we often take time to review the year past, to celebrate the big occasions and remember the hard ones – and in particular, to think about the friends we have loved and lost in the past twelve months.  

March 2024:  Hope  (KN)
The grand old lady of the Front Courtyard, Hope loved both people and other cats;
her friends Carly and Celine really miss her

At the Sanctuary, we do this not only at the turn of the year, but also in the summer, on what we call the Day of Chance, when a potluck occasion offers the chance to gather in person and remember the cats who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge; I will sometimes write about them at that time, but I have made it a tradition to do a blog tribute to the cats we have loved in a turn-of-year posting like this one.

March 2024:  Huey  (LBF)
Gentle and wise, Huey was greatly beloved, especially by Daphne,
who called him her Quality Control Inspector in the Double-Wide

The term that is strongly in my mind right now, though, is Compassion Fatigue, and I want to take the opportunity to think particularly of our Sanctuary med staff over the past years. As any caregiver knows, it can be exhausting tending to the sick or the ailing, and their days are full of tasks that focus on the cats’ health – wellness checks, monitoring and treating diabetics, administering medications, dealing with ringworm and fleas and ear infections, fluids for kidney cats, complete tending of new incomers who are not ready for volunteer care, and many other tasks.

May 2024: Dodger (MW)
Named for the dodging of cars that brought her to us,
this sweet lady was the benevolent queen in the SingleWide.

Many human patients are grateful to their caregivers – not so, with the majority of cats, and it’s hard to have to express your love by immobilizing your patient in order to deal with an eye infection, or to deal with the dirty bum of an incontinent cat who hates the necessary bath.

May 2024: Cagney  (MW)
One of our oldest "detective" cats, (the link is to Claire's blog of 12 years ago).
Cagney struggled with arthritis in the last years - but always loved attention and tidbits!

It’s the med staff, too, with our RAPS vets at the hospital, who sometimes have to make the necessary call that a cat is suffering too much, and needs to be released from its pain – or who find a cat who has “crashed” and have to do the final run to the hospital.

June 2024: Midnight  (KN)
I spent a lot of time coaxing this feral boy into accepting petting and grooming; 
chicken and consistency were key, until his health took a bad turn.  Miss you, Midnight!

And it’s the med staff who are at the Hospital with the cats to the end, reassuring them as they pass that they are still in loving hands, and undoubtedly grieving as they drive back to the Sanctuary afterwards.

July 2024: Leonardo di Catprio  (KN - the last photo)
This boy was a Back Courtyard icon, and his passing took many of us
by surprise, though he had become more frail...

I don’t think anyone goes into animal rescue care for the money – it’s a calling more than a career.  And burnout is not uncommon – if only a dozen or so cats leave to find new homes by adoption, they are well outweighed by the number of cats who pass in a year.  We have an aging population, we have cats with health issues as the reason for coming to us, and we have many ferals who have begun their lives malnourished and at risk, and who carry the side-effects into their later years.  Someone has to arrive early every morning to give the necessary early meds – and someone is there late into the evening to deal with the last doses.

August 2024: Raisin (KN)
This sweet old lady had come to us via a Vancouver parking lot;
she was fearful and hissy, but learned that humans often brought good food.

Cats who have been greatly loved are watched carefully when we know their time is coming, and it’s the med-staff who are ready when a furry body is found cold in its bed.  How can this be anything other than emotionally exhausting?  We volunteers grieve when a beloved cat passes, but we don’t have to carry the burden of responsibility for all of them – and we can step away and take a break when needed.

October 2024: Tumbleweed  (LBF)
Another Back Courtyard icon - Tumbleweed had cerebellar hypoplasia,
with little control over his movement, but lots of determination, and many people who loved him.

So, along with remembering the cats we’ve loved and lost this year, let’s also remember the med staff who have given them care and love – often unwanted and unappreciated by their furry patients, but always necessary.  I am grateful that we can give the gift of a gentle passing when needed – it is both the most loving and one of the hardest things we can do for a beloved pet. And when we mourn a beloved feline friend, let’s remember that the med staff also mourn, and have to deal with the “nothing that could be done” frustration that comes at the end for caregivers.  

November 2024: Quinn (KN)
This shy sweet boy was wary to the end - unless you had a treat in your hand;
if there was food he would summon up his courage and allow contact.

In this New Year, I hope that they can take all that makes them the caregivers they are, and make self-care a priority, giving themselves as much generosity and love as they give to our furry friends, and turning compassion fatigue into compassion satisfaction.

November: Calvin (MW)
He was the longest, skinniest boy, with the biggest appetite, 
and LOOOOVED his chicken. Michele's favourite cat - so many pictures!

Blog by Brigid Coult

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

loving memories also of
January: Jethro, Maximilian & Plum  /  February: Perry  / March: Tashi, Desmond, Monty1, Brodie  /  April: Gigi, Portia, & Kiefer  / May: Layla & Chester / June: Salina, Lulu  / July: Hailey, Sambuca & Percival  /  August: Paylan, John Henry, Malcolm, Marie /  September: Ginger  /  October:  Bill, Clementine, Big Dave, Jillian  /  November: Tiki & Cinnamon  /  December: Meepos, Monty 2, Magnus & Len

Adopted Cats: All I Want For Christmas Is Mew

Some of our Sanctuary cats DO get adopted!

Goose (FIV+) is king in his new home  (KN)

We have a steady flow of kittens and occasionally older cats who pass through the doors of rhe RAPS Adoption Centre – in from a rescue situation or from the loving hands of a fosterer – and out into the warm world of a new home.  The Adoption Centre is the first building a visitor will encounter as they approach the Sanctuary – and there are a whole lot more cats in the Sanctuary itself who may never find a home.

Front Courtyard Alvin has a new home   (KN)

There are many reasons this may be so. The most usual is that a cat is feral – ranging from the ones that are so scared that they will not allow humans to approach them, to the cats who will only accept careful attention: treats and a little petting. These are all cats who, without a no-kill policy, would probably be put down. In this situation, I hate the term “euthanasia” – this is killing for human convenience’s sake, and no amount of gentleness in the procedure makes it anything but unnecessary. 

One-eyed Willi's first adoption failed,
but he is very happy in his new home   (BC)

Many of the volunteers have at some time had a cat who began as a feral, and over time, adjusted to human company – but equally, we’ve had many cats at the Sanctuary who have never tamed, and continue to show fear to the end. For those cats, there will always be a place with us where they can hide, there will be shelter and food, and medical attention when needed.

Riker loved nothing better than lap-time  (BC)

We had multiple cats in merged cages this time last year - the three Dumpling cats, and long-haired Riker and Kramer;  Riker's adoption was facilitated with a visit to a local pet-store, where he was available to the public;  the Dumplings were all taken together, and we were delighted.  Kramer decided that he really wasn't bonded to Riker, and that though he quite like humans, he was not going to bond with them either; he is still with us, mostly playing the role of the Cat Who Walks By Himself.

Little tripod Jelly settled quickly into our hearts
and then into the hearts of her adopters.  (BC)

The other group of cats who will likely never live anywhere but at the Sanctuary are the bathroom baddies – the cats who have usually been surrendered for litterbox problems, and who express themselves in pee and poop. Two other reasons for surrendering do not necessarily preclude potential adoption: cats brought in “for aggression” can often learn with us that they do not need to react so quickly when there are humans around who read their body language and move gently around them. 

Hank, from New Aids, loved nothing more than lap-time
and human attention - he got his wish  (KN)

Of the cats who are here for health reasons, some are better where they can get medical attention, but others are actually adoptable as long as the adopter is aware of the flags to watch for.  Many of our FIV+ cats are adoptable, and of those who are not, with most of them it’s for reasons other than the FIV+ diagnosis – generally that they’ve joined the club and become pee-ers. Some of our younger FeLV cats have also been adopted as well, though many FeLV cats do have shorter lifespans, and you adopt, knowing that you many not have many years.

Audi was shy but sweet;  she spent a long time in a cage
for medical care, but it gave her time to become fully socialized  (BC)

When I first came to volunteer at the Sanctuary, very few of the cats were adopted out – but we have learned so much in the last years about behavioural issues, and about conditions like FIV and FeLV. Now we can name a number of cats who are potentially adoptable, and in the last year alone, at least a dozen have left to find a new home. 

Picasso's adoption ended with travel when his new person
moved back east. He's very happy!  (KN)

Some of them have gone to volunteers, to a person that they have come to know and love, and felt comfortable with even before they left. Some have found a connection out of the blue – I will never forget watching Strike meet his human, jump into her lap and just settle, back in 2023 – or watching Elvis meet his human soul-mate.

Gordo looked like trouble, but was a true pussy-cat,
and was adopted by one of our volunteers   (AG)

Sweet Misto began fearful and then became a cuddle machine
who would dance around wanting non-stop pets.
She would often forget to put her tongue back in... (KH)

Gordo and Misto are now living happily together  (AA)

Next week, I’ll be remembering the cats we’ve lost over the course of the last year – but I felt this Christmas week was the time to think about the cats who have come as gifts into their people’s lives over the course of the year, and who have in turn found the gift of a loving home.  In a time of gifting and goodwill, let’s remember some of our 2024 adopted cats

McCormick came to me for fostering while we adjusted 
his meds and his diet for allergies;
the move is permanent, and he gets on well with my older cat, Scout.

 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Alicia Almeida, Brigid Coult, Akira Graham,
Kim Howe, Karen Nicholson

Lucius

Lucius is on the prowl  (KN)

The Pen 3 cats who came to us from Alberta more than three years ago have remained a cohesive family unit.  Many of them have become adventurers who roam the length of the Back Courtyard, but they prefer to be together, and they always return to mutual snuggles in their own cabin at night. 

Summer snooze with his shy buddy Reinhardt  (KN)

Since they arrived their personalities have become clearly defined. There are several quiet ones, like Reinhardt, who prefers not to encounter us too much, and there are the social butterflies like Cornelius. Up at the top end of that happily social spectrum is Lucius.

Handsome boy  (MW)

Lucius is a tubby-tabby – dark tabby with classic markings – who is more than happy to play rough (though not nastily) with other cats.  He’s a people-positive boy who has made himself a favourite with staff and volunteers, and is always ready to make nice for visitors – happy to jump up on a lap for a cuddle and actively seeking out petting for as long as the petter will indulge him. Despite his size, he’s not strongly treat-motivated – touch is the best treat for him.

Enjoying the winter with his buddy Cornelius  (LBF)

Many of the Pen 3 cats would probably be adoptable – but they are really dependent upon each other, and even Lucius, self-confident as he is, would do better in adoption with another of his family to bring comfort. Most of them are also used to being able to roam freely within the bounds of the Sanctuary, and might need access to an enclosed garden, or to a catio for "safe freedom".

The outdoor kennels are good summer resting places  (KN)

Lucius’s self-confidence took a hit recently. He is used to being the big guy, and the easy winner in a playful rough-and-tumble. Unfortunately, he encountered Root Beer.  Root Beer carries a very sensitive personal bubble around him and is not a fan of other cats. We moved him from the Front to the Back Courtyard so that he could have more space to roam, and he spent some time in a DoubleWide cage getting his meds adjusted so that he could feel calmer.  Lucius obviously said the wrong thing, and Root Beer decided that only one of them could be Boss Cat.  Luckily there were people around, water was deployed and Lucius finally escaped, a warier but wiser cat.  He’s sticking closer to home in Pen 3, these days, and has learned a lesson about not messing with the older guys.

Posing   (BC)

Blog by Brigid Coult

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

The Second Bear

Bear lounging happily  (KN)

We’ve had two cats with the name Bear at the Sanctuary (as well as our beloved and greatly missed Honey-Bear) and they couldn’t be less alike!

Bear  (BC)

The first Bear was surrendered when we ran the City Shelter; he was found to be FeLV+ (feline leukemia) and lived in the small leukemia area at the back of the SingleWide for awhile before being transferred with his room-mate Smoochie to the main leukemia area.  Bear was a good name for a solid black long-haired boy; he was a dominant figure in the colony until he passed – way too soon, as do so many of the leukemia cats.

Leukemia Bear, now gone...  (MW)

Our current Bear couldn’t be much more different. He’s a slim short-haired tabby boy - easily confused with Sophie at first glance (until you note her warning collar!) - and he has a distinctive little kink at the end of his tail.  The vets think he’s about eight years old, and he’s been with us since 2022. He came to us from CARES Cat Shelter in Langley, and I was surprised to learn that he had been there for three years before his move to Richmond.  CARES has a similar no-kill policy to RAPS, though they work hard to have as many cats as possible adopted.

Bear exploring (KN)

So why was this sweet boy not finding a home? - well, sadly, he has no bathroom discipline!  He poops and pees wherever and whenever he feels like it!  We discovered a few places that are favourites and put down some pre-emptive towels, but when he’s gotta go....  He’s not incontinent, like some of our manxes – sometimes he’s joining the other guys in marking territory, or leaving a scent for a new cat (which is why new-cat cages are always towel-draped!), but mostly he just pees because he wants to!

Ready to jump  (BC)

The health issue he does have is nothing to do with his bathroom habits – he has stomatitis, which is a painful inflammation of the gums, and has had several encounters with the RAPS vets, and a number of teeth out. It doesn't seem to affect his appetite, and he munches small kibble with enthusiasm.

Bear's favourite place is a lap  (KN)

It’s not changed his attitude towards humans, though – he just loves people.  He is an enthusiastic lap-sitter, and with his favourite folks he will crawl up to rest against a shoulder, or climb up onto the shoulder. He and JJ are the two cats for whom a little extra shoulder-padding is a good idea – they will happily remain in place while their transporting slave carries on with their volunteer tasks.

Out for the count - do not disturb  (KN)

Almost as good as snuggling with humans is snuggling without them. Bear likes to claim the couch outside the tea-room, and sprawls happily to enjoy a snooze.  If it’s a little chilly, he will worm his way under the covers – it happens often enough that there’s now a warning sign about checking for a lump of Bear before sitting down.

Shoulder-lover   (KN)

Bear is definitely one of those cats that will never leave the Sanctuary, never know a place he can call his own home, or owners who will claim him.  And it doesn’t bother him in the slightest. He has lots of love from staff and volunteers, lots of places to snooze, other cats to interact with....  He’s not really cat-social, but he has lots of confidence.

Couch-lover   (KN)

And he has SO many places where he can pee – and people who will mop up after him! 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson & Michele Wright

Settling In

Shy Rosie  (KN)

Quite a number of cats have come to join us in the last six months or so. It feels as if we’ve lost a lot of our older cats in the last few years – we’re grieving the loss of sweet skinny Calvin just last week, and Quinn just before that; both casualties of kidney disease, which is one of the most common factors in feline health issues. We rejoiced when Sara Lee and Onyx achieved their 20th birthdays, but cats that live that long are like human centenarians – some people (and cats) have longevity genes, and others age much earlier, or are susceptible to health issues, especially when they have come to us from a feral background, possibly with poor nutrition in their past.

Burt Reynolds looks good in a tux  (BC)

But as much as we miss the golden oldies, our doors remain open to cats who need us – cats from other shelters, cats brought in by our own trapping team, cats with health issues...  This week’s blog is an overview of some of the cats as yet unprofiled, cats who are showing personality, but not yet ready to interact with us to the point where I have the material for a kitty-bio.

Monty is the senior newcomer  (BC)

The newest boy is probably also the oldest; Monty is in his holding cage in the SingleWide, and is around 17 years old. Sometimes people will surrender an older animal in order to get a younger one – this is not the case with Monty; he was much loved by his owner.  But a move necessitated by work would have been a big upheaval for the old cat, who is already fragile and dealing with kidney disease, and rehoming is not always easy. After a tour of the Sanctuary, the owner felt that Monty would probably do better in a quiet Sanctuary space, and arranged something with Sanctuary Manager Valerie that would reflect the care Monty will need, and the support of RAPS.  He’s a very sweet cat, and loves attention from the volunteers; it might be that someone would give him a home for his retirement years.

