Nugget and Fernando

Nugget approves of more volunteers!  (KN)

Back in May I blogged an overview of some of the many black cats in the Front Courtyard, with a mental note to myself that I needed to do something similar in the back. There are a lot of seemingly anonymous black cats who disappear in the many cabins and hidey-holes around both arms of the courtyard, but it's rarer to find friendly ones who look for attention.

Fernando  (KN)

Everyone knows Tyson, of course – our “illegal immigrant” loves to get petting and cuddles from both volunteers and visitors; Tyson is quickly identified by a single white whisker (which he occasionally loses and then manages to re-grow). Arwen is the friendliest of a black trio that came to us from Salmon Arm via Kamloops; her sibs Keno and Orson are touch-me-not ferals.  Alexandria mostly lives in Newcomers, but every now and then we spot her and her white toes visiting the great outdoors. We are beginning to see black Donny exploring warily; she arrived with her bonded “sister”, orange Chrissy, and both are still pretty cautious. And who can miss our sweet JackieO, polydactyl and tail-less, who loves a lap (though you may need a protective towel in order to appreciate the experience). And that's only a few of the plain black cats, with a number of tuxedos to boost them!

Nugget's white locket is on show; he has a few other while hair patches  (KN)

But while volunteers are taking a break at the table outside the Tea-Room, the most likely black cats to come visiting are Nugget and Fernando.  Nugget (like tuxedo Aster) came to us from Broken Promises rescue on Vancouver Island. He is easily identifiable by the collar he wears – a signal that he is pretty reactive.  

We tell weekend visitors that collars indicate spicy cats; in fact, many of them are not so much actively spicy as just very sensitive. Broken Promises sent Nugget to us when they couldn’t find a foster home to take him; at the Sanctuary he has found he has space to avoid other cats, and discovered humans who will read his body language. He loves the basket in the TeaRoom when he doesn't have a favourite person with whom to sit.

Both collar and locket on display  (BC)

Nugget loves attention, and will hop up on a lap without an invitation. Petting is welcomed, but, as with many of the sensitive cats, is better confined to the above-the-collar area. Move further down the back, and the tail starts twitching; ignore the cues, and you will need band-aids!  The worst aspect of Nugget is that he is one of the cats who seems to have a chronic cold; through the summer months it’s not so bad, but when the cat-colds hit, Nugget’s are always the snottiest, and he continually needs to have his face washed.

Dozing is Nugget's favourite thing; bonus points if on a lap  (BC)

Fernando has been with us about 4 years; he’s about Nugget’s size, though a little slighter, with a slightly tattered edge to his right ear. From a distance, he looks black;  close up, and you will see that he has little flecks of white in his fur.  He is one of those cats who sees a hand hanging down from a chair arm, and immediately rubs against it; he loves attention, and is sometimes willing to be picked up for a lap-sit, though he’s not as comfortable with it as Nugget.

Lori brought goodies  (BC)

Fernando came to us through one of our loved-and-missed volunteers. Lori was every Sanctuary cat’s favourite person, arriving on Sunday afternoons loaded down with fresh-cooked chicken and fish – a labour of love now adopted by volunteer Carol (who also crafts our seasonal decorations and the painted stones). 

Fernando  (KN)

A few years ago, Lori moved back to Alberta to be closer to her family. But as she was packing for the move, she was concerned for a little feral cat who was often found on her porch;  he was not tame, but she had fed him and given him a place to hide.

Fernando  (KN)

Before she left, she trapped him and brought him to the Sanctuary, knowing he would be safe with us. Fernando is now about 10 years old, and very likely would not have survived that long as a lone feral cat. His initial years with us were like many of the other ferals – wary, suspicious – but he has become much more trusting with time, and adores attention. I think he’s not a cat that would ever be adoptable; former ferals don’t do well with transportation and relocation, and will often revert to their feral mindset.  Fernando is relaxed and comfortable with us in his permanent home.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Leslie Ann Burgess, Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson