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