tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44957321111929641212024-03-14T07:26:15.690-07:00The Neko Files - A RAPS Journal and ScrapbookMollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16161428949756438382noreply@blogger.comBlogger1186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-37675482891994744342024-03-14T07:25:00.000-07:002024-03-14T07:25:30.900-07:00Adopted - adoptable...<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9o5_onYF_2Zo_1Vf9oeMHb1roXv08aO4xZGs03SCQeM4ghg3VK9pzMMbFP5pN6dYC_24gWSrlihHazs2_4Wft8JFRqbMooLMTgFLeidTLY3WQwF8ZjP8EcCdcV7s1j5sr5pcmKkexoT6lLySlcG-Zfti6mJzyl4P2CtCTdwhgGBCE6dyqSEH1lLUzK9nn/s1440/Smithy%2041%20-%20KN%20-%20hissy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9o5_onYF_2Zo_1Vf9oeMHb1roXv08aO4xZGs03SCQeM4ghg3VK9pzMMbFP5pN6dYC_24gWSrlihHazs2_4Wft8JFRqbMooLMTgFLeidTLY3WQwF8ZjP8EcCdcV7s1j5sr5pcmKkexoT6lLySlcG-Zfti6mJzyl4P2CtCTdwhgGBCE6dyqSEH1lLUzK9nn/w400-h267/Smithy%2041%20-%20KN%20-%20hissy.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Smithy is the quintessential non-adoptable cat! KN</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>For many years, visitors to the Cat Sanctuary have had the cats introduced as “unadoptable” – and for many of them, that’s just what they are: scared ferals, cats with bad habits like aggression or litter-box avoidance, and cats with a variety of medical problems. When I first came to volunteer, we did minimal adoptions – perhaps ten in a year – and most of those went to volunteers who had bonded with the cats in question.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs12aTb7Oc8UbSaMl9G8nYak1Zf5rI2oIkS29XOncn0fZg_03DNeFSSum2gaM530L7GQl93wpq4-zuNVgQJfL9n3v6P2ZcTNW0NbV36wclKJHwrAvy21zrOwBUKr5GFlqfOYbW4F3jfMwqRDEW7QVGNUM2aeGQTyv9d6sGXnEOs_Jt9VDVCKxmgSLHugCi/s720/Bev's%20kitties,%20cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="720" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs12aTb7Oc8UbSaMl9G8nYak1Zf5rI2oIkS29XOncn0fZg_03DNeFSSum2gaM530L7GQl93wpq4-zuNVgQJfL9n3v6P2ZcTNW0NbV36wclKJHwrAvy21zrOwBUKr5GFlqfOYbW4F3jfMwqRDEW7QVGNUM2aeGQTyv9d6sGXnEOs_Jt9VDVCKxmgSLHugCi/w400-h297/Bev's%20kitties,%20cropped.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Both Twinks (formerly <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2015/09/della-and-peony-and-perry-and-perkins.html">Peony</a>) and Scooter (formerly <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2015/04/another-happy-ever-after.html">Larkin</a>) <br />came from the Sanctuary (BJ)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>But we’ve always had a number of what I would call stage-two ferals – cats who had come in wild and unsociable, and who had gradually eased into loving relationship with staff and volunteers. A great deal of the wariness about adopting out these semi-ferals came out of experiences where cats (<a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2010/07/esme.html">Esme</a> & <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2010/08/jenny.html">Jenny</a>, for instance) were adopted out, and then totally freaked out in their new homes, cramming themselves into inaccessible corners, and reverting to their former feral behaviour. In those situations, staff from RAPS went out to re-rescue the fearful cats, who were returned to the Sanctuary, to remain there for the rest of their lives.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWD5t7lYNieHqrmwvNEtbhm3oc2tm-qq2kk3hY8OrygVpU4y0gNcD9hKYJS18CpYiZ-By9Jq3ObB9UfR8bKPxCCFiDINV_AtExkVOFZKRv-r_8EVS22Lls3rp-fQ5OkjQ1e8d2Zsa84niy8DXpmbFimJ07bfZvSQrk4M9GLz_gWCnFQz5KsVkIi-KAqR0/s960/Horatio%2015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWD5t7lYNieHqrmwvNEtbhm3oc2tm-qq2kk3hY8OrygVpU4y0gNcD9hKYJS18CpYiZ-By9Jq3ObB9UfR8bKPxCCFiDINV_AtExkVOFZKRv-r_8EVS22Lls3rp-fQ5OkjQ1e8d2Zsa84niy8DXpmbFimJ07bfZvSQrk4M9GLz_gWCnFQz5KsVkIi-KAqR0/w400-h267/Horatio%2015.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The formerly feral <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2018/01/ho-ho-horatio.html">Horatio</a> became Louise's lap-cat (MW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Looking back, it is easy to see that a number of steps were missed – there was not enough time given for the cats in question to bond with the adopter, there was no education about the adoption process, and there was no remedial action other than retrieving the cats. The mindset was on rescue and not on other possibilities. Thanks to the work that has been done by cat behaviorists in the last decade, and experts like Jackson Galaxy and Pam Johnson-Bennett, we know much more about the processes that will work, from both ends of the adoption process.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ayzlce9pBblNszK4PzIBTjrm11e_hmSUsGA2en2fEdh9nVD4t64cNTxDA2lqNZKpBonw-hHf31wu62MeEsMGRpt7jDiGOXBGhTar0tf9tfzeXDgyn8mysd3jN9u2E35shqJxadf7aytUpg3RNGJqk20jWRPP6Gb3mzHtmqQeP4zbCsJlWGcVUzhbM0bG/s1152/feral%20kits%20during%20trapping%20-%20cropped%20-%20LBW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1152" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ayzlce9pBblNszK4PzIBTjrm11e_hmSUsGA2en2fEdh9nVD4t64cNTxDA2lqNZKpBonw-hHf31wu62MeEsMGRpt7jDiGOXBGhTar0tf9tfzeXDgyn8mysd3jN9u2E35shqJxadf7aytUpg3RNGJqk20jWRPP6Gb3mzHtmqQeP4zbCsJlWGcVUzhbM0bG/w400-h267/feral%20kits%20during%20trapping%20-%20cropped%20-%20LBW.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">75% of feral kittens don't survive to 6 months;<br />these babies will live, thanks to Lisa & Ken (LBW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The Adoption Centre deals primarily with the outcome of our rescue work; any time the team brings in a colony, there are practically always pregnant moms and kittens. We are lucky to have several wonderful fosterers who will watch over births, help new moms, and teach kittens that humans are to be trusted. When the kittens are old enough for adoption, they are brought to the Adoption Centre, where they can be visited; their adoption fees cover the cost of all their vaccinations and spay/neutering, for which their families bring them back to the RAPS Hospital.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5tAzhaTAJb_zc991o3BvDNAb5H4W2W0UlVD-owbZqm0j4oFyWLhJ53Mzz-uy4_ZoezhibphYO9s3s1u3zhqeukDCPYg5GCOPRxig98ZTDzslHve0ZBUA11jNWtDHzsVKEeNW374AetszmIaVe0Kz1Hupr5sjJfuFwyYE9r8Z23HLPLlppWv4eMH4efNz/s1366/Ernie%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1366" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5tAzhaTAJb_zc991o3BvDNAb5H4W2W0UlVD-owbZqm0j4oFyWLhJ53Mzz-uy4_ZoezhibphYO9s3s1u3zhqeukDCPYg5GCOPRxig98ZTDzslHve0ZBUA11jNWtDHzsVKEeNW374AetszmIaVe0Kz1Hupr5sjJfuFwyYE9r8Z23HLPLlppWv4eMH4efNz/w400-h267/Ernie%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ernie, missing his Bert (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>But though kittens are the biggest draw for visitors, they’re not the only inhabitants. We also take in surrendered cats, coming to us for a variety of reasons – usually humans who are no longer able to care for them. A senior pair, called Bert and <b>Ernie</b>, came in to us recently – very loveable and very unhappy about the change in their situation. They were checked over – there were some concerns about Ernie’s health – and caged together, with a request to the Kitty Comforters that they should be visited. Sadly, it was Bert whose health suddenly failed, and poor Ernie was left alone. Thankfully, someone stepped up, and Ernie has happily gone to a foster home where he will be well-loved for the rest of his life.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4c6Dtsxz31UtCqE3x51N8JvByVxoOWKHFG9okEXuA_b8mUmphr0A4gtzS8O_Cps-BOJ_n3-c-kGibxRa2mIOVI0PG_2AJPd8srTtRe4VUbLfjhizDmWwnh2DTuSp9jac3W8zTtk2sjuYtjbUPTRXrcCqJH6zELn9d3-9QVE4iwnPCAA9rHauaXA0olkt/s4032/PXL_20240201_235658853.PORTRAIT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4c6Dtsxz31UtCqE3x51N8JvByVxoOWKHFG9okEXuA_b8mUmphr0A4gtzS8O_Cps-BOJ_n3-c-kGibxRa2mIOVI0PG_2AJPd8srTtRe4VUbLfjhizDmWwnh2DTuSp9jac3W8zTtk2sjuYtjbUPTRXrcCqJH6zELn9d3-9QVE4iwnPCAA9rHauaXA0olkt/w400-h225/PXL_20240201_235658853.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Benjamin & Olivia - gone to their new home (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>While saying goodbye to Ernie, I heard that <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2024/02/back-from-edge.html">Benjamin and Olivia</a> had also been adopted, which is wonderful news after all they’ve been through. The next cat in the Adoption Centre that we’ll all be rooting for is <b>Greyson</b>, discovered to have an infected eye probably caused in a fight; Greyson’s now one-eyed, but once recovered, will be someone’s beloved feline – he’s very chatty and friendly.<p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOW8f1OA6Bha8sks9AYW865y4VbNb09iOWEBYKznrxp7HFChcvoxXZD1I6MprnEljsMSiDlENnE1EJvGQDTnZb8p_HdvOGCm0x7b7AbYL69b-gbjzMphxrYEEIgXjvXOXst83Dx4-vP55fuDkMbTjBPgcNiMeVl_cEIz9dB0krYKdlKIiNYf5vU963hx9S/s1536/Greyson%202%20cropped%20-%20Mandy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="1536" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOW8f1OA6Bha8sks9AYW865y4VbNb09iOWEBYKznrxp7HFChcvoxXZD1I6MprnEljsMSiDlENnE1EJvGQDTnZb8p_HdvOGCm0x7b7AbYL69b-gbjzMphxrYEEIgXjvXOXst83Dx4-vP55fuDkMbTjBPgcNiMeVl_cEIz9dB0krYKdlKIiNYf5vU963hx9S/w400-h268/Greyson%202%20cropped%20-%20Mandy.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Greyson is loving the chance to explore, as he recovers (ML)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Busy as the Adoption Centre is, some of the adoptable Sanctuary cats remain in the Sanctuary itself. <span>We are still hoping for homes for <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2023/11/finding-homes-for-multiples.html">Whiskers and his brother Jinx</a>, though the presence of other cats is starting to lead to some "stress pee-ing"</span>. But weekend visitors from the end of March will also encounter a variety of cats wearing “adoption bandanas”. These are not cats that we want anyone to point at, and say “I want that one!”, but they are cats that we hope visitors will sit down with, and get to know – preferably with repeated visits to give the cat a chance to bond with the human. Sometimes we can ID the perfect cat for you – I still smile to think about how <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2022/12/we-are-siamese-if-you-please.html">Strike</a> “claimed” his new person last year, and how happy <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2023/11/elvis-has-left-sanctuary.html">Elvis</a> is with his family.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9HsQAdo9P9GS_5KXQlZVlMIEN3BjcoPl3Ar68pQKmyQOpufiRCsS8Pewm-VrPnIsGxq_0L2KkYWmyARE0jIiAowdoLvAOJ5sUzm83ruKjSZ6yMln7UlL57C_qBVj0vrnQ3wIwuv_o_hB20vrvYjFgK2yb7m0FJKuVfDd1EjULlBbHxKyRRI06bpSNt1P/s1440/Strike%209%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1440" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9HsQAdo9P9GS_5KXQlZVlMIEN3BjcoPl3Ar68pQKmyQOpufiRCsS8Pewm-VrPnIsGxq_0L2KkYWmyARE0jIiAowdoLvAOJ5sUzm83ruKjSZ6yMln7UlL57C_qBVj0vrnQ3wIwuv_o_hB20vrvYjFgK2yb7m0FJKuVfDd1EjULlBbHxKyRRI06bpSNt1P/w400-h301/Strike%209%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We miss our handsome Strike - but we know<br />he's happy in his new home (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Some of the potentially adoptable cats are still new to us, and finding their way – <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2024/01/thanksgiving-for-cats.html">Truffle, Malibu</a> and their crowd; some are part of the FIV cat community, and are not seen by all the visitors, but just love attention – <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2023/06/newcomers-in-new-aids.html">Biggie, Simon</a>, <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2024/02/billy-ray.html">Billy Ray</a>... Even a couple of the FIV cats are adoptable by someone who can give them the special care they need.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrjLYLpKy32jvDdxnivb2x8OA6kS5G-eoHTGbnLPqDz4J1DS4f9IbDnZOUwx6690RCx9A3Ryp7GPlt2gflUDceuLMoS2UPVwdG5tGuShm2nV_ZOew50rRVMYwlUMdtlLsKITYpViZNdnsOjrzotn6j0TiSbbGAe6m7pzAtqkBA9NwXhTTgaLjJd3MDzi3/s1000/Biggie%205%20loves%20cuddles%20-%20Brielle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrjLYLpKy32jvDdxnivb2x8OA6kS5G-eoHTGbnLPqDz4J1DS4f9IbDnZOUwx6690RCx9A3Ryp7GPlt2gflUDceuLMoS2UPVwdG5tGuShm2nV_ZOew50rRVMYwlUMdtlLsKITYpViZNdnsOjrzotn6j0TiSbbGAe6m7pzAtqkBA9NwXhTTgaLjJd3MDzi3/w400-h300/Biggie%205%20loves%20cuddles%20-%20Brielle.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Biggie loves nothing better than a good cuddle (BH)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>What they all have in common is that any potential adoption needs a great deal of patience and time; most of them will not go home with you and settle in as if nothing has happened. The 3-3-3 rule is a really good one to bear in mind:<br /> • In the first three days: mostly in a quiet small space, with litterbox, bed and toys; let them approach you<br /> • In the first three weeks: allowing exploration at the cat’s pace, establishing a routine, finding a vet<br /> • by three months: comfortable with their space and their people, starting training<p></p><p>Some cats will adjust faster, but the failures usually happen when they are expected to do so more quickly, as with sweet <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2023/02/sweet-holly.html">Holly </a>last year – her family returned her without giving her time to acclimate to a new environment – they wanted the relationship to be “right now”, and she was still scared. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOd5K9mPZARfNKea0xHXrI84BMsaTd2Nt5M-hUiuHDR0qP730m1QFOs0nfJrs6yWr48I-mViensNo_gchMALWkVpl16G6RHjMv_PwXDLR2iDCmQB8vpPdxCAlD1s0ckqtTFZOdZvacws4OATys1jNeTDvVsWJlQKwEYQ_8kYqJB968eu3K-i-oyMGfa_K/s1440/Holly%2011%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1440" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOd5K9mPZARfNKea0xHXrI84BMsaTd2Nt5M-hUiuHDR0qP730m1QFOs0nfJrs6yWr48I-mViensNo_gchMALWkVpl16G6RHjMv_PwXDLR2iDCmQB8vpPdxCAlD1s0ckqtTFZOdZvacws4OATys1jNeTDvVsWJlQKwEYQ_8kYqJB968eu3K-i-oyMGfa_K/w400-h301/Holly%2011%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Holly's happier back with her cat-family (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The volunteers remain in prime position to bond with adoptable cats. I’ve not had a chance to blog about sweet <b>Mortimer</b> (mostly because he’s a black cat, and they’re notoriously difficult to get good photographs of!), but he came to us recently as a pretty reactive and sassy tom-cat, has had his neuter, and blossomed into a lap-cat (and an under-the-feet cat); he’s being adopted by a volunteer who fell in love with him while working in the DoubleWide. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NGsrbQyG-Tx6ZO00mPFs-M7NKUH4PZzLhJJZ98RkxfkbD2Ss5dwejavADh0w4tKGeOWBv0WYLyNimawteQOiOp-tdRdQqMIwIt6rw_qW4dexteDF6jj3D651S5EGm1fIpEiD5P4uW7TGyzXf1trGz4rCSjy8_7ncMo91uVyW1v99tMEVh_VUM-oPQQzu/s1332/Mortimer.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1332" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NGsrbQyG-Tx6ZO00mPFs-M7NKUH4PZzLhJJZ98RkxfkbD2Ss5dwejavADh0w4tKGeOWBv0WYLyNimawteQOiOp-tdRdQqMIwIt6rw_qW4dexteDF6jj3D651S5EGm1fIpEiD5P4uW7TGyzXf1trGz4rCSjy8_7ncMo91uVyW1v99tMEVh_VUM-oPQQzu/w400-h225/Mortimer.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chubby-cheeks Mortimer (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>So if you’re coming to visit the Sanctuary from Easter weekend onwards and are thinking about adopting, think also about the personality that would attract you – do you want shy and gentle? active and inquisitive? a lap-sitter or a little aloof? a loner or cat-sociable? And then take your time to allow the cat to learn that you can be trusted to give them all they need to feel loved for the rest of their life.<p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult, </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brielle Hutchison,<br /> Bev Johnston, Mandy Lichtmann, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright</span></i></div></i><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-64005043254196998272024-03-06T13:01:00.000-08:002024-03-06T19:20:28.115-08:00Boston<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj899eLJxDIs7Vo4yzt5wul0lBoEgmvOLBmtCB1VJLq5j_ybrg4SNoKfETiFvmP5kho5S0QbFd-OAQqMYEoIUSKYzbuFn8mxBtXZ4IsbdlAu-uvZK6BeRnhR7wR7E6rB6PtK9maMXvkYVxA0FD41j2xpCFXZDEAgFhY74gcGLXR9yYJkj-uEAnVq62hL-CI/s1440/Boston%201%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj899eLJxDIs7Vo4yzt5wul0lBoEgmvOLBmtCB1VJLq5j_ybrg4SNoKfETiFvmP5kho5S0QbFd-OAQqMYEoIUSKYzbuFn8mxBtXZ4IsbdlAu-uvZK6BeRnhR7wR7E6rB6PtK9maMXvkYVxA0FD41j2xpCFXZDEAgFhY74gcGLXR9yYJkj-uEAnVq62hL-CI/w400-h267/Boston%201%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Boston - "it's a lovely day, and I'm in a grumpy mood" (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Last fall our cat-trapping team had their attention seriously divided between a hoarding situation in Surrey and another cat-colony that appeared in Richmond in an industrial area. The hoarding situation was solved with the involvement of the SPCA and other rescue organizations; RAPS took in at least <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2024/01/thanksgiving-for-cats.html">half a dozen cats</a> who were semi-tame, are now well settled into Sanctuary life and might even graduate to eventual adoption. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_lS6GRgnL1as7JOEFzuF7Mcjt9pO5t4dbOxwWiffnhp07ca7Wpc4kQ924Wq8fpiL5bl_4oYr8Eap7BaikmIUb6ik_2QjMn15cyzmRDYj-t4ir5ewO5369ST38FC76DP2NL0U2rX_2lsE3m9Seiv_yh9oCrZMaR7wm6wN5EDfPpO6Rm11wXwjQUR1Kkc7/s1051/Vixen,%20DOnner,%20Rudolph,%20cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1051" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_lS6GRgnL1as7JOEFzuF7Mcjt9pO5t4dbOxwWiffnhp07ca7Wpc4kQ924Wq8fpiL5bl_4oYr8Eap7BaikmIUb6ik_2QjMn15cyzmRDYj-t4ir5ewO5369ST38FC76DP2NL0U2rX_2lsE3m9Seiv_yh9oCrZMaR7wm6wN5EDfPpO6Rm11wXwjQUR1Kkc7/w400-h324/Vixen,%20DOnner,%20Rudolph,%20cropped.jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Christmas kittens - always cute!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The group from the industrial area were a very mixed bunch. There were several unneutered males, and inevitably pregnant moms and kittens to deal with. Many of the latter are up for adoption now – the Christmas kittens, named for Santa’s reindeer, and the Weather kittens – Storm, Lightning & Thunder Life in the Adoption Centre is busy! Some of the adults were easy with being handled; others were wary, so it’s hard to tell who might be a stray, with previous experience of humans, and who might be a true feral. <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JR7LvZ9S_IcRB5HTlRiGv4k8wNDlMvgRv6hyphenhyphen4byyK6ruSeuqBPc4XOezYx15-wFrSjpt9iXBaYfx4cvvsp7FPO1GfLEi1Aw6VDTo8NxDRFc5YdsHWBkhRObR9vGClpDMGeF99bg1No4u0ZnEDHjwSV_kbZnolA4AlCvK18qdQwqWVVLUD1JMn4WabzCU/s1332/Cheech%203%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1332" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JR7LvZ9S_IcRB5HTlRiGv4k8wNDlMvgRv6hyphenhyphen4byyK6ruSeuqBPc4XOezYx15-wFrSjpt9iXBaYfx4cvvsp7FPO1GfLEi1Aw6VDTo8NxDRFc5YdsHWBkhRObR9vGClpDMGeF99bg1No4u0ZnEDHjwSV_kbZnolA4AlCvK18qdQwqWVVLUD1JMn4WabzCU/w400-h225/Cheech%203%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cheech has settled; mostly in the Connor House (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLdU_PeSHt05rSk4EM08ZrdJlcY03XV5wyQwCNM1ZaSD7mn8QXKLJtyNwk77s6DIubcc8vpNsZGT0LyPAP792rAgHjVbAGkKaASTli-Zd_LKe23HM4NIrA1eWiJQuH_ao7N2-oGXM-J9fTWrUXPgzN_pLczXmW_bpE3olWJLmZxPDyxDF6U_kbAPuUc09/s1253/Tamale%201,%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1253" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLdU_PeSHt05rSk4EM08ZrdJlcY03XV5wyQwCNM1ZaSD7mn8QXKLJtyNwk77s6DIubcc8vpNsZGT0LyPAP792rAgHjVbAGkKaASTli-Zd_LKe23HM4NIrA1eWiJQuH_ao7N2-oGXM-J9fTWrUXPgzN_pLczXmW_bpE3olWJLmZxPDyxDF6U_kbAPuUc09/w400-h251/Tamale%201,%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tamale still spends most of his time hiding (KN)<br />He just HAS to be Boston's brother!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>As is our custom, all new cats are snap-tested when they come to us, and with unneutered males, it was not surprising to find that at least one was FIV+ - FIV is passed on through bite wounds, which are common with cats who may fight over territory or potential mates. <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2024/01/thanksgiving-for-cats.html">Chicharron</a> and <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2024/01/thanksgiving-for-cats.html">Tamale </a>got a clean bill of health and were eventually released into the front courtyard, but Boston found himself living in the New Aids pen. Initially he was caged while he had his neuter surgery, and then of course he had the joy of wearing a “cone of shame”. First clue that this was not a typical feral – med-staff Molly tells me that when it came time to remove his collar, it had stuck and she had to take scissors to it. Removing a plastic collar from a feral cat is not a fun activity, but Boston was pretty calm (not happy, but calm!)<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Po4apAn4jifeYqraT2XtBQ1Q5Vpi7YA6qo43VGj08DOrh37ZCw3CSml5CgxBl_8ViJp1HtdDLk9uk5lRj7MYGPPQQyc_Cj3HWenaWiUUV1fkeUfDF9-Rd9NoPTIJMU6eh0qsdpGa9upcoE3Lp7o4WpdqvB6XRkT9K24C5k5wtlvUO3IDgdvWysplY1sy/s1536/Boston%209%20scared,%20cropped-%20Katy%20C.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="1536" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Po4apAn4jifeYqraT2XtBQ1Q5Vpi7YA6qo43VGj08DOrh37ZCw3CSml5CgxBl_8ViJp1HtdDLk9uk5lRj7MYGPPQQyc_Cj3HWenaWiUUV1fkeUfDF9-Rd9NoPTIJMU6eh0qsdpGa9upcoE3Lp7o4WpdqvB6XRkT9K24C5k5wtlvUO3IDgdvWysplY1sy/w400-h310/Boston%209%20scared,%20cropped-%20Katy%20C.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Boston's early "don't come too close" days (KC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>On release from a cage our New Aids newbies either go up on the top of the cages to be out of reach, or they go to the back of the pen, to the Prince of Wales enclosure (named for the school that donated it, not for HRH!). Boston was a back-of-the-pen boy, and could often be found in company with black <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2020/11/francis.html">Drake</a> and orange <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2021/01/ginger-genes.html">Rocket</a>. Rocket (brother to Sprocket in the back pens, and probably cousin to Mercury next door) has progressed from a frightened feral to a pet-me-pet-me boy – though you have to move quietly. Drake does NOT like human company, as you can see by his flattened ears – but he does seem to like Boston’s company, and can often be found near his buddy.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvlfN_xiqL6c_IUA4zEoguFKClCDLt0H6HuT-FxWYn96hmBzFds1CwMR9czZ4wr6g1qI_01wM5sBb6vgI7OLtwuQSGhOV7U8NoXIzl9U40wdvW7-Jx9Pk4KAwYRlTL733KsymABfvgjv5bizzviWcj_tFEgwfRNH4fSiJRvgrGmTdUW864CAdnR-oAjLI/s416/Boston%20&%20Drake%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="416" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvlfN_xiqL6c_IUA4zEoguFKClCDLt0H6HuT-FxWYn96hmBzFds1CwMR9czZ4wr6g1qI_01wM5sBb6vgI7OLtwuQSGhOV7U8NoXIzl9U40wdvW7-Jx9Pk4KAwYRlTL733KsymABfvgjv5bizzviWcj_tFEgwfRNH4fSiJRvgrGmTdUW864CAdnR-oAjLI/w400-h225/Boston%20&%20Drake%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Boston, with Drake in the background (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>In the finer fall weather, Boston could often be found up on the roof of one of the cabins – whether getting away from things, or bird-watching, who knows... Once it was colder he took possession of a cat-tree in P-of-W, and there he held court, establishing the centre for claiming his human worshippers.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbNyufUmR2co6iff8rZtmNtLTb-4SEvu9wIFV5UQgee0QRha5j3IQaoZWIPI9pwlnmG1_kD0c_jONCybamlvndAKaBebL2A-rIjObN1a2A2fEM1MXb00BjUAXMZSMF7k3B07oKh0UVBNfo9HWSB2M56sYXKax8I4YrLVa6FZPUaH16JJjzZWSAUzUHuI8/s749/Boston%205%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="421" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbNyufUmR2co6iff8rZtmNtLTb-4SEvu9wIFV5UQgee0QRha5j3IQaoZWIPI9pwlnmG1_kD0c_jONCybamlvndAKaBebL2A-rIjObN1a2A2fEM1MXb00BjUAXMZSMF7k3B07oKh0UVBNfo9HWSB2M56sYXKax8I4YrLVa6FZPUaH16JJjzZWSAUzUHuI8/w225-h400/Boston%205%20-%20BC.jpg" width="225" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">An elegant gentleman in a tux (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><i>Katy Cobb is the volunteer who works in New Aids on Tuesday evenings, and this boy has become a very special project for her. She writes:<br /></i>When I first met Boston in the summer he was a pretty typical feral guy. He would often hiss at me from the roof of the shed, and take off running if I got too close. When the weather got cooler, he traded the roof for an indoor cat post but he was still quite shy and never seemed too happy to see me. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyr7a-NnfNeD4NlCuk9mYuA8d8GeN-ObFRMvLenBkJsb4cpB87vFBLT4_FmX3P66mSC_kqUoIe9zFbZu6-RLomrZnXpH-u0QGXsFlh5oTkZ8sTDXzIaerOlsqJ_Zw5qa2kmVI49PPay3ye4rw_Wb4HBnBQFBg7GlgJPEnH4nrykxr1kUaBzHRsu0Rjigy/s1536/Boston%208%20surprise%20cropped%20-%20KatyC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1453" data-original-width="1536" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyr7a-NnfNeD4NlCuk9mYuA8d8GeN-ObFRMvLenBkJsb4cpB87vFBLT4_FmX3P66mSC_kqUoIe9zFbZu6-RLomrZnXpH-u0QGXsFlh5oTkZ8sTDXzIaerOlsqJ_Zw5qa2kmVI49PPay3ye4rw_Wb4HBnBQFBg7GlgJPEnH4nrykxr1kUaBzHRsu0Rjigy/w400-h378/Boston%208%20surprise%20cropped%20-%20KatyC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Seriously? You want to be my friend? (KC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>I started giving him treats, and eventually cautiously tried petting him. He was initially skeptical and even whacked my hand a couple of times but I sensed he wanted to be friendly and just didn’t know how yet. After several more weeks of consistent treat offerings, he started to accept cheek rubs. And the floodgates opened. He can’t get enough! He loves being brushed, and even likes belly rubs. He leans his whole body against me while purring and headbutting me for even more attention. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi0mwsQX9mK8A9GfPdQ7JfrAISIIfUBxQJxBdCQw7BdZEUL3y_764DFnXwnka4imdXONLKBtVwW6tzZepFlLXrhVg4ZiNtT7sPzaDMKk9B9kvCJLUs4hy4gduQtl6AW8DKA8jmMqAK-pjMGSdgQDfX0TEyZDqgLLNo70XvkPyYvRpSjiyjVtgrzR0-1Rx/s1536/Boston%202%20cropped%20-%20KatyC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi0mwsQX9mK8A9GfPdQ7JfrAISIIfUBxQJxBdCQw7BdZEUL3y_764DFnXwnka4imdXONLKBtVwW6tzZepFlLXrhVg4ZiNtT7sPzaDMKk9B9kvCJLUs4hy4gduQtl6AW8DKA8jmMqAK-pjMGSdgQDfX0TEyZDqgLLNo70XvkPyYvRpSjiyjVtgrzR0-1Rx/w400-h300/Boston%202%20cropped%20-%20KatyC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shy, but hopeful (KC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Lately I’ve been seeing if he’d like to become a truly snuggly lap cat. He’s definitely interested and I’m slowly winning his trust. So far he has committed to putting his front two paws on my lap while leaving his back paws on the floor. Fingers crossed he’ll be a full lap cat soon! <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HMR3LHYkoUO4TOBrEb12sBbNORXBdcrP8FEZ-B2sN4IBzRZNzZZUfv3nO0-jl0o-318Xk0MMVl_GCWb7Sp4_sILRE13Zf7wOAzdHx9czPnWTTHNUESKElVV0GxjkZUaAHICZAAIelAQmk4HIrXszHrRb3ke05hWviUKQvoh6mffSO_uTENiCCECyniKu/s1536/Boston%201%20cropped-%20KatyC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="1536" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HMR3LHYkoUO4TOBrEb12sBbNORXBdcrP8FEZ-B2sN4IBzRZNzZZUfv3nO0-jl0o-318Xk0MMVl_GCWb7Sp4_sILRE13Zf7wOAzdHx9czPnWTTHNUESKElVV0GxjkZUaAHICZAAIelAQmk4HIrXszHrRb3ke05hWviUKQvoh6mffSO_uTENiCCECyniKu/w400-h316/Boston%201%20cropped-%20KatyC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yes, I like this... (KC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Some cats are affectionate right away, and those cats are lovely. But once in a while there’s a hidden gem with a rough exterior who needs some patience and understanding to come out of their shell. Boston has so much love to give, and I can’t wait to see him fully embrace it. <i>(KC)</i><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult and Katy Cobb (thank you, Katy!)</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Katy Cobb, Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson</span></i></div></i><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-85552151154182957482024-02-28T15:35:00.000-08:002024-02-28T20:32:05.089-08:00KCs At Work<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwQv8G6MZjOGY5dubigR_Q89YgAoT0TC_JXyXj7OKiwPBTA3_rJj0uMWGWzjsYCkEgUJo0bQwAFXJI1a-GJo_X-O2TY0cvt12E_v93TnWZXBYIIp9LxqOAZVhatGCNOpFf-oq03xZr95Jrx5Peu-FJw7lrx8WTIClE1cXfHDHuO8K0KrVgXcbBPESKHCg/s1440/Raisin%204%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwQv8G6MZjOGY5dubigR_Q89YgAoT0TC_JXyXj7OKiwPBTA3_rJj0uMWGWzjsYCkEgUJo0bQwAFXJI1a-GJo_X-O2TY0cvt12E_v93TnWZXBYIIp9LxqOAZVhatGCNOpFf-oq03xZr95Jrx5Peu-FJw7lrx8WTIClE1cXfHDHuO8K0KrVgXcbBPESKHCg/w400-h267/Raisin%204%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Raisin - a pen 4 feral girl (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Visitors who come to the Sanctuary at the weekend are often astonished and delighted by the number of cats who come to greet them. What they will not see are the cats who are hidden away – either by their own choice as ferals, or because they are caged. Cages are not what the Sanctuary is about – but they are occasionally a tool to lead to something better for the cats. Most of our felines are here either because they are feral or because they have been surrendered. If they are immediately adoptable, then they will go to the Adoption Centre – but many of them are not ready for that when they come to us. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCsiz0LFc9uWtS9qfsrdm5egxkJS7-4n5YNOwNieMG_tjYtHj7xk17N7xVF_fbRE2HUksM9lizXjBrlvh2enDEAp2ZWioS9k4uXFBm9WpwcuXhqw2CR6MSLwRRf-kCjsmF_81zJw7tihDtEZ6Ru8t4bZHdtSoROe3gVmMC20V7K9bul5yT8LnCLhyP3CZ/s1194/Creampuff%204%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1194" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCsiz0LFc9uWtS9qfsrdm5egxkJS7-4n5YNOwNieMG_tjYtHj7xk17N7xVF_fbRE2HUksM9lizXjBrlvh2enDEAp2ZWioS9k4uXFBm9WpwcuXhqw2CR6MSLwRRf-kCjsmF_81zJw7tihDtEZ6Ru8t4bZHdtSoROe3gVmMC20V7K9bul5yT8LnCLhyP3CZ/w400-h239/Creampuff%204%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">When Creampuff came to us, she spent most<br />of her time hiding behind a drape (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Because a new cat needs to be assessed, and have all its vaccinations current before it is released into the general population, it will often spend 4-6 weeks in a cage. There is always a drape or a carrier or somewhere that they can hide. Some cats are happy to be hidden away in a quiet dark place – but that doesn’t help them when they finally emerge. So there is a team of volunteers who will happily spend time sitting quietly in a cage, allowing the cats to learn that humans are not always scary.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpj1aCoReJauHBBiFmbzHL80cylAjx2QsH8IKf1QRKktIxAXq-rnKN465t9kHB1JFDBxuh3mpVqmSG-axkOtNeh46cJmJm4UbqEA0quJ_3GLdmbroAAXvCAWiGS7m6EBgCK8lu8KU9Bm5KE2zsMZjxiiM95RecY2eNSDFpH2Yzcj0kV7r7hOwCvZHsvzR0/s960/Marianne%20Moore.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpj1aCoReJauHBBiFmbzHL80cylAjx2QsH8IKf1QRKktIxAXq-rnKN465t9kHB1JFDBxuh3mpVqmSG-axkOtNeh46cJmJm4UbqEA0quJ_3GLdmbroAAXvCAWiGS7m6EBgCK8lu8KU9Bm5KE2zsMZjxiiM95RecY2eNSDFpH2Yzcj0kV7r7hOwCvZHsvzR0/w300-h400/Marianne%20Moore.jpg" width="300" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Marianne & friends - by Selena Marchetti</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The team of Kitty Comforters was the creation of the late Marianne Moore, a longtime Sanctuary volunteer, who passed in 2018. Six years before that, she established a group of “cat-whisperers”, volunteers who had proved themselves to be calm and patient and occasionally willing to be scratched or bitten by a scared cat. The team is still operating under the leadership of Anne Marchetti, and they appear faithfully each afternoon to spend time with cats who are receiving medical care, cats who are new to the Sanctuary, and some of our shyer inhabitants. <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-GnH4EX7dAb5Nwq_geOjzKkhSQFroAi8G3V84T4yi78-8dfCEo3vQJA1ZzaIdvS-0a94kQEhHiKIp7BPvinSJ2MFsld1t-qT3Dq55cvgSN8a037Ic9qNhmCAZYVP7WjwNrpA6_iU-BF6k7fwktLkjsteZVNJKv_E_nc2beULPktT2wz2vjSD7DBJDPZa/s2048/Percival%20&%20Sweetpea%20Churu%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1517" data-original-width="2048" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-GnH4EX7dAb5Nwq_geOjzKkhSQFroAi8G3V84T4yi78-8dfCEo3vQJA1ZzaIdvS-0a94kQEhHiKIp7BPvinSJ2MFsld1t-qT3Dq55cvgSN8a037Ic9qNhmCAZYVP7WjwNrpA6_iU-BF6k7fwktLkjsteZVNJKv_E_nc2beULPktT2wz2vjSD7DBJDPZa/w400-h296/Percival%20&%20Sweetpea%20Churu%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Food bribery (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Sometimes kitty-comforting time involves food bribery, or gentle grooming; sometimes it may be no more than a quiet voice. We learn which are the cats that are aggressive in their fear, and which are the ones who will only hide. Most of our time is spent with caged cats, but we also look for the shyer cats who live in the open pens, and connect with them as much as we can. Kitty Comforting is about much more than just having fun with your favourite cats; it’s about searching out the ones who need us, and establishing trust by whatever means we can. Most of the KC’s have done their share of cleaning and feeding, and are known by Anne to be really patient and persistent in reaching out to scared cats.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7fmvuy8l-XuBCiGFplJ_4-SshUAc7v-QPIuPhe86t5lR-kk4VAWix04Qi_VoS8rjyIxfGZZJQVsg_yuLJQoBfK428Qtl2_UjIteKpZHWaBMortiKHBfnw8ZHXkjRBtiMCcTeNqZzRABXOmMrE1HuVM1pFmx5G44YubDhsgy73i6ChKEmZyqi9KaE-zSO/s1664/Tibby%20-%20AliciaAlmeida%20-%20cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="1246" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7fmvuy8l-XuBCiGFplJ_4-SshUAc7v-QPIuPhe86t5lR-kk4VAWix04Qi_VoS8rjyIxfGZZJQVsg_yuLJQoBfK428Qtl2_UjIteKpZHWaBMortiKHBfnw8ZHXkjRBtiMCcTeNqZzRABXOmMrE1HuVM1pFmx5G44YubDhsgy73i6ChKEmZyqi9KaE-zSO/w300-h400/Tibby%20-%20AliciaAlmeida%20-%20cropped.jpg" width="300" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shy Tibby hid in her cage for weeks;<br />now she's out, and much more confident (AA)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>My recent KC session began with a visit to the Adoption Centre, where <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2024/02/back-from-edge.html">Benjamin and Olivia </a>are still awaiting someone to offer them a home. Benjamin came out for a visit and some cuddling; Olivia has a bit of a cold, and stayed in her bed. From there, I paid a visit to the SingleWide offices, which are much quieter than usual, with a lot of the admin transferred to the Adoption Centre. <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2024/01/two-big-boys.html">Mojo and Licorice</a> like the quiet, but they also need some stimulation and love. They have been joined recently by pretty <b>Tibby,</b> surrendered for inappropriate urination, and, like<a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2024/02/fuzzy-bros.html"> Oscar and Winston</a>, on a diet to see if there is a physical basis to her problem. Licorice believes firmly that all visitors come to see him, and took exception to my paying attention to Tibby by backing up and peeing on my leg – sometimes a penalty of being around our cats!<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieB51y5WzpsdPO5NOUeKe9yeKGvNlqMzcVC5P02yNM-zCHAVbJ6hHKBAPqPt9vfwcVKuBX5Em3WERUIPoFRE_T1YZwM0iNv1B9Cu_j4-_G2j6KckDpyny1V4NPt6wDw2ZRybUkFU0LD6dI-MRgB6JIOYpWZVeB-G4yK2Ye7uGFcYj8mdhyphenhyphen87nkJmFbJtqk/s1366/Li'l%20Bit%206%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1366" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieB51y5WzpsdPO5NOUeKe9yeKGvNlqMzcVC5P02yNM-zCHAVbJ6hHKBAPqPt9vfwcVKuBX5Em3WERUIPoFRE_T1YZwM0iNv1B9Cu_j4-_G2j6KckDpyny1V4NPt6wDw2ZRybUkFU0LD6dI-MRgB6JIOYpWZVeB-G4yK2Ye7uGFcYj8mdhyphenhyphen87nkJmFbJtqk/w400-h267/Li'l%20Bit%206%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Li'l Bit outside the DW deck (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>A quick visit with Oscar and Winston and a check in to compare notes with fellow KC Catherine, on her own rounds, and then I moved to the back pens for a bit, checking in there with Lisa who is one of the “magic people” with ferals. She has been working with shy <b>Raisin</b> in Pen 4, who still hides away from everyone else. We are watching for a gradual relocation of some of the <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2024/01/welcoming-cranbrook-college-cats.html">Cranbrook College cats</a> who base themselves on the high shelves on the DoubleWide deck, but who have also discovered the cat-door and the potential for visits to the back pens. We will occasionally see Li'l Bit and Foster exploring in Pen 3 – though their explorations tend to be around sunrise or sunset, when there are fewer humans around. <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuRRovtXxlASscFHNn7aXJnHouu7TJ6KHe_VXzq1wE5dcW2cmwwdrVONl7jt0jiYBsj21YNvo5nmRPFIrCeDsff7Uf2Tm95F52PsMNLGuSGV6oGmNmeAT-Tz0MhKYnjH4LBCN8a7gKGCSxdQ4_AnB3cleeFm9PduD2_pLPUHLjoMNYN3PtTIMljoSsjvX/s4032/Audi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuRRovtXxlASscFHNn7aXJnHouu7TJ6KHe_VXzq1wE5dcW2cmwwdrVONl7jt0jiYBsj21YNvo5nmRPFIrCeDsff7Uf2Tm95F52PsMNLGuSGV6oGmNmeAT-Tz0MhKYnjH4LBCN8a7gKGCSxdQ4_AnB3cleeFm9PduD2_pLPUHLjoMNYN3PtTIMljoSsjvX/w400-h225/Audi.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sweet Audi is beginning to be curious about us (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>There are more caged cats in the DW because it’s closest to the med-staff. Some of the cages still bear “Staff Access Only” signs; in a few of those cases, Anne may let us know that the KCs do have access to start the familiarization process. Sometimes we’ll barely see the cats in question, who have places to hide and prefer to use them with strangers – sometimes the offer of a treat will be met with a well-placed claw, or with warning hisses. With these cats, little and often is the key; they need to discover that humans may feel scary, but don’t intend them any harm.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYla77lGEhPIvUMXtG_vRwnQSOAhBtJ0EczDJKS5iCZNKKRM4M4g5A8CnxbWSaeOQ_rumoXs472N_2-kgx1GRbNAT-pYbyAL2jOANxsb5sy75u0ve7pFA29FDsluXOhSb0m0FbMcPXn0PvegAkh_pxP5wHXPNhtGnD8qEgtU7YH0vjAMu1wLIbwyw2MFY/s831/Sylar%20caged.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="831" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYla77lGEhPIvUMXtG_vRwnQSOAhBtJ0EczDJKS5iCZNKKRM4M4g5A8CnxbWSaeOQ_rumoXs472N_2-kgx1GRbNAT-pYbyAL2jOANxsb5sy75u0ve7pFA29FDsluXOhSb0m0FbMcPXn0PvegAkh_pxP5wHXPNhtGnD8qEgtU7YH0vjAMu1wLIbwyw2MFY/w400-h226/Sylar%20caged.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sylar enjoying petting (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>From visiting with shy <b>Audi</b>, I move next door to visit with an old friend. <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2016/04/sylar-update.html">Sylar</a> has been my sponsor cat for years. He’s a very wary feral who loves his chicken, and has progressed to occasionally accepting it from the hand, though he prefers to have it tossed to him. Currently he’s in for observation; he’s lost some weight and has become pretty matted, so I hope blood tests will show the problem. As always, there is fierce hissing as I enter his cage. Because I know that he knows me, I loop his drape back so that he has nowhere to hide; I offer his favourite chicken and he accepts it without biting my fingers. Very carefully I hold tidbits in my right hand and pet him with my left; he allows it without protest, and the bum comes up as I pet down his body. By the time I leave him, he’s allowing petting (but not grooming) without hissing. I suspect, though, that once he’s out, he’ll be back to not permitting touch!<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Jxltnn2AOp8El1nrNRFl63IZe1r0-iVZOM_0bE34rkraXiKH4F36ofHCP8CyiyblUrfcQiKHSJ6wKacg5DCrYLDhShp8LsOhoM_lqePOiHC1SXWBA3_HYpROuxZNpULcHJgeKSAwQJcFtBBZOdaFUTeBvvrhIn3jBbcyGnRE8ED_1px75pwhLGysX3R-/s3567/Denzel&Luke.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2092" data-original-width="3567" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Jxltnn2AOp8El1nrNRFl63IZe1r0-iVZOM_0bE34rkraXiKH4F36ofHCP8CyiyblUrfcQiKHSJ6wKacg5DCrYLDhShp8LsOhoM_lqePOiHC1SXWBA3_HYpROuxZNpULcHJgeKSAwQJcFtBBZOdaFUTeBvvrhIn3jBbcyGnRE8ED_1px75pwhLGysX3R-/w400-h235/Denzel&Luke.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sometimes the best Kitty Comforter is another cat -<br />Denzel is being visited by his buddy Luke (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>I visit with sweet <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2021/05/big-black-beautiful.html">Denzel</a>, who’s had dental surgery and is caged so that he only eats wet catfood for a while, and with <b>Mortimer</b>, who’s just out of a cage; Mortimer came to us as an unneutered tomcat and was a little reactive while he waited for release. Now the hormones are under control and he has his freedom, he’s become one of the cuddle-bugs on the DW couch.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6Irg-aPvxhzj375NTWMCTZd8S2OEO35Wfl6F519AKig4rvjyGdf4Bqpd8Zd12sAt9TWNSkGsf73KpyI_IS4YzcRitBzj4H-dkUQwPm938CUf56CJ2Jizm3gcOMTwS24LOhPIpe9rAiIdE62pwC1rtkAEwPEgpdSjGCE-9XbVPD103a39-AlJFU8nmB6s/s4032/Espoir.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6Irg-aPvxhzj375NTWMCTZd8S2OEO35Wfl6F519AKig4rvjyGdf4Bqpd8Zd12sAt9TWNSkGsf73KpyI_IS4YzcRitBzj4H-dkUQwPm938CUf56CJ2Jizm3gcOMTwS24LOhPIpe9rAiIdE62pwC1rtkAEwPEgpdSjGCE-9XbVPD103a39-AlJFU8nmB6s/w400-h225/Espoir.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Espoir is listening, but doesn't want to interact (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>One more scared cat to visit, and I return to the front courtyard to be with <b>Espoir</b> in the Hill House. She pretends I’m not there and hides behind her cat-tree; it’s too soon to push her for contact, so I just sit and talk with her for a bit. There’s a series of interested visitors at the door; many of the Hill House cats enjoy company, both human and feline, and Espoir will not be a total stranger to them by the time she’s finally allowed out.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pEzDNN4vrwcjUBCYfJsBtmmwfxzlX7bU4pTqHECVPGeo5bCAKbs5V_g8FIav6hHWs-J9BPaS_qrwXTvVyBVzNTCJ72s4Rg9Jp5rOcIcqAxHTDdt-Y4t7nmscd_EG9YBF2ldT99_qC9R9zyEAiLSAItanF8y-D8bQ16Lao_IBUwsQ3RbfjYS4yB0WPZ8_/s828/Magnus%20&%20Jim%20-%20GA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="828" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pEzDNN4vrwcjUBCYfJsBtmmwfxzlX7bU4pTqHECVPGeo5bCAKbs5V_g8FIav6hHWs-J9BPaS_qrwXTvVyBVzNTCJ72s4Rg9Jp5rOcIcqAxHTDdt-Y4t7nmscd_EG9YBF2ldT99_qC9R9zyEAiLSAItanF8y-D8bQ16Lao_IBUwsQ3RbfjYS4yB0WPZ8_/w400-h396/Magnus%20&%20Jim%20-%20GA.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Magnus (front) and Jim (GA)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>My shift is finally over as the evening feeders-and-scoopers start to appear – I stretch my time with a short visit to my buddies in the Val Jones pen. The porch chair is vacant, and as soon as I sit down, <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2021/03/tia-magnus.html">Magnus</a> and <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2020/05/jim-frank.html">Jim</a> occupy my lap. These guys don’t need the work we put into the more scared cats, but they do need us to spend some time with them because the Val Jones is closed off as an FIV pen – they just need to know they’re not forgotten, and most of the regular volunteers will happily spend time with them as well.<p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Graham Akira, Alicia Almeida, Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson</span></i></div></i><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-46494496315262732442024-02-20T12:48:00.000-08:002024-02-21T17:22:41.685-08:00Fuzzy Bros<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRp4Tavs8oPox-zXtlEiK7EbJwmwmuY6Le9ssUsWLd4K6g1W-zTKSvaaFDVjnuwbuBvGkV3S7xHiAloIUZhcni-d1FEZJcftqXIP8xIJSN6_IUeq7-_BwcUk5WmdUA1NOz2dKoORj_h4-FJ7zGi-jOd1Xr6iQMrQm5q8JGlu5_1fo-cW8cLY2-oVb0DuON/s4032/PXL_20240215_220300769.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRp4Tavs8oPox-zXtlEiK7EbJwmwmuY6Le9ssUsWLd4K6g1W-zTKSvaaFDVjnuwbuBvGkV3S7xHiAloIUZhcni-d1FEZJcftqXIP8xIJSN6_IUeq7-_BwcUk5WmdUA1NOz2dKoORj_h4-FJ7zGi-jOd1Xr6iQMrQm5q8JGlu5_1fo-cW8cLY2-oVb0DuON/w400-h225/PXL_20240215_220300769.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oscar & Winston (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>What can you do with a couple of British Shorthair and Longhair cats other than give them the very British names of Oscar and Winston?<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuhru3hSdmXEVR8IwEcyG-6_BsOrigCuU1ytrydBXujkyJ0ZbmmZVkYTv7njPw_VrvareiVMA-p__mVQT5WDqWfjE05iaRzcl-x5sTf-xJWcfuh6EP3MUTDN1o3NUJmWcAn29ysUsuEfHtH_8tmZUSp3Wn_XLgER_x1JlbmaE3R1wRxPS6E-IQPGekuI5/s4032/PXL_20240111_215716712.PORTRAIT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuhru3hSdmXEVR8IwEcyG-6_BsOrigCuU1ytrydBXujkyJ0ZbmmZVkYTv7njPw_VrvareiVMA-p__mVQT5WDqWfjE05iaRzcl-x5sTf-xJWcfuh6EP3MUTDN1o3NUJmWcAn29ysUsuEfHtH_8tmZUSp3Wn_XLgER_x1JlbmaE3R1wRxPS6E-IQPGekuI5/w400-h225/PXL_20240111_215716712.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oscar and Winston when they arrived at the Sanctuary - <br />skinny and shorn... (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>These two came into our care before Christmas. Both came to us having had a short haircut to help deal with a case of fleas, but their fur is growing again, and Winston will soon be the Longhair that originally came to us. They’re probably not purebred – they both have the pushed-in face of a Persian (Winston more than Oscar), but that may be accidental genetics, since the British Longhair is a mix of British Shorthair and Persian. The Persian element may explain the haircut – Persians usually need daily brushing to maintain their fur and discourage matting, and once they mat, all you can do it shave it out!<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrPR-MUpr8chJYSiH7GgclNgTkM-9HUfeVkq11oRIJVu2ZLmuUwzKBwtM6yIqPodOHbvAkokw61ii7A2ADVxxWsnORa9fd6PctfZKgQze8Ex21zfMilfrFBq6CLyGZD_HKehdxB9Cd-1-GdIdif_sTlrIvadaMM9ilHumGqQrP2ug7yrd9KbEWXzbkS-Z/s1440/Oscar%201%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrPR-MUpr8chJYSiH7GgclNgTkM-9HUfeVkq11oRIJVu2ZLmuUwzKBwtM6yIqPodOHbvAkokw61ii7A2ADVxxWsnORa9fd6PctfZKgQze8Ex21zfMilfrFBq6CLyGZD_HKehdxB9Cd-1-GdIdif_sTlrIvadaMM9ilHumGqQrP2ug7yrd9KbEWXzbkS-Z/w400-h267/Oscar%201%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oscar is serious, but no grouch.... (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Initially these boys were surrendered to the Adoption Centre in 2022 when their owner passed away, and they were adopted out a month later. Sadly, Oscar started peeing outside the litter box, and with a new baby imminent, the family decided that they couldn’t deal with the problem, and the pair were returned to us. In fact, Oscar was probably in pain and avoiding the litterbox, where he felt the most pain. This is why the experts tell us to get the cat to the vet when there’s a pee-ing-outside-the-box problem – sometimes the reason is physical or situational, and not just the cat being “bad”.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tRQbcjzp-uH7arNHn2kPRIjgxby6ZHkA4K2XClay8DTbC9vAnWG9ImWG5WJVntiVa77CEprqvpbPBEJt321S-R4S9Oo8-f9HAtff_w7z8AmrWjBTh7s-oK9scJIF0sB1yYqaYnc3rD3cuE8MyDkXQRF0L0nJK1JNgqCUtffpUXB3LudRuoysFPFlXD-5/s2048/Oscar%202%20=%20MW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tRQbcjzp-uH7arNHn2kPRIjgxby6ZHkA4K2XClay8DTbC9vAnWG9ImWG5WJVntiVa77CEprqvpbPBEJt321S-R4S9Oo8-f9HAtff_w7z8AmrWjBTh7s-oK9scJIF0sB1yYqaYnc3rD3cuE8MyDkXQRF0L0nJK1JNgqCUtffpUXB3LudRuoysFPFlXD-5/w400-h267/Oscar%202%20=%20MW.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enjoying outside-cage time (MW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Oscar has idiopathic cystitis. “Idiopathic” just means that we don’t know what causes the cystitis flare-up, but low-mineral prescription food will help to prevent formation of crystals or stones, which can increase inflammation. Since they came to us, both Winston and Oscar have been on a prescription diet, and seem to be doing really well.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzja0X4k0lANrkubpMaDfSzqava2AoRaz__O-O1Ll4ZCOz8q8qgA2BlO3vKIHzJnsgLQFWU1WbZiyzwHEVKVdjYu4n9h9JkPPugQ_nDw623g5oCJn5xOArmdHZuUG_caFjAng1T0wOamd-1kVJ5KlULD2dxUiPUxoOft3wnECPYKVW1SXgStr2ob1mL_i/s1440/Winston%201%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzja0X4k0lANrkubpMaDfSzqava2AoRaz__O-O1Ll4ZCOz8q8qgA2BlO3vKIHzJnsgLQFWU1WbZiyzwHEVKVdjYu4n9h9JkPPugQ_nDw623g5oCJn5xOArmdHZuUG_caFjAng1T0wOamd-1kVJ5KlULD2dxUiPUxoOft3wnECPYKVW1SXgStr2ob1mL_i/w400-h267/Winston%201%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Winston has amazing poofy feet (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Oscar is the “blue” brother; he likes to come for petting, but he’s also one of those cats for whom petting leads to “I gotta eat!”, and he heads for the food bowl. Winston is the silver boy; he likes a little lap-time, but prefers to sit beside you to be petted. They're around 9 years old, definitely a bonded pair, and we’re thankful that their former owners recognized the bond and didn’t try to split them up, returning both of them to our care. The two of them were caged in the Single-Wide office initially, but were then moved into one of larger Single-Wide cages, giving them much more room, and more human company.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL21iE0bvRdM0bVq2HFcQ8dF5SD6fFc8z9ywuO5cqH6NG1AksGVA1zDQ_140zve0TlXj5Ziikbb6sGoz6_QC3uFLpvj2SoZCp7VnuhaEPRy65cVvKBWUcgSfdEf2XsNtV8pZ5XsbGJyCKl3bd6BPmxmv9TQpkLzpDvEVSQYEMJLaxqg2w3Ck_RfYdxaY7/s2048/Winston%202%20MW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL21iE0bvRdM0bVq2HFcQ8dF5SD6fFc8z9ywuO5cqH6NG1AksGVA1zDQ_140zve0TlXj5Ziikbb6sGoz6_QC3uFLpvj2SoZCp7VnuhaEPRy65cVvKBWUcgSfdEf2XsNtV8pZ5XsbGJyCKl3bd6BPmxmv9TQpkLzpDvEVSQYEMJLaxqg2w3Ck_RfYdxaY7/w400-h267/Winston%202%20MW.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">... and is showing himself to be playful,<br />now they're out of the cage (MW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>These sweet boys are very people-friendly. Their breed is known for their easy-going, tolerant nature, stocky bodies and poofy feet! Though Winston is a “Longhair”, in fact the coat is only semi-longhair, but dense; he will need regular grooming to keep the part-Persian coat in good condition. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjEerARsC5Ya4ByKv4bWyz4pf4sO4HDbzQS_IG8S1djsdQI0d15Ua1K1cVYkhyphenhyphenAgRfA5EjYfAaZkMCY5p0Hougr-tIgXP1YoBGGLccieEnoakSK2QVMpVS5ckfHtHxFIA2STO19CvLiPq_EZEiKf6W7vsOTQsu_L_LjfTbW6-8z5sZvHm6gsQX-ZSrZs_/s947/Winston%20admission%20pic%20cropped.jpg.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="947" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjEerARsC5Ya4ByKv4bWyz4pf4sO4HDbzQS_IG8S1djsdQI0d15Ua1K1cVYkhyphenhyphenAgRfA5EjYfAaZkMCY5p0Hougr-tIgXP1YoBGGLccieEnoakSK2QVMpVS5ckfHtHxFIA2STO19CvLiPq_EZEiKf6W7vsOTQsu_L_LjfTbW6-8z5sZvHm6gsQX-ZSrZs_/w400-h284/Winston%20admission%20pic%20cropped.jpg.jpeg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Winston's original admission picture;<br />we can see there's still lots of hair to grow!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Our staff are now working out what will be best for them. They could probably manage on the regular cat food shared by the other Single-Wide cats, but the prescription food is more likely to prevent a recurrence of the cystitis. However, that means keeping them separated from the other cats. Currently they are having out-of-cage visiting time with the other cats, and we’ll see if the evening feed can be kept apart. <div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OtkLjlR_2JuIyisgLlu2Izog2JVhWKqvsmENO9oDL-2PyJSEAdYPvHSwPVp4djKtdfMYirmrDsbF8lPZ8Q__-oGeYzReOhVZlp10E42gDbaEku56wnhvXzacwTkr-Q8XlbsQDvdzVz7oc3wnf1vjCbvfA1UL9cp8T3BLzP4PRU5T3W9WTwScVN_mhMEN/s4032/PXL_20240215_220149420.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OtkLjlR_2JuIyisgLlu2Izog2JVhWKqvsmENO9oDL-2PyJSEAdYPvHSwPVp4djKtdfMYirmrDsbF8lPZ8Q__-oGeYzReOhVZlp10E42gDbaEku56wnhvXzacwTkr-Q8XlbsQDvdzVz7oc3wnf1vjCbvfA1UL9cp8T3BLzP4PRU5T3W9WTwScVN_mhMEN/w400-h225/PXL_20240215_220149420.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Don't look now, but she's taking a picture..." (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>What they really need is a home with a cat-savvy owner who can feed them the special diet, and who knows to watch for the signs of trouble and react quickly. That may mean a fosterage situation, or a foster-to-adopt one. If you know anyone looking to bring some feline British aristocracy into their home, please contact our Shelter Manager!<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK27DaYHgy8Ew-OaUdOyD5jS_I-2780WxOuhyXLvtjCHKJQgbZrL9m2rMc5WYyA-WkJ3jcfsZVdPYC82p6WrNgVHq9dOnRsnFjio6neXkj4BTuyYZhhuCKozlVVhsCq2JCZq6Oxw0cUxOn1OXPH4bd9jYNfOyBIMxzq3Q0fd4l6VbgyUj-cuwQisi95Xxn/s4032/PXL_20240215_220159471.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK27DaYHgy8Ew-OaUdOyD5jS_I-2780WxOuhyXLvtjCHKJQgbZrL9m2rMc5WYyA-WkJ3jcfsZVdPYC82p6WrNgVHq9dOnRsnFjio6neXkj4BTuyYZhhuCKozlVVhsCq2JCZq6Oxw0cUxOn1OXPH4bd9jYNfOyBIMxzq3Q0fd4l6VbgyUj-cuwQisi95Xxn/w400-h225/PXL_20240215_220159471.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bonded brothers (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright</span></i></div></i><p></p></div></div>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-37894971597921051062024-02-14T11:55:00.000-08:002024-02-14T17:50:25.077-08:00Billy Ray<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3GwADKi2JOFr-mMfJutMgx6QTEQzy1xNxQMmmkCu_ZeA4FEpTGtJFg-T1J5406aDIIbnSTzHB_YqRF0sjwztslmdkG4z_NJPfXmS1zFytJ-O7jV6_irNPY3N5KRUPStOXGwU_JjOQlG-KX90RASseLom3tzS4K5BdC2Tp2wzo2ctjPhO3XIUBbCLXMBO/s2048/Billy%20Ray%20-%20kn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3GwADKi2JOFr-mMfJutMgx6QTEQzy1xNxQMmmkCu_ZeA4FEpTGtJFg-T1J5406aDIIbnSTzHB_YqRF0sjwztslmdkG4z_NJPfXmS1zFytJ-O7jV6_irNPY3N5KRUPStOXGwU_JjOQlG-KX90RASseLom3tzS4K5BdC2Tp2wzo2ctjPhO3XIUBbCLXMBO/w400-h267/Billy%20Ray%20-%20kn.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Summer catnip - KN</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>This sleek black panther came to us in the summer of 2022. He was transferred from a rescue on Vancouver Island, and because he tested positive for FIV, it was decided that he should come to us to join the FIV+ group in the Val Jones pen.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_c6-SBZ_CSV8_b6ikU1bWpZpfYhgKWeiulnbT2tu30vvs17zmhavVUkZcR981J3COm91mzu5wf-IYV4YnLvugIX8Mo2CmaPyoytVzqfWEyRNLa5rj0KeJOFjECZwZH6cPu1-yeXGxw5WVggbGY5P4kMMs1xjaKDoABtGR8hGt0T1DXe6ZPPAKQWWo03e0/s1358/Billy%20Ray%203%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1358" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_c6-SBZ_CSV8_b6ikU1bWpZpfYhgKWeiulnbT2tu30vvs17zmhavVUkZcR981J3COm91mzu5wf-IYV4YnLvugIX8Mo2CmaPyoytVzqfWEyRNLa5rj0KeJOFjECZwZH6cPu1-yeXGxw5WVggbGY5P4kMMs1xjaKDoABtGR8hGt0T1DXe6ZPPAKQWWo03e0/w400-h225/Billy%20Ray%203%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">BC</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>He had been trapped in an area that had quite a few unneutered stray/feral cats, and through the Island rescue, he was fostered for a while. During this period he warmed up to humans a bit, but was not really tame. He came to us with the name of Midnight. Since we already have two Midnights in the Sanctuary (feral Midnight in Pen 4, and shy ex-VOKRA Midnight in the back courtyard), he needed a name-change. Assistant Manager Valerie thought that he was a twin to her own cat Ray, and our boy was renamed Billy Ray. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxV7yz4fW6qKMs1rMUPdsi-TfU97DwE1t6WUuVXgwnbWM-WOcL83ihEfDK2HvO7ap8BPjqtKvauBBGoH8wj961OGJsHeBEqH9efaDCnfLCP8Jz8tWvmQj8ZkeyM1dYFVPtQOi1wBrMkaJHeN3iF3zU5J1Z06ilJWiwTveLmBsyhT9tL2E9NpL9AMlC7ka/s2048/Billy%20Ray%202%20-%20Brielle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxV7yz4fW6qKMs1rMUPdsi-TfU97DwE1t6WUuVXgwnbWM-WOcL83ihEfDK2HvO7ap8BPjqtKvauBBGoH8wj961OGJsHeBEqH9efaDCnfLCP8Jz8tWvmQj8ZkeyM1dYFVPtQOi1wBrMkaJHeN3iF3zU5J1Z06ilJWiwTveLmBsyhT9tL2E9NpL9AMlC7ka/w400-h267/Billy%20Ray%202%20-%20Brielle.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">BH</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Having yet another transition was hard on him, and when he first came he would cower in the back of his cage, and would hiss and growl and swat – probably reverting to all the same fearful body language of his initial trapping. But it didn’t take much time before he was ready to emerge, and to accept, first gentle petting, and then much firmer scritches – both cheek/chin and butt. The Val Jones cats are very tolerant of each other, and their body language conveys to the rest of the clowder that there’s nothing to fear. Even the most timid of the group, Virginia, is now coming out more frequently and looking for attention.<br /><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOug005Li146ntiVOR76mJk9DQtkn3uAJaF-bQUnCV9g9S56fqBWT1SeQLZqkUbqqzfH218nzESvUPJHbZ7u9YQJKQRKRNKeVTAEfKkRQ6VhTM4l7T3_KcU9pRdq0ooV62Dv_rmrW-0xG1csLpFPPDyz3N3lqgnElKk8rXZenv1ZCDinBrQoaWDO_c0ArV/s2048/Billy%20Ray%207%20-%20Justin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOug005Li146ntiVOR76mJk9DQtkn3uAJaF-bQUnCV9g9S56fqBWT1SeQLZqkUbqqzfH218nzESvUPJHbZ7u9YQJKQRKRNKeVTAEfKkRQ6VhTM4l7T3_KcU9pRdq0ooV62Dv_rmrW-0xG1csLpFPPDyz3N3lqgnElKk8rXZenv1ZCDinBrQoaWDO_c0ArV/w400-h225/Billy%20Ray%207%20-%20Justin.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">JS</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>There is no reason that FIV+ cats cannot be adopted if they fulfil two conditions; they need to remain as indoor cats in order not to spread the virus, and they need to tolerate the company of any other cats in the home; the danger with FIV is the transmission of the virus through the blood of bite wounds. Several of the Val Jones cats are quite adoptable, and Billy Ray is one of that group. Once he trusts, he is happy to come for lap-sitting and petting, with a few ecstatic wiggles to encourage you to continue. Our sweet panther needs a home, and a lap he can claim as his own!<br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7c6OojOFUSF0AKxYCsAh-AMESALoebGBq73hv0YeckVN3UCX72NrzjeesA-6cuxWeJbUb4_z1dpoYRYMpVFG1voQjTFqxaoMWSWnlqbbX8-xiabfaIO7Ilo2Rwd-Ryq2k4X2Eyh45ImI9KfYkdpZWnXqV8EvBg0wXvudPjkSSyBHSqaa9nVva__1I7ZQF/s764/Billy%20Ray%205%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="430" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7c6OojOFUSF0AKxYCsAh-AMESALoebGBq73hv0YeckVN3UCX72NrzjeesA-6cuxWeJbUb4_z1dpoYRYMpVFG1voQjTFqxaoMWSWnlqbbX8-xiabfaIO7Ilo2Rwd-Ryq2k4X2Eyh45ImI9KfYkdpZWnXqV8EvBg0wXvudPjkSSyBHSqaa9nVva__1I7ZQF/w225-h400/Billy%20Ray%205%20-%20BC.jpg" width="225" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">BC</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Look for Billy Ray in the Sanctuary Calendar for 2024!<br /><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Brigid Coult, Brielle Hutchison, Karen Nicholson, Justin Saint</span></i></div></i><p></p></div>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-72164757510714388262024-02-07T19:59:00.000-08:002024-02-08T07:29:23.797-08:00Back from the Edge<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_Tzp2WZ69CdgfLN6CpqcCoaj9zGWy1OU4qDBS-A4Ygfi2mz6qp7x9kuR6E1c1TjRE1u_WPChXaTRGPG7Yp9YVUeD64v-AQObhxoIQAJWvXj9G9dM1FjH4OHd-JzSmeVUvKWtykiBAGoE2r8yk-XmuUf5Lz1YK2FCVkeshutCLk4WWhqy9onqKg2syuGq/s2048/Benjamin%20&%20Olivia%202%20cropped%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="2048" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_Tzp2WZ69CdgfLN6CpqcCoaj9zGWy1OU4qDBS-A4Ygfi2mz6qp7x9kuR6E1c1TjRE1u_WPChXaTRGPG7Yp9YVUeD64v-AQObhxoIQAJWvXj9G9dM1FjH4OHd-JzSmeVUvKWtykiBAGoE2r8yk-XmuUf5Lz1YK2FCVkeshutCLk4WWhqy9onqKg2syuGq/w400-h283/Benjamin%20&%20Olivia%202%20cropped%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Benjamin & Olivia (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Shortly before last Christmas, an emergency came our way. We were told of a case where an elderly couple had died at home together, and their deaths had gone unnoticed for several weeks. That must have been dreadful for the family, and for the responders; where RAPS became involved was that there were two cats in the home, and they had had no food or water – or only what was left – for all that time. Many living creatures can survive on a greatly reduced diet, but when there is no food and water, cats’ systems will shut down as ketones increase, insulin drops and electrolytes are depleted.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4LFXzqa2aE2BCsEaFIl73qvdX4WKue2G49U6aXrxxdRhCXTTJqCzDlh28v5VQAbzxH9EYTClucIaRJsGD7Bl3iKaUuEEpM9SOTqPjMSQ6nChd4cYgQrId9aEMI-liQUGj8RgaCOM6eEz5xiMhmXvUijiVwY8kv0me_xq4qB6LWwZ6NqIx3xFSanjJLQ8/s1134/B&O%20at%20entry%20cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1134" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4LFXzqa2aE2BCsEaFIl73qvdX4WKue2G49U6aXrxxdRhCXTTJqCzDlh28v5VQAbzxH9EYTClucIaRJsGD7Bl3iKaUuEEpM9SOTqPjMSQ6nChd4cYgQrId9aEMI-liQUGj8RgaCOM6eEz5xiMhmXvUijiVwY8kv0me_xq4qB6LWwZ6NqIx3xFSanjJLQ8/w400-h314/B&O%20at%20entry%20cropped.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Two sad, scared, weakened cats when they arrived.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>There is a condition called refeeding syndrome, in which the unwise rescuer overfeeds a starving animal and makes the whole situation worse, since the body cannot cope with a sudden abundance of nutrition. Luckily, the rescuers of these two knew the dangers, and Benjamin and Olivia came into our care – initially to the RAPS Hospital for an emergency response, and then once they were stabilized, to the Sanctuary. Initially they were skin and bone, and with claws and whiskers disintegrating for lack of calcium and vital minerals. Under the care of our med-staff, they were fed small amounts slowly – a high-fat, low-carb diet with carefully balanced nutrients to allow their bodies to recover slowly.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLL9zSU_u55yT6Ih9QtMqy_10vZgOwfzKD2joSzoL8ijhhsMF3dA1CetZo6PNSztJHIddBTqiQcQmc7ZxLSsVv-m6ym54-aHtOq1-kuiAtxggdwCNwpp8yFtqfOEiqgs_7EtePLdC2tE-_nIFj5fUIAzlP91fbt06Uh9d1VkhMWoq_FysokkScDvneHVL/s4032/PXL_20240201_235658853.PORTRAIT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLL9zSU_u55yT6Ih9QtMqy_10vZgOwfzKD2joSzoL8ijhhsMF3dA1CetZo6PNSztJHIddBTqiQcQmc7ZxLSsVv-m6ym54-aHtOq1-kuiAtxggdwCNwpp8yFtqfOEiqgs_7EtePLdC2tE-_nIFj5fUIAzlP91fbt06Uh9d1VkhMWoq_FysokkScDvneHVL/w400-h225/PXL_20240201_235658853.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Benjamin & Olivia (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>We discovered that they were a fairly young pair, and likely siblings, though from different litters, since Benjamin is older than Olivia; both are long-haired, Benjamin an orange tabby and Olivia a sweet tortie with the distinctive split-face feature some tortoiseshells have. We found that he had been neutered, but she had never been spayed; safe enough for them to live together, but hard on her – female cats can come into heat every 2-3 weeks, and they can be very vocal about their discomfort. Luckily, she had been kept indoors – this sort of situation is why we sometimes get a surge in feral cats, when a female manages to escape, and within six months the consequent litter of kittens will all have had a litter of kittens! <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFrn0qxC0gBgC4SPwZpZZYm84csGhrSMbuoMmeefN-B62ERkwMOC0G1HYUbgBjYZdT66nTGxww3VJuekSRo6-3xp9CwSqNl-3KK0ktmO6Au7Igtd2_b4fHv1xnuJNUtbCl798hz5W_D3kzEGq0a19YQKr7s0ZRhy5_pUQBEr6fxtf58S03HH43PVIoW_0/s4032/PXL_20240201_235158620.PORTRAIT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFrn0qxC0gBgC4SPwZpZZYm84csGhrSMbuoMmeefN-B62ERkwMOC0G1HYUbgBjYZdT66nTGxww3VJuekSRo6-3xp9CwSqNl-3KK0ktmO6Au7Igtd2_b4fHv1xnuJNUtbCl798hz5W_D3kzEGq0a19YQKr7s0ZRhy5_pUQBEr6fxtf58S03HH43PVIoW_0/w225-h400/PXL_20240201_235158620.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="225" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Benjamin</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpoBd4K8m1b7FsneeIEjahWrzVXav9MaYCtlc_ThdsYb9ZiRT6buD40fJbZBpO0q4xcrsq81t7ZRdt4mo83YsM-v6SznnXyH-RRPUHmJlaF2Y3w1lnwQcCdLnf-Qeakf5p1N-22t8OFva4jQzrkYr_UNMz7UAyilVQsthOkdC-k0Dgg7kWzwUIkptSV3j/s4032/PXL_20240201_235258022.PORTRAIT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpoBd4K8m1b7FsneeIEjahWrzVXav9MaYCtlc_ThdsYb9ZiRT6buD40fJbZBpO0q4xcrsq81t7ZRdt4mo83YsM-v6SznnXyH-RRPUHmJlaF2Y3w1lnwQcCdLnf-Qeakf5p1N-22t8OFva4jQzrkYr_UNMz7UAyilVQsthOkdC-k0Dgg7kWzwUIkptSV3j/w225-h400/PXL_20240201_235258022.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="225" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Olivia (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Under our care, Olivia has now had her spay surgery, and is recovering well. The two of them are sharing one of our big cages in the Hill House, and feeders, cleaners and Kitty Comforters have all fallen in love with them. Both are friendly and used to being handled; they love to play and are the subject of much curiosity from the cats in the main room. They could be transferred over to the Adoption Centre as soon as Olivia is fully healed, but they have more space at the Sanctuary than in the smaller AC cages, and though we hope that they will find a loving home for their remaining eight lives, we’ll make the most of their company while we have them. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzG0Mf153-KWd2De9_xHETDRTmkouid8hG9GWAr7_w6ZIZm-o-5thFhmq3yzxVmxOhGP0kpi7zoFjul6PUCSYC2mr5UUbwZQSXtkrbYOrZJMzIx0kAgEXDgLKl0q4lHwpueRi_hsGRUhSkrqzdMFqe409rpTUzmHIWfA1KQvvChQIYvRloHfJHfophYiwm/s2048/Benjamin%20&%20Olivia%201%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1273" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzG0Mf153-KWd2De9_xHETDRTmkouid8hG9GWAr7_w6ZIZm-o-5thFhmq3yzxVmxOhGP0kpi7zoFjul6PUCSYC2mr5UUbwZQSXtkrbYOrZJMzIx0kAgEXDgLKl0q4lHwpueRi_hsGRUhSkrqzdMFqe409rpTUzmHIWfA1KQvvChQIYvRloHfJHfophYiwm/w249-h400/Benjamin%20&%20Olivia%201%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="249" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Happy and well (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen & Brigid Coult</span></i></div></i><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-77296711578498746282024-01-31T17:59:00.000-08:002024-02-01T11:35:50.008-08:00A Gentle Tortie<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKxUGme6sPhJmSb0ErJyjwvRznLimj2I-SBdVYMVOGXwRnTa93AEVmR4Q-gpEUuYe9ychPHyG2dhwOtWxy2FdqG07NYqF2TzNuls3Mv5AJgr6eEV20mFDfmEusBh3sKC7Nv8MRQ7hRZkJTCZyfXvTXPbdwDDHJvYS-wVbuCzxSYvciGlsfWJ-pHgUDEod/s2048/Chelsea%204%20-%20MW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKxUGme6sPhJmSb0ErJyjwvRznLimj2I-SBdVYMVOGXwRnTa93AEVmR4Q-gpEUuYe9ychPHyG2dhwOtWxy2FdqG07NYqF2TzNuls3Mv5AJgr6eEV20mFDfmEusBh3sKC7Nv8MRQ7hRZkJTCZyfXvTXPbdwDDHJvYS-wVbuCzxSYvciGlsfWJ-pHgUDEod/w400-h267/Chelsea%204%20-%20MW.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chelsea (MW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>We sometimes label people as having “attitude”, which, for felines of course translates as “cattitude”. “Tortitude” is often affectionately attributed to a cat with a tortoiseshell or calico coat who displays extreme attitude. Torties are characterized as feisty, strong-willed furry-coated divas – and we’ve had our share of them at the Sanctuary. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3P0djRe9x7rvsmagiYM73ik0tMPWiVK_zf1m1_P_eD_k1mHNhJWQztCCBN9yYWlGBFnJT6cOTxkdoX2RMD79EEkLyM7ZajdPUJupYvCs6VAFtRVHUpAx18Z5X2PAwpwRL9hgT0IGtcDlTJu9h5bYM6NFRdaXM8q0-Y_jf93rfh_hpYDwr0inszHxb8knF/s1440/KitKat%2012%20yoga%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1440" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3P0djRe9x7rvsmagiYM73ik0tMPWiVK_zf1m1_P_eD_k1mHNhJWQztCCBN9yYWlGBFnJT6cOTxkdoX2RMD79EEkLyM7ZajdPUJupYvCs6VAFtRVHUpAx18Z5X2PAwpwRL9hgT0IGtcDlTJu9h5bYM6NFRdaXM8q0-Y_jf93rfh_hpYDwr0inszHxb8knF/w400-h315/KitKat%2012%20yoga%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">KitKat's morning yoga (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Our beloved <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2017/02/a-trio-of-torties.html">KitKat</a>, who has just passed, was very much the queen of the front courtyard; in the DoubleWide you will inevitably encounter <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2022/03/tortietude-plus.html">Lunette</a> (dubbed “lunatic” in her early days) and in the back courtyard, most of the cats know to stay out of the way of pretty, feisty <a href="http://Princess.">Princess.</a> Long-term volunteers will have memories of <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2016/02/a-touch-of-tortitude.html">Emily and Treacle,</a> and many others who displayed various degrees of tortitude.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTxcVHGfxaKcXgxlIJ1Ttz3q1On3rpCocxNUipLsnb7H88hUZKznlp2o6MC4fAqU_ydM4FcLqvSl-F4LjmKTSN-i1sqz6JijPsbMbbpe-MRyFPbxX8c2yGQCNGjndsboDEk2xsUen170Zw9xqvCXp1ySPX5KZhxD42M4b01yqLLetBd_Da0sOBIbtKzTL/s2048/Toes%206%20-%20MW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTxcVHGfxaKcXgxlIJ1Ttz3q1On3rpCocxNUipLsnb7H88hUZKznlp2o6MC4fAqU_ydM4FcLqvSl-F4LjmKTSN-i1sqz6JijPsbMbbpe-MRyFPbxX8c2yGQCNGjndsboDEk2xsUen170Zw9xqvCXp1ySPX5KZhxD42M4b01yqLLetBd_Da0sOBIbtKzTL/w400-h267/Toes%206%20-%20MW.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Toes (MW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>But like many characterizations, it’s a fallacy. Sisters <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2017/02/a-trio-of-torties.html">Blaze and Toes</a> are sweet girls with not an ounce of sass, and the same can be said for little Chelsea.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxXM0Lz4wXEObpnSPHuOPWq0m1AaE9eScbjQFvFz-dktoqeLpMTcchpb6qgsTMywi5fn7o6J8oBSWEYalrLiI6GPg67eR7AuALN9BAkfl8xztW35tBMNA2cIuzLh5kv4OtlsHe7ZuUe7TN2TJgAQWXpYzP3TZr7oEyol1A_J7gI6itMDzZu3tzn8k69po/s828/Chelsea%2012%20-%20GrahamA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="828" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxXM0Lz4wXEObpnSPHuOPWq0m1AaE9eScbjQFvFz-dktoqeLpMTcchpb6qgsTMywi5fn7o6J8oBSWEYalrLiI6GPg67eR7AuALN9BAkfl8xztW35tBMNA2cIuzLh5kv4OtlsHe7ZuUe7TN2TJgAQWXpYzP3TZr7oEyol1A_J7gI6itMDzZu3tzn8k69po/w400-h281/Chelsea%2012%20-%20GrahamA.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chelsea has a box all to herself (GA)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Chelsea is another of the cats who came to us from Sammy’s Forgotten Felines, in Kamloops; she arrived in the summer of 2021. We heard that she had been sharing space with some leukemia-positive cats, but testing showed her to be clear, and it was decided to release her into the front courtyard. She came to us because she had been labelled as a feral, but her timidity felt more like shyness than fear, and over her time with us, she has become increasingly outgoing, approaching to ask for petting and coming for lap-time.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWtjLpe_8uEYAtL4e0Tdn96pph2PQ3NT5ztJTO_wqBgY41k8zaEMzda1B0mxPUv3SWo1eUaz0n_lYzsGzjkdhOXlk_DYYh2GN9mgQe-rtABz5CBKVMgs9Dvoxj25xeUACb0VLioJZRsIa1o_4eEltQsfhwBgfKw9z1ay15JLROvHsxZUKs4R7MI5-LPGn/s1836/Chelsea%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1836" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWtjLpe_8uEYAtL4e0Tdn96pph2PQ3NT5ztJTO_wqBgY41k8zaEMzda1B0mxPUv3SWo1eUaz0n_lYzsGzjkdhOXlk_DYYh2GN9mgQe-rtABz5CBKVMgs9Dvoxj25xeUACb0VLioJZRsIa1o_4eEltQsfhwBgfKw9z1ay15JLROvHsxZUKs4R7MI5-LPGn/w400-h267/Chelsea%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Courtyard play (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>She bases herself around the Hill House, though she roams the front courtyard freely. Physically she reminds me very much of our beloved <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2016/06/we-love-you-daisy.html">Daisy</a>, but without the chromosomal abnormalities – she’s small, with a shorthaired dense coat. Like so many other torties, she has golden eyes which “pop” against her dark colouring. She tends to be a loner – she doesn’t socialize much with the other cats, but neither does she show any aggression to them; she doesn’t display any territoriality (unlike her Hill House predecessor, Treacle!). <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONz1LtkPVkK9gfZNPnaU6l5X4zpkPfupvhuHkDFfP0PDYF6uR6tU23ocKzuQpudxGgjOQUSsFYIgCZ4dX5taqCmnwVKU25j3PIE-LhEY6bXrldZ26cDJfkOwgB-SaT8zU5sWJAY1s3rVih_WBcz_yUAjT14d0r5teNhT62LMdGer-Tsq0Z-MCwajqasML/s2048/Chelsea%2010%20-%20Mel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONz1LtkPVkK9gfZNPnaU6l5X4zpkPfupvhuHkDFfP0PDYF6uR6tU23ocKzuQpudxGgjOQUSsFYIgCZ4dX5taqCmnwVKU25j3PIE-LhEY6bXrldZ26cDJfkOwgB-SaT8zU5sWJAY1s3rVih_WBcz_yUAjT14d0r5teNhT62LMdGer-Tsq0Z-MCwajqasML/w300-h400/Chelsea%2010%20-%20Mel.jpg" width="300" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pet me, please (MD)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>She prefers to be above floor level when asking for attention, and will “play cute” on the shelf to ask for pets; in the courtyard she can often be found on the ledges around the trees, and though not one for athletic leaping, like Melon and Honeydew, she enjoys some wand play if there aren’t too many cats around.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLrOtVVoeRpbTfC1TIxXAZWAeMl0_0MbK4hP4ustnysj5XgtsmMOPDafN7UN6pXoQ08uBbb0qavm0AJfAOIDEjvLhCuwyKXgHU65g5QgxbIYy16oK0Rem5OIplAJFFLUfx7zs0Ga74YxwjQeOmmkQYjEVFSwakrAqvFA3L2BioDJZ8eN-v-3Xx8Fca_0t/s1836/Chelsea%203%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1836" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLrOtVVoeRpbTfC1TIxXAZWAeMl0_0MbK4hP4ustnysj5XgtsmMOPDafN7UN6pXoQ08uBbb0qavm0AJfAOIDEjvLhCuwyKXgHU65g5QgxbIYy16oK0Rem5OIplAJFFLUfx7zs0Ga74YxwjQeOmmkQYjEVFSwakrAqvFA3L2BioDJZ8eN-v-3Xx8Fca_0t/w400-h267/Chelsea%203%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Catnip bliss (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>We’ll be watching her this spring when we open to visitors again, and hope that her sociability extends to strangers; right now it’s probably too soon to think about finding her a home, but if the right person fell in love with her...<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Graham Akira, Melanie Draper, Karen Nicholson, Michelle Wright</span></i></div></i><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-82464347546260345942024-01-24T19:46:00.000-08:002024-01-24T19:55:18.195-08:00Thanksgiving for Cats<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqXgIKo_s2wcNwNfVQCAPr17tzyU7cGs3b3NlgWGxxy4nWWNxZtWCxuZrVqSk4D9WTSsmA9sNG9h-EF1rYMJPFyu3KbsWLgxNtZdLk3RWTLCIrNYSb-9VeluHi52xHD78suAbtWvOFv9A6Z8fYOi-AvqT5fyRJzgSp03v8JxVXTDSC67RyXe48Eee6aTa/s1440/Malibu%202%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqXgIKo_s2wcNwNfVQCAPr17tzyU7cGs3b3NlgWGxxy4nWWNxZtWCxuZrVqSk4D9WTSsmA9sNG9h-EF1rYMJPFyu3KbsWLgxNtZdLk3RWTLCIrNYSb-9VeluHi52xHD78suAbtWvOFv9A6Z8fYOi-AvqT5fyRJzgSp03v8JxVXTDSC67RyXe48Eee6aTa/w400-h267/Malibu%202%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shy Malibu (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Back in the fall, Lisa and Ken spent quite a bit of time patiently watching traps. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Q0blfrQUCUumNF1Kq6bSza2Dcz7FZ_xqci7oOKfmAazT0cdVOw9ccnJCW7ZFWKaCK-dERvVYit7Mi3-ZBwVMccl5RTStBSPaYdbctTQv-4cXKmFqOQBgi0GoVWx7tLB19We1w-pS1KaPBD_bvTKE9UWWeXmYoqyV2uPCCPFP9agEA5T-ATF2vNV3vhca/s1152/feral%20kits%20for%20trapping%20-%20LBW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1152" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Q0blfrQUCUumNF1Kq6bSza2Dcz7FZ_xqci7oOKfmAazT0cdVOw9ccnJCW7ZFWKaCK-dERvVYit7Mi3-ZBwVMccl5RTStBSPaYdbctTQv-4cXKmFqOQBgi0GoVWx7tLB19We1w-pS1KaPBD_bvTKE9UWWeXmYoqyV2uPCCPFP9agEA5T-ATF2vNV3vhca/w400-h278/feral%20kits%20for%20trapping%20-%20LBW.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Can we trust you? (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>There are generally two circumstances in which trapping needs to be done. The first is when we discover a colony of cats who are producing kittens – and it only takes a couple of unfixed females, and we suddenly have a flood of felines. The fall colony was discovered in an industrial area – not a safe place for kittens – and it was important that they were brought in before kitten season extended itself yet again.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09Uj8JDi6JGnU_dR3q-3_Ad4pMpwqynrBDQ11SomDTRFzCbJwhWod752YTtWeXVGdvE758wQfh271L4DgLQ76qJPonr0ewwtT0jjchfwyVJe4iUZrLBDSIvNvbSjhpGnpysplXKpOBoCM7sz2KlVYv7JVF0bpQKx9DQTUCj4TFKjVs5GYyAA0Dw18BhWg/s1332/Truffle%202%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1332" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09Uj8JDi6JGnU_dR3q-3_Ad4pMpwqynrBDQ11SomDTRFzCbJwhWod752YTtWeXVGdvE758wQfh271L4DgLQ76qJPonr0ewwtT0jjchfwyVJe4iUZrLBDSIvNvbSjhpGnpysplXKpOBoCM7sz2KlVYv7JVF0bpQKx9DQTUCj4TFKjVs5GYyAA0Dw18BhWg/w400-h225/Truffle%202%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Truffle in his hideaway (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The second is when we discover a situation in which a colony is being claimed and “maintained” – but not really... too many cats living freely inside and out, not enough food so they’re annoying the neighbours, in danger from traffic and predators. In this case it was largely a human hoarding problem, and a mental health one – and the best Ken and Lisa could do was to get cats to safety wherever possible. Other rescues were involved here, and RAPS has played our part in solving the problem.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8DfkP5Vmm3kBlJuduwdxK_6-ckIeixBnbeD1FARVN0ZXW2S5Ua_FFAOxrX383Ckry8w1Pe-MwWk45He1rmgzh4lVtMPxeHOLfRtjdzJlKi0eJGTgmLO8Q-6IwqI9BB-HgNAHvcSd2SZMK2HhV9AmkM2KPE3PILa3HIcv_usNKgHx3Pljxa2-HkEQzeQi/s1332/Creampuff%202%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1332" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8DfkP5Vmm3kBlJuduwdxK_6-ckIeixBnbeD1FARVN0ZXW2S5Ua_FFAOxrX383Ckry8w1Pe-MwWk45He1rmgzh4lVtMPxeHOLfRtjdzJlKi0eJGTgmLO8Q-6IwqI9BB-HgNAHvcSd2SZMK2HhV9AmkM2KPE3PILa3HIcv_usNKgHx3Pljxa2-HkEQzeQi/w400-h225/Creampuff%202%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hissy Creampuff is calmer now (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>In the first situation, trapping is largely a matter of time and patience; food resources for the cats are limited, and food offered is tempting, and brings them into the trap. In the second situation, the trappers were handicapped by well-meaning neighbours (and probably the “owner” herself) who were feeding a variety of (not always cat-food) things, and causing the cats to turn their noses up at the food in the traps because they weren’t hungry.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdhSp4_kwiM421mgirsyqOwrLrrAvhHKXOkMeipTOs9rflFL-5jF_L0Ofn0uSL4S312ZPTQh-XJWmJ70bYcSJEbBZYs54zfkiUqq7QJ8UEcfOvLPqPoq-kZwpckLurKoSCM171vvmPxchnFpEz3fFImEbnhSKV5pHq6TGCf0yyU-qZzzRTi1eK3iFKQTA/s2048/Misty%20&%20Windy%202%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdhSp4_kwiM421mgirsyqOwrLrrAvhHKXOkMeipTOs9rflFL-5jF_L0Ofn0uSL4S312ZPTQh-XJWmJ70bYcSJEbBZYs54zfkiUqq7QJ8UEcfOvLPqPoq-kZwpckLurKoSCM171vvmPxchnFpEz3fFImEbnhSKV5pHq6TGCf0yyU-qZzzRTi1eK3iFKQTA/w400-h241/Misty%20&%20Windy%202%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Misty & Windy safe in fosterage (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Patience and persistence usually wins, though. Through October, lots of little black kittens from the industrial area have come through the care of fosterers to the Adoption Centre and on to their own homes. They were initially given Thanksgiving names like Cranberry, Stuffing, and Turkey – and then moved on to other fall names: Hayride, Windy, Stormy, Misty, Moonlight... Foster-moms have been very busy, and are now taking that last painful step of sending their beloved kittens on to better things - a process made easier by the fact that Lisa takes wonderful kitten pictures!<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghElffgMl_jVPznQ8Y1v_qrvUL7J6divmEvHd52K-th4Qye_BKqxSHbVEa4Oo2xjPMOnbpMmE0PnOtHKPeIpi8tHFWBvt9Jmgnfo0ekx1FRtLmcJL4xVoaEWFrvTezZuAhVTeudnMtqDWy5Tsx72-3zQBMuNOzbg5PAHIkk3yvOMxKW-Jj7zSWVWPrGWy7/s1024/Caramel's%20babies%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghElffgMl_jVPznQ8Y1v_qrvUL7J6divmEvHd52K-th4Qye_BKqxSHbVEa4Oo2xjPMOnbpMmE0PnOtHKPeIpi8tHFWBvt9Jmgnfo0ekx1FRtLmcJL4xVoaEWFrvTezZuAhVTeudnMtqDWy5Tsx72-3zQBMuNOzbg5PAHIkk3yvOMxKW-Jj7zSWVWPrGWy7/w300-h400/Caramel's%20babies%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="300" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Caramel's babies (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>One of this collection of hoarded cats ended up being whisked away and into fosterage. Pretty Caramel really wanted attention, and got plenty of it while she awaited the birth of her kittens. With all that handling, she will probably go to the adoption centre with her babies when they are ready to find their own homes. Their sweetness is reflected in their names: Sundae, Donut, SugarCookie, Shortbread, ButterTart and CandyCane.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-k7PKU-UbUT5Ej-Pkv2uj8zMIBJ8-95NQ820WH4j9GmMs7prvdIOfxHy3LIKz5XwwVbmLOEPftgtwBfvwAu4zlSvu3e5COhQVzPokADd6HAHt9sRo6O0Q2JUtbI30g1Z6xZG23C4PjvBxwMPIojGvCT2C3Y2Xm3FPVRpGnSGjUZecm7iN8i5zkpsYHNZo/s2048/Misty%20&%20Windy%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-k7PKU-UbUT5Ej-Pkv2uj8zMIBJ8-95NQ820WH4j9GmMs7prvdIOfxHy3LIKz5XwwVbmLOEPftgtwBfvwAu4zlSvu3e5COhQVzPokADd6HAHt9sRo6O0Q2JUtbI30g1Z6xZG23C4PjvBxwMPIojGvCT2C3Y2Xm3FPVRpGnSGjUZecm7iN8i5zkpsYHNZo/w225-h400/Misty%20&%20Windy%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="225" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Misty & Windy have extra toebeans! (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The cats from the hoarding situation are mostly adult, semi-feral or very shy, and have needed time to settle down at the Sanctuary. Many of them also acquired food names: Cornbread, Truffle, Tater, Creampuff, Tamale... A few non-food names also snuck in – beautiful Malibu can be confused with Creampuff as they bound across the front Courtyard until you see Malibu’s markings clearly. Tater is doing no bounding – she is very shy and spends most of the time hiding behind the drapes in the ORA.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_rKLO_niXE_CcgghMJxurPIu5_ZjVSY66wra7LjZyzTjBoGYm6-QpzQOiOrIN4y-Xm3-nQBqpJC2krRWKYA78PLGJlwwrKxqbAMrz3mJJk0qVRk1xfhbafCqwmkPMiyaPcOMGPm58NVLMGigNchx03Zu52aC-ruwkVG4jPfQDY2zf5sd7B9yTaiIXkrO/s1830/Creampuff%20&%20Cornbread%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1830" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_rKLO_niXE_CcgghMJxurPIu5_ZjVSY66wra7LjZyzTjBoGYm6-QpzQOiOrIN4y-Xm3-nQBqpJC2krRWKYA78PLGJlwwrKxqbAMrz3mJJk0qVRk1xfhbafCqwmkPMiyaPcOMGPm58NVLMGigNchx03Zu52aC-ruwkVG4jPfQDY2zf5sd7B9yTaiIXkrO/w400-h228/Creampuff%20&%20Cornbread%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Creampuff & Cornbread (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Cornbread is probably the youngest of the group, and loves attention but is easily over-stimulated. Her jumping and running rapidly changes to smacking, and it’s important to read her body language. My own favourite among these cats is Truffle; he’s a handsome lynx-point who hangs out now in the yellow-door shed, but who is happy to emerge and visit with a human. I think, as with many of this group, he prefers the crepuscular pattern of morning and evening; when I arrived early one morning last week, he and Cornbread were playing near the gate, and were ready for some fussing and attention; when I left, late morning, he’d retreated to his hidey-hole.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GzAEdnM9u3OikvGk7cCtEDVyurjkZizCx0gb9mWL7XL0lOcgPW6nCIGebCvfTIvjWbMd3990KdhxG6AWxXR9m22jMLRa4Ub2ngF4OxoRp_WweKEgMenVQUZVEAWngGEOoZZuwb_4PAr1GC5LagG9oQmDQvsInm7FPX_zlh05S2tjPZjz-dJrsYtGExZW/s1332/Cornbread%204%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1332" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GzAEdnM9u3OikvGk7cCtEDVyurjkZizCx0gb9mWL7XL0lOcgPW6nCIGebCvfTIvjWbMd3990KdhxG6AWxXR9m22jMLRa4Ub2ngF4OxoRp_WweKEgMenVQUZVEAWngGEOoZZuwb_4PAr1GC5LagG9oQmDQvsInm7FPX_zlh05S2tjPZjz-dJrsYtGExZW/w400-h225/Cornbread%204%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cornbread loves to play (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Tamale is not very social; he hovers between the Hill House and the ORA, putting himself wherever the humans are not. Karen managed to get this wonderful picture of him with a distance lens; usually if he sees us around, he hides. But he’s interested; often I’ll be visiting in the ORA and look up to see him peering through the window from the Hill House.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcdgLBYVsRM_BeBR2NKSqul5DBYFDOLC8aNFpGbzEZ2jm7GrQTnUKNls8LVEAyUD4m1fNvigy9sArar7W9Y38Y7BhNHjQr_TZgLKGqW8XiHBwoOgJlemPCgtjUZIuGkpyTm99stWnjCj7PJtdTuJqKKgwSBLKp3wa3BNxgvp8U9MFB9aLbixBKByA8mve/s1440/Tamale%202%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcdgLBYVsRM_BeBR2NKSqul5DBYFDOLC8aNFpGbzEZ2jm7GrQTnUKNls8LVEAyUD4m1fNvigy9sArar7W9Y38Y7BhNHjQr_TZgLKGqW8XiHBwoOgJlemPCgtjUZIuGkpyTm99stWnjCj7PJtdTuJqKKgwSBLKp3wa3BNxgvp8U9MFB9aLbixBKByA8mve/w400-h267/Tamale%202%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tamale (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>With all these cats, we’re dealing with a mixture of ferals and strays. The ferals will probably remain wary, and appreciative of all the many hiding places we offer them; the strays know about human contact and we hope that patience will eventually bring them around. Whichever way it turns, we are thankful for their presence with us, and grateful for all Lisa and Ken’s trapping efforts. Thanksgiving is not just for one time of year!<p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson</span></i></div></i><br /><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-19813149222502400032024-01-16T12:10:00.000-08:002024-01-17T19:00:52.919-08:00Percival Snugglebutt<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PfrIqlftoikjkloWLBd6eqQGyEbuojkno5TIxRd89VQG4uB_Hssr7Hrbo9xS3MqxPCokTlXthY3f62Hh7hBjd7DEh7L10r0lcT70MsZ6aFACgaRPehzNCZlufNx3shIA7VcZSPZGxY1f78tcyDQMxw4N5s14f9AH9blDVbqtuG2nh7Nbugj0K-DzOiY1/s2048/Percival%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="2048" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PfrIqlftoikjkloWLBd6eqQGyEbuojkno5TIxRd89VQG4uB_Hssr7Hrbo9xS3MqxPCokTlXthY3f62Hh7hBjd7DEh7L10r0lcT70MsZ6aFACgaRPehzNCZlufNx3shIA7VcZSPZGxY1f78tcyDQMxw4N5s14f9AH9blDVbqtuG2nh7Nbugj0K-DzOiY1/w400-h271/Percival%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Percival Snugglebutt (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>When the first group of cats from the <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2022/11/finding-sanctuary.html">Kootenays</a> came to us in 2022, it was clear that we had a pretty bonded clowder with strong genetic ties. It’s impossible to say how any specific cat in the family is related to another, but the majority of them are Himalayan in appearance, with blue-point or (more commonly) seal-point colouring. I still have problem telling most of the girls apart!<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__KQYbHl5Vt_hL9-CR7AcS2uKM1fAowhsaz73I-23dnqe7dLiDIzioBkAXJyIDuE-EkqUd99VvfobkE2LtAsYEyvopo2YRnqJU0QWC_hxxrsO5rKEUIPNijXrGFPvw_Gtg-bmT6Vh9w5a0jNEGb5_yLyv6LqYq12SL3tlUEtPTyhKuHNvLHxHt4SWUeSc/s1358/Three%20little%20owls%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1358" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__KQYbHl5Vt_hL9-CR7AcS2uKM1fAowhsaz73I-23dnqe7dLiDIzioBkAXJyIDuE-EkqUd99VvfobkE2LtAsYEyvopo2YRnqJU0QWC_hxxrsO5rKEUIPNijXrGFPvw_Gtg-bmT6Vh9w5a0jNEGb5_yLyv6LqYq12SL3tlUEtPTyhKuHNvLHxHt4SWUeSc/w400-h225/Three%20little%20owls%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Betsy, Zoey, Cleo (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Three cats stood out as different; two little lynx-points, and a blond boy with no tail. The two girls – <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2023/05/lynx-point-lovelies.html">Sweetpea and Curious</a> – were both pregnant when they came to us, and in all likelihood, the sire was blond Percival Snugglebutt, (sometimes known as Big Daddy) because there were a few kittens who had his tailless gene.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIas8jZP5BXSwr6kwzvPk19T599vhtG2KlNxrQVH8VVa_uDVLk-5K9drDw88bAi5LcjOkr5stD8BHMk7o24A_vC06nU8TJmJnsRZYuNcEAj6GdaIrKuK6Fz5oq5G2nM5UF65gw_77by-8AqdKkXYW-vcCEm82fcdSkB8v7vLVoVlL5JLQIvspCb4ICuM3V/s2048/Percival%206%20-%20Justin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIas8jZP5BXSwr6kwzvPk19T599vhtG2KlNxrQVH8VVa_uDVLk-5K9drDw88bAi5LcjOkr5stD8BHMk7o24A_vC06nU8TJmJnsRZYuNcEAj6GdaIrKuK6Fz5oq5G2nM5UF65gw_77by-8AqdKkXYW-vcCEm82fcdSkB8v7vLVoVlL5JLQIvspCb4ICuM3V/w400-h225/Percival%206%20-%20Justin.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Percival (JS)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Like all the group, Percival was shy, and in fact only two of the group – little Sweetpea, and sweet <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2023/09/owen.html">Owen</a> – have proved to be sociable. SweetPea got a lot of handling while in fosterage with her kittens, and has been adopted; Owen has just decided that he likes this place and enjoys making friends, both feline and human – when the visitors return in the spring, it is possible that he will find a new home.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrDUwt_SKjCMXLnZKxdVNcyXs7QuWFOb3vEXoH42AXOgSwzMCy84cyCLXLDF0JISeAcEe5DpC9N4byCzU7GGjMDMTaeSZ3pAYgfCpps2gbS6CNV3ybT7xAogFUCh7nsx99Ep63QYVR0bAe9zQYiUrObvqZfndjtoDpRK5YJDdhv9AtoNVjwapalmMREvv/s2048/Percival%20&%20Owen%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrDUwt_SKjCMXLnZKxdVNcyXs7QuWFOb3vEXoH42AXOgSwzMCy84cyCLXLDF0JISeAcEe5DpC9N4byCzU7GGjMDMTaeSZ3pAYgfCpps2gbS6CNV3ybT7xAogFUCh7nsx99Ep63QYVR0bAe9zQYiUrObvqZfndjtoDpRK5YJDdhv9AtoNVjwapalmMREvv/w400-h225/Percival%20&%20Owen%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Percival with Owen (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Percival actually seems to be closer to Basil than most of the others, but Basil’s a very timid boy around humans, and in his company, there’s a lot of hiding. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBYpjx2kUPEQBe069Mi_8pZMauw6Mwg_DcxMXTQxaFTwatqwqd4oiJ78VEskbHLFoxcSn9HBekv9PLTEGZiWXBTJxYNECRGUUZDN6scVO1prNGC1-Z9_smWWdI7tn3hMFgMaxgISm_1C9KPi-bl_bGAvp5WnC6m1n9ZaKZ3eu7oXb8DAUm0vWwfXZAqiT/s1440/Percival%20&%20Basil%20cropped%20-%20kn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1440" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBYpjx2kUPEQBe069Mi_8pZMauw6Mwg_DcxMXTQxaFTwatqwqd4oiJ78VEskbHLFoxcSn9HBekv9PLTEGZiWXBTJxYNECRGUUZDN6scVO1prNGC1-Z9_smWWdI7tn3hMFgMaxgISm_1C9KPi-bl_bGAvp5WnC6m1n9ZaKZ3eu7oXb8DAUm0vWwfXZAqiT/w400-h284/Percival%20&%20Basil%20cropped%20-%20kn.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Percival with Basil (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Luckily, Percival is food-motivated (if not to the same extent as Owen!), and when there are handouts, he can often be found hovering nearby. He’s still pretty tentative, and is one of those cats who takes awhile looking at the tidbit in question before deciding to eat it – which means that pushy cats like Pumpkin and Parry will often dart in to secure the prize.<div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3x7JlKmO8POG5-GDZ1dQBKsP7FKduJBSHBzCJA2Js5hmid9Kd6mkCE8zXSN6A-rGdR9c11Eo6Wi5Ri6dhlA7cIeA1WERbQWkaE3hp7B0vj5o_soLIo66FQ4n6hVEM2eSAE4P3jonmtXLKZojJ8BpZnFKbRnlAv0iwHKjt-GfEkd7drt_YC6dwMVkCcJY/s926/Percival%203%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="926" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3x7JlKmO8POG5-GDZ1dQBKsP7FKduJBSHBzCJA2Js5hmid9Kd6mkCE8zXSN6A-rGdR9c11Eo6Wi5Ri6dhlA7cIeA1WERbQWkaE3hp7B0vj5o_soLIo66FQ4n6hVEM2eSAE4P3jonmtXLKZojJ8BpZnFKbRnlAv0iwHKjt-GfEkd7drt_YC6dwMVkCcJY/w400-h225/Percival%203%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Percival (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>So far, I've not been able to get more than the occasional touch – he doesn’t much like petting, and he really doesn’t want to be touched with grooming tools, which is a pity, because he’s one of those cats whose fur mats. Like a number of other cats this winter, he will probably have to have a shave-job when the weather gets warmer. But the fact that he’s so often part of the handout crowd makes me hopeful that initial progress has been made, and 2024 may be the Percival Snugglebutt year to let go of some more of his feral fears.</div><div><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-0J2GWDdC2NHvzSNINEyMPusfECYO9Sm50qnzlygK42B842xAMagDyuiuGGkIsRXNLURZ9P-UZMJOV-QqtFFyn05a4NZoYgz_SL9Ln-Pa_beLKBQ4YuR-WmXu4eBVDrmM85eH8jIGZj7dqyl_M014itcpv5x7Q0MOo_PNwoFdgXMBJnJ7r-PMolHXWhr/s1538/Percival%201%20cropped%20-%20LBF%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-0J2GWDdC2NHvzSNINEyMPusfECYO9Sm50qnzlygK42B842xAMagDyuiuGGkIsRXNLURZ9P-UZMJOV-QqtFFyn05a4NZoYgz_SL9Ln-Pa_beLKBQ4YuR-WmXu4eBVDrmM85eH8jIGZj7dqyl_M014itcpv5x7Q0MOo_PNwoFdgXMBJnJ7r-PMolHXWhr/w300-h400/Percival%201%20cropped%20-%20LBF%20(2).jpg" width="300" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Admire me! (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><p></p><div><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Karen Nicholson, Justin Saint</span></i></div></i></div></div></div>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-19017606062569773112024-01-09T12:20:00.000-08:002024-01-10T20:15:57.139-08:00Welcoming the Cranbrook College Cats<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtpVC2KS11pNJV-TuW1iFxpkhKIfhjL_hLuFWAoQHORWmamJl_S4A_gZDPNrL0RiRX0ntaXAJnalG0LVkkY3Csvym6NRGTK8aJ1vj74L1-j22vyZuHHDYu-H-ZWV32TBfyEFrc4hfe6FI4VKONAx0KmrzoCxfKvGoGO0-jKJ7nWIfbfohWghg3AminoFh/s2016/S'mores%20&%20Twiglet%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2016" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtpVC2KS11pNJV-TuW1iFxpkhKIfhjL_hLuFWAoQHORWmamJl_S4A_gZDPNrL0RiRX0ntaXAJnalG0LVkkY3Csvym6NRGTK8aJ1vj74L1-j22vyZuHHDYu-H-ZWV32TBfyEFrc4hfe6FI4VKONAx0KmrzoCxfKvGoGO0-jKJ7nWIfbfohWghg3AminoFh/w400-h225/S'mores%20&%20Twiglet%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">S'mores & girlfriend Twiglet (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>When the former Richmond Homeless Cats became Richmond Animal Protection Society, and then the Regional Animal Protection Society, we moved from being a very locally-focused organization to one that has links with rescues all over the place. Our work is particularly valuable to small rescues dealing with multiple feral cats; if the cats that come into their care cannot be tamed, very few of these places are able to offer long-term safe housing to the animals – they just don’t have the facilities. With the financial support of cat-lovers all over the place, we have been able to offer sanctuary to cats from the length of Vancouver Island, from Kamloops and Prince George and the Okanagan, and most recently, from the Kootenays.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3pFExE7D0-HcpX_iBT9nzfSJq0pQgRWT3H3fuOyB7ih4iZbgD1z5zLy2aQ3UuFx4LD3VvtQGMToRKZD6rEt7oTDWy4EpFugkQtcAqWtE3GGamLq2xW6d8KEGNgfvM9oQlnlsCdb_txLm8f68ys46QmYqQ1aAx_KidNzGAoKLGAPApyyeXCQRZA67zmOH/s1332/Li'l%20Bit%204%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1332" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3pFExE7D0-HcpX_iBT9nzfSJq0pQgRWT3H3fuOyB7ih4iZbgD1z5zLy2aQ3UuFx4LD3VvtQGMToRKZD6rEt7oTDWy4EpFugkQtcAqWtE3GGamLq2xW6d8KEGNgfvM9oQlnlsCdb_txLm8f68ys46QmYqQ1aAx_KidNzGAoKLGAPApyyeXCQRZA67zmOH/w400-h225/Li'l%20Bit%204%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Li'l Bit, high on her shelf on the deck (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Sadly, there are still too many people who are careless with their cats, who allow them to wander, and who don’t ensure that they are spayed and neutered. And the result is colonies of cats who are born in the wild and who fear human contact. Ideally, TNR (Trap/Neuter/Return) can turn a growing colony into one that is stable and eventually disappears by natural attrition. But it takes patience, and it also takes local education so that the colony isn’t continually enlarged by dumped cats. For more than ten years there has been a managed colony of feral cats living on the campus of the College of the Rockies in Cranbrook. Their volunteer caretaker took all the responsibility for their feeding, vaccinations, spay/neuter, and the College had agreed to provide access to some space for their housing.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LEGEBIod3y_yMGEQGVzVIkUGsRL1g1uJYepjGCXYIQux4E1R4J8KySMEWGu6MKptK-GsGkUDXbYPr2aU2xmMyqp0hvOFOnFh_gxqo1_rZ3q4vSMMIVZPujMuatXTlH5Ukmwvqzcz8s7-6gwu3um2emj9MRzPRT_XEkclxelu55KmZeUSTmO73_Qdr4D-/s1332/Smudge%201%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1332" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LEGEBIod3y_yMGEQGVzVIkUGsRL1g1uJYepjGCXYIQux4E1R4J8KySMEWGu6MKptK-GsGkUDXbYPr2aU2xmMyqp0hvOFOnFh_gxqo1_rZ3q4vSMMIVZPujMuatXTlH5Ukmwvqzcz8s7-6gwu3um2emj9MRzPRT_XEkclxelu55KmZeUSTmO73_Qdr4D-/w400-h225/Smudge%201%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Smudge is hiding in the same high-up corner<br />where Ringo, and then Hamlet, used to hide (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYOCp43FMTfQ16suQCjKxf47EfJ5vOFDp0g4c-bKqDeKRDT6XOrDyIfj0cKBxh718r93BmotSfxWpWqPRKUkZ_E1GJX9rfk0LHfUNbMXKK1j1Y1nEYGoW0V9DZCHR2jc8F-7u8v4JeSQDieRpxh2Wb_dcXpeXAQmfQ9aLiu8qgW9Zd2EYaKYc-j0apR1S/s1331/Ringo-Hamlet%20hiding.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="1331" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYOCp43FMTfQ16suQCjKxf47EfJ5vOFDp0g4c-bKqDeKRDT6XOrDyIfj0cKBxh718r93BmotSfxWpWqPRKUkZ_E1GJX9rfk0LHfUNbMXKK1j1Y1nEYGoW0V9DZCHR2jc8F-7u8v4JeSQDieRpxh2Wb_dcXpeXAQmfQ9aLiu8qgW9Zd2EYaKYc-j0apR1S/w400-h119/Ringo-Hamlet%20hiding.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This past spring, the College authorities announced that the colony housing would be dismantled and the colony dispersed – though there was no understanding of what might happen to the cats. There was some local outcry; petitions flew around, the media got involved; eventually everyone was satisfied with the decision to relocate the colony into RAPS’ care. That’s not as simple as it sounds; we were talking about taking on up to 14 cats with consequent bills for food and medical care, but generous donors stepped up, donations arrived, and the cats came to us in two separate groups.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Mcze17KYGW7GLL_77dy0AGAtbF0anCxL0d8pPvwZHnrwLSfW9lAPfLPGXKLvbzjsjUCK9MzHB7VBt5Jy1dp2wDbHy-violzgr67BNRzAIJEYzuM31RzFRzDte7vhfy8_UZhYs5ohlUL8vwJ43pV5RckTHQV-df0O9QjKhhnF02wVsclmH09_lAqWUDmj/s1332/Spunky%20Toffee%20Smudge%20Bitty%20Bernadette%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1332" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Mcze17KYGW7GLL_77dy0AGAtbF0anCxL0d8pPvwZHnrwLSfW9lAPfLPGXKLvbzjsjUCK9MzHB7VBt5Jy1dp2wDbHy-violzgr67BNRzAIJEYzuM31RzFRzDte7vhfy8_UZhYs5ohlUL8vwJ43pV5RckTHQV-df0O9QjKhhnF02wVsclmH09_lAqWUDmj/w400-h225/Spunky%20Toffee%20Smudge%20Bitty%20Bernadette%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Spunky, Toffee (top), Smudge, Li'l Bit (bottom)<br />with Bernadette behind in the adjacent cage (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>As with all newcomers, they were initially caged so that they could have all their medical checks and become used to some aspects of Sanctuary life. Because they were used to each others’ company, we put the first five cats in adjacent cages in the Double-Wide, and cut a hole in the mesh between them, so that they could move between the cages. They could choose whether to be up on a shelf or on the floor, hiding behind a drape or in the open. It rapidly became clear that though they had had contact with humans, they were very fearful and preferred to hide, huddling together for comfort. There was much hissing, which is less about aggression and more a fear reaction, and contact with them initially tended to be in the hands of the med-staff and the most experienced of the Kitty Comforters.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoXtizoWKQIpnze2q6rwRo-C0vQd3wZGATyaEScQteykwuIdAtV5ftKLhUPVCtrDbCTuaSbAcCBt_5121n4dUCynUarMBNq1dMCX3G4A5C19Zx0Qq98jLPBFIu-xqMDSTAdWeZq-jnldY6iU6KYJDKYzSF2rpq-g0tq0y1E7Mq_KcV3d_qXwR7XneIMR5/w400-h225/ID%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We think Foster, on the left, is the mother of Li'l Bit (LBF)<br />They're glad to be back together again!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The first group of cats had their cage-stay and were released, choosing quickly to relocate to the adjacent DW Deck. This is an area well-suited to ferals, with lots of high shelving around the perimeter, and many places to hide. Ringo, Hamlet and many others have had their shy-time on the deck and moved on to other territory, or to comfortable interaction with humans. The College cats are still in the wary stage, preferring to stay right out of reach, but tolerating the regular advances of Lisa, who usually has tidbits for them. Li’l Bit (or Bitty) is not so little, but once you get past the hissing, she is a tidbit fan; Smudge, on the other hand, resolutely hides in the corner nobody can reach. Toffee made his way out via the cat-door in the corner, but must have had underlying health issues, because sadly, his body was found unexpectedly in the back pens.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIOsDEiHrQxCc_zTM7CDLLJGOZVFi9mD5keGQaTnJY733WLxlS58ybOH2ETfRsg6jFtI8Z_pWucD0DGOYSWqfse3sUZSBiQzliAgnd-FYxoRqvdR2gifaOiJSdo2QC6ZWjlj9OlVRqB9CCnO-vkXfQd-BefFwLc8_n_nnpCgxm4T0l5S8iFbZtYeK6GNv/s1680/S'mores,%20Twiglet,%20Purrl,%20cropped%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1680" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIOsDEiHrQxCc_zTM7CDLLJGOZVFi9mD5keGQaTnJY733WLxlS58ybOH2ETfRsg6jFtI8Z_pWucD0DGOYSWqfse3sUZSBiQzliAgnd-FYxoRqvdR2gifaOiJSdo2QC6ZWjlj9OlVRqB9CCnO-vkXfQd-BefFwLc8_n_nnpCgxm4T0l5S8iFbZtYeK6GNv/w274-h400/S'mores,%20Twiglet,%20Purrl,%20cropped%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="274" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">S'mores, Twiglet & Purrl (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The second batch of cats remained caged a little longer, but by their own choice. It turned out that Buddy was FIV+, and he is now living in New Aids. S’mores and Twiglet are most often found sharing a bed, and have proved amenable to a little petting; both seemed to enjoy scritches and they’re relaxed enough to accept food from the hand. Currently their cage is open, but they feel safest there, and are still allowing visitors to come in gently and offer pets; when they’re ready, they’ll probably make the move to the DW Deck with their fellow-Collegiates. Foster (who we think is Li’l Bit’s mother, has moved out to join her daughter; Purrl and Tabitha, both short-haired tabbies, prefer to remain in the now-familiar cage, with a drape behind which they can hide. Currently there are vacant cages, so we don’t need to evict them too quickly, and they still have access from one cage to another and can visit happily.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHT8OjbrzDORaF-Kh5ZoylKLfqNKgt1yBPRRQw24XbYbtmrTtjIBvshTfSsxqUmvVMPZ3B9L2UxQ6SVBvHFS9VYggMAQD5blTmTFUkBRZGiPxo2y2oY9_Q3hWj7px3fO-7iigG37IbNCoVnK4MdFGvBw_T-ygrE-9R-73BXDUZzDJUGWHEMftXxi1vxO-/s720/Spunky%20&%20Smudge,%20cropped%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="720" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHT8OjbrzDORaF-Kh5ZoylKLfqNKgt1yBPRRQw24XbYbtmrTtjIBvshTfSsxqUmvVMPZ3B9L2UxQ6SVBvHFS9VYggMAQD5blTmTFUkBRZGiPxo2y2oY9_Q3hWj7px3fO-7iigG37IbNCoVnK4MdFGvBw_T-ygrE-9R-73BXDUZzDJUGWHEMftXxi1vxO-/w400-h260/Spunky%20&%20Smudge,%20cropped%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Spunky & Smudge (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We’ll look forward to following the Cranbrook cats, and watching as they take their time assimilating into the Sanctuary way of life. <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen & Brigid Coult</span></i></div></i><p></p><p><br /></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-92166840979561391292024-01-03T15:02:00.000-08:002024-01-04T07:38:15.660-08:00Two BIG boys<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhXLvokWIdrZVfBxzcz5BZFCG3D6Af0idESU7Uq6CEgBjb-j9MUpkPCD0vsasZGIbXnfpLndQtE9gyIeM_vSmrNS2MqRI5cGleSOy_hBJFJAKfJ09FjUUjzkkqmQoGMsW1SOnjku-zgEFD3QPMjSHeXG3d4xzJMZLjsMthUek75WrP9XLjDiy20UxihQh/s1221/Mojo%204%20cropped%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1221" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhXLvokWIdrZVfBxzcz5BZFCG3D6Af0idESU7Uq6CEgBjb-j9MUpkPCD0vsasZGIbXnfpLndQtE9gyIeM_vSmrNS2MqRI5cGleSOy_hBJFJAKfJ09FjUUjzkkqmQoGMsW1SOnjku-zgEFD3QPMjSHeXG3d4xzJMZLjsMthUek75WrP9XLjDiy20UxihQh/w400-h240/Mojo%204%20cropped%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mojo (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Tucked away at the back of the SingleWide is the office area where our Sanctuary Manager and Assistant Manager work. There are a couple of cages for cats who need more isolated care, but the rooms are also well-equipped with cat-beds, litter-boxes and all the necessary paraphernalia needed for resident cats. Sometimes the cats in question are there because they’re unsocial with other cats, sometimes there are health issues.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9A4PusEn8x1dLd51Me2JgukK6IItqLNkchj8iR1s4ECouVy1rcbssGSzDwd7qPpcQpI0-cVcaM0Tdaa7tD_wbrLD1ouUZ2Q9CD8spi4vic5d7WsGCnS5qWYdZYnEFr4M5XUnW-MwpYnv7FJc7FDozYfg_n131-DqJpwMMo6NrfMUc_hzB-B4HpRbhtFt/s1440/Licorice%2018%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9A4PusEn8x1dLd51Me2JgukK6IItqLNkchj8iR1s4ECouVy1rcbssGSzDwd7qPpcQpI0-cVcaM0Tdaa7tD_wbrLD1ouUZ2Q9CD8spi4vic5d7WsGCnS5qWYdZYnEFr4M5XUnW-MwpYnv7FJc7FDozYfg_n131-DqJpwMMo6NrfMUc_hzB-B4HpRbhtFt/w400-h400/Licorice%2018%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Licorice having a little outing (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Currently the two residents in question are Mojo and Licorice – both of them solid chonks. When we have cats that are overweight, it’s hard to put them on a diet, because so many of the general population would rather free-feed with kibble in preference to eating the canned food. And caging them means that they get very little exercise, so that a restricted diet doesn’t actually help much. Sweet chonky <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-trio-of-cow-cats.html">Mya </a>was adopted from the SingleWide by one of the volunteers and we hear that she has actually lost quite a bit of weight because she has to run up and down stairs to get her treats. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnynreNpxQinHEo96wLopIYKhuUkpqxXbky-ZyVNsx1HYYolfdeVP8TwaswfbPQd45ij3RSGYvkEbVCR_T7x0FyY3G_tcn6_MRdixSXYnBhC8hhSEfCiJBZgmX_YptOxV52IZCKfUPDie2FkD2ZRUuPG41D4FtriL9DcxRXmstHmK9dkKZ7Hgu5Ar__7N/s1440/Licorice%2016%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnynreNpxQinHEo96wLopIYKhuUkpqxXbky-ZyVNsx1HYYolfdeVP8TwaswfbPQd45ij3RSGYvkEbVCR_T7x0FyY3G_tcn6_MRdixSXYnBhC8hhSEfCiJBZgmX_YptOxV52IZCKfUPDie2FkD2ZRUuPG41D4FtriL9DcxRXmstHmK9dkKZ7Hgu5Ar__7N/w400-h400/Licorice%2016%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Licorice (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2018/05/licorice-loner.html">Licorice</a> has been with us for seven years, having been brought in as an unneutered stray. The testosterone might no longer be a factor, once his surgery was done, but cattitude remained part of his personality, and he picked fights with other cats and was often put in TimeOut to calm down. In recent years, Licorice has become arthritic, and no longer moves so well – and of course his lack of movement has contributed to increased weight.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqegpPRtL4JyLFJog4Xb6dIjZu8idOw7rYhX5RV9yxWTq0LLQhE4MjbNNsWPPMBOQ0cmNIKM-Z0ILHjxwYxTmre-_nnp_q4WtOzG1QxRLesrlyJgcyqdOdeRxNJtrkSr9iL0TgB5-tbfzoA8glyab9yMLoo1UnDcFVqjJ7NBLFqLvWBJRJrhdwUITglln/s749/Mojo%203%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="421" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqegpPRtL4JyLFJog4Xb6dIjZu8idOw7rYhX5RV9yxWTq0LLQhE4MjbNNsWPPMBOQ0cmNIKM-Z0ILHjxwYxTmre-_nnp_q4WtOzG1QxRLesrlyJgcyqdOdeRxNJtrkSr9iL0TgB5-tbfzoA8glyab9yMLoo1UnDcFVqjJ7NBLFqLvWBJRJrhdwUITglln/w225-h400/Mojo%203%20-%20BC.jpg" width="225" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mojo, considering a lap-leap (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Mojo came to us in 2021 as a surrender; he was huge, and matted, and diabetic, and it was immediately obvious that he would need a lot of care. Since he arrived, he’s dropped from 30lbs to 17lbs, and his diabetes is now in remission. Because he is such a big boy, he’s not that enthusiastic about the concept of exercise; his idea of making an effort is to jump from the floor into an office chair and make himself comfortable there. Luckily Licorice is prepared to tolerate the company of his roommate – or perhaps it’s just that having a battle is too strenuous these days!<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4Srfbg_5M1idscq6nrInOmxICR86lXpc0raDmGHskpRVMZUVu56cGK9tMhy5T9As15fMVHEiLfJq_0iknTWa5thDnoTmnX1Uxn-hXiyPXlMSX4koq32TRdp7yfgQru8EL481hBiTYWAo8GHke9K7Awe5MbEAIbMa9qqsaa0DaQdaLYTGWM4Ky7Zg0wtH/s1332/Mojo%20&%20Licorice%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1332" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4Srfbg_5M1idscq6nrInOmxICR86lXpc0raDmGHskpRVMZUVu56cGK9tMhy5T9As15fMVHEiLfJq_0iknTWa5thDnoTmnX1Uxn-hXiyPXlMSX4koq32TRdp7yfgQru8EL481hBiTYWAo8GHke9K7Awe5MbEAIbMa9qqsaa0DaQdaLYTGWM4Ky7Zg0wtH/w400-h225/Mojo%20&%20Licorice%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Both begging to come up (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>So Mojo and Licorice have the use of the offices, which allows them to move freely, but they have a carefully measured restricted diet. Unfortunately, a lot of the administration in the last month or so has been happening out of the Adoption Centre, and nobody has been in the SW office, so the boys have less incentive to get up and move around. The Kitty Comforters have been making a point of visiting them, and if they’re in the right mood, getting them to play a little; unfortunately, both would rather lounge around rather than play (Mojo likes feather toys when interactive play is offered). They are willing to make the effort to come up in a lap (both need a stool to make a halfway jump), but any amount of running is not on their agenda. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaHEKZN1GS9SR91FWXJsXlHJ_FPkG65cWH7YLegroTTXkzXhumCGLaE40I_KiprOa6p2q2-vhB6-5LCOQsfhoTUuWZU33M6FiEuuK18Qe9B5CH5cIAMirfAhfno3Xq5Hsj7AKkwlCEtj0iQ4AuRHg8fHkcehi5uKtTe8S1isixx_g3tKiXREhSrQ4Y4p_/s885/Licorice%20grass%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="885" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaHEKZN1GS9SR91FWXJsXlHJ_FPkG65cWH7YLegroTTXkzXhumCGLaE40I_KiprOa6p2q2-vhB6-5LCOQsfhoTUuWZU33M6FiEuuK18Qe9B5CH5cIAMirfAhfno3Xq5Hsj7AKkwlCEtj0iQ4AuRHg8fHkcehi5uKtTe8S1isixx_g3tKiXREhSrQ4Y4p_/w400-h279/Licorice%20grass%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Grass stems make a good exercise toy! (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>We’d love to have them out in the courtyard – Licorice occasionally goes out for a short visit – but for now, KCs and feeding/scooping volunteers do as much as they can to keep these two stimulated and active to some degree, and we hope that the drop of a few more pounds might allow them to enjoy a bit more freedom when the weather is warmer.<p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson</span></i></div></i><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-89620321496860933782023-12-27T19:49:00.000-08:002023-12-27T19:49:27.709-08:00Over the Bridge in 2023<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7ZE-Y8CNcQxPW12GvUORKALgAgFyE8O4zOhlQJLeRcIZDFyhezrNaQWDRFFs65wHr__HHx9Fqfiz_4JcLuISHqcShwCCq8KPT2ACrKH_Ylyz9TXrHdQ3uYr4sElwswCqUDBHujozg4UQk77PN5Xr_bh1pLIGNX0CdWL4b9PrGlC6HbYLEPSlXawYzqEB/s1146/Pandora%208%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1146" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7ZE-Y8CNcQxPW12GvUORKALgAgFyE8O4zOhlQJLeRcIZDFyhezrNaQWDRFFs65wHr__HHx9Fqfiz_4JcLuISHqcShwCCq8KPT2ACrKH_Ylyz9TXrHdQ3uYr4sElwswCqUDBHujozg4UQk77PN5Xr_bh1pLIGNX0CdWL4b9PrGlC6HbYLEPSlXawYzqEB/w400-h300/Pandora%208%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pandora - December - LBF</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2022/11/pandora.html">Pandora</a> came to us in bad shape, but she had<br />nearly two years of greatly improved health with us before her aging body had had enough.</i></div></i><div><br /></div><div>The Sanctuary is a place where we celebrate life – specifically, the lives of many cats who, in other circumstances, would have been euthanized for being unadoptable. Many ferals have come through our hands, and though some have eventually accepted human attention, others have remained feral for much of their lives. Adopters shy away from taking cats with FIV or FeLV, diabetes or kidney disease – and we rejoice that we have been able to give them shelter and treatment. We have partnered with rescues in other places, and taken groups of cats that a smaller organization may not be able to house.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxhzpRznmgdpMOIYMxcF0DI1DfvuWKB-Cm9DRR4qHHaEUovJnXcjg9pjJfGfCZouSrCLg1Wv-Q7VEfusUYyFwr9LO95garOdahRAxCKePsSgCu9wreLqWV4AyrZCfibaRJqb1Z5yxHbwgWfRo2fEKWEY6bilMYVgUa2B6s6dNIe1npS3UM7BSxg2BRa7q/s1440/Dango%20VJ4%20sun%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="981" data-original-width="1440" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxhzpRznmgdpMOIYMxcF0DI1DfvuWKB-Cm9DRR4qHHaEUovJnXcjg9pjJfGfCZouSrCLg1Wv-Q7VEfusUYyFwr9LO95garOdahRAxCKePsSgCu9wreLqWV4AyrZCfibaRJqb1Z5yxHbwgWfRo2fEKWEY6bilMYVgUa2B6s6dNIe1npS3UM7BSxg2BRa7q/w400-h272/Dango%20VJ4%20sun%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dango - June - KN</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2019/12/raps-and-cats-of-many-colours.html">Dango</a> came to us from Alberta in 2019, and joined the New Aids pen; earlier this year he was relocated to the Val Jones pen so that his renal diet could be closely monitored.</i></div><p></p><p>But because many of our cats are with us through much of their lives, we are, time and time again, with them for their deaths. Sometimes they are unexpected, as in cancer, or FIP. Sometimes we watch the gradual aging of a beloved friend, and know that their time is come. Many cats hide their ill-health, and occasionally we will find them already passed; most of them are taken by a staff-member to the hospital, where they will pass gently, held by loving hands.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVFTJRHPc5BYkq1fdfUfT0_LSWXC_3gvS1IBMsdzInULcSDi15TP3wrH5_SEduUKSqKewsTB7tde-wBBT887_SDap6QIfCi45it-Tjtuc-Zu5V7hBKeTno6IqeaxWYSQWDBx397LKLvvFSAAKsHpQq6XtfLHZOwBvxIb4zEAF8mgPF-gAAhwq0VtypBmW/s2048/Kiwi%207%20-%20MW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVFTJRHPc5BYkq1fdfUfT0_LSWXC_3gvS1IBMsdzInULcSDi15TP3wrH5_SEduUKSqKewsTB7tde-wBBT887_SDap6QIfCi45it-Tjtuc-Zu5V7hBKeTno6IqeaxWYSQWDBx397LKLvvFSAAKsHpQq6XtfLHZOwBvxIb4zEAF8mgPF-gAAhwq0VtypBmW/w400-h267/Kiwi%207%20-%20MW.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kiwi - December - MW</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2022/08/a-match-made-in-heaven.html">Kiwi </a>came from the same shelter as Dango;</i></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>we lost her to FIP, which is a random mutation of an otherwise standard feline coronavirus.</i></div></i><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The turn of the year is a time when we look back over the past twelve months, and remember more than fifty of the furry friends who have “crossed the Rainbow Bridge”. So once again, this is less a blog, and more a photo-essay that may bring smiles and tears and memories and love of some very special cats. We can't feature them all, but here are a dozen of those who have gone ahead of us.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA26g6Xwnt1piw-J-JdQPcJtt9rubjmFCQYPtPfZqdF8q9pWqKz8V_lmiKHjEwCgmH3Jt9VF7w9kfnnxG1JWqbXjC0GyU2ihnVRz2gGJeTI9OhhePQ_zJHUesnFExDvu4Z4SjkqmZnnY7suZ6Ip8cxhNhPFgtwPLuPUfb8Th4wqGQvgRwg7YgCIW-a4Qn_/s960/Tugboat%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA26g6Xwnt1piw-J-JdQPcJtt9rubjmFCQYPtPfZqdF8q9pWqKz8V_lmiKHjEwCgmH3Jt9VF7w9kfnnxG1JWqbXjC0GyU2ihnVRz2gGJeTI9OhhePQ_zJHUesnFExDvu4Z4SjkqmZnnY7suZ6Ip8cxhNhPFgtwPLuPUfb8Th4wqGQvgRwg7YgCIW-a4Qn_/w400-h267/Tugboat%204.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tugboat - February - MW</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Much beloved by all, <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2011/05/tugboat-wants-to-go-home-with-you.html">Tugboat</a> became very frail in his last year, <br />and was cuddled and comforted by humans and cats alike.</i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEz9-3JPTatdTrUCnYifb3qcRQIazVT7t_SUsJBl1rniHka-aq62SknXHH2lv8lCPHZnKApYA9ndqTUDbPzDJPH0359O2DR4GsRq0t7FYys2v-9al0FwWDHbDg8_eiryqzeVIG8uZ7gWoHhu2PqBmHjmWGoFOqLOAJKsJgsI8j5iZkFe6A2jdHqDhdOQb/s2048/Sprint%20&%20Shaggy%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEz9-3JPTatdTrUCnYifb3qcRQIazVT7t_SUsJBl1rniHka-aq62SknXHH2lv8lCPHZnKApYA9ndqTUDbPzDJPH0359O2DR4GsRq0t7FYys2v-9al0FwWDHbDg8_eiryqzeVIG8uZ7gWoHhu2PqBmHjmWGoFOqLOAJKsJgsI8j5iZkFe6A2jdHqDhdOQb/w400-h225/Sprint%20&%20Shaggy%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sprint - December & Shaggy - July; LBF</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Little Sprint was a junkyard cat, very shy, and with health problems; <br /><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2018/06/shaggy-and-spicer.html">Shaggy </a>was one of the last of the “oldies” from the former Moore House.</i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJAIbV5kiVaZO3jgNnxeq17uKj92E6M47LDLBbUMGjqya2GbfzvgdFQ8Hv4YXqw5MMy5iurbYPxCxkGf7-ddX9UWPycLExXICqLWdT-WpemQqMnRc9bsraKHcwdWl4fp4ONVEmCS8llHdmvJ2zVGHgEmF1HpqO86OgFaiiMqsSv1AmMoJVM9mAYgw6vC8/s1440/Sara%20Lee%2025%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1440" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJAIbV5kiVaZO3jgNnxeq17uKj92E6M47LDLBbUMGjqya2GbfzvgdFQ8Hv4YXqw5MMy5iurbYPxCxkGf7-ddX9UWPycLExXICqLWdT-WpemQqMnRc9bsraKHcwdWl4fp4ONVEmCS8llHdmvJ2zVGHgEmF1HpqO86OgFaiiMqsSv1AmMoJVM9mAYgw6vC8/w400-h316/Sara%20Lee%2025%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sara Lee - March - KN</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2022/01/big-birthdays-for-small-seniors.html">Sara Lee </a>had lived here for most of her 21-odd years. <br />Easily identified by her bi-coloured eyes and her smoke coat, she was a fixture at the coffee table, where she toured from one lap to another.</i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVEP-Xga0KVfnpKv839MPTxfGvTMBgxfvSdllfyJIuF-phJ27lmF1HroTMlDdlknWliajj35yVYFTS45_JpZU1hB-08pq0UfCBW_p1T35G1B1yfyAgGrbMsf6UBwIxGgrBYDuyGghd961l7z_44cXzwJ2APNeszVEkjjEUFzy74lr022aBP8ST4S9txsG/s960/CB%20Lincoln%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVEP-Xga0KVfnpKv839MPTxfGvTMBgxfvSdllfyJIuF-phJ27lmF1HroTMlDdlknWliajj35yVYFTS45_JpZU1hB-08pq0UfCBW_p1T35G1B1yfyAgGrbMsf6UBwIxGgrBYDuyGghd961l7z_44cXzwJ2APNeszVEkjjEUFzy74lr022aBP8ST4S9txsG/w400-h267/CB%20Lincoln%204.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>CB Lincoln - February - MW</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2009/10/lincoln-i.html">Cinnamon Bun Lincoln</a> was named for his curled tail, <br />and known for his tendency to pee on anything/anyone he wanted to claim.</i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQWWAF_pw9eaBg5u-WRwwZD9MJWdo0qotZh61aLPvz8VcWQzArBbgLLNdijAOCjw8IcP0e073mFjI3D95_tisUV1inaqxuwXPxC7FSG0nKqYnlV-JZcrUeqZZQ8ar-95T5f35RcT1kJzivN64MIq4ivmh8yC1GTAVoKzuiuwaLA4xJBSg2FUBAJb-3Hm0/s1440/Little%20Orange%2021%20catmint%20box%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1440" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQWWAF_pw9eaBg5u-WRwwZD9MJWdo0qotZh61aLPvz8VcWQzArBbgLLNdijAOCjw8IcP0e073mFjI3D95_tisUV1inaqxuwXPxC7FSG0nKqYnlV-JZcrUeqZZQ8ar-95T5f35RcT1kJzivN64MIq4ivmh8yC1GTAVoKzuiuwaLA4xJBSg2FUBAJb-3Hm0/w400-h248/Little%20Orange%2021%20catmint%20box%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Little Orange - October - KN</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><i>One-eyed <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2011/01/little-orange.html">Little Orange</a> was loved by volunteers and visitors alike, <br />and is greatly missed by his friend Allison who visited him every week. <br />He’s reunited with his girlfriend, shy Merilee.</i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi836odSx5htPL1raDHAqnMct8QmP08v6YW-JZ3q-GNL54nvD2fHECASUmV4MGB-ZV4-DgEI-AgP08mcWs51x9OixHO3u_WwJnEn-NFnt2dC_3VINX4HA1AWPoWWAX8ZFKCsmPcY7C9N-gLXac148BNCeb9o_nlRY-6-PrEaN9cWV7BnOx4sxlvc8w3L6lr/w400-h267/Stella%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stella - February - MW</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi836odSx5htPL1raDHAqnMct8QmP08v6YW-JZ3q-GNL54nvD2fHECASUmV4MGB-ZV4-DgEI-AgP08mcWs51x9OixHO3u_WwJnEn-NFnt2dC_3VINX4HA1AWPoWWAX8ZFKCsmPcY7C9N-gLXac148BNCeb9o_nlRY-6-PrEaN9cWV7BnOx4sxlvc8w3L6lr/s960/Stella%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i></i></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2019/01/tea-room-tabby-royalty.html">Stella</a> was a regal presence in the Tea-Room and the breezeway; <br /></i><i>she liked to sit high up and reach down a paw to those seeking her attention.</i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPMpxpjNZUTcYgml75pC3VtnZP0Jx31X9a0bAMTECgaeAfW5Pv-gM5ILZ7mOg2mTQVQ9xX69tRygJUhoFM_dj4jF6Vkb5aYdvkV2nBbH7FVDlU7pylot6RlGmEMupSjx7_HLYGfYGzYUJqHyUzrZ31JBbtqt33-6ef7O5-_odmB65dVqu976NN9QFR-CU/s960/Bossanova%2018%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPMpxpjNZUTcYgml75pC3VtnZP0Jx31X9a0bAMTECgaeAfW5Pv-gM5ILZ7mOg2mTQVQ9xX69tRygJUhoFM_dj4jF6Vkb5aYdvkV2nBbH7FVDlU7pylot6RlGmEMupSjx7_HLYGfYGzYUJqHyUzrZ31JBbtqt33-6ef7O5-_odmB65dVqu976NN9QFR-CU/w400-h300/Bossanova%2018%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bossanova - August - KN</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2023/08/farewell-bossanova.html">Bossanova</a> evolved from a shy boy hiding high on a shelf <br />to a cat who would hover hopefully, looking for treats and attention.</i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimz7K1M3gwD7xMxRUj0Gf-LgO_U-jthis5YPQO0Bs2M5xZLzYgaUqReKgDIM4X44YuyMm5aKXmxveo6zLEr9Q1FlglMhyphenhyphenM0pjO88URI7-UsOeATcQmiP2OnrnZ5YQW03y0DloDlWOInm3WUCtYbeEj3i2E00nvM6p77OCKiqe9kEazKP4s6lk7qAyqroLW/s1440/Jazz%209%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="1440" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimz7K1M3gwD7xMxRUj0Gf-LgO_U-jthis5YPQO0Bs2M5xZLzYgaUqReKgDIM4X44YuyMm5aKXmxveo6zLEr9Q1FlglMhyphenhyphenM0pjO88URI7-UsOeATcQmiP2OnrnZ5YQW03y0DloDlWOInm3WUCtYbeEj3i2E00nvM6p77OCKiqe9kEazKP4s6lk7qAyqroLW/w400-h264/Jazz%209%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jazz - September - KN</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2022/03/all-that-jazz.html">Jazz </a>was the doorkeeper for the Single-Wide.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Originally collared as a signal that she was a reactive cat,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>she came to enjoy the attention she got, and demanded that everyone stop on the way in to pet her.</i></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjc1OZN09_QBp3y578sMJfQoTnzWslmZcjS_mrmq7BN0mCl_ngnvfi_ZTApepzOGKZ5vOvW06o1b36UMcFgG0JzV1MUcL7vNvc24qzh4MC2oHyr4cfrE1KHObcf11ctgwuytpZ5z3t-OaIXU-e_3fj8yJ8AlKnn-iGUudHs3PWjRNWZ5pmpNgFGQFfddIe/s1440/Pancake%2014%20-%20kn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjc1OZN09_QBp3y578sMJfQoTnzWslmZcjS_mrmq7BN0mCl_ngnvfi_ZTApepzOGKZ5vOvW06o1b36UMcFgG0JzV1MUcL7vNvc24qzh4MC2oHyr4cfrE1KHObcf11ctgwuytpZ5z3t-OaIXU-e_3fj8yJ8AlKnn-iGUudHs3PWjRNWZ5pmpNgFGQFfddIe/w400-h300/Pancake%2014%20-%20kn.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pancake - March - KN</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2015/06/pancake-and-sid.html">Pancake</a> was the son of Autumn, in the front Courtyard; <br />he proved too shy to be adopted, and returned to us to make his life <br />with his cat friends in the DoubleWide.</i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0el7K6tz5K-CyUwdajEpvNDIkyZkA-kg758wX2cmpsk65m0XfgezyXhS_mBbtHUNF9DkroKWOtEOKP64YktCAUMKGF6e_c0LcgRhCB2FUT9KNzzV_LNTx-yaXwnkaMcX0pgxJom2JkBstADBOx_H2fNGAXqNphwlbPo1cZ7EL4zO9f1tqvuUsDTr4rm2e/s1440/Tara%2015%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="1440" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0el7K6tz5K-CyUwdajEpvNDIkyZkA-kg758wX2cmpsk65m0XfgezyXhS_mBbtHUNF9DkroKWOtEOKP64YktCAUMKGF6e_c0LcgRhCB2FUT9KNzzV_LNTx-yaXwnkaMcX0pgxJom2JkBstADBOx_H2fNGAXqNphwlbPo1cZ7EL4zO9f1tqvuUsDTr4rm2e/w400-h328/Tara%2015%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tara - October - KN</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2016/11/tara.html">Tara</a> remained a scared feral most of her life with us, <br />only allowing contact in the last months when she was confused and forgetting that she was scared.</i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamY_gLTLmGe7tI2T2hYfUN0LIkMAW49Zw_zKBS2ww7onDSrg4J587XemMflsrkZA8jVcYF2yeqwjbjPMnk87yK2gB3bvLOjNSKOcmqcGGxtEwgk_aPGn7GbhFYCOmvXl0XPny05sU0GCq21GQtFx91gvJTkB1ysn39G9vuOj2RzFpXZAOegBl-eG1SdIn/s960/Hamlet%204%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="960" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamY_gLTLmGe7tI2T2hYfUN0LIkMAW49Zw_zKBS2ww7onDSrg4J587XemMflsrkZA8jVcYF2yeqwjbjPMnk87yK2gB3bvLOjNSKOcmqcGGxtEwgk_aPGn7GbhFYCOmvXl0XPny05sU0GCq21GQtFx91gvJTkB1ysn39G9vuOj2RzFpXZAOegBl-eG1SdIn/w400-h311/Hamlet%204%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hamlet - August - KN</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-tuxedo-club-part-1.html">Hamlet</a> came to us as a feral, </i><i>but soon developed a presence<br /> as a benevolent Godfather on the DW deck.</i></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUI0fQfUZ5grZjH9c426VTtxW8ToluI8qr9D3gupCJ8qj5PS6eAOqi-_8sEONAIUQ5ppwi88i_F8LV1tEsv_7LJ3EOHi_53cbJCWT7TnI5WcwnzB1h0rbW9JqIA3keUAcjfK4_ApxbTi2YHkVX4YEDhmiKgIOyFOiz3LVY-xIlEyPhmqAPpkODxuInk7X/s555/00%20Rainbow%20over%20Sanctuary%20resized%20%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="555" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUI0fQfUZ5grZjH9c426VTtxW8ToluI8qr9D3gupCJ8qj5PS6eAOqi-_8sEONAIUQ5ppwi88i_F8LV1tEsv_7LJ3EOHi_53cbJCWT7TnI5WcwnzB1h0rbW9JqIA3keUAcjfK4_ApxbTi2YHkVX4YEDhmiKgIOyFOiz3LVY-xIlEyPhmqAPpkODxuInk7X/w400-h362/00%20Rainbow%20over%20Sanctuary%20resized%20%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rainbow over the Sanctuary - BC</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright</span></i></div></i><p></p><p><br /></p></div>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-38618019869711156092023-12-20T18:49:00.000-08:002023-12-20T18:49:04.600-08:00Pen 7 shy ones<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-hIEsjHytXjXkavHkFLaUYy81UKMl1PrIWZ3v8ukGko3QAqFOa_YOrzjjvMWYVzZp5OiEgbQRXMh02Ql-aOFa0bi3hNphrSexT1kn-0X1h_MUn9H8cGOiQ153xNcBLswqDykTFUfrpARKU6b6ZNR2lYj_lkZD8CaYI2Xp8SARcZUmtLPTBygTYpNeA4m/s1440/Clementine%206%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-hIEsjHytXjXkavHkFLaUYy81UKMl1PrIWZ3v8ukGko3QAqFOa_YOrzjjvMWYVzZp5OiEgbQRXMh02Ql-aOFa0bi3hNphrSexT1kn-0X1h_MUn9H8cGOiQ153xNcBLswqDykTFUfrpARKU6b6ZNR2lYj_lkZD8CaYI2Xp8SARcZUmtLPTBygTYpNeA4m/w400-h266/Clementine%206%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Clementine (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>For as long as I’ve volunteered at the Sanctuary, Pen 7 has been the home for a bunch of very shy cats, known as the Barn Cats. Initially they were a colony who had been doing pest control at a farm south of Steveston Highway; like a lot of colonies without supervision, their numbers got out of control and Richmond Homeless Cats (as RAPS was at that time) stepped in. Not only were there too many of them, but there was also inbreeding going on, and it was time to end the cycle. In the end, there were about a dozen of them brought to the Sanctuary in 2008, and Pen 7 became a closed one.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyOLqIbGlBo5OU1bkVh0CUppdcJp97WFQBYJFhJ24h12XNottkgfy-xIbc16f80Y-ajPg4WiCxLyN0F7FknDFCh9ZiBQburFrxkh3Ej8VhEAlFE-GKH1O6qCK1y2FTimjZor4e6_nn_x_wH23nryM7zhe2BV_TPQV7kT5dThvCXe81cSpRMPpEzoAwh_T/s960/barncats2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyOLqIbGlBo5OU1bkVh0CUppdcJp97WFQBYJFhJ24h12XNottkgfy-xIbc16f80Y-ajPg4WiCxLyN0F7FknDFCh9ZiBQburFrxkh3Ej8VhEAlFE-GKH1O6qCK1y2FTimjZor4e6_nn_x_wH23nryM7zhe2BV_TPQV7kT5dThvCXe81cSpRMPpEzoAwh_T/w400-h266/barncats2.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barncats enjoying treats</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>They were definitely a feral bunch, but because their pen was so much smaller than the other feral pens, they had to get used to humans popping in and out on them. Most of them never really tamed up, though a few of them became friendly with select visitors. The genetic quirks caused by inbreeding produced a number of curly tails, and, more seriously, some vision problems, so the med staff kept a careful eye on them. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Qw58xJqlApQHSHy0EPK09sv7LVXNKOS6rMewfZImH4tCtl00dOG5idnFJ3_YrYTcHhMDfv9JOgBw5jRDnh8fwN1Bfb5VD_yMFfDyvRkDaVHqpN3Hak7I37yJG7jeIIzaGN-w9d922GsW3ONo17kP_P6YjFsRdSHhpyMLHOFrlhkLCSeR8nICccxIOC9a/s960/Rodan%202%20-%20KN%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="960" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Qw58xJqlApQHSHy0EPK09sv7LVXNKOS6rMewfZImH4tCtl00dOG5idnFJ3_YrYTcHhMDfv9JOgBw5jRDnh8fwN1Bfb5VD_yMFfDyvRkDaVHqpN3Hak7I37yJG7jeIIzaGN-w9d922GsW3ONo17kP_P6YjFsRdSHhpyMLHOFrlhkLCSeR8nICccxIOC9a/w400-h331/Rodan%202%20-%20KN%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Rodan loved and was loved... (KN)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>I realised recently that they’d never been blogged either by Claire, who set up the Neko Blog, or by me; for most of us, I think they were just an anonymous collection of little cats who didn’t want much in the way of attention. There were exceptions; I don’t think there was anyone who didn’t love one-eyed Rodan, whose cage-stays had acclimated him to human contact.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPV4oXxWSUfVj72GWyQtoegmWDUYUOskzLMzW5j0uoiVFz1LKeH3E0SfVCSHvculELVzP98p3tLpj-ArohnhLn_VY8ocU6uC2fKW9l_1yvWO4z88MaBeZ3kwDdadhkI37XOj4ilIyvytljaEtWf6_f9L13DD4FQjBlmZVk3GoUsXZIVD5j1yVTywWC3tr/s2048/Clementine%203%20-%20MW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPV4oXxWSUfVj72GWyQtoegmWDUYUOskzLMzW5j0uoiVFz1LKeH3E0SfVCSHvculELVzP98p3tLpj-ArohnhLn_VY8ocU6uC2fKW9l_1yvWO4z88MaBeZ3kwDdadhkI37XOj4ilIyvytljaEtWf6_f9L13DD4FQjBlmZVk3GoUsXZIVD5j1yVTywWC3tr/w400-h266/Clementine%203%20-%20MW.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Clementine (MW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Most of them have passed now – the only “originals” left are Jethro and Clementine. Orange Jethro is still very shy, and he has vision problems. He’s ready to emerge when food is on offer, but not to be touched. Clementine can often be found at the gate when treats are being handed out in the courtyard; she allows touch, but doesn’t really enjoy it. She is very vocal about not being left out when it comes to food, but when the gate is opened, she doesn’t venture past the threshold. “Escape” is not an issue with the Pen 7 cats; they have their safe territory and don’t want to move beyond it. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyWOiTA8hQF59imLXYPh3rHau5jJFfP9d2hommgKP6ZA2chFVhG52F23F6vngVBHjxZiTdOjREQhhjsHFAMxURcSUb2xLTQPz0Zzxk2GVg4gJKdLqbnbiaYH2tWLPSgrbuj0rjZAooRKQgkytZbX_TWLC9t_IvzvZwZ6GCuqsywFyju5X-i84QtY6Y3fF/s2048/Jethro%20&%20SweetTart%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyWOiTA8hQF59imLXYPh3rHau5jJFfP9d2hommgKP6ZA2chFVhG52F23F6vngVBHjxZiTdOjREQhhjsHFAMxURcSUb2xLTQPz0Zzxk2GVg4gJKdLqbnbiaYH2tWLPSgrbuj0rjZAooRKQgkytZbX_TWLC9t_IvzvZwZ6GCuqsywFyju5X-i84QtY6Y3fF/w400-h225/Jethro%20&%20SweetTart%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jethro & SweetTart (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>These two were joined by SweetTart, one of the <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2021/05/hidden-sweetness.html">Candy Cats</a> who was originally in Pen 6, but showed a fascination with the neighbouring barn cats and was glad to move in with them. On the other side, Pen 8 had also had a largely feral component, and when we opened it to the courtyard, and brought the Kootenay cats into pen 8, we also moved Hailey in with the barn cats. <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2020/11/meowvember-furry-faces.html">Hailey</a> and her family had come from a colony Carol Reichert trapped at a cement plant; Hailey’s best buddy Johnny had passed not long before, and Hailey was glad to be back in a restricted area. Neither Hailey nor SweetTart are as keen on chicken tidbits as Clementine is, but they frequently hang around when goodies are on offer.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjEr4B0OOyXRWDBHmP5M_UX4TVfoysSAnUV5NXHsdNVTpC795g_7feXUMAX33y2JwI7HlpiWOmxqRTd1BrwYGMSmV_PDOdllzAx0U0jIjZa_vZVwaYEzb07BY_caMzVeRCteWVlG7D9WYIx0Mj1i5XVCGHuLtMc2QPOzVSEiipTIf7b4YpP_KpU8B4jdj/s807/Barn%20-%20Hailey%20-%20cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="807" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjEr4B0OOyXRWDBHmP5M_UX4TVfoysSAnUV5NXHsdNVTpC795g_7feXUMAX33y2JwI7HlpiWOmxqRTd1BrwYGMSmV_PDOdllzAx0U0jIjZa_vZVwaYEzb07BY_caMzVeRCteWVlG7D9WYIx0Mj1i5XVCGHuLtMc2QPOzVSEiipTIf7b4YpP_KpU8B4jdj/w400-h263/Barn%20-%20Hailey%20-%20cropped.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hailey is still very cautious (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The other current residents of Pen 7 belong to the don’t-see-me variety of ferals. Anya and Buttons keep themselves in the warmth and comfort of the cabin, and don’t venture out at all. In the summer, Anya lived under the drapes covering a cat-tree on the porch, and she wouldn’t even come down to use the litter box at the bottom – the cat-tree finally had to be thrown out because it was impossible to clean it properly. Now she’s safely in the dark of the cabin, she’s using the litterbox there, which is much more pleasant for all concerned! Anya and Buttons get checked each day by the med staff; mostly we don’t disturb them in their preferred hiding places, and all their movement is under cover of the dark.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdAsmGmdWEVrYnNlttkXo2tLDd7X64TvJzDpXNylxoaAcbijlyk9uSX_nY6T9OrRlEvvJYOqEVyveP1goqAwdO8VpadaxgWVCHrmpIYpt-yS9IqTku6FytOgYHBTAAjD_hwRr1i99Gd7kxZyMzl-YAhZlogJkG18gDXlJnxmVqz9a3IozvG0TfZpM9mxO/s2048/Anya%202%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdAsmGmdWEVrYnNlttkXo2tLDd7X64TvJzDpXNylxoaAcbijlyk9uSX_nY6T9OrRlEvvJYOqEVyveP1goqAwdO8VpadaxgWVCHrmpIYpt-yS9IqTku6FytOgYHBTAAjD_hwRr1i99Gd7kxZyMzl-YAhZlogJkG18gDXlJnxmVqz9a3IozvG0TfZpM9mxO/w400-h266/Anya%202%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Anya is not keen on human company (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>As with Pen 4, weekend visitors have no access to these cats – though some of the KittyComforters visit them regularly, just sitting quietly with them, and reminding them that they’re safe here, and humans really aren’t as scary as they think.<p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright</span></i></div></i><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-68604159651672309672023-12-14T02:00:00.000-08:002023-12-14T02:46:26.873-08:00The Pirate is a Pussy-Cat<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJ2Oxf00c4pQhkd8Nk8BF-E_p9MUpAspJZkXzdFe8BiJfBl1wWYfLw2WgI4belUEEiyxKBmkxVxZaROm87dEFxk2aggB2osJhtn6wf-LIP6VHqyefdJSxyrQP1ntAQPwhsKUMnVSVk8DdDa_wRKUMtsF6J2THaubFmHlXFmlQmvACQYHY8_zzvzOYOR1b/s1842/Gordo,%20cropped%20-%20AnneM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="1842" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJ2Oxf00c4pQhkd8Nk8BF-E_p9MUpAspJZkXzdFe8BiJfBl1wWYfLw2WgI4belUEEiyxKBmkxVxZaROm87dEFxk2aggB2osJhtn6wf-LIP6VHqyefdJSxyrQP1ntAQPwhsKUMnVSVk8DdDa_wRKUMtsF6J2THaubFmHlXFmlQmvACQYHY8_zzvzOYOR1b/w400-h321/Gordo,%20cropped%20-%20AnneM.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gordo (AM)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The SingleWide has been feeling quite empty in the last while – we lost all the “Egg-farm cats”; we’re missing Shaggy and Jimmy and Bossanova and so many others... So it was good to welcome several newcomers in the summer months. I had mentioned McGregor in last week’s blog, but sadly, we unexpectedly lost him this week. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqOwCjGRoD3n1Nf3EXPPNsx2PJ88M4Z0pogK5mFqH0vVuAnBLovLeZWiyK_THmsNPGyMPV2CQvtW9lZ_pRPTXJ_QQwbEsHSLFmcW6TUPmj_pLlNJcGzFMjSMROKyZOsOESrqFRbY1Gf65qTi2QEsPvgNjblyNY0-bXGI3El0Cu9PPyrDs5Jf5-vyj_gek/s1358/Gordo%203%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1358" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqOwCjGRoD3n1Nf3EXPPNsx2PJ88M4Z0pogK5mFqH0vVuAnBLovLeZWiyK_THmsNPGyMPV2CQvtW9lZ_pRPTXJ_QQwbEsHSLFmcW6TUPmj_pLlNJcGzFMjSMROKyZOsOESrqFRbY1Gf65qTi2QEsPvgNjblyNY0-bXGI3El0Cu9PPyrDs5Jf5-vyj_gek/w400-h225/Gordo%203%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gordo (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The other newcomer in the SingleWide is a chonky boy called Gordo who came to us from Kamloops. He’s not been at his most beautiful with us; he had some medical problems when he arrived that resulted in surgery – there may have been some trauma causing them. His right eye showed entropion, with the eyelid turning inwards so that the eyelashes rubbed painfully against the eyeball. That’s a relatively straightforward surgery (though fiddly); what was not so straightforward was a complex TECA (total ear canal ablation) surgery on the same side. It was a lot for him to deal with, and he battled through it with the courage of his namesake, Gord Downie.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tiJTFSUIZnNb_ILM5qZeAkHFtoEtpVVtSBWKPkf9DTvySXd8w1C1TsqL6w3y1it3gIPdd9WpP4YK_Ossu2Tih0ANPI3jA_vOSUAhYzuFc56_gqsYhvrzHlo5ySV2VKeWiXB4wpFUcfQVE1TTzAd1AmqXEoCPoH-0u7R2xUSxuw2xr8Y9qgHWIo3aQw01/s1080/Gordo%205%20cropped%20-%20Joanne.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1080" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tiJTFSUIZnNb_ILM5qZeAkHFtoEtpVVtSBWKPkf9DTvySXd8w1C1TsqL6w3y1it3gIPdd9WpP4YK_Ossu2Tih0ANPI3jA_vOSUAhYzuFc56_gqsYhvrzHlo5ySV2VKeWiXB4wpFUcfQVE1TTzAd1AmqXEoCPoH-0u7R2xUSxuw2xr8Y9qgHWIo3aQw01/w400-h312/Gordo%205%20cropped%20-%20Joanne.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Big boy.... (JN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Gordo now looks a bit like a pirate, with a crumpled haematoma ear and shaved on one side of his head. Because of his black colouring, he appears one-eyed, though he has in fact kept the sight in his right eye, He’s had a hard time being confined to a cage and coping with a cone of shame, and with limited visitors; now he’s out of prison and making himself at home. He reminds me of junkyard cat <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2022/06/just-my-bill.html">Bill</a> in New Aids – but an entirely amiable version of Bill, who is not always friendly with other cats. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lfMebLe-ti7KOHpc32T4f1mudpaxY9jQg-gslkZhIcBU_A8U69Xf39jg_4N1-04Rrujm_-5KvBTx2MZQ-ujWAVQbbmuDA4hyphenhyphenmE39_xVgQ1WQIJHTddPa1sg_q6cRJRrH1A3JPZzNR96XwyiR4q5CHZsah-UunTqZtLrBVb5aW9jeBeCJBY9x7hGUoSf1/s828/Gordo%206%20-%20AkiraG.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="828" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lfMebLe-ti7KOHpc32T4f1mudpaxY9jQg-gslkZhIcBU_A8U69Xf39jg_4N1-04Rrujm_-5KvBTx2MZQ-ujWAVQbbmuDA4hyphenhyphenmE39_xVgQ1WQIJHTddPa1sg_q6cRJRrH1A3JPZzNR96XwyiR4q5CHZsah-UunTqZtLrBVb5aW9jeBeCJBY9x7hGUoSf1/w400-h288/Gordo%206%20-%20AkiraG.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sitting in "pet me!" pose (AG)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Gordo looks as if he’s had a rough life, but it’s not been a long one - he’s actually only about two years old. Initially he presented himself as a serious cat, and was probably dealing with some physical discomfort, but it has become obvious that he loves attention from people. Through all of his cage time we tried to keep up with visits, and now that he’s no longer handicapped by the cone, and free of confinement, he’s ready to explore and to interact as much as the other SingleWide cats allow. He has appropriated Blaze’s favourite shelf for his exclusive use, and she’s been persuaded to relocate.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8uomryXDMFXxd7vX766AQ7Qxr_3A10rw5nujdPu6LJqLO4HigIdiqgHME6AQv74RpRvwwxjFbyG9IESqWM8uH-otXAax7FSco4NlElRJzGGJlVFLKvNQ3nY1Kx40mf2XIXQu7jmmz2-8ZsrVcOM5aBP71eXdbRyywrJwZ5u4p4Kp9Df_MsHBeIOCIeXd/s2048/Gordo,%20cropped%20-%20AkiraG.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="2048" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8uomryXDMFXxd7vX766AQ7Qxr_3A10rw5nujdPu6LJqLO4HigIdiqgHME6AQv74RpRvwwxjFbyG9IESqWM8uH-otXAax7FSco4NlElRJzGGJlVFLKvNQ3nY1Kx40mf2XIXQu7jmmz2-8ZsrVcOM5aBP71eXdbRyywrJwZ5u4p4Kp9Df_MsHBeIOCIeXd/w400-h253/Gordo,%20cropped%20-%20AkiraG.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Come play with me! (AG)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>He loves to play - he will roll around and grab with his big mittens. In the cage he would happily come up for some lap time; now that he’s out and about, there’s a bit more competition for a lap, and he backs away from confrontation with Whiskers, who has appointed himself Top Cat. Gordo is a sweetheart; there's no nastiness at all about him, and though he's not a beautiful cat, he's very endearing, and it would be wonderful to find him a home where he can be loved.<p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Brigid Coult, Akira Graham, Anne Marchetti, Joanne Nicholson</span></i></div></i><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-54328695525143024342023-12-07T13:12:00.000-08:002023-12-14T02:44:29.847-08:00Deelia<p>Part of the work of the Kitty Comforters is to spend time with the caged cats – new, or medicated, or post-surgery. But another important part of our work is to identify the feral cats who may be hesitating about whether they can trust us or not. Some have very good reasons to he untrusting.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LAszvNKIBCslM7N_GGJgY1P7I8IGb9ej6LCwGvkjsSTc8-xsj27FeqDJL_saXM4yJ1_MaLiLUgwtrnKXccA2T2e34-STD_JOvbNFG5oxom-pusfLYT-Mxn2OH2ekc2Qw1S-ZLw6_Thw65t6Y98NyQDhpzXTpQgLJywBOf05cXKCc5Ito2wwXHBO3OreV/s1358/Deelia%208%20-%20BC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1358" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LAszvNKIBCslM7N_GGJgY1P7I8IGb9ej6LCwGvkjsSTc8-xsj27FeqDJL_saXM4yJ1_MaLiLUgwtrnKXccA2T2e34-STD_JOvbNFG5oxom-pusfLYT-Mxn2OH2ekc2Qw1S-ZLw6_Thw65t6Y98NyQDhpzXTpQgLJywBOf05cXKCc5Ito2wwXHBO3OreV/w400-h225/Deelia%208%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shy Deelia - BC</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Deelia came to us earlier this year with a group from Kamloops, sent by Sammy’s Forgotten Felines. Sammy’s works particularly with colonies of feral cats who may be in some danger – whether from natural causes or human ones. The group that arrived consisted of two young mothers and a group of kittens; the folks at Sammy’s thought it was likely that the younger mom was the daughter of the older one. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoSBotLDwiSR22u6Vj5PwEKXbN7tODSHoFHw-jz5xCaG97jD4tPxPh4GGlyJtiZCm-yXsokuvXVWcWE24oujcDxIhUnmlv04ZaubxT8g1z1IOJpM_Jmg9JHuK0BoKpnczSpIBfLfxpVBMSMqrjV0xFJsvpipCpMwch9Me2KHe7_aYxKt2zsjThA8_oDFA/s623/Deelia%202%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="430" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoSBotLDwiSR22u6Vj5PwEKXbN7tODSHoFHw-jz5xCaG97jD4tPxPh4GGlyJtiZCm-yXsokuvXVWcWE24oujcDxIhUnmlv04ZaubxT8g1z1IOJpM_Jmg9JHuK0BoKpnczSpIBfLfxpVBMSMqrjV0xFJsvpipCpMwch9Me2KHe7_aYxKt2zsjThA8_oDFA/w276-h400/Deelia%202%20-%20BC.jpg" width="276" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Getting closer... (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>However, there was more to the transfer than simply getting kittens to safety. The Kamloops rescue was concerned about the senior mom’s condition, and X-rays confirmed that someone had been using cats for target practice, and Deelia had pellets in her body. Once she was in our care, the RAPS Animal Hospital took her in for removal of the pellets; we don’t know how long it had been since she’d been shot, and we hope that there are no long-term concerns over lead poisoning. The kittens – as most kittens are! - were very cute, and quickly adopted, as was the younger mom, Lydia. Not surprisingly, Deelia was not so trusting and therefore came to the Sanctuary, where she could take her time in deciding her comfort level around humans.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt373M8_fRqbtjS4SeW7eEdN3dW4U80P5Joq9QRztz_QQsnQKSlT4avjcusizpAXqaWHyH4a8L8L2KnLjmOzcnK6XKNtd0dVyryEzCdNpV6e3CfhboeC_Ii1G9HDHDOgkSsO6hss6qUL3S7Fl0V1wWjDf2CrwIdqJZIwijL8Jsc23FHQe-K1-QUxNzWr68/s1440/Deelia%203%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt373M8_fRqbtjS4SeW7eEdN3dW4U80P5Joq9QRztz_QQsnQKSlT4avjcusizpAXqaWHyH4a8L8L2KnLjmOzcnK6XKNtd0dVyryEzCdNpV6e3CfhboeC_Ii1G9HDHDOgkSsO6hss6qUL3S7Fl0V1wWjDf2CrwIdqJZIwijL8Jsc23FHQe-K1-QUxNzWr68/w400-h267/Deelia%203%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Watching at a careful distance (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>She has largely made her home on the south side of the front courtyard; she can sometimes be found in the Old Rabbit Area, and sometimes under the bed-box pile. Her sweet face carries a worried expression, and she’s not at all sure that she likes proximity with humans. But sitting quietly in the closed ORA, she will often poke her head out to see if there are treats on offer, and once again, bribery becomes a useful socialization tool. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QphrxvzHgATKQWxJ5OIhNduydiCfyh3x6BiBSHPNPg9_uBL1JFtfN-VKno1CQIWF3TM7Abc-f7TKPx_UhlWnofApKXGAf9imC9fj5Go7KBeCP8Q41GA7mZaPN_twsN8s6su_zxVyvsQrKOJ3n7Q9ujeZ4NehP6jJdEBdEyL2j-xpee0U1WL8HY2YFmLt/s1358/Deelia%20&%20Solar%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1358" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QphrxvzHgATKQWxJ5OIhNduydiCfyh3x6BiBSHPNPg9_uBL1JFtfN-VKno1CQIWF3TM7Abc-f7TKPx_UhlWnofApKXGAf9imC9fj5Go7KBeCP8Q41GA7mZaPN_twsN8s6su_zxVyvsQrKOJ3n7Q9ujeZ4NehP6jJdEBdEyL2j-xpee0U1WL8HY2YFmLt/w400-h225/Deelia%20&%20Solar%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A little face-off with Solar over a tidbit (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>In the dimmer light of the ORA, she’s easily confused with grey <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2021/04/a-semi-feral-quartet.html">Solar </a>at first sight, but is smaller and rounder in face. Solar is not afraid to approach us for handouts, but Deelia hovers at a distance initially and it takes quiet and patience to tempt her closer. When she emerges into the daylight it can be seen that she is actually not grey, but a very dilute tortie – the black colouring is all grey and the orange is a lovely peachy colour – and she lacks some of the underlying tabby markings of her grey “brother”. Like shy<a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2023/10/bricklyn.html"> Bricklyn</a>, she is very fond of chicken-bits, and is beginning to hold her own with the other pushy cats. She’s not quite ready for petting yet, but an outstretched hand gets a paw-tap with no aggressiveness, and she is happy to sit and share slow blinks. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6fczvaimZv9M51Vd6Emo5NtOEg-U8NsS2illYZUkFlnL0xnfSh32vYFhbkCW_Gk_rnh63gEUYH_tWglbWpGN7mhO1J2p6LCVnNUzapSLdJh6xEh_3aAW0YqUuEeBYNUAAgp2NGBsnyYTWAY4kYUbN6SYmMtxMQkGiRNAc6BVb01xm12xScl2kni76r67/s1358/Deelia%204%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1358" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6fczvaimZv9M51Vd6Emo5NtOEg-U8NsS2illYZUkFlnL0xnfSh32vYFhbkCW_Gk_rnh63gEUYH_tWglbWpGN7mhO1J2p6LCVnNUzapSLdJh6xEh_3aAW0YqUuEeBYNUAAgp2NGBsnyYTWAY4kYUbN6SYmMtxMQkGiRNAc6BVb01xm12xScl2kni76r67/w400-h225/Deelia%204%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Deelia's markings show through (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>We’ve got all the patience in the world for you, Deelia – and we hope you can learn that some humans can be trusted.<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson</span></i></div></i><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-22299629726201053222023-11-27T13:34:00.000-08:002023-11-29T18:27:03.841-08:00Gwen, and Sibs<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjO_UDl1JNDpfbW-Q36rhiiM4UrtwTevEhUHEus4_m75DYdnRmkPX93HXJSxUdeNohBrgkXWA_ug9Ek3tNBTUTcOSwrXcOddck62wybpFx1O_bwZtGgVVelxLkM9jACfbZrfjbtMH1vDoiZAyLqyIsXkv85zWcVcAKHY4U8lknFXUcxOUx8sixi90A6TgW/s2048/Gwen%206%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjO_UDl1JNDpfbW-Q36rhiiM4UrtwTevEhUHEus4_m75DYdnRmkPX93HXJSxUdeNohBrgkXWA_ug9Ek3tNBTUTcOSwrXcOddck62wybpFx1O_bwZtGgVVelxLkM9jACfbZrfjbtMH1vDoiZAyLqyIsXkv85zWcVcAKHY4U8lknFXUcxOUx8sixi90A6TgW/w400-h267/Gwen%206%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gwen (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Gwen, Bagheera, Anya – three little ferals who’ve gone in very different directions... They came in together from <a href="https://brokenpromisesrescue.com/">Broken Promises rescue</a> on Vancouver Island, well past the early socializing stage and very reluctant to have anything to do with us. All three were long-haired, two of them were black, and one a tortie. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTg6KVZuWl-9JHtE0Ugpjxfk_6ANC7QECwG1tJTsU_XOz630MyMA-n4XQMOj0LHXti2ylgGshx_oEHuqcUhfRMkHuu7Znr2bOz2qx7TJy5tk5pIquLdwqk_MTn0OYaJEvEt2kalAAt9ucro6ALRSC6_OlxnMS9aiBrhW69FGvbPnFVwv35QukE4A8Z2o4/s2048/Anya%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTg6KVZuWl-9JHtE0Ugpjxfk_6ANC7QECwG1tJTsU_XOz630MyMA-n4XQMOj0LHXti2ylgGshx_oEHuqcUhfRMkHuu7Znr2bOz2qx7TJy5tk5pIquLdwqk_MTn0OYaJEvEt2kalAAt9ucro6ALRSC6_OlxnMS9aiBrhW69FGvbPnFVwv35QukE4A8Z2o4/w400-h267/Anya%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Anya (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Anya is the typical feral – a hissy-spitty, “stay away from me” cat. The med staff decided to place her in Pen 7, the farm-cat pen, since she needed some eye care, and there are a couple of other cats also there for the same reason. Another reason to keep her out in the pens is that she has a Manx tail (or lack thereof) and often disdains the use of a litter box. Her first hideout was in a draped cat tree, and we ended up having to throw it out because as Anya’s toilet, it became something of a biohazard. By penning her, we can keep a more careful eye on her, and watch for problems, like the UTI difficulties some tailless cats suffer from. She doesn’t like humans, and only tolerates short visits from the med staff, who check on her daily.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUR71X18TzcjQIIgyYnZkY2q2_x_qmkRUv5LzKzkwofgO5E8C5hGgHVe0odhEcBljj_tck-WYUk65Ggfl-WIU2MSHFkp6rKkMyB1sU4drjU_qEaIXwQ7nW9-_nM8JFIwCnHuX4thBF8CSViH6fTm-cmuClBoSguT4QEPznoVH6A58_VHKlBsOmnF4R2HP/s1358/Bagheera%20B.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1358" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUR71X18TzcjQIIgyYnZkY2q2_x_qmkRUv5LzKzkwofgO5E8C5hGgHVe0odhEcBljj_tck-WYUk65Ggfl-WIU2MSHFkp6rKkMyB1sU4drjU_qEaIXwQ7nW9-_nM8JFIwCnHuX4thBF8CSViH6fTm-cmuClBoSguT4QEPznoVH6A58_VHKlBsOmnF4R2HP/w400-h225/Bagheera%20B.jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Bagheera (BC)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>With Bagheera, it looked as if we were going to be faced with another feral cat, but it turned out that the health issues which she had to battle, actually did her a favour, since they confined her to a cage for longer than normal. And cage time means contact with Kitty Comforters, and for Bagheera, THE Kitty Comforter was Mel. Every visit Mel made, she spent time with Bagheera, who grew increasingly confident around her new human friend. Mel and her husband Scott moved to Alberta in the summer, and have taken Bagheera with them, as well as Scooter, who was shy until the Mel-and-Scott magic hit her. We love it when the shy cats blossom with love from their adopters.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaw6FEmFsVtc1NqHZqRczvPs-t-3poecqpXpFJfcZfRXHApa3_dlIrpRQLVvoE2YQPnkAsXzpuBa09311hWhlzzqmm67t-G1QyzBgZ_a7wHM2QbC-SkKreuSwwhQMtcBe1bTeVl45ErD2UkSIXNhXy1heAU6lG398eBBpW4JaAqEUv5u2PXw1YL1vK6D-/s2982/Gwen%202%20cropped%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2982" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaw6FEmFsVtc1NqHZqRczvPs-t-3poecqpXpFJfcZfRXHApa3_dlIrpRQLVvoE2YQPnkAsXzpuBa09311hWhlzzqmm67t-G1QyzBgZ_a7wHM2QbC-SkKreuSwwhQMtcBe1bTeVl45ErD2UkSIXNhXy1heAU6lG398eBBpW4JaAqEUv5u2PXw1YL1vK6D-/w304-h400/Gwen%202%20cropped%20BC.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gwen (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The third cat was tortie Gwen. Tortoiseshells tend either to be very sweet – cats like Blaze and Chelsea – or full of tortietude. And a feral tortie of the latter variety... oh, my! On release from her cage, Gwen relocated to the DoubleWide Deck and proceeded to establish herself as a bossyboots. </div><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdzt1aNq58OOD4bAGu00zwLKI4QPybqx2kmC0MyGOV3XjiCcUtfUdaaaO1h2FCtztSvTuXbuwnsspk58eKD61vUn2Wt3NtFuLUgB8UxkNIK1RDUIVoBefBrKXTxzC-YxSQAOBHCOoYA6l_VUJCwqaO2sJasmy3cBAcyU7zaK9aU43QUnJXBlrD4r6_NRv/s1244/Gwen%202a%20-%20bc%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1244" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdzt1aNq58OOD4bAGu00zwLKI4QPybqx2kmC0MyGOV3XjiCcUtfUdaaaO1h2FCtztSvTuXbuwnsspk58eKD61vUn2Wt3NtFuLUgB8UxkNIK1RDUIVoBefBrKXTxzC-YxSQAOBHCOoYA6l_VUJCwqaO2sJasmy3cBAcyU7zaK9aU43QUnJXBlrD4r6_NRv/w400-h225/Gwen%202a%20-%20bc%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hiding up high (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Initially she hid out on the upper shelves, finding corners where she could hide, but it wasn’t long before she discovered that all the really interesting stuff (i.e. food) happened at ground level, and she began to make her presence felt.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisntbCTksN8XJH1k_-HPRqOkU-56psIYwxZ2wKzrCAE7obCaIdL4bl08orlqZv1lEpG90Sln05AlZVYi8jnw3BRl5pvz1HL3y9lyIVpqlG-k-KEkflOMVq8iLs4vhDMsyTsRHbqV2X_mh24jM3H8B4zKcKZpa9k5doTIGdgHsUWYAEqI22UaMhc96f2Pp2/s1358/Gwen%208%20rear%20floof%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1358" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisntbCTksN8XJH1k_-HPRqOkU-56psIYwxZ2wKzrCAE7obCaIdL4bl08orlqZv1lEpG90Sln05AlZVYi8jnw3BRl5pvz1HL3y9lyIVpqlG-k-KEkflOMVq8iLs4vhDMsyTsRHbqV2X_mh24jM3H8B4zKcKZpa9k5doTIGdgHsUWYAEqI22UaMhc96f2Pp2/w400-h225/Gwen%208%20rear%20floof%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisntbCTksN8XJH1k_-HPRqOkU-56psIYwxZ2wKzrCAE7obCaIdL4bl08orlqZv1lEpG90Sln05AlZVYi8jnw3BRl5pvz1HL3y9lyIVpqlG-k-KEkflOMVq8iLs4vhDMsyTsRHbqV2X_mh24jM3H8B4zKcKZpa9k5doTIGdgHsUWYAEqI22UaMhc96f2Pp2/s1358/Gwen%208%20rear%20floof%20-%20BC.jpg"><br /></a></span></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dinner-time floof on show (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Gwen is not a friendly cat with the other felines on the deck. She is tentatively interested in humans, especially when they carry treats, and she has learned that when she takes food nicely, more may be forthcoming. With food distraction, she can be petted gently, but she sees it only as a means to the next treat. <br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Q7c-YwmNodc5Vmfyb3_8HsOC5Mri-uSoVe0fWu-Gt7iPwNVLPZQccQ8hKaf7Du0MK5gxB68xMl1c_u1FFPOF1vKuQ13xg4YhdlwwSvMxyLvGnyAbuL0HbfzL7-KU1pJlk45DWitAh541cv_qmvpcxCQE4NOmuFkNSyaLwJen2pAC1azBZQdOkc8GbFMh/s744/Jasper%20&%20Gwen%20cropped%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="744" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Q7c-YwmNodc5Vmfyb3_8HsOC5Mri-uSoVe0fWu-Gt7iPwNVLPZQccQ8hKaf7Du0MK5gxB68xMl1c_u1FFPOF1vKuQ13xg4YhdlwwSvMxyLvGnyAbuL0HbfzL7-KU1pJlk45DWitAh541cv_qmvpcxCQE4NOmuFkNSyaLwJen2pAC1azBZQdOkc8GbFMh/w400-h236/Jasper%20&%20Gwen%20cropped%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jasper & Gwen - standoff for the chicken tidbit...</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>She keeps a wary eye open for any cat who may encroach on her tidbits, and she is not slow to smack a cat like Jasper when she feels he’s too close to the next mouthful. When she is aware of competition in the vicinity, she grumbles as she eats: “Nom nom nom... I am enjoying this and you can’t have it!”<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktTVJmeUP54AcIAdY2d6QGMJ6mVCy84U0DUX6t6chx7V2Ts4XWPiEzj5prrkKw2aIpeIwYViAd5aebkfFp7ARMh5bR5lA7XGMt_lWROBPGxAskhxW8uKZ0sm7WR4pjUNlS9z0Twjou7IleGvjRaZmHMTIsBeCt_BpvtqC7il7j2UWgAGoaKILUqjbfbXz/s2048/Gwen%209%20behind%20bars%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktTVJmeUP54AcIAdY2d6QGMJ6mVCy84U0DUX6t6chx7V2Ts4XWPiEzj5prrkKw2aIpeIwYViAd5aebkfFp7ARMh5bR5lA7XGMt_lWROBPGxAskhxW8uKZ0sm7WR4pjUNlS9z0Twjou7IleGvjRaZmHMTIsBeCt_BpvtqC7il7j2UWgAGoaKILUqjbfbXz/w400-h267/Gwen%209%20behind%20bars%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">There may be bars - but inside is warmer! (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>She has explored outside, but Gwen’s territory has mostly extended from the Deck into the DoubleWide, and she is often found hovering if there are promising smells in the med-cage, or in the pockets of one of the Kitty Comforters. Bribery is a very good way to convince a cat that it may well be worth giving up feral status for the good life at the Sanctuary!<p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson</span></i></div></i><p></p></div></div>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-21684964258090777352023-11-22T19:14:00.000-08:002023-11-23T10:01:16.588-08:00Our Sweet Diabetics<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jEYRamRnj7RqbXlu9rqVFazU_JX255QNOcKocJ-VbHQPVaaymf9O8YGG4zhuUz6XQh51mp6fJxkDfH1yQUPFmUsVInsg9tIpLRtF3zy4gdhscJLkgzFqnESSIABcyW_LJRffHh2DQbShAF2TZrdq6Qze7TG3pT0J7V82mKuUAxoPg7zWf92sKpxPZrNX/s960/Careen%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jEYRamRnj7RqbXlu9rqVFazU_JX255QNOcKocJ-VbHQPVaaymf9O8YGG4zhuUz6XQh51mp6fJxkDfH1yQUPFmUsVInsg9tIpLRtF3zy4gdhscJLkgzFqnESSIABcyW_LJRffHh2DQbShAF2TZrdq6Qze7TG3pT0J7V82mKuUAxoPg7zWf92sKpxPZrNX/w400-h267/Careen%204.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Careen (MW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>November is Diabetes Awareness Month – but not everyone may be aware that cats, too, can suffer from diabetes.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_J5OdBszxxs_FcWX8xgAAQFIsLwCVaYHYNSTxK15GMNBqQDha-AYiByCxnmweNaSSua7JTAESwQovcRRDT2A6BBet2YzX162bVmQR-O6qVBA_1VVLTTHS96CrWqIJreQxpAZNcbxIuM4y6Fzr-fU9RR_vCrx6NU56YGXfofwW4QhmcixbjABt1IkeyKwu/s1440/Nikki%20&%20Shadow%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_J5OdBszxxs_FcWX8xgAAQFIsLwCVaYHYNSTxK15GMNBqQDha-AYiByCxnmweNaSSua7JTAESwQovcRRDT2A6BBet2YzX162bVmQR-O6qVBA_1VVLTTHS96CrWqIJreQxpAZNcbxIuM4y6Fzr-fU9RR_vCrx6NU56YGXfofwW4QhmcixbjABt1IkeyKwu/w400-h300/Nikki%20&%20Shadow%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nikki and his Shadow (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>There are two types of diabetes in cats. In Type I there is a decrease in insulin production, and therefore blood glucose concentrations are high. In Type II diabetes, glucose levels are high because cells in the body do not respond appropriately to insulin. In both types, the body cannot access the sugars needed, even though there is plenty of sugar in the blood, because insulin can’t transport the sugar from the bloodstream into the cells that need it. Type II is the more common variety, and though it cannot be cured, it can be controlled with injections of insulin, and in some cases, with dietary management. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5s_C2ZNwzNZ9EgijzOXLEcy2iDxWw0A3RLNsw-ChBn0l749Qmi2XaPYv2_3CR3aaJJF7vLUcNTUTb82I0noMuRFMocU0dL7uBwoQun6DupHXPmH5IiPW09V7-xwH3WG1Dz0LtkFUo8T9TVb91fRR5U2TbdI-n8vbduYkjE10xDdAe4H31lmMYLBuoiw1/s4032/Mojo%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5s_C2ZNwzNZ9EgijzOXLEcy2iDxWw0A3RLNsw-ChBn0l749Qmi2XaPYv2_3CR3aaJJF7vLUcNTUTb82I0noMuRFMocU0dL7uBwoQun6DupHXPmH5IiPW09V7-xwH3WG1Dz0LtkFUo8T9TVb91fRR5U2TbdI-n8vbduYkjE10xDdAe4H31lmMYLBuoiw1/w400-h225/Mojo%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mojo is one of our larger cats (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Currently we have five cats with diabetes at the Sanctuary: Luke and Careen in the DoubleWide, and Nikki, Blaze and Meepos in the SingleWide. Two other cats are watched: big <b>Mojo</b> lives in the offices, where we can control his diet; his diabetes is currently in remission, and as long as we don’t let him overeat, we can probably keep it that way. And newcomer <b>McGregor</b> (in next week's blog) came into our care with possible diabetes, but also seems to have it in remission – we watch him carefully for signs of recurrence. In his case, elevated blood sugars may have been a sign of stress.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuXu1cac6cBph06ZWPeugfL5FA_sVOEb8Xje2_VOGtbpGULK5_S68LzPSbwlA3fQZcLARET-OwUcPpjNMmL-9kCVUAB78YITYLqb4V7VnGohCq37GCq5o5_ZXLqCKYVOq9Fk6QwI4JcgnIKSIE942p_yBbiWPpikdZSI55RyL8a0O2HEqBTFy8tBXgyvd/s960/Nikki%206%20-2%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="960" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuXu1cac6cBph06ZWPeugfL5FA_sVOEb8Xje2_VOGtbpGULK5_S68LzPSbwlA3fQZcLARET-OwUcPpjNMmL-9kCVUAB78YITYLqb4V7VnGohCq37GCq5o5_ZXLqCKYVOq9Fk6QwI4JcgnIKSIE942p_yBbiWPpikdZSI55RyL8a0O2HEqBTFy8tBXgyvd/w400-h308/Nikki%206%20-2%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nikki holding court - look at those big<br />polydactyl feet! (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2020/03/nikki-sixx-toes.html">Nikki Sixx-Toes</a> was diagnosed diabetic when he came into our care. He was a semiferal cat, wary about being handled, and the pen where he was living did not allow the med-staff to treat him without additional stress to his system. Reluctantly, we brought him inside and caged him – and unlike most feral cats, he grew to love it, and the attention it brought him. He got lots of fussing in his enclosure near the staff office, and received visitors with regal enjoyment. Four years later, his throne has moved to be the papasan chair on the deck, where he is attended and guarded by his girlfriend <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2022/11/black-spice.html">Shadow</a>.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpftzAq_ArRqktvh5FAJjD5gy8k81d8fhMiSUMFeSWCj3nTkCMs-puQiHriAR-KI-IAOszyc_-KKYBZ5sCnQRERlWmE1vx5w6ERhnXsJdqju9ZZLAdRrRgumSrfpuKhX9ORgfrW_7SQXyDQQUjGxBtmlo0Kt-ovyhkV_fMPorRa1Jgnhu2kxxyF7f6nr6a/s960/Meepos%202%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpftzAq_ArRqktvh5FAJjD5gy8k81d8fhMiSUMFeSWCj3nTkCMs-puQiHriAR-KI-IAOszyc_-KKYBZ5sCnQRERlWmE1vx5w6ERhnXsJdqju9ZZLAdRrRgumSrfpuKhX9ORgfrW_7SQXyDQQUjGxBtmlo0Kt-ovyhkV_fMPorRa1Jgnhu2kxxyF7f6nr6a/w400-h267/Meepos%202%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shy Meepos (KN)</span></i></div>Also on the deck, but usually hidden away, is fellow-diabetic <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2012/04/meepos.html">Meepos</a>, whose condition is of more recent diagnosis. Meepos has been with us for more than eleven years; he was trapped as a feral on Mitchell Island in the company of his buddy <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2013/12/update-bossanova.html">Bossanova,</a> and the two of them were initially pretty shy, and took great comfort in each other. Meepos was initially the friendlier of the two, but never became as sociable as Bossanova – he will emerge and accept gentle attention if it’s quiet, but he prefers to stay out of the way. His is late-onset diabetes – most of his time with us, he’s been fine, but he’s not an active boy, and between his inaction and aging, his system quit processing blood-sugars properly.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYq6c1IMFmT6bqMyX-NRjgnsg1Z7AGmoX4PbubhgmfMywTFJ6yqn-Riexcvd9h2iC7taq-uzht1Dp2d92BYZ2CdnS_LmRDGlyPYJ7mp4WFZ6G2sZ_Z9l4hUP9rfSDcwXHyXk_6cvxBX5CQ8r-hHvbqGVpIHc60vhXYb3kWe4w9RUEG6rzOoj7U7n8aGjc/s2048/Blaze%205%20-%20MW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYq6c1IMFmT6bqMyX-NRjgnsg1Z7AGmoX4PbubhgmfMywTFJ6yqn-Riexcvd9h2iC7taq-uzht1Dp2d92BYZ2CdnS_LmRDGlyPYJ7mp4WFZ6G2sZ_Z9l4hUP9rfSDcwXHyXk_6cvxBX5CQ8r-hHvbqGVpIHc60vhXYb3kWe4w9RUEG6rzOoj7U7n8aGjc/w400-h267/Blaze%205%20-%20MW.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blaze (MW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Sweet <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2017/02/a-trio-of-torties.html">Blaze</a> is the sister of fellow-tortie Toes, who lives in the front courtyard. The two were separated when Blaze developed skin problems and was brought inside where she could be treated more easily. She can usually be found on the shelves backing on to the big cage, and loves to have attention so long as she can remain in her own space. Like the other diabetics, she’s something of a chonk – it’s hard to balance the need to give them extra food at the same time as they get their insulin injection, with not overfeeding them. Their extra is mostly protein, with a few treats, but with so many cats around, there’s no way of stopping them eating more of the crunchies that are out for the cats who prefer to graze. With food and insulin every 12 hours, they have no reason to be hungry, though, or to raid the crunchie-bowl.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1EI6ncZ90EjrInu3LoLQr_Sr8dmEKedy9yK9eELkiWuW5qb5XJKwCYkYmXbkJauBkjvTYJHN1dpG9o1xf7rhmPZ4MEgahvO7bcUmvTiCfHqWoQZMDNpBoYr7ATTJ6ATE1F5kaRFaMmMC9kdZ8KJpiN_ztZjvB050QYcoJ2GKZiDbid-pK3Bi9LX5rc5_/s708/Luke%209%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1EI6ncZ90EjrInu3LoLQr_Sr8dmEKedy9yK9eELkiWuW5qb5XJKwCYkYmXbkJauBkjvTYJHN1dpG9o1xf7rhmPZ4MEgahvO7bcUmvTiCfHqWoQZMDNpBoYr7ATTJ6ATE1F5kaRFaMmMC9kdZ8KJpiN_ztZjvB050QYcoJ2GKZiDbid-pK3Bi9LX5rc5_/w300-h400/Luke%209%20-%20BC.jpg" width="300" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Luke (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>In the DoubleWide, <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2023/04/caging-cats.html">Luke</a> is the younger of the two diabetics. He is part of the Tuxedo Club that hangs out on the deck, and he has also suffered from dental problems, which have necessitated occasional caging while he heals. He’s an active and social cat, both with humans and with other cats, and just loves attention – which makes it much easier to give him his doses. The other diabetic in the building is <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2013/06/careen.html">Careen</a>. <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2019/08/careen-willow.html">Careen</a> was an outside cat for some time, and shared cuddle space with sweet Willow in Pen 5. When we recently noticed her changed habits in terms of eating and peeing, she was brought in for testing, and remained caged for a bit longer. As an outdoor cat, there was some discussion about her release – she’s friendly and handleable, but trying to find a grey cat on a dark night to give her insulin could well be a problem. However, Careen decided that having been moved into the DoubleWide, she might as well stay in warmth and comfort. She can usually be found peering down from the cage-tops, and her one bad habit is that when it’s meds time, she moves herself to the most inaccessible spot, and takes some coaxing to come and enjoy her special plate of goodies (and the minimal needle prick that goes with it).<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4ySb7KzgV2I0wxTz6BX_iI82Br44Q6mVkdybR6cgHPzil-BsU04is2YmbCVT1b9GZmOn9kLVVQiKD-5lSgZfpiedvmIYEDjCDOPdiNHzYs2QEj3cCWqq7USnrQEnYC_DufMG_OCnVwhBLIh-d5jRccFMLQNVYfJya8zNS6xU8iZ6rfPVrDSDd16OllGA/s4032/Careen%20in%20DW%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4ySb7KzgV2I0wxTz6BX_iI82Br44Q6mVkdybR6cgHPzil-BsU04is2YmbCVT1b9GZmOn9kLVVQiKD-5lSgZfpiedvmIYEDjCDOPdiNHzYs2QEj3cCWqq7USnrQEnYC_DufMG_OCnVwhBLIh-d5jRccFMLQNVYfJya8zNS6xU8iZ6rfPVrDSDd16OllGA/w400-h225/Careen%20in%20DW%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Careen on the DW cagetops (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Diabetes in a cat is a long way from being a death sentence, and doesn’t need a vet to do the injections; the insulin needle is very fine, and the dose is very small – the only disadvantage is that the cat-parent needs to schedule their activities in order that the dose is regular. And getting special plates of food – they must feel as if they are being treated as the royalty they consider themselves to be.<p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright</span></i></div></i><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-47716330243524643912023-11-15T19:05:00.000-08:002023-11-16T08:38:54.966-08:00Tails from the Front Courtyard<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rtRYQfz4zntNEt_V70JyUQCYgLnuiAJkI-f4fhEBqT6h_mCh9Abwm6HN93GgzNBxsrkVOVxkj4ZG3noKCY_xZK5ilwde3lgJ0yvB43ZblKcSLS3E4u2SpghiumCWHAQZ6dL930kX-Yn-XR8svq23YSKWvFd1ukuSILnkCmak1EVVUqyOK-CMuSWqK0mZ/s960/Happy%20tails%20-%20Tim%20Stocker.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="960" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rtRYQfz4zntNEt_V70JyUQCYgLnuiAJkI-f4fhEBqT6h_mCh9Abwm6HN93GgzNBxsrkVOVxkj4ZG3noKCY_xZK5ilwde3lgJ0yvB43ZblKcSLS3E4u2SpghiumCWHAQZ6dL930kX-Yn-XR8svq23YSKWvFd1ukuSILnkCmak1EVVUqyOK-CMuSWqK0mZ/w400-h258/Happy%20tails%20-%20Tim%20Stocker.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Happy tails (TS)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The volunteer or visitor who enters with special treats in hand is welcomed by a crowd of eager cats, many of them with tails in the air – one sign of a happy cat. But five of our front courtyard cats have to find another way to demonstrate their happiness – you see, they’re a little short in the tail department!<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bhBcXUK9qcQavMEz2k1J5iOUHI7_1CQeKmKIIROurRybZIlY2-rBO9TwQj1DnFpXOjt6eS1SHtaGO0zQpfrq6ZTwfbLR9Jil17uiZ4fR-v4vZtfIqARw0rMl9JZErFk0Pz5b_es411RobuVZ-x4S8br5KYkjN0q6RLuEY_xZPNMXMP5vKHsKJo9GhnVB/s960/Carly%20Simon%205%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="960" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bhBcXUK9qcQavMEz2k1J5iOUHI7_1CQeKmKIIROurRybZIlY2-rBO9TwQj1DnFpXOjt6eS1SHtaGO0zQpfrq6ZTwfbLR9Jil17uiZ4fR-v4vZtfIqARw0rMl9JZErFk0Pz5b_es411RobuVZ-x4S8br5KYkjN0q6RLuEY_xZPNMXMP5vKHsKJo9GhnVB/w400-h271/Carly%20Simon%205%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carly (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>One of them has already been introduced – her name is Carly Simon, and she came to us as one of a bunch of farm cats. She’s among sweet <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2023/10/hope-and-her-bffs.html">Hope’s closest friends</a>, and right now she is caged and recovering from a case of vestibular disease that has left her feeling wobbly and nauseous. She’s making steady progress, but it may be awhile before we’re ready to let her jump and climb.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie610ZLX8OH9m2IrFrQDrezqsbLTytMq6be_B5LscoW1kW0XLScWi8oNUlUGo6HzExxyYqlrbnJeA0PK0Kl_To-27LvmFGfkZWPgOztCgpW-knBde9rKJ1zeBEnvX9pgCjDChAIBTNz-CNEdoavncQHcOeuIrALgj1DlInFp4D2hhpmvPUmx0IDmeqPmkW/s2560/Carly's%20tail.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie610ZLX8OH9m2IrFrQDrezqsbLTytMq6be_B5LscoW1kW0XLScWi8oNUlUGo6HzExxyYqlrbnJeA0PK0Kl_To-27LvmFGfkZWPgOztCgpW-knBde9rKJ1zeBEnvX9pgCjDChAIBTNz-CNEdoavncQHcOeuIrALgj1DlInFp4D2hhpmvPUmx0IDmeqPmkW/w400-h225/Carly's%20tail.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carly's tail (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Carly looks as if her tail was broken and reset at an angle. It’s a little stumpy tail that goes in two directions, and though we wondered at first if it was an injury, when she first came to us, this little pregnant mama produced a litter of kittens, some of whom also showed the same tail mutation.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56Pzmqv6u9CRFaBCnMPjIxqLP9KKHBGyzOzxUA1CP5VlRPj-SGrxsgiWjRQveu9_n2cE-Wmgg6YgDJhXLPoS6vI1NFRu1HkHHXbAwc9-6DsEHa2TEFMRffrX81LDICH3bNCmdBS8wklhOSbAYVVdakG2bAl2qzsKcUg-ojzbndNQrOR1tG91c9g83ktsP/s4032/Bowie%201%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56Pzmqv6u9CRFaBCnMPjIxqLP9KKHBGyzOzxUA1CP5VlRPj-SGrxsgiWjRQveu9_n2cE-Wmgg6YgDJhXLPoS6vI1NFRu1HkHHXbAwc9-6DsEHa2TEFMRffrX81LDICH3bNCmdBS8wklhOSbAYVVdakG2bAl2qzsKcUg-ojzbndNQrOR1tG91c9g83ktsP/w400-h225/Bowie%201%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bowie (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUZVlY7f_vKf-3qA4QRgkCgeVSu034_YQYpoqwOp2wCw4ndt_GHdmF7U4RD0DnBLeSGHAtYRiqIL5hXk-tBBn0Mo9cqPbJZy27BLS1iTbwJYJld8tMQLsawcygPNig7p0GF0xdYKylzsidH8qnz5DkSskYFohlmnStZCUrYeaJ7S678DbqaAmeuUIMMIZ/s2048/Jett%203%20-%20kn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUZVlY7f_vKf-3qA4QRgkCgeVSu034_YQYpoqwOp2wCw4ndt_GHdmF7U4RD0DnBLeSGHAtYRiqIL5hXk-tBBn0Mo9cqPbJZy27BLS1iTbwJYJld8tMQLsawcygPNig7p0GF0xdYKylzsidH8qnz5DkSskYFohlmnStZCUrYeaJ7S678DbqaAmeuUIMMIZ/w400-h267/Jett%203%20-%20kn.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jett (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The other “stumpies” in the front courtyard are <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2023/10/in-ora.html">Bowie and Jett</a>. Bowie and his “rocker” buddies came in to us from Kamloops back in 2021, and they don’t live up to their “out there” human models – they’re all very shy, and are of the dawn-and-dusk variety of cats. Bowie is a floofy black boy, with a floofy stump of a tail; Jett is shorthaired, with a short tail They can often be found around the YellowDoor area, hiding behind the flower beds – any hint of moving in their direction, and they scuttle to find somewhere to hide.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JSoR9a_ntlMzsYHXbFJCjGme3RivKcDy4e-CuV52xYkp-Yi7oB6o6YJmbJDEEv6vBDC4x7GBjn7el9N70eCqDNLbGOIvALHc350wBt0Fxb6coFHntEeUEDrTAHb-fymReJEs8_Do3Nigz2SPbOqvrrdFd4ErbD3OT3x8pi6iIAFuvdgOZ08YFu9zBpPS/s4032/Cheech%201%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JSoR9a_ntlMzsYHXbFJCjGme3RivKcDy4e-CuV52xYkp-Yi7oB6o6YJmbJDEEv6vBDC4x7GBjn7el9N70eCqDNLbGOIvALHc350wBt0Fxb6coFHntEeUEDrTAHb-fymReJEs8_Do3Nigz2SPbOqvrrdFd4ErbD3OT3x8pi6iIAFuvdgOZ08YFu9zBpPS/w400-h225/Cheech%201%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cheech (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The other two are “rumpies” rather than “stumpies” – not true-breed Manx (who tend to be very chonky and rump-heavy) but just cats with an accidental no-tail mutation. Chicharron (known as Cheech) is one of those “who IS that black cat?” boys, who becomes instantly identifiable when he turns his back. He has chubby cheeks, and a little splash of white on his bib. He is one of a group of cats that trappers Lisa and Ken brought in from a nearby industrial complex. We think he’s less than two years old.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaz9rGvRVt7ZTsG1dNewFdUnmT0X2WZLO3kX_oUK7jUivxFUh_Tko-mhXnPTtBsLhNypBp4RVwLg5JzdrGK_o5NERBKK4rmOD7Twn6R9Oq7aZGH2nhXhXtBpi_P_gzbeli8A0abjxNJmAUm4m_vsttWZCrKKFb6fFHreAVuTBSZlcj_Bq6JX6jA-CQ1ny/s4032/Cheech%202%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaz9rGvRVt7ZTsG1dNewFdUnmT0X2WZLO3kX_oUK7jUivxFUh_Tko-mhXnPTtBsLhNypBp4RVwLg5JzdrGK_o5NERBKK4rmOD7Twn6R9Oq7aZGH2nhXhXtBpi_P_gzbeli8A0abjxNJmAUm4m_vsttWZCrKKFb6fFHreAVuTBSZlcj_Bq6JX6jA-CQ1ny/w400-h225/Cheech%202%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rolling over for petting (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Cheech is quite mobile, and visits all over the front courtyard. I’ve mostly found him in the porch of the Connor, though I’m told he likes to be on the cage-tops. He’s quite shy on first acquaintance, but the more he’s petted, the wigglier and more relaxed he gets. His name (Chicharron is a Mexican-style dish of crispy pork rinds) belies his gentle nature. I think Lisa was into food names; we also have Tamale, and there’s a whole group of Thanksgiving cats to be introduced later: Cornbread, Tater, Creampuff, Truffle and others...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpozstBsHqJeMOdUT1vG9zWCVGfiSi-ALGWzY6A3mCAbqU-Bzm5JRPBmyF2fdp7JGsp58snJ7ruxbrIOvm8Xvf2XlRz0febRq_bXCI9_vkI2Mr_U6y5BZU2oLnN88urhb3_aZbChJ-wqW1d6zp-SE8_CgZkK8oOZsB7hx1u7vmWL3RdzA8mxuJHNlBju2/s4032/Butterflower%201%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpozstBsHqJeMOdUT1vG9zWCVGfiSi-ALGWzY6A3mCAbqU-Bzm5JRPBmyF2fdp7JGsp58snJ7ruxbrIOvm8Xvf2XlRz0febRq_bXCI9_vkI2Mr_U6y5BZU2oLnN88urhb3_aZbChJ-wqW1d6zp-SE8_CgZkK8oOZsB7hx1u7vmWL3RdzA8mxuJHNlBju2/w400-h225/Butterflower%201%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hiding on her shelf in the early days with us (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The last of the group is a very distinctive dark young calico who came in as Butterflower, and had her name changed to Butterfinger. We were concerned at first that we had another Manx Syndrome cat here, because initially she didn’t use her litter box regularly, and soiled her bedding. But as she became more used to us, that eased off, and we think it was mainly a stress thing. Her name change linked with her habit of upsetting her litter-box and handing the volunteers a regular mess to clear up!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9Y8eVvyeC74I2OnEmz9HiJZfUKFrVPq7K6gvNnc8WWMBjTYKDu8X7jMqcQ90tjy85Tw7vUBAFd1hOMYcA0jV_UwzXQ6bu18TOLictQJz2JcB0JvrEmRwC0VScVhxeR5MbF2d3NGea8p8Uvs8-t-WegIzAYprfeiquw6SHBeNP_xprLfTs5PKWoEkFJex/s4032/Butterfinger%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9Y8eVvyeC74I2OnEmz9HiJZfUKFrVPq7K6gvNnc8WWMBjTYKDu8X7jMqcQ90tjy85Tw7vUBAFd1hOMYcA0jV_UwzXQ6bu18TOLictQJz2JcB0JvrEmRwC0VScVhxeR5MbF2d3NGea8p8Uvs8-t-WegIzAYprfeiquw6SHBeNP_xprLfTs5PKWoEkFJex/w400-h225/Butterfinger%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Off to hunt the flies (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Butterfinger was one of those cats who at first refused to come forward, and huddled fearfully on the shelf of her cage out of reach. However, like <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2023/10/in-ora.html">Eddie</a>, the release from the cage changed her attitude, and when approached with gentleness, she is happy to accept caresses. She is happier still to play; she is a dedicated fly-chaser when she has the opportunity, and a good feather toy has her leaping and stalking in company with the other three calicos. She’s a social girl, and seems to enjoy the company of other cats.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLmFou3Ayfi9tCtLsXSkjFxfnsZgG5yUjV-YhGEb0TalGnnRXLD4RKQkTKOe9dPBjWEpPCcr0wut0NB2B5uxhBPH3tyYXWnm-nzcg9h1B3nZgfdzuyfKJWq8ApvRLptgJVV3-CFO9Qk5x1GdYDTgUbkMHHjxbV4_36KNkNrFXmZ3bHWNEcHRPywRPFnrj/s4032/Butterfinger%203%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLmFou3Ayfi9tCtLsXSkjFxfnsZgG5yUjV-YhGEb0TalGnnRXLD4RKQkTKOe9dPBjWEpPCcr0wut0NB2B5uxhBPH3tyYXWnm-nzcg9h1B3nZgfdzuyfKJWq8ApvRLptgJVV3-CFO9Qk5x1GdYDTgUbkMHHjxbV4_36KNkNrFXmZ3bHWNEcHRPywRPFnrj/w400-h225/Butterfinger%203%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Will you play with me?" (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>At the Sanctuary, it’s not necessary to have a tail in order to live the good life!</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson, Tim Stocker</span></i></div></i><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-29100846629131818402023-11-08T19:59:00.003-08:002023-11-09T08:34:34.717-08:00Elvis has Left the Sanctuary<p><span style="white-space: normal;"></span></p><i>This week's blog comes to you from Sanctuary volunteer Nicholas Read.</i><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqCc_UooYG3eoVAZGCZr2B7jSRorqav3B3z3PykY3HIeV7JVRTIHO18qKMDcHrKnVR4ooVaGryMCiPHA5XdLYVo1y8YeEeouewO-XF4xBrHPBsfBPIwCiofRfZ2wehldhS6CAUnDL5ObJy6N7t45eV0gfzE7qMYz2DzlEAWuEM8oeL5QnlMjdXw7j1BlG/s1440/Elvis%2015%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="1440" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqCc_UooYG3eoVAZGCZr2B7jSRorqav3B3z3PykY3HIeV7JVRTIHO18qKMDcHrKnVR4ooVaGryMCiPHA5XdLYVo1y8YeEeouewO-XF4xBrHPBsfBPIwCiofRfZ2wehldhS6CAUnDL5ObJy6N7t45eV0gfzE7qMYz2DzlEAWuEM8oeL5QnlMjdXw7j1BlG/w400-h262/Elvis%2015%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elvis in his "adoptable" bandana (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="white-space: normal;">Ordinarily long-time volunteer Brigid Coult would be writing this entry, but since it’s partly about her, she’s had to step away this week. Not that she approves; she’s too modest for that. But her love story with Elvis, a brown adult tabby more reminiscent of the overweight ‘70s King than the sleek leather-clad ‘60s singer, is one that deserves to be told. </span><p></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdm6MNByl1fDPcyM3GpQG1qfFSmueB9h3tm8-z1N5Ab5RZVskn2BSbu3z_WaZ5C5wEYYlshzaewqpSMdkrXUbr3-j-Xlp8G0Qe6yoi4GZ-60-f2ySkLyuUBetH29UdKIx8ObNDgvP_sKK-rFK9r5NMEOIpuQTzbhDd2wEY4sXCDYZYCwcLRgf_vcs349Q/s1152/Elvis%20-%20cropped%202%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1152" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdm6MNByl1fDPcyM3GpQG1qfFSmueB9h3tm8-z1N5Ab5RZVskn2BSbu3z_WaZ5C5wEYYlshzaewqpSMdkrXUbr3-j-Xlp8G0Qe6yoi4GZ-60-f2ySkLyuUBetH29UdKIx8ObNDgvP_sKK-rFK9r5NMEOIpuQTzbhDd2wEY4sXCDYZYCwcLRgf_vcs349Q/w400-h292/Elvis%20-%20cropped%202%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elvis (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="white-space: normal;">Every cat at RAPS knows he or she has a special friend in Brigid, but her relationship with Elvis was something extraordinary. “Was” because Elvis has been adopted by a family who were looking for a calm and cuddly cat. And Elvis fit the bill perfectly. The trouble was that fitting that bill meant saying good-bye to Brigid. </span><p></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;">You see, theirs wasn’t just any love story. It was a “compare thee to a summer’s day”, “let me count the ways” romance initiated and perpetuated by a besotted and forever faithful Elvis. (Check out the accompanying photo and you’ll see for yourself.)</span><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6a3C9qFU9eSdudNE85yKxPXnWQ1hMjS0lj6kDiy1eupYZhnCO61oaL0ciF-_-W7FMzweEvID4LepFIf7pgmsmzj1xOhprtJn_hAcE_Zec2rXOABiwc9moAjXwx9hGK1c8PQqRGImlBmYDy58XyZS9Oc4V7bcObHzL4yAeG37WpaQf0eb_dBp_nGIONJtZ/s1700/Cuddles%20with%20Elvis,%20cropped%20-%20Marla.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1700" data-original-width="1333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6a3C9qFU9eSdudNE85yKxPXnWQ1hMjS0lj6kDiy1eupYZhnCO61oaL0ciF-_-W7FMzweEvID4LepFIf7pgmsmzj1xOhprtJn_hAcE_Zec2rXOABiwc9moAjXwx9hGK1c8PQqRGImlBmYDy58XyZS9Oc4V7bcObHzL4yAeG37WpaQf0eb_dBp_nGIONJtZ/w314-h400/Cuddles%20with%20Elvis,%20cropped%20-%20Marla.jpg" width="314" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Happiness... (MRJ)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="white-space: normal;">He adored Brigid, plain and simple. When she wasn’t working, he was nestled under her chin wearing an expression of pure “she’s mine” bliss. The funny thing was that because his head was pressed so tightly against hers, Brigid couldn’t see that blissed out expression herself. But everyone else could and they’d never seen anything like it. Elvis was head-over-paws in Hallmark love. </span><p></p><p>But Elvis's new family met him and also fell in love - and when they came to visit the following weekend, Brigid got a chance to meet them, and knew that they were the right people for him. She knew Elvis was a cat who needed cuddling every day and every night, which was more than even she could give him as a volunteer. </p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Gopf1samGKCnEcxgp5GWtK23ngNpNP9Myo_zZFFZfgv0qi6B27QRVliW5b-KOyNrxIg25c9ibdOsQPp_UbUm3oHGFSZNWp-8t9YJwMpMYwxgr5n_HP14hyKT5SLhqD013qgpAXYNGt2BF9LDLDzsZkAbmyleVhqIKBBfMEvMHYa8qI8gamZ2Cb96AueQ/s1651/Elvis%20Cuddlers%20-Vince,Daphne,Brigid.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1651" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Gopf1samGKCnEcxgp5GWtK23ngNpNP9Myo_zZFFZfgv0qi6B27QRVliW5b-KOyNrxIg25c9ibdOsQPp_UbUm3oHGFSZNWp-8t9YJwMpMYwxgr5n_HP14hyKT5SLhqD013qgpAXYNGt2BF9LDLDzsZkAbmyleVhqIKBBfMEvMHYa8qI8gamZ2Cb96AueQ/w400-h164/Elvis%20Cuddlers%20-Vince,Daphne,Brigid.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elvis cuddlers - Vince, Daphne, Brigid...</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="white-space: normal;">It was RAPS’s other volunteers whose hearts broke. Nothing would be the same again, they said, without Brigid and Elvis. It would be like Cathy without Heathcliff, Elizabeth without Mr. Darcy, Lucy without Ricky. </span><p></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK50if2QPid9jXtnGBAmjEX_Nkk40-IXqS1aWDNhHadaXpkUufiwgxGE5rswB3I0Ae7hJ8roTUODWHCi-Ptk73YthmXhCVMbWYsA2ogSutYEdgtsqEZa14BRuV5jtewmJgkVn0KbBkDkS5NPR9feKneEKQAe7xCDmBqlZIVZw_mOqGwd4aB8BYPKpXB3D/s1766/Elvis%20&%20B,%20cropped-%20Shelley.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1766" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK50if2QPid9jXtnGBAmjEX_Nkk40-IXqS1aWDNhHadaXpkUufiwgxGE5rswB3I0Ae7hJ8roTUODWHCi-Ptk73YthmXhCVMbWYsA2ogSutYEdgtsqEZa14BRuV5jtewmJgkVn0KbBkDkS5NPR9feKneEKQAe7xCDmBqlZIVZw_mOqGwd4aB8BYPKpXB3D/w342-h400/Elvis%20&%20B,%20cropped-%20Shelley.jpeg" width="342" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Last day coffee-break cuddles (SB)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="white-space: normal;">But wisdom says if you really love someone, set him free. So that’s what Brigid did for Elvis. It doesn’t mean she won’t miss him. She just knew it was the right thing … and it was. </span><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Nicholas Read </span></i></div><span style="white-space: normal;"><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Shelley Brown, Brigid Coult,</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Marla Rae Jenkins, Karen Nicholson, Debbie Wolanski</span></i></div></i></span><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-12460378155578525372023-11-02T09:29:00.000-07:002023-11-02T09:29:52.258-07:00Finding Homes for Multiples<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZUQYlR0LfQifCdLglnPCul9bd5wOOrTpaAKQik1cZXWdVyDj9hnS_ZP865_TT0_Qv6DfxwwquoS5FFYr5xChyJL4qarAFZnlxFmMdQx-r5QPeT_bop136Bn3EyfSNXHbIotzkuTIynz15roZf1jLbH4qSZYvfGuh_kul5JYdaWToh0zVAYja_yc_lbVR/s1348/Purrito%20&%20Potsticker%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1348" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZUQYlR0LfQifCdLglnPCul9bd5wOOrTpaAKQik1cZXWdVyDj9hnS_ZP865_TT0_Qv6DfxwwquoS5FFYr5xChyJL4qarAFZnlxFmMdQx-r5QPeT_bop136Bn3EyfSNXHbIotzkuTIynz15roZf1jLbH4qSZYvfGuh_kul5JYdaWToh0zVAYja_yc_lbVR/w400-h225/Purrito%20&%20Potsticker%202.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Purrito and Potsticker</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Some of the cats that come into our care at the Sanctuary are cats that don’t like other cats. At the Sanctuary, that’s actually not an issue – they can find space for themselves and avoid unnecessary encounters. And if that dislike results in peeing and marking – well, we can always do more laundry!<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVVnwetdcTZwm8u69QvET0dHnqKWK_4_OJDDDz9YnDqMyXKzxQ205agAkz-odwU9-6IPzoWA0N3NoFlQqExObVuolE_2dBhaY19oHNcnCbMoSoyIQupk-l6onEFmUUJviQ4Ch2H1wCGyUELsYE1hUicO6ekmN4clYpgfHmW3L58R6mDXiOO_xkekOrE8u/s1348/Dumpling%203%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1348" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVVnwetdcTZwm8u69QvET0dHnqKWK_4_OJDDDz9YnDqMyXKzxQ205agAkz-odwU9-6IPzoWA0N3NoFlQqExObVuolE_2dBhaY19oHNcnCbMoSoyIQupk-l6onEFmUUJviQ4Ch2H1wCGyUELsYE1hUicO6ekmN4clYpgfHmW3L58R6mDXiOO_xkekOrE8u/w400-h225/Dumpling%203%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dumpling</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Occasionally they will do really well in a home if they are the Only Cat – where they can claim the territory for themselves and have all the attention of their human. But when it comes to adopting out cats and kittens, we usually suggest that people adopt a pair – especially when it comes to kittens – or to match a new cat to the social nature of their existing cat. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDbQC9jEdExSf_wIp4cA-KWC6DLr_N2rxIuZ0JThItTzC2RUd98_m3lgaYISexwk0HgcJrKSehqkBl03XifFIeYX442XPmdhDdeOCrAcJf-vNyuiEbDbm_oW8jbK7zxiFt8F9E7MKX1SpyP0n4Wy3cEi3vKu5nvy4oPxiQ-RXewUqecfWfnD3LVaKqukH/s1348/Jinx%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1348" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDbQC9jEdExSf_wIp4cA-KWC6DLr_N2rxIuZ0JThItTzC2RUd98_m3lgaYISexwk0HgcJrKSehqkBl03XifFIeYX442XPmdhDdeOCrAcJf-vNyuiEbDbm_oW8jbK7zxiFt8F9E7MKX1SpyP0n4Wy3cEi3vKu5nvy4oPxiQ-RXewUqecfWfnD3LVaKqukH/w400-h225/Jinx%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jinx</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Currently we have the situation of several bonded adult cats in our care, cats that we feel should be kept together if possible. These are cats who have a clear preference for each other’s company, and who we think would be unhappy to lose friend or sibling. All of them are very sweet cats, tame and sociable.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTSD7YOJrl8znqvbw9RR4PmmO62LwO6IC6VcdauylIWV9LijWXWAaxPpmiKdffxQiZ1k24hMoB8dg_7RU1npQkzJBGGRHi6EuduCdE23_MG-DMZTDoyC8wxCAVjIKcUgB-Y0Q30_wZN-d5u2dCrLKQFJwAfhjtC8OgsOfpA0qaASwsjWCGF2CFR19Mv7h/s1348/Whiskers%20-%20BC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1348" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTSD7YOJrl8znqvbw9RR4PmmO62LwO6IC6VcdauylIWV9LijWXWAaxPpmiKdffxQiZ1k24hMoB8dg_7RU1npQkzJBGGRHi6EuduCdE23_MG-DMZTDoyC8wxCAVjIKcUgB-Y0Q30_wZN-d5u2dCrLKQFJwAfhjtC8OgsOfpA0qaASwsjWCGF2CFR19Mv7h/w400-h225/Whiskers%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Whiskers</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>In the SingleWide are 7-year old brothers Whiskers and Jinx. They were caged together initially, and when released they wandered freely in the area – not necessarily together – but they can often be found in company, and sharing the couch with a volunteer or visitor.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_PqbcgS5qnn7st-MuIyBAlgFHYYD8VFOvdVwbc5-WBa0Mjqs985qJpVWaRNfTbBHJ_Ti0WUZ4iFkGCL_bSXJ73q3dAvT850suO4p3YNnAtqshqjOMLRpE__6GLEbz5Mp_IejqQD0-VUPTQWV8S32ebfP86jJqyLrxgtJ5E-q8MV0cQ5EtUeS_xX6SaTP/s2048/Whiskers%203%20sleep%20-%20AG.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_PqbcgS5qnn7st-MuIyBAlgFHYYD8VFOvdVwbc5-WBa0Mjqs985qJpVWaRNfTbBHJ_Ti0WUZ4iFkGCL_bSXJ73q3dAvT850suO4p3YNnAtqshqjOMLRpE__6GLEbz5Mp_IejqQD0-VUPTQWV8S32ebfP86jJqyLrxgtJ5E-q8MV0cQ5EtUeS_xX6SaTP/w400-h300/Whiskers%203%20sleep%20-%20AG.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Whiskers specializes in "yoga sleeping" - AG</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>They’ve had an enforced separation recently, when Jinx had some necessary dental surgery and was caged to recover, so it will be interesting to watch the re-establishment of the bond. Whiskers regularly visits with his brother and talks through the cage door.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUOUnq7WLwAKSKfI79UBPFr5lIbh0NRZ-NhRAHa80PtrF2PxWPTrDSsabwFAsb8zbTc4xBjkBwUKMUNbAx__hDOzEDCOF8QP_HnCEqHz9r6D9kp-PIFr24DkBEJf3Qep80v3014e_DIEFg6M1E-SGRamhjLesbqsWboZ93PrnC5USMXTbNy0oNsc2e-qB/s1348/Kramer%20&%20Riker%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1348" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUOUnq7WLwAKSKfI79UBPFr5lIbh0NRZ-NhRAHa80PtrF2PxWPTrDSsabwFAsb8zbTc4xBjkBwUKMUNbAx__hDOzEDCOF8QP_HnCEqHz9r6D9kp-PIFr24DkBEJf3Qep80v3014e_DIEFg6M1E-SGRamhjLesbqsWboZ93PrnC5USMXTbNy0oNsc2e-qB/w400-h225/Kramer%20&%20Riker%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kramer & Riker</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>In the DoubleWide are Kramer and Riker. Both boys had originally come from us, and were returned when there were family difficulties; Riker is about two years old and Kramer several years older. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2gGzWzsIewuW0Zkh7Z9pmBL0rxWcRdUDTKiVIOA0HdbXGtPcNcHJ331pQIQ5ozHe_-NGC4M6xMIPgOboMOsxvH2WHfdR7GhSvu1CCUffET9ZSTIoodRAYpSVNEtLrkxzIfy4IQtyuqGXxGFAcGo7nuRF7VoGTiCOkIO89hwvMDU-4Hl_7IHJnoMFLSjp/s764/Kramer%202%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="430" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2gGzWzsIewuW0Zkh7Z9pmBL0rxWcRdUDTKiVIOA0HdbXGtPcNcHJ331pQIQ5ozHe_-NGC4M6xMIPgOboMOsxvH2WHfdR7GhSvu1CCUffET9ZSTIoodRAYpSVNEtLrkxzIfy4IQtyuqGXxGFAcGo7nuRF7VoGTiCOkIO89hwvMDU-4Hl_7IHJnoMFLSjp/w225-h400/Kramer%202%20-%20BC.jpg" width="225" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kramer is very regal!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Kramer is a big tabby boy, probably with some Maine Coon in him (though not the pointed ears!); he was very wary and reactive initially, but has calmed down a lot, and now solicits petting. A lot of his comfort, I think, derives from the company of his buddy Riker. Riker is also a tabby, but with a lot of reddish fur – he’s a very beautiful boy. He’s also probably got some ragdoll in his make-up – he just loves to be picked up and cuddled, and is happy to be held on his back and have his tummy rubbed.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFbAXileYMiPsPLJQ_oDlG5Ufgg0qsRzjnYSx__4G-CXkTDZlhd4Rk_Nu6sSlOggyTLO2RAZYVnltZPw-K9BI30WL6GzfTKZ90VOd-fHlLkpaPUl3Mq0UiASHR1Q89ymQ6zsz3L_GSLMe_mTccZuYN09w61QW2CbkH2oRORM2ecKR5l53t6i1KuFj_4cq/s764/Riker%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="430" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFbAXileYMiPsPLJQ_oDlG5Ufgg0qsRzjnYSx__4G-CXkTDZlhd4Rk_Nu6sSlOggyTLO2RAZYVnltZPw-K9BI30WL6GzfTKZ90VOd-fHlLkpaPUl3Mq0UiASHR1Q89ymQ6zsz3L_GSLMe_mTccZuYN09w61QW2CbkH2oRORM2ecKR5l53t6i1KuFj_4cq/w225-h400/Riker%20-%20BC.jpg" width="225" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Riker is more curious, and loves lap-time</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Our DoubleWide cages are much larger than the ones in the Adoption Centre where the kittens are kept, but for two big boys, it’s still a bit cramped, so Riker and Kramer have a duplex – we cut a small panel between cages so they can choose where to be. Sometimes they’re in separate areas; sometimes they’re visiting together. We’re reluctant to let them out with the other cats, because we don’t want them to get used to going outside; when RAPS adopts cats out, we require a commitment to keep them as indoor cats. We can also keep them safer from infections in a confined area. But we’d love to see the two of them go to a good home where they can roam the house.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMEVE8_f2qFfNeCoQBLSyuGL_DJhcpNAw3b381lPEg3T9ArfB0IZYtFg5VlkuobGa51Vk32RfxEBqS-kfSP9DEAMnxpdmvqIPmKssMxM26_lX5eP3BJ2wq8m6LZ5IEiXKBIFleo9FMuiqXP3ro2YPZggIgyCZKkbeGo4eNYkVuosrDoC5DvxOGPc3E3C-/s1348/Pussycat%20pile%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1348" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMEVE8_f2qFfNeCoQBLSyuGL_DJhcpNAw3b381lPEg3T9ArfB0IZYtFg5VlkuobGa51Vk32RfxEBqS-kfSP9DEAMnxpdmvqIPmKssMxM26_lX5eP3BJ2wq8m6LZ5IEiXKBIFleo9FMuiqXP3ro2YPZggIgyCZKkbeGo4eNYkVuosrDoC5DvxOGPc3E3C-/w400-h225/Pussycat%20pile%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pussycat pile</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The other duplex in the DoubleWide is the home of not two, but three large cats. Potsticker, Dumpling and their sister Purrito were dumped without any explanation. The three of them are beautiful healthy cats in good condition, so someone loved them, but we have no knowledge of their background. They love attention and petting – Potsticker is the attention hog – and though Dumpling was initially a bit reactive when he arrived, like Kramer, he has relaxed and taken comfort from his cage-mates.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErC-uX8XOpOdkPJDF4egKoSsUT7Us7Wj_OMsHL5xeUE0JeOQZoI38_mPwPooyFRk2N-t3BVfpP_fptFfRYOhMBxpMO1ywbhtfDbDrdFQf0_pkPxmZ-9ojWPN2StnwYKfEHUoH_55B3x6zV4OYmDi9q9HVqY2Q9GztggIRhjtSVspxk8S6llh9v29mndZL/s1348/Purrito%204%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1348" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErC-uX8XOpOdkPJDF4egKoSsUT7Us7Wj_OMsHL5xeUE0JeOQZoI38_mPwPooyFRk2N-t3BVfpP_fptFfRYOhMBxpMO1ywbhtfDbDrdFQf0_pkPxmZ-9ojWPN2StnwYKfEHUoH_55B3x6zV4OYmDi9q9HVqY2Q9GztggIRhjtSVspxk8S6llh9v29mndZL/w400-h225/Purrito%204%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Purrito - all the cuteness!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Finding an adopter for three big beautiful cats is not easy – thinking of taking two is feasible, but three... But these three need to be together – so we keep looking for a situation where they can have room to explore and be at home, with lots of love and attention.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9u6b-Lx7zDQVOH0JcI4vB-LIHMCRPDDkRrTQVIEaLYXZHQm2RKlgYNO2IjYAq2uqKVcxTNH5KaqV476-MrsP6Xdp0mrO_RusDL2D40JoVtpUmWXBnqycbQKg8soEuhDY0peaYSM-VfbptiY7os00PHkDduaCsN0uiObKXAOOd8BwuIVP7PB2EUVJsqjP/s764/Dumpling%201%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="430" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9u6b-Lx7zDQVOH0JcI4vB-LIHMCRPDDkRrTQVIEaLYXZHQm2RKlgYNO2IjYAq2uqKVcxTNH5KaqV476-MrsP6Xdp0mrO_RusDL2D40JoVtpUmWXBnqycbQKg8soEuhDY0peaYSM-VfbptiY7os00PHkDduaCsN0uiObKXAOOd8BwuIVP7PB2EUVJsqjP/w225-h400/Dumpling%201%20-%20BC.jpg" width="225" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dumpling</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>There are always lots of kittens looking for homes, and single adult cats – but it’s so much harder to find homes for multiples.<p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Brigid Coult & Akira Graham</span></i></div></i><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-83631595447829659862023-10-26T10:43:00.002-07:002023-10-26T10:43:42.874-07:00In the ORA<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmzPaXjb10A7HPZOCE7iG0Vjd2LXwl8U4wczNzzW21uq1zBK4ahX8UKSjpxUmPW-RE-Lu1etjgJq5RQ9zwFbCstHubBjq6touysIz4VBE3NvzUt1eByFMfA9L1ZE7xU37LMRo-AQ6sKMvaFI9uZemgID5iuR4pjrISgc4Ixu0RtVBkmzH3wTMokgwdUiq/s1110/Chutney%203%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1110" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmzPaXjb10A7HPZOCE7iG0Vjd2LXwl8U4wczNzzW21uq1zBK4ahX8UKSjpxUmPW-RE-Lu1etjgJq5RQ9zwFbCstHubBjq6touysIz4VBE3NvzUt1eByFMfA9L1ZE7xU37LMRo-AQ6sKMvaFI9uZemgID5iuR4pjrISgc4Ixu0RtVBkmzH3wTMokgwdUiq/w400-h263/Chutney%203%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tri-paw'd Chutney is still shy - BC</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The front courtyard of the Sanctuary is home to a variety of cats, many of whom roam freely to all corners except the Val Jones area (FIV cats) and the Leukemia area (confusingly, once known as Old Aids). But at night, and especially with the disappearance of our summer weather, most of them return to specific areas – and sometimes to specific beds. That’s a great help to the med-staff, who need to know where to look when medicating yet another black cat! Through our summer visiting hours one specific place is blocked off, so that shy cats have the opportunity of avoiding interaction with visitors. This area lies between the Yellow Door shed and the Hill House, and is the home to most of the front courtyard ferals.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRg2Y5Pkp5BAsMwhxVa21nzpdLVbFylMy5VntKgEARHncu_1rsmqZc4V8JOYdVi1dn8ZSc-6DNV99AXrDgOLx2JmE8PuxFDDFJtjbaEd8lWnecPpa0AKZoxJtJT-Gcx9Bb_WMQ2GwM5ZRnlT-cRSE4wbzNWUhJRCOJL7-w1d6GmlAb3LwyyreacJiK7I2/s1348/In%20the%20ORA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1348" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRg2Y5Pkp5BAsMwhxVa21nzpdLVbFylMy5VntKgEARHncu_1rsmqZc4V8JOYdVi1dn8ZSc-6DNV99AXrDgOLx2JmE8PuxFDDFJtjbaEd8lWnecPpa0AKZoxJtJT-Gcx9Bb_WMQ2GwM5ZRnlT-cRSE4wbzNWUhJRCOJL7-w1d6GmlAb3LwyyreacJiK7I2/w400-h225/In%20the%20ORA.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">In the ORA - BC</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The Old Rabbit Area (ORA) has nothing to do with old rabbits, but in the very early days of the Sanctuary there was in fact a rabbit pen on the south side of the courtyard. The space between the two buildings was walled in and the floor paved, though the south side is still open-netted. As the cat numbers increased with the trapping of local ferals, the area was given over to the cats, and the rabbits were moved into the DoubleWide. When I arrived in 2010, we were at almost 700 cats (there had been more!) and the rabbits were <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2010/03/buddy-with-guest-appearance-by-amy.html">Kringle, Amy</a>, and when Amy passed, <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2011/02/mini-update-kris-demon-bunny.html">Kris</a>.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8UPRIjeDwGBRQw153K42iDcbjLh85kn03v9A0LCcj5m9Er684IF0ljqelTeAI52UEJH4skBKKMgvZmc4YAPsu6HCFskYTo38E3B9bbXdqwyGG6is9wdoKqy5XVeVYA5cYmOrQJTsfp8yaxY25buByYEYReKybaWCFdNPR26noT5amwLdJfnfdD-VFvO5/s1121/Dixie%203%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="1121" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8UPRIjeDwGBRQw153K42iDcbjLh85kn03v9A0LCcj5m9Er684IF0ljqelTeAI52UEJH4skBKKMgvZmc4YAPsu6HCFskYTo38E3B9bbXdqwyGG6is9wdoKqy5XVeVYA5cYmOrQJTsfp8yaxY25buByYEYReKybaWCFdNPR26noT5amwLdJfnfdD-VFvO5/w400-h300/Dixie%203%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dixie hides in her basket behind the drapes - BC</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>In the Old Rabbit Area, priority is given to hiding places. The shelving around the walls and the large cat-tree in the centre are all well-draped, and the drapes remain in place unless the med-staff need to access specific cats. Sweet stubby-tailed <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2020/06/titan-and-dixie.html">Dixie</a> is one of these; she is tame and touchable, but prefers to remain out of sight.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavV4f3agBrhyGhiMrZnHntFA4FciMJA3zA-lmDXBnsJMBTqlLVyFtzguYsfmap7-76k3-PIsdFByBAUgukvh9Q9_KtH2Xra_4mnXykq5KUfarzq4yH9TbjXOT-TrHFA1BZ9wKGgonvqybqgUmIPjbr_aLEbZWQsXKFBIAr_02mQAVntFEdfmlestCOu9l/s960/Mabel%206%20-%20Mel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavV4f3agBrhyGhiMrZnHntFA4FciMJA3zA-lmDXBnsJMBTqlLVyFtzguYsfmap7-76k3-PIsdFByBAUgukvh9Q9_KtH2Xra_4mnXykq5KUfarzq4yH9TbjXOT-TrHFA1BZ9wKGgonvqybqgUmIPjbr_aLEbZWQsXKFBIAr_02mQAVntFEdfmlestCOu9l/w400-h300/Mabel%206%20-%20Mel.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mabel - MD</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Usually a human intruder into the area walks into blank drapes and no movement. The inhabitants of the bed under the heat-lamp give resentful glares. But the production of a little edible bribery will often result in inquisitive noses and hopeful faces – even if they don’t much want to be touched. Solar and Mabel are usually in this area – they are half of a <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2021/04/a-semi-feral-quartet.html">quartet of ferals</a> that came to us from VOKRA some years ago; their brother Midnight did a jail-break through to the back courtyard and remains there.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXMf0bcNBeXNiLqz_rHeA4ec4tyiNmqYxC21H0fVI7sMr-RjP8HyMd_Nf6U-i4gCwsk8Kw7WJQQXmYxscKA0TVLtdGK8VsRxQqv3lOkbcKbLYpBknbtJeLCEIvTCDTJduEzCYqzgUOjbsMIrrabc-uJvpkpbtZMNHxfMuEgmEWY2rKFWzVLqr4WAUYGes/s1440/Marmalade%2017%20-%20kn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXMf0bcNBeXNiLqz_rHeA4ec4tyiNmqYxC21H0fVI7sMr-RjP8HyMd_Nf6U-i4gCwsk8Kw7WJQQXmYxscKA0TVLtdGK8VsRxQqv3lOkbcKbLYpBknbtJeLCEIvTCDTJduEzCYqzgUOjbsMIrrabc-uJvpkpbtZMNHxfMuEgmEWY2rKFWzVLqr4WAUYGes/w400-h400/Marmalade%2017%20-%20kn.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Marmalade - KN</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Our two little tripaw’d cats make this area their home. <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2022/08/marmalade.html">Marmalade </a>(minus a back leg) has become much more mobile and can occasionally be found on the climbing frame on the other side of the courtyard. She emphatically does not want to be touched, but she loves chicken bits. <b>Chutney</b> (minus a front leg) prefers to stay around her home-zone, but enjoys contact with her select humans. She can often be found sitting up like a little meerkat.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpPqH9Mc_g5LgrX9BRIaPp4JMZXsWmkLBp5HEKRQXaCGciAYptJHa9liDPt1lV7Qd5QhmtDUoTQ938_Ky_jTPKMpoPNR4gv1T9QvVOYXddONQFH3iw4d0QMiZgOADIYj8NVf580NoiSyz4U6Ja-9nb-BtZub84Dy8DkBcnXZk4EiUlOSuMGAVVcYd96HI/s1440/Eddie%202%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpPqH9Mc_g5LgrX9BRIaPp4JMZXsWmkLBp5HEKRQXaCGciAYptJHa9liDPt1lV7Qd5QhmtDUoTQ938_Ky_jTPKMpoPNR4gv1T9QvVOYXddONQFH3iw4d0QMiZgOADIYj8NVf580NoiSyz4U6Ja-9nb-BtZub84Dy8DkBcnXZk4EiUlOSuMGAVVcYd96HI/w400-h267/Eddie%202%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Eddie - KN</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Eddie</b> had a home in the Hill House middle cage for some time, and was not a happy camper there; the Kitty Comforters who visited him were known to shed blood, and getting him comfortable with contact was a painful process. When the cage was opened and Eddie was out, we saw a different cat! On his first weekend out he was making nice with visitors – and no blood! Eddie prefers to hang out in the ORA with the other littles, as does sweet <b>Abel,</b> the brother of <b>Nemi</b>. Both cats can be shy and a bit timid but overall, they have really blossomed and can be rather outgoing at times. Abel and Nemi are also very sweet. Nemi divides her time between the Connor, the climbing frame, and the ORA. Both cats are semi-feral, but on the tame end of the spectrum. Nemi and Abel are available for adoption.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ12MdFbkLImBeuvhMTniYhHdVut_2WL5gz9DzXLoFZ6WEQQcRparrQswJ_5V5IB7af8rGx4cJ_MzMJDLLwEv6OjEnT2l0jHolOkIOU7OljjdffCtox5euX9dbTQ0iJg4XPtiA9atQS4xi97SqogInl2gprceJ8jNl7_0VDQ8Dt1EPKPhwyp3Rxx9HQmLO/s1348/Abel%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1348" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ12MdFbkLImBeuvhMTniYhHdVut_2WL5gz9DzXLoFZ6WEQQcRparrQswJ_5V5IB7af8rGx4cJ_MzMJDLLwEv6OjEnT2l0jHolOkIOU7OljjdffCtox5euX9dbTQ0iJg4XPtiA9atQS4xi97SqogInl2gprceJ8jNl7_0VDQ8Dt1EPKPhwyp3Rxx9HQmLO/w400-h225/Abel%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Abel - BC</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmuzXqzOaG_pDJPmPxu-WYgQc-Uj1Y2BJpVRXmWV3af1TNm6Yg7E9fjsKHvwO0d-qS8N8azY44P22eDYvzQ0JKt_t0qWdo2NeC5mvMOz7goQ0ksTINY-cVkg8s0WgA88nPrRSUxgI77Su2_6DHAN6jOSSA9Vt2QXkigNZdhgQ2HE91JURlz1uEi8PgrKd/s1348/Nemi%203%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1348" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmuzXqzOaG_pDJPmPxu-WYgQc-Uj1Y2BJpVRXmWV3af1TNm6Yg7E9fjsKHvwO0d-qS8N8azY44P22eDYvzQ0JKt_t0qWdo2NeC5mvMOz7goQ0ksTINY-cVkg8s0WgA88nPrRSUxgI77Su2_6DHAN6jOSSA9Vt2QXkigNZdhgQ2HE91JURlz1uEi8PgrKd/w400-h225/Nemi%203%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nemi - BC</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Many other ferals hide behind the drapes, high up by the ceiling, or in the beds that form a barrier between the two courtyards. Bobtailed <b>Bowie </b>will venture out, but prefers to hold himself away from humans; he is one of many black cats in the area that is happier not dealing with us – the rest of his mini-colony (<b>Jett, Joan and Janice,</b> who I cannot tell apart) do the crepuscular cat thing, and prefer to emerge only at dawn and dusk when there are fewer people around to scare them.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQubbZu4VwyiGnzXotGCW5jbS6gk_OyO1Fj6s9-obudhMoblNu7pb_rm8cPR_oGwJUpRAYaIA0WeWKFk-d4SKDSBMWNEeG2Yml2p8nv65w02i2uFi1zhCk8KquT_4eOQZYEmC2ORRPvZDOZod43gkibkHLubE2dj3Ea7jTZdskopXjVen9cfmwXTTlI_y/s1348/Bowie%205%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1348" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQubbZu4VwyiGnzXotGCW5jbS6gk_OyO1Fj6s9-obudhMoblNu7pb_rm8cPR_oGwJUpRAYaIA0WeWKFk-d4SKDSBMWNEeG2Yml2p8nv65w02i2uFi1zhCk8KquT_4eOQZYEmC2ORRPvZDOZod43gkibkHLubE2dj3Ea7jTZdskopXjVen9cfmwXTTlI_y/w400-h225/Bowie%205%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bowie - BC</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Others enjoy transitioning through the window above the heated bed which leads into the Hill House; once there, they are often found to be more willing to venture a little human contact with volunteers.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOux-Vz68NzMepm2Z9lrWvy1dlu76PHaa-fviSx3zH4HV_V4oheeZZs7WBtsuHMUG_YIhv4xT0I_jOZ2ofPUK9qo3d1cUhF-okHlL9PvNEKlZD5zzGZhWUP1S0sY7X_LlgGmWq_0t9Q_iCw4oiRAgeu9AAOkpr6X_IWatZCD_VK6vEZ_RaZ35qbT23z-kx/s1348/Solar%20&%20Tamale%20in%20ORA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1348" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOux-Vz68NzMepm2Z9lrWvy1dlu76PHaa-fviSx3zH4HV_V4oheeZZs7WBtsuHMUG_YIhv4xT0I_jOZ2ofPUK9qo3d1cUhF-okHlL9PvNEKlZD5zzGZhWUP1S0sY7X_LlgGmWq_0t9Q_iCw4oiRAgeu9AAOkpr6X_IWatZCD_VK6vEZ_RaZ35qbT23z-kx/w400-h225/Solar%20&%20Tamale%20in%20ORA.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Solar enjoying the heat lamp;<br />can you see shy Tamale through the Hill House window? - BC</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Like everywhere else, the place is well cleaned every day, but other than that, volunteers tend to stay out of it, so the ORA can remain a sanctuary within the Sanctuary for the shy and the scared. a place where they can interact without our eyes on them, and where they can feel well fed and secure for all their lives.<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Brigid Coult, Melanie Draper, Karen Nicholson</span></i></div></i><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-5821705691937655942023-10-18T22:49:00.001-07:002023-10-19T09:43:48.174-07:00Front Courtyard Sweet Pea<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAy9opESI0zjd93vZfMOgTHWnsQtIjY-qH77G7KHoN6kFo_3eC2K2O2grhlV7z3TM-ezfjigdGz1GrLhrKcT8aq8nCDMULIXSN_ASRByOLnz4TJX3xx1NSBlCWg3HMzGwfgsv8VhkVJaugAtzPJDNf0Ox4h1NLjOIHtEp-eVZGa-AYoT6pHBYdjayk7v4/s2048/Sweet%20Pea%209%20-%20MW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAy9opESI0zjd93vZfMOgTHWnsQtIjY-qH77G7KHoN6kFo_3eC2K2O2grhlV7z3TM-ezfjigdGz1GrLhrKcT8aq8nCDMULIXSN_ASRByOLnz4TJX3xx1NSBlCWg3HMzGwfgsv8VhkVJaugAtzPJDNf0Ox4h1NLjOIHtEp-eVZGa-AYoT6pHBYdjayk7v4/w400-h267/Sweet%20Pea%209%20-%20MW.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sweet Pea (MW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>In 2016 we were contacted by workers at a shelter on the Sunshine Coast that was closing down. Like many such organizations, it was set up privately, and was mostly a labour of love for the founder. It focused on rescue, but was not organized for continued funding or for succession planning. As the owner’s health declined, it became obvious that things couldn’t continue, and her friends called us. Over the course of the following year we took in more than twenty cats.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwErP3Y64AlkUdKBJuw_IMB1nE_LwNQ3kgjdB2UYQCxabVwkuM8dM4Xy8FROUcYz1kgw88BjTc0PI1DfhZh7-08wcm9F0w8gr7mDd5ZwXhWDo4D_5As9vGrb4IqVwWPosEMQTeE_W7UDthQ7dgO2PNRCHvPgN-TumkctHDbdvs3wSH9aTz4OIKR8cEA811/s1836/Sweet%20Pea%203%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1836" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwErP3Y64AlkUdKBJuw_IMB1nE_LwNQ3kgjdB2UYQCxabVwkuM8dM4Xy8FROUcYz1kgw88BjTc0PI1DfhZh7-08wcm9F0w8gr7mDd5ZwXhWDo4D_5As9vGrb4IqVwWPosEMQTeE_W7UDthQ7dgO2PNRCHvPgN-TumkctHDbdvs3wSH9aTz4OIKR8cEA811/w400-h267/Sweet%20Pea%203%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A wet-day excursion (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>In the back courtyard we established the first colony in Pen 6; we knew their records and that they knew each other, so they didn’t have to be caged initially – the pen was their cage till they settled. These included <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2016/06/pen-6-newcomers.html">PawPaw, Simba, Blue, Laredo </a>and many others. Also from there was the one-and-only <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2017/05/honey-bear.html">Honey Bear</a>, a snowshoe Siamese with electric blue eyes and a neurological problem. In subsequent months more cats joined the front courtyard, this time via a short cage stay. These included <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2020/11/sparks.html">Sparks</a>, <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2018/03/wickem.html">Wickem, Gidget,</a> <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2018/02/a-front-courtyard-trio.html">Figaro, Reefer, HunnyBun</a> and Sweet Pea.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE__IDaSxyXAqyu53DeS971nZIJeH_zRJxlP5ZoTz4qz8KvLECXgki-XQkjsc0PWM5NaCNp1cjH9ZCt0JVCe9tW5DdRNKj6_rellpiHQ45ed5FF-t0XuN61WWn6pXI12OgmhipbV7ehrd-lwmCG7E6M1_CTi5-h7IqXJ9UBm0YASrgQBRoFn2hoP_4tGFW/s1786/Sweet%20Pea%206%20-%20Akira.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1786" data-original-width="1340" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE__IDaSxyXAqyu53DeS971nZIJeH_zRJxlP5ZoTz4qz8KvLECXgki-XQkjsc0PWM5NaCNp1cjH9ZCt0JVCe9tW5DdRNKj6_rellpiHQ45ed5FF-t0XuN61WWn6pXI12OgmhipbV7ehrd-lwmCG7E6M1_CTi5-h7IqXJ9UBm0YASrgQBRoFn2hoP_4tGFW/w300-h400/Sweet%20Pea%206%20-%20Akira.jpg" width="300" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hiding out in a cat-tree (GA)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Many of them were already seniors when they came to us and have since passed; Sweet Pea is one of the last cats of that group of refugees; she, Reefer and Figaro still roam the front courtyard. She was a September 2017 arrival, and is now about 14 years old – she arrived at Happy Cat Haven as a kitten. All three cats came to us as ferals, but the two boys have become used to petting and treats, and have merged well with the general population. Sweet Pea remains on the feral end of the spectrum, but she doesn’t really like to be alone and needs other cat companions. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKRDSPFXSG_eb7Sz4EzDStY6k2rALFV1kzOfHY3TWvMSSvXR3lDl1goaEsT3yXLvZHXk8o0_8YfM085ZKRdbJ1ADFsieNHf_LDMCeuw9R_oXOndalJhkteLNwJzcw71Rb0eGH3f8a-ZURi0yMHfDqqk-CChTth9QnmKcOq6FiZKPfN8xQhXAO1MbbCCR7/s2048/Sweet%20Pea%20and%20Libby%20-%20LBF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKRDSPFXSG_eb7Sz4EzDStY6k2rALFV1kzOfHY3TWvMSSvXR3lDl1goaEsT3yXLvZHXk8o0_8YfM085ZKRdbJ1ADFsieNHf_LDMCeuw9R_oXOndalJhkteLNwJzcw71Rb0eGH3f8a-ZURi0yMHfDqqk-CChTth9QnmKcOq6FiZKPfN8xQhXAO1MbbCCR7/w300-h400/Sweet%20Pea%20and%20Libby%20-%20LBF.jpg" width="300" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cuddles with friend Libby - now gone (LBF)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>She’s our third Sweet Pea – the first was a well-loved <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2009/09/sweet-pea.html">messy little manx</a> with a sweet trill of a voice; the second was <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2023/05/lynx-point-lovelies.html">one of the Kootenays cats</a> who was recently adopted out. In a courtyard with a lot of black cats and tuxes, it’s easy to identify this Sweet Pea by her thin white moustache marking. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwAU9qcmZhJQ6J66BIri-dHvbEQ68CU9sW1DTEM8MwYXw5f27OJXG_GFTsqBT6utLzmL1Vu_zfKfYcMeRlmFgdBqolgDUhw_FmKlqj12YAysJy4kmo2ojNANm1CY7spilPBjR_RVvmtZHJBLG1bOGvuPfsWePw-hB-9s4KmKK1SFBi7Br7skVpePUT3Pe/s1440/Sweet%20Pea%202%20avoiding%20rain%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1440" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwAU9qcmZhJQ6J66BIri-dHvbEQ68CU9sW1DTEM8MwYXw5f27OJXG_GFTsqBT6utLzmL1Vu_zfKfYcMeRlmFgdBqolgDUhw_FmKlqj12YAysJy4kmo2ojNANm1CY7spilPBjR_RVvmtZHJBLG1bOGvuPfsWePw-hB-9s4KmKK1SFBi7Br7skVpePUT3Pe/w400-h231/Sweet%20Pea%202%20avoiding%20rain%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">On the climbing frame on a wet day (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>She can usually be found around the covered courtyard that is known as the Old Rabbit Area, but when there are visitors, she emerges to hover around the climbing platform – especially when volunteer Allison is there on Sunday afternoons. She is still wary of touch, but she trusts Allison and will come to her for petting and treats, and she has a few other volunteers she will approach for attention.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaJtv_z1i_UnPvwwVEZYRGdNVCwdL8VQ23LPrcnMKHQSE6J8v8eJKqJwpamKXWhZNRQaLTgQG9WXT59Hp6cDbF23lT5fGjoGYkD1cnyLyuiT8WTtv7Iwm8JZQqeDSK_xBBDBh0Iq9d6Ww29VqxIK45FNJHX0a4fs22701BBgZkSXW9wf0PPcTLBI-hBEZ/s2048/Sweet%20Pea%207%20-%20MW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaJtv_z1i_UnPvwwVEZYRGdNVCwdL8VQ23LPrcnMKHQSE6J8v8eJKqJwpamKXWhZNRQaLTgQG9WXT59Hp6cDbF23lT5fGjoGYkD1cnyLyuiT8WTtv7Iwm8JZQqeDSK_xBBDBh0Iq9d6Ww29VqxIK45FNJHX0a4fs22701BBgZkSXW9wf0PPcTLBI-hBEZ/w400-h267/Sweet%20Pea%207%20-%20MW.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sweet Pea (MW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>She’ll often be found lurking under cover, watching everything that goes on. A little patience, a treat or two, and she will dare to emerge for her share of petting. I suspect she’s never going to be really comfortable with contact, but she now knows that nobody will hurt her, and she’s seeing some of the benefits of life at the Sanctuary.<p></p><div><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Graham Akira, Lisa Brill-Friesen, <br />Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright</span></i></div></i></div>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-42000395662978822812023-10-11T20:24:00.001-07:002023-10-11T20:25:14.063-07:00Hope and her BFFs<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOftTZboa0g3nLMlWTXEj1k2dTcKs6e_6-YZjp-G93pBZBcpPdzIm_x0uRTu8F-dKAE5bWvthtJ5K1ltKwAuETMMLuhDCB5z9_VLrIIuL8XyPAzRN2KeSHx7KgA-POl1i0I5I0dfpXaEAYWKWkOldzGz0MEDiD7CJJEJaCAZ4Oi2kmzfCSALeJle_IVnK8/s960/Hope%205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOftTZboa0g3nLMlWTXEj1k2dTcKs6e_6-YZjp-G93pBZBcpPdzIm_x0uRTu8F-dKAE5bWvthtJ5K1ltKwAuETMMLuhDCB5z9_VLrIIuL8XyPAzRN2KeSHx7KgA-POl1i0I5I0dfpXaEAYWKWkOldzGz0MEDiD7CJJEJaCAZ4Oi2kmzfCSALeJle_IVnK8/w400-h267/Hope%205.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hope (MW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Just as we tend to self-identify as extrovert or introvert, so many of the Sanctuary cats appear to be cat-social or loners – and all quite independent on how they interact with the humans around them. In the front of the Connor House, in the front courtyard, there’s a particularly bonded little group that centres on sweet Hope.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdGgV7QWLnP79Yc6bTQrT8h00imNfidk_KPGlm7eGyVCC31g3b1HOxOcjj7qIhXoxeojJAiTS8Fe14wXwrcm9wucHdUvMcJalfrDK2sz0DygJCnM555DwUgsLQBbyLhwcdhwRfBcVmSXqzwFMfOCLFZVbbsm6O9ArR2GoXCQH1els_T-mOnGhmCUM5xcC/s960/Carly%20loves%20Hope%20-%20DW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdGgV7QWLnP79Yc6bTQrT8h00imNfidk_KPGlm7eGyVCC31g3b1HOxOcjj7qIhXoxeojJAiTS8Fe14wXwrcm9wucHdUvMcJalfrDK2sz0DygJCnM555DwUgsLQBbyLhwcdhwRfBcVmSXqzwFMfOCLFZVbbsm6O9ArR2GoXCQH1els_T-mOnGhmCUM5xcC/w400-h225/Carly%20loves%20Hope%20-%20DW.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carly grooming Hope (DW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2011/02/hope.html">Hope</a> has lived with us most of her life. She came in about 14 years ago with her family: mama Joanie, brothers GusGus and Domino, and separately, dad Hudson. The three kittens were past the easy socialization stage, and took a long time to settle with us – GusGus was one of my beloved sponsor cats, and shy in all his dealings with us. Hope came to enjoy human contact, and was routinely introduced to visitors as “the cat with the softest fur” – her coat is very smooth and soft, and especially now that she enjoys coming up for lap time, she’s a pleasure to stroke!<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF64uUIwOAmKBbdgn6sG3Jm8BMRsem41HaZOcdeDnM6PI5RvJdEnB0n7yykPY1mXxdsBAQ16hTfa5Fem1Tg4-gb7F8Tp0AnVfQW5kj2f7dXu6Qv2UJLoYB_rkOGV8h2fp_ONmxeFPzPWzYtmzK98vgPIntbusI78VT4DtLMnlvgpiHiPughiIz2DKdN-4R/s843/Hope,%20cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="647" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF64uUIwOAmKBbdgn6sG3Jm8BMRsem41HaZOcdeDnM6PI5RvJdEnB0n7yykPY1mXxdsBAQ16hTfa5Fem1Tg4-gb7F8Tp0AnVfQW5kj2f7dXu6Qv2UJLoYB_rkOGV8h2fp_ONmxeFPzPWzYtmzK98vgPIntbusI78VT4DtLMnlvgpiHiPughiIz2DKdN-4R/w307-h400/Hope,%20cropped.jpg" width="307" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hope (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The Connor is Hope’s home, and in recent years she’s laid claim to the table at the window – so much so that we’ve all got in the habit of setting up “Hope’s bed” once everything’s been scrubbed down in the morning cleaning. She gets the best light, the view through the window into the porch area – and a quick way out when the window’s open – the first encounter with people entering the building, and the first chance at the plate at feeding time.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4NNG76ps5UQzKKUSWmtxDvXJrErrAOcjq28NsL_QOKabld00mkRG4xiYmk3t9GVT1PTsF4FsV8nJc-VPn-8h9IGzBL6yem-ZI10mFjw_F6gXmObtL44o8MqdDUKto_sypvEg2ZsSrcpwh5v_5EsbAoRG2mwSIrpdPalFfrWY0NpKSZfTC0oYpRQ02YFF/s2048/Hope%20and%20Carly%20-%20Cheryl.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4NNG76ps5UQzKKUSWmtxDvXJrErrAOcjq28NsL_QOKabld00mkRG4xiYmk3t9GVT1PTsF4FsV8nJc-VPn-8h9IGzBL6yem-ZI10mFjw_F6gXmObtL44o8MqdDUKto_sypvEg2ZsSrcpwh5v_5EsbAoRG2mwSIrpdPalFfrWY0NpKSZfTC0oYpRQ02YFF/w400-h225/Hope%20and%20Carly%20-%20Cheryl.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carly being Hope's bed (CT)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The advantages of this position haven’t been missed by a couple of other cats, and Hope usually has feline company. Interestingly, it’s usually an either/or situation – it’s rare that we’ll see all three cats together. It reminds me the trio of Capilano, Chinook and Walker, who lived in Pen 5 – Walker was attached to both his buddies, but Capilano and Chinook didn’t care much for each other. In the Connor we will often find Hope with Celine or Carly – but only rarely with both together. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4gYqeUdLisKN4s-Bp1AkTH-uF-hH3VD444vQEaj-dYbEYUkbhBPeYtCgAeQFzy-W1NDHnI4Yw-zzUqOnCTzcPrcgV0OUtptW51NvLhY91ckipnk5ZKKbW1jAnRy3Jk5Fkbmu75Nq_UP9ii-FRcfLPKumeEmkWowEuuPY6T2nhxjMkcj4ZsspiryUXC0Y/s1869/Hope%20&%20Carly,%20cropped%20-%20Gurpreet%20Tagger.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="1869" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4gYqeUdLisKN4s-Bp1AkTH-uF-hH3VD444vQEaj-dYbEYUkbhBPeYtCgAeQFzy-W1NDHnI4Yw-zzUqOnCTzcPrcgV0OUtptW51NvLhY91ckipnk5ZKKbW1jAnRy3Jk5Fkbmu75Nq_UP9ii-FRcfLPKumeEmkWowEuuPY6T2nhxjMkcj4ZsspiryUXC0Y/w400-h284/Hope%20&%20Carly,%20cropped%20-%20Gurpreet%20Tagger.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hope & Carly, watching the action outside (GT)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2017/01/silent-singers-carly-celine.html">Carly and Celine</a> came to us from the same farm-cat situation in the summer of 2016; both were pregnant and had their kittens under fosterage, and then came to us in the fall. Caged in the Connor, when released they decided to stay in the area that had become familiar.<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KqaMgEA_2HlVbhFad8xtrXpRNPgeVWAWj2u6QYSuWKy_p8pD-lZkMfDkNe1vRMOtfaK_QZdnZz6aPvR70lKihTF9SKuSHdAf6_JV9qYXf85J3_nPYqhf1xINnqg2Du4tZY9dNHjUhEFQ3xzajYoJCXSnk5vLBu8-839Oao3vYNsDMJXtjzWcsUzalwGW/s1756/Hope%20&%20Celine%20omnomnom%20-%20ColinHume.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1756" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KqaMgEA_2HlVbhFad8xtrXpRNPgeVWAWj2u6QYSuWKy_p8pD-lZkMfDkNe1vRMOtfaK_QZdnZz6aPvR70lKihTF9SKuSHdAf6_JV9qYXf85J3_nPYqhf1xINnqg2Du4tZY9dNHjUhEFQ3xzajYoJCXSnk5vLBu8-839Oao3vYNsDMJXtjzWcsUzalwGW/w400-h262/Hope%20&%20Celine%20omnomnom%20-%20ColinHume.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sometimes the buddy is the bed - <br />or is this a quick snack? (CH)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Carly (Carly Simon) was the more daring of the two, and explored her way around; Celine (Celine Dion) retreated to the cage-tops and lived with the shyer cats. Neither girl was much interested in human contact initially, but over the past seven years, both have opened up to us.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Z5tCMkVQ7OyPgu6Nrv33ADPjK_K3C1OD51ye_1wpoLeE-W4Gfw4lswW8Ffd6BTlCsBznUICA7HLM3kmNcQExEdk6Jbd_1x0q8R8Li3NVotlyf0A54v816gIHlpQmZ1VCXUcTeGwHw8tdvAD3T0JgkAX09i6P_7nnHy2jEnvGmAkkU3O5pZVhXcR__fyA/s916/Hope%20&%20Celine,%20dinner%20watch%20-%20Jill%20Rabin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Z5tCMkVQ7OyPgu6Nrv33ADPjK_K3C1OD51ye_1wpoLeE-W4Gfw4lswW8Ffd6BTlCsBznUICA7HLM3kmNcQExEdk6Jbd_1x0q8R8Li3NVotlyf0A54v816gIHlpQmZ1VCXUcTeGwHw8tdvAD3T0JgkAX09i6P_7nnHy2jEnvGmAkkU3O5pZVhXcR__fyA/w279-h400/Hope%20&%20Celine,%20dinner%20watch%20-%20Jill%20Rabin.jpg" width="279" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hope & Celine on dinner-watch (JR)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>On visiting days Carly is frequently found out on the north side of the courtyard, and defends her place on the bench from other cats; she will come for lap-time, but doesn’t much like the competition. Given her reluctance to share bench-space with other cats, it’s interesting to see that Carly likes to share with Hope – I guess in this case, the space is clearly identifiable with Hope, and Carly can’t claim it, so she might as well share peaceably!<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKKjSicJ1q2BYCKIXdiFTTDx1jwC_OGe3F1TyDi2QRhZTbwU85qrdxCcmhBaQQSRQ0Rh_zYMnTLjENYRdQ0Gi1SGbPufRhLy5PdwNzb1lndG8F6-2FEgVp4Ae_FdJEUT9QdnkGg9Webs0QMjlUapxEpkvC7ZO_zwf82hz2_O_bIhe4O5bbsuEVq78uBTo/s2009/Carly%20&%20Hope,%20cropped%20-%20GurpreetTagger.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="2009" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKKjSicJ1q2BYCKIXdiFTTDx1jwC_OGe3F1TyDi2QRhZTbwU85qrdxCcmhBaQQSRQ0Rh_zYMnTLjENYRdQ0Gi1SGbPufRhLy5PdwNzb1lndG8F6-2FEgVp4Ae_FdJEUT9QdnkGg9Webs0QMjlUapxEpkvC7ZO_zwf82hz2_O_bIhe4O5bbsuEVq78uBTo/w400-h273/Carly%20&%20Hope,%20cropped%20-%20GurpreetTagger.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carly & Hope (GT)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Celine is less social, but can often be found sharing Hope’s bed, and the petting from visitors that results from the position. She’s come a long way from the wary girl who used to peer down at us from the cage-tops; she will still visit up there from time to time, but now prefers being in reach for treats and attention. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR53WtsJRI0ELcuEIE2OZ0u4vsT9wJYrH1riTV6r6avN7LRxKCZmfoAbIKoiKuT_snNhkLHTPZR7F9Ls_AXx8JB1v2puoUi_xIrSyKWgylsGG6mdtyRfr8ucix6xB_kKKdMWFwFWKIi9nMSZSeoZ6QacSNZsb2ytqJ0Fpd3dErkErv4BGJPR4j8ZCL-aua/s1262/Hope%20and%20Celine,%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1262" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR53WtsJRI0ELcuEIE2OZ0u4vsT9wJYrH1riTV6r6avN7LRxKCZmfoAbIKoiKuT_snNhkLHTPZR7F9Ls_AXx8JB1v2puoUi_xIrSyKWgylsGG6mdtyRfr8ucix6xB_kKKdMWFwFWKIi9nMSZSeoZ6QacSNZsb2ytqJ0Fpd3dErkErv4BGJPR4j8ZCL-aua/w400-h268/Hope%20and%20Celine,%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hope & Celine (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>All three are former ferals who are now “tame” – but not adoptable: Hope, because of her age and the fact that she has lived here nearly all her life; Carly and Celine because though pettable, they prefer feline company to that of humans, and a change in situation would almost certainly revived the scared ferals within. For these three Best Feline Friends, the Sanctuary is home.<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Colin Hume, Karen Nicholson, Jill Rabin, Gurpreet Tagger, <br />Cheryl Townsend, Debbie Wolanski, Michele Wright</span></i></div></i><p></p></div>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-78595638428945059292023-10-04T14:02:00.000-07:002023-10-04T17:40:13.892-07:00Bricklyn<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kYcDPmbNwDjomxxvogtGl5D7v-dAmWgvNKjWacIvpL7DnJzDYWOh3_UWH8076IhWEiuXnEAvKwBEx5MfVNj1XM8RET2_9k91eErsOAFUoeV63_zoKzoWdUEkBR-fT8bAY0z1g7vH-rJ0JQ-87E6g_JsnbG7Zucu1NAPnC8HPl2krb6y6laLszBXpCKRw/s921/Bricklyn%203%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="921" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kYcDPmbNwDjomxxvogtGl5D7v-dAmWgvNKjWacIvpL7DnJzDYWOh3_UWH8076IhWEiuXnEAvKwBEx5MfVNj1XM8RET2_9k91eErsOAFUoeV63_zoKzoWdUEkBR-fT8bAY0z1g7vH-rJ0JQ-87E6g_JsnbG7Zucu1NAPnC8HPl2krb6y6laLszBXpCKRw/w400-h267/Bricklyn%203%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bricklyn (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It’s very easy to overlook yet another black cat or another tabby among a hundred other cats in the Cat Sanctuary front courtyard – but somehow, the striking-looking Bricklyn also gets overlooked.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWcWI1OKmh5YRkmm1WA_Mhalay4mkeonC63eBQ66VRy_C2km0mZsheQ3Mch-iwTECDzWQbra7IqlP3dzyNPfb8W9vHloGiq3DKWO9F3V0TzY_K-kSj4KBcBWriPtXnaJXqlCtEsd9DXWrxyCCyQxAN_3f4wGTOhjhvab1VR9LqOP_wcpvUUNH5ftxhTjj/s764/Bricklyn%206%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="430" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWcWI1OKmh5YRkmm1WA_Mhalay4mkeonC63eBQ66VRy_C2km0mZsheQ3Mch-iwTECