Cats from Westeros

Rhaenys has found a place where she feels safe,
but can still satisfy her curiosity   (BC)

About a year and a half ago, we took in three young cats from Boundary Helping Hands Rescue in the Kootenays. Somebody at that rescue is obviously an ardent fan of Game of Thrones, because they came to us with the names Jorah, Corlys and Theon. I don’t know if our med-staff were just not Ice and Fire addicts, but the three boys names were changed to Fletcher, Flynn and Fonzie. We lost Fletcher to cancer last year, but Flynn and Fonzie are beloved members of the back courtyard cat family.

Beric enjoying the sun   (KN)

This past fall another three refugees came from Boundary Helping Hands Rescue (otherwise known as Westeros!) They were Beric – namesake also known as Beric OneEye (leader of a guerrilla resistance group against the Lannisters), Rhaenys (the Queen Who Never Was, and a dragonrider) and Laena (daughter of Rhaenys, and also a dragonrider).  BHHR put in some dedicated efforts to socialize them, but they have limited space for long-term care, so these three little refugees needed a place where they could truly settle in at their own pace, so they have joined us at the Sanctuary. Still wary of people, they are considered “unadoptable” — but we know that with time and understanding, they can thrive.

Slightly suspicious, but allowing touch   (BC)

Poor Beric (who as a feline has both his eyes) came to us in a very matted condition, and he got a winter lion-cut (complete with Ugg booties!); the two girls escaped that indignity, but all three of them contracted the upper respiratory virus that did the rounds during the winter months, and they had to be caged separately so that their medication could be carefully monitored.  Like most of the Front Courtyard ferals, they vanished into the Old Rabbit Area when they recovered and were released;  the ORA is full of draped shelves and good places to hide.

Laena was more outgoing in her cage than she
has been since release.  (CR)

We were told that Laena was the most confident of the trio, while sweet Rhaenys was the most timid – in fact, of the three it’s Beric who has been the most active in exploring the courtyard and all its corners. He can most often be found around the ORA courtyard, but he seems to prefer to use the big (swimming pool) litterbox by the SingleWide stairs, and likes to base himself in the papasan chair in the sleeping area above it.

Cozy in the papasan...  (BC)

He’s not soliciting attention yet, and avoids touch, but not in a way that speaks of fear – more of “I’d prefer that you kept your distance, please”. He seems to get on well with the other cats.

Rhaenys - high up, queen of all she surveys...  (KN)

Rhaenys is a beautiful long-haired tabby in many shades of brown. She enjoys sitting by the plant containers and soaking in the sun, but she was initially very wary of being approached, and scurried away to find a covered shelf where she could disappear. Now she is less fearful when on a raised level, and allows touch, if not yet much in the way of petting.

Now Laena's out, she prefers to remain hidden!  (KN)

Laena has almost totally vanished; obviously, being caged made her willing to cooperate, but with freedom has also come the ability to hide from sight, and she’s reverted to her “humans are bad!” feral default. She’s obviously found some good hiding places, because all we see is a worried face peeking out. In appearance, she’s very like Cuddles, though with a white left chin rather than a black one – however, she’s a long way to go to match Cuddles’ degree of confidence!

Beric heading out to explore   (BC)

It’s early days, though – all three are still quite young, and are learning that we mean them no harm; that there is food, and there are safe places to rest. Because we don’t see much of the two girls, we don’t know if they’re interacting with each other, or just doing their own solo thing. Rhaenys is now exploring outside the Connor, on the climbing structure; we hope that Laena, too, will venture outside the ORA drapes. Just as Fonzie and Flynn have shown us, they have lots of time to decide that they can relax and feel safe with us.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson & Chloe Robinson