Royal Progress

Princess (KN)

Princess came to us late in 2021 all the way from Iran, and for much of that time she has been clearly characterized as a cat you might admire, but one you shouldn’t try and touch. I first blogged about her in 2023, by which time she had a pretty solid grasp of Sanctuary life. She based herself in Waldi’s hut, which she shared with a number of other cats without actually socializing much with them. She had regular visits from her sponsor, and interacted with him quite happily; he would talk with her in Farsi, and she would flirt in response. Occasionally a visitor might admit to speaking Farsi and would be taken past the rope barrier to chat with her, or even to sing to her.

Hanging out near the SW  (KN)

Her relationships with other cats have markedly improved. She prefers to maintain her distance with most of them, and is quick to use bad language to smack someone down.  But we have caught her actually playing with some of the ones she knows; orange Sprocket holds his own with her, and they will chase and tumble happily.

Sharing a shelf with Sprocket (KN)

Often when I work in the back pens, Princess will follow me (or precede me) from pen to pen. It doesn’t have anything to do with the lure of food  (I rarely bring the bag of treats out until most of my work is done) but she is curious about where I am going. She lurks on the roof of the outdoor litterboxes in Pen 3 while I scoop, and frequently has arguments with black Odin, who is equally curious.

On inspection patrol  (LBF)

Since we opened up the renovated DoubleWide (Hauser House), her explorations have taken her there as well. She’s not enthusiastic about using the cat-door, but when the weather’s fine, we will prop the outer door open, and she runs in and out. She’s not settling in – Waldi’s Hut is still “home” – but she’s poking her nose into new spaces.

Investigating cage-tops in Hauser House (KN)

A lot of her changed attitude to people is due to the work of Brad and Marty.  Brad knows a little Farsi, and has always made a thing of visiting Princess and talking to her. Marty’s a true cat-whisperer, and has had immense patience in coaxing her to accept food from his hand, and eventually, gentle touch. Her behaviour is markedly different now. The first time she asked me for pets, her goal was quite clear. She offered the slightly sideways head-bump Louie used to give, and pushed her head under my hand, asking for the stroking to continue.  There are conditions: she has to be on a shelf or something raised, and there needs to be NO other cats in her line of sight,.

On a shelf, and ready for pets  (MW)

Currently we’re encouraging volunteers, who may have held back because of her spicy reputation, to coax her to a place where she feels comfortable with touch – and not just the “safe” version around head and ears, but now the full-body stroking she is beginning to request. I don’t know if she’ll ever be a lap-cat, and like many others, she vanishes into hiding when visiting days get too busy.  But with visitors gone, dinner served, and the peacefulness of a Sanctuary evening evident in the Back Courtyard – along comes Princess, ready to put aside her feral upbringing and allow humans to adore her.

Blog by Brigid Coult

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