Darjeeling is not very sure about human contact   (BC)

Two cages away from Monty, there’s a 10-year-old grey girl who has been with us several months, but who has remained caged. Darjeeling is from Campbell River, a tufted-tail cat (the result of an injury, rather than natural) who is still not very happy with human visitors, and is most likely to react with a smack. She has remained caged because she came to us with what we believed were dietary allergies;  the vets have now decided to wean her off the novel-protein foods in the hope that she could come out of her cage and share with the other cats.  It may in fact be seasonal allergies rather than dietary ones, or stress issues, but without extensive and expensive testing, all we can do is to trial different things and see how she does.

Burt Reynolds, sharing all the love  (BC)

A walk over to the DoubleWide brought me to a reunion with now-uncaged Burt Reynolds. He came to us from Cats Cradle Rescue in Sidney, and was originally sent to us for his angry feral behaviour, but either tamed very quickly, or remembered a former life with humans.  He began his time with us going through a range of dental procedures, and has emerged in good spirits and settled well into life in the DoubleWide – it’s quite likely that his behaviour was a result of living in pain, and now pain-free, he has blossomed into Mr Personality. He is happy to remain an indoor cat, rather than venturing outside; he can now often be found on the cage-tops, but is ready to come down and interact with the people he knows. Possibly another boy who might find a home... 

Stetson is VERY suspicious   (BC)

Still caged is a cat who came from SARC (Surrey Animal Rescue Centre). like growly Root Beer. This boy has been much slower to respond to the Kitty Comforters overtures towards him. His name is Stetson, and he is making full use of the drape in his cage to stay out of sight.  When the drape is lifted, he huddles in the corner, with his big eyes full of anxiety;  I find that he responds well to NOT being looked at, but being offered little tidbits.  He disdained a taste of Churu, which is a favourite for so many cats, but he loved bits of cooked chicken, finally accepting them gently from my hand.  I suspect that “little and often” will be the trick with Stetson – and we may have to deprive him of his drape occasionally so that he learns that being visible doesn’t make him less safe. He reminds me of big Neko, with the leukemia cats, who took several years to accept and enjoy the attention of Sanctuary humans.  We’ve got time with this newcomer – he’s only a couple of years old.

Rosie shares her space with shy Daffodil  (BC)

Out in the Back Courtyard we have three “flower” girls who are beginning to settle into the larger community. Blonde Rosie has been here since the spring, but is pretty shy; she’s come to us from the Humane Society as the last of a Barnston Island colony; she’s around 8 years old. She hangs out around the Newcomers area and can often be found in company with Daffodil, who came to us from Kamloops a couple of years ago, but who has never joined the other Kamloops cats. Rosie seems to feel safer indoors, but can often be seen peeping through the stair railing into the courtyard when chicken tidbits are on offer. Both little girls are beginning to explore more.

Rosie's "roomie", Daffodil   (KN)

Their counter-cat is Primrose, whose pretty name belies her nature (for now, at least) – Primrose was dumped at our gate and spent a scary night in a carrier; her cage time to get used to us was also in the Newcomers area, but she was very picky about who she would allow to socialize with her; we had warning notices on her door for unsuspecting volunteers.  Once out of the cage, she made it quite clear that she disapproved both of humans and of other cats.  Like Shadow (girlfriend of Nikki SixToes in the SingleWide) Primrose is little and cute and dangerous. Staff member Karen somehow managed to get a warning-collar on her so we know not to confuse her with Nyx or Juno, and to watch out, but between Primrose, Gwen (who is increasingly venturing off the DW Deck and into the courtyard), and our Iranian Princess, there are some significant divas to keep on our radar!

Primrose is identified by her moods, and her collar!  (KN)

As the winter closes in and the weather gets colder, cats who are not already indoor residents begin to discover the advantages of Sanctuary life – warm rooms, fresh water that doesn’t freeze, and more indoor visitors bearing tasty treats. They may come in as scared cats, but they soon discover that there are big bonuses that come with life here.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson