Yeti

Yeti  (KN)

There are several rescue organizations with whom we have strong ties, and occasional transfers of cats when the numbers get too much for them to manage, or when cats are determinedly fearful and fostering is not an option. One of them is Sammy’s Forgotten Felines, in Kamloops;  Sammy’s tackles an ongoing feral cat situation, and we will often take the overflow.

Yeti  (KN)

When you talk to most volunteers at RAPS about Kamloops cats, it’s the crew in our back courtyard that’s implied – a colony of about 15 cats – mostly orange – who arrived together in 2021, and were joined by two more (Daffodil & Thorne)  a year later after time in fosterage. But we have accepted many other cats from Sammy’s – currently that includes Deelia, Vonda & Vinnie, Butterfinger, Arwen, Orson & Keno, together with others who have now passed.

Pewter, high in Leukemia pen  (KN)

One of the latter was a pretty longhaired grey girl called Pewter, who, sadly, tested positive for feline leukemia. She joined a group of other shy cats in preferring the high spaces in the Leukemia pen, watching us warily from above as the pen was cleaned and food provided. She never really tamed, and like many FeLV cats, her life was not long – the virus is hard on a cat’s body, and any infection can turn fatal.

Yeti, wary in Old Rabbit Area  (BC)

Last year two cats came to us from Sammy’s – male and female, about five years old, and it’s quite possible that they were originally Pewter’s kittens, certainly genetically linked. They were called Yeti and Runti, and practically identical. They were also not neutered, and sadly Runti proved to be one of those cats reactive to anaesthetic, or to the surgery itself. Yeti came through safely (it’s always easier on the boys!) and returned to us at the Sanctuary.

Dinnertime in Visitors  (BC)

He is a very handsome, striking cat – but one of the many who still regards humans with deep suspicion. Visitors will rarely see him; during the day he hides away in the Old Rabbit Area behind the drapes. In the late afternoon he emerges and explores; if the north side of the courtyard is fed first, he will make his way over to the Visitor area adjacent to the Connor House, to access the plate there rather than waiting for a delivery to his home ground. His executive-blond fur makes him easily identifiable, but he also has a noticeably dark mouth - a trait shared with Pewter. It makes them look as if they've been chewing black licorice!

Relaxed for once, even with a camera there!  (BC)

With other cats Yeti appears confident and comfortable; he has a wonderful plume of a tail which is often upright in the signal of happiness. When people are around the tail tends to be lowered and he is wary about making any eye-contact; he will walk by, but not engage in any way. On a shelf in the Old Rabbit Area he can be approached, but is usually uneasy; food bribery can only go so far.  That’s OK; we have a number of cats who are still feral, and who may never be comfortable with humans. It’s enough for us to know that they are safe and happy in their own feline community.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson