The Winter King

The Winter King (KN)

In May 2025 a large long-haired cat came to us as a transfer from Shuswap Paws. The vets think he's about 8 years old.  He was pretty shut down while he was at the Adoption Centre, but accepted pats while first in the cage at the Sanctuary. Sadly, it didn't last! 

Feeling safer under a table  (BC)

He’s named for the title character in a wonderful trilogy by writer Bernard Cornwall. The Winter King is an alternate name for Arthur – romanticized in mediaeval chivalry, but much more likely to have had an origin in 5th-century Britain, after the Romans had withdrawn. There are so many re-tellings of the story, but I particularly loved Cornwall’s gritty view. Sadly, the TV series based on it was a major disappointment – I was left wondering if the screenwriters had actually read the book... 

Sometimes cleaning is better done upside down  (KN)

Our own feline Winter King was finally released from his cage, and like many feral cats, promptly vanished into the back courtyard area around Waldi’s Hut, where there are lots of places to hide.  And hide he did – we might occasionally see him in the early morning or at dusk, but he didn’t want to be touched, and like beautiful Plateau, even looking in his direction could spook him. I always kept an eye open for him, because of his resemblance to my beloved Kojak who we lost ten years ago.

Good hiding places behind the cabin  (BC)

A couple of months ago the med-staff noticed that he was looking pretty matted. Many of our long-haired cats struggle with mats – if they don’t want to be groomed (and the ferals rarely want that) the only option is to sedate and shave them. Ideally, this happens when they’re already at the hospital for tests, but our med-staff are great at getting them woozy enough on gabapentin that the job can be done in a cage – it may not be the close shave they’ll get from the vet techs, but it gets rid of the mats. We’ll be seeing more lion-cuts in the course of the next month, with the improved weather and the skills of Gracelyn, who’s back with us for the summer.  Our boy spent a few days in a cage – to give the meds time to work, to have the mats cleaned up, and then to recover. And in those few days, we think a light-switch went on – perhaps humans weren’t too bad... 

Getting pets from Karrie  (BC)

Once back in the courtyard he began to be a bit more daring about being out and about while we were around. He didn’t actually ask for attention, but he accepted it when offered, and was obviously more comfortable with touch than he had been since arrival. He found a few favourite beds, and used them often enough that it was possible to find him. He prefers to put himself under a table or a chair, but if you’re ready to crawl to him, he doesn’t back off, but accepts petting with dignity.

Quiet conversation with Basil  (BC)

He’s on good terms with most of the Waldi’s Hut cats, and can often be found in company with Basil, who is missing Smithy – Smithy disliked most humans and let us know it, with bad language, but he always had feline friends in the cabin). The one cat he is wary about is Gwen, who is Smithy-in-reverse – likes humans and hates cats – and who gets jealous if someone like Winter King is getting all the attention.

Winter King (BC)

If visiting day is not too busy, he will even come out and interact with a few of the visitors; he places himself right at the boundary, so he’s ready for a quick escape, but the lure of caressing fingers keeps him from making a break too soon. I remember how scared Bello was last year, and how he made the transition to a tame boy that found a loving home. I don’t know whether Winter King has any experience with a home, or if he’s a feral that has made that enormous jump from fear to cautious trust – he’s certainly not tame yet, but perhaps, with lots of patience...

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson