A Trio of Tuxies

Atari  (BC)

The covered courtyard known as the Old Rabbit Area (ORA) has typically been dim and quiet, a refuge for scared ferals, with draped shelves and many hiding places.  Two recent factors have brightened it up – a custom-built structure made of used pallets, painted and with sisal-wrapped posts, and a trio of active little tuxedos.

New places in which to be a cat...   (BC)

The covered places remain, but there is now more space for cats who enjoy open beds. The structure was built by a RAPS supporter known as CatDaddyDan; it was constructed and painted in the parking lot beyond the gate, and then brought inside in pieces and connected in its new site, with approval (including pee) from the residents.

Kahlo  (BC)

The tuxie I see on it most frequently is one of a pair of boys who came to us from Prince George, with the names Rembrandt and Kahlo. They were caged for a while in the Hill House next door, and there, Rembrandt was outgoing and happy to see the Kitty Comforters when they visited, while Kahlo hid behind a drape. Since release, the roles tend to be reversed and it’s Kahlo who comes to investigate visitors, while I have to hunt to find Rembrandt. Both boys are slim and leggy; Kahlo is easy to identify, with a half-’tache on his face. It’s lovely to have more outgoing cats like this in the ORA, demonstrating to the shy ones that humans are not as scary as all that!

Rembrandt  (BC)

Rembrandt is more typically tuxedo in colouring, with a white facial blaze and white shirt-front; and long white socks. Tuxedos are one end of the spectrum of bi-coloured cats; the other end is the Turkish Van pattern – all white, with coloured tail and head splashes. In between fall the harlequin cats, with irregular splashes of black, or the ones known as cap-and-saddle or mask-and-mantle – predominantly white cats with strong black markings. A classic tuxedo should be about two-thirds coloured – so the black cats with a small chest marking don’t classify as tuxedos.

Mayday (L) and Eddie (R)    (BC)

It’s easy to confuse Rembrandt with either of two other tuxies; Mayday is another of the “gimme chicken!” crowd, and has a lightning paw; his blaze is a bit more pointed than Rembrandt’s and he wears socks rather than stockings; Eddie is very similar, but his black nose smudges into his left cheek; he has actually been with us since the spring of 2023, was adopted, but never settled in his new home; he is happy to be back with his buddies at the Sanctuary,

Atari  (AM)

The third of the new tuxies, and another who bases out of the ORA, is pretty Atari who came to RAPS last spring with her three kittens Yahtzee, Checkers, and Monopoly – part of a colony rescue from near the Skybridge in Surrey.  As is common, the kittens socialized well and were adopted out; Mama Atari was very wary with us initially.  After arriving at the Sanctuary she was identified as having intestinal problems, and put on a limited protein diet which necessitated cage time. This can work either for or against us; in Atari’s case, she became very happy with human contact, wanting petting and cuddles, and offering resentful nips when the visitor had to leave.

Atari  (AM)

It’s lovely to see her out and about with fresh confidence;  she is often a greeter at the gate, and she lays claim to the bed under the heat lamp in the ORA whenever possible. I find that if I sit next to her, she will quickly come onto my lap and make herself at home; she doesn’t want to be picked up or held (many of our cats don’t want that), but when it’s her own idea, she settles right in. I would guess the med-staff are keeping an eye on how her gut is behaving now that she is back eating from the common plates; if her problems are dietary, she may need fostering so she can return to a limited protein diet without cage time. For the time being, medication is doing the job.

Kahlo loves to play  (BC)

All our three newcomers, as well as Mayday and Eddie, are still young, and it’s good to have that happy energy around the Front Courtyard.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Anne Marchetti