Pemberly

Pemberly (BC)

Pretty little Pemberly came to us this past summer, like last week’s blogged cats, Mayday and Sparrow, but from a different area. She was found with her litter of six kittens near the home of one of our volunteers, and quickly trapped and brought to the Adoption Centre. The kittens were young enough to be tamed fairly easily, but not so with the young mom – she was not happy with the new surroundings, and it was decided to bring her to the Sanctuary..

A dignified presence  (BC)

It’s tempting to put her in the “just another little black cat” category – and goodness knows we have enough of those in the Front Courtyard! - but Pemberly is a little more identifiable than most. She has a little white locket on her chest – but so does Texas cat Alyssa – plus odd white hairs in her black fur and on her belly. Where Pemberly stands out is that she has lovely white feathers in her ears. Why is ear hair so pretty in cats, and so un-pretty in humans?!

Still anxious in her cage  (BC)

Her cage time was in the Connor House, and she was lucky enough to be in one of the large cages, which meant that Kitty Comforters could come and sit with her without doubling themselves up to fit into one of the smaller ones. Like most newcomers, she was fearful, but didn’t express it with the hissing and spitting she had shown in the Adoption Centre – she just pressed herself against the wall, and allowed herself to be touched. 

Asking for petting  (BC)

Before long she came to the realization that humans were not too bad, and was accepting petting while Mayday and Sparrow were still warning us to stay away. It’s likely that she has had some human contact before – quite possibly she had a home and escaped before she could be spayed.

Comfy on the couch  (BC)

She was one of the cats who preferred to remain in her cage once it was opened, and when it was finally sanitized for another cat, she moved to a nearby cage for a while.  She obviously likes to have something at her back, and doesn’t explore all over the courtyard, like the other two.  Currently she can usually be found in one of two places, depending on mood and weather. There is a seating area between the Connor House and the Leukemia cats’ pen, and Pemberly tucks herself onto the back of a couch, or occasionally into one of the cat-caves. If there are not too many other cats around, she will come out and visit; once Mayday gets pushy, she retreats. She’s not cat-antisocial, but she likes her space. 

Waiting by the gate (BC)

On warmer days she can often be found sitting near the entrance gate or in the covered area close by. She knows that people are a source of petting;  food is not the passion it is for some of the others, and she doesn’t like being part of the crowd, but quiet time with a quiet person is satisfying. 

A regal greeting  (KN)

She’s still a little timid, and not a lap-cat yet, but I think with patience she could be. We have her on the “possibly adoptable” list, but would like to see her establish a relationship with a potential adopter before going anywhere. The problem, of course, is black cat syndrome – possible adopters don’t always take time to see the personality behind the black fur. For black cat lovers, Pemberly is definitely worth taking time to get to know. 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

Mayday & Sparrow

 

Mayday & Sparrow (BC)

As new visitors walk though the Sanctuary gates, they are alerted to some of our spicier kitties by the presence of a collar. The colour of the accessory doesn’t matter, but it always signals “be careful!”. In fact, many of the collared cats are known and loved by staff and volunteers, but for the most part we also know the signals that that cat in question got out of bed on the wrong side that day, or that it’s had just a little too much attention. And for the most part, it signals a willingness to bite when the cat has had enough.

Mayday makes the most of the KCs comforts  (KN) 

That’s a very different proposition from some of the uncollared cats, who may also have shed their share of human blood. The youngsters, in particular, have come in as ferals, been terrified in cages, and learned that once released, there are many places that they can hide and feel safe. But they also learn that there are humans who bring delicious food as treats, and that other cats are enjoying the goodies, and they end up being drawn into the crowd that enjoys the handouts.

Sparrow  (KN)

For some, it’s a very long process – cats like Speckle and Kahlua had been with us several years before they learned to enjoy contact. Deelia and Marmalade are usually part of the begging crowd, but are always at a distance – they’re still too wary to enjoy much in the way of actual contact. Chutney has eased into petting through Carol’s steady coaxing and delicious tidbits.

Mayday and Sparrow waiting hopefully  (BC)

Among the “where’s the food?” crowd are several youngsters who came into our care this past summer. Between maintenance and refurbishing the DoubleWide, staff members Ken and Lisa are also responsible for the trapping of colonies of kittens who would probably not survive otherwise. There were several colonies in Langley which provided an inundation of kittens for to come into RAPS foster-care with the dedicated folks like Kati to foster. Mayday is the bigger one – a slim tuxedo with an inverted V-shaped blaze on his face.  

Mayday (BC)

Ken and Lisa were focused on collecting the moms and kittens, but when they spotted Mayday limping around with a paw wound, they knew they needed to bring him in.  He was obviously a survivor of an earlier litter – probably around a year old. He was caged in the Connor House to heal and proved to be a typical hissy boy who quickly discovered that humans were less fearful than he had first thought. The hisses eased and though he was not exactly tame, the KCs were able to visit with him.

Early days feeling safer under a chair  (BC)

Now released, Mayday loves the opportunity for tidbits, and is quite willing to approach and smack the food out of your hand. He bites, not because he is vicious in any way – he’s just so anxious to get the food before anyone else that he doesn’t aim well with his teeth. Mostly, he uses his paws, and his very sharp claws!

Sparrow (BC)

The smaller cat is tabby/white Sparrow - with beautiful classic tabby markings - trapped from the same colony, though she was a teen mom, and went to Kati for fostering. The parental instinct didn’t swing into action, and when Kati found her beating up her kittens, Sparrow was sent to the Sanctuary while Kati bottle-fed the babies.  

Begging for goodies  (BC)

Sparrow is the perfect name for her – she darts around like a little bird, and will often get to a bit of food from under another cat’s nose. She’s not ready for physical contact;  when a tidbit is offered at her level she will look longingly at it, and perhaps smack at it, but she’s not ready to risk approaching closer than just beyond arms-length. Both Sparrow and Mayday are chickaholics and quick to be on the scene when Carol or I arrive. Temptations are good, but real chicken....mmm...

So keen, she dances with impatience  (DW)

With both of them, I think it’s just a matter of time and patience. I made breakthrough with Dr Flint in the Back Courtyard last week when he very gently accepted food from my hands – before that, it had to be tossed to him and I have my share of hand scratches from his smacks. I can put up with a few more marks in the process of convincing Mayday and Sparrow that they too have nothing to fear at the Sanctuary. 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson, Dehbie Wolanski

Blog #500

Kojak  (MW)
- and many other leukemia cats I've loved and lost

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love spreadsheets – not necessarily for financials, but to keep my life organised. I use them for choir, for resources and planning, for past repertoire and reports. I use them to log my own library, to track gifts given and received, to plan holiday trips.  And of course, I use them for a whole lot of Sanctuary stuff, especially around my writing work.

Dell & his beloved Gregory (BC)
- follow all the sub-links for Dell's early story

When I took over the blog from Claire in the summer of 2014 I didn’t imagine I’d still be doing it more than eleven years later. Claire began the Neko Files blog five years before that, and it played an enormous part in helping me get to know the cats I was working with. It was based on her skills as a photographer, and formatted as three or four short vignettes each week, with pictures and small profiles of the cats who were her models. Photography was not my skill, but I hoped that I could maintain the blog with one weekly offering, with the assistance of other volunteers both in writing and images. 

Bossanova (KN)
 - scared feral to lovebug in the SW

Marianne & friends (Selena Marchetti)
- Marianne founded the Kitty Comforters

Marianne Moore was a blog contributor till 2018; Pauline Chin from 2018 to 2021; more recently Anne Marchetti has been offering profiles of cats she loves. I have co-written with other volunteers, transcribing or editing their work. But the majority of the work has been mine. The online Blogger tally stands at 1,283 blogs since Claire began, and my spreadsheet indicates that this is my 500th solo blog, with another 100 or so being by other contributors or co-written.

Elvis  (KN) - now safely adopted

Sissy  (BC) 
- I never knew her well, but I can't resist that face!

I still return to some of the earlier ones, for memories of cats I’ve loved. My Facebook profile pic remains one of Sissy (above), who I met in my first year, initially through Claire’s blog.  Clicking through cat profiles can lead from one link to another – the story of  Dell’s arrival, and how much of a lovebug he became; the many Leukemia cats like Kojak and Panther, Bingo and Bubba who had lives that were too short, but rich in our love; the memories of the Moore House and both the seniors and the kittens who lived there.

The magnificent Skittles  (MW)
- feral to lap-cat

Sylar - always so shy...  (KN)

I am so grateful to all the photographers whose shots have brought Sanctuary cat images into people’s homes, and especially to the folks who I can message to say “I’m profiling this cat; do you have pics?”,The pictures in this week’s blog are those of Sanctuary heart-cats I have particularly loved. I couldn’t do this without the med-staff (especially Molly) to whom I go to ask for back-stories or details. I love to hear from visitors who tell me they look each week to see who’s been profiled, and from volunteers who let me know that it’s really helped them to get to know the cats. And I especially love it if someone wants to blog a cat they particularly love, for the series.

Mario and Shrek  (CF) - Mario was a cat-magnet
and beloved by all, including hissy Shrek

Handsome Bello (KN)
- so scared when he came to us; happily in his own home now.

I realised recently that there were very few cats left who were here when I began in 2010. Strays and ferals come to us from hardship; sometimes malnourished or injured, and exposed to possible toxins. It’s always hard to lose them. But for every cat we lose, there are probably dozens more, all over the province, who still need sanctuary. Some just need a reset point, like Elvis or Bello, who have gone to safe homes. Others have a home here as long as they need. I am grateful to be part of the work of a great team of volunteers, of our dedicated staff, and of RAPS as an organization. We may not be able to save all the cats, but for every cat saved, our work means everything.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Claire Fossey, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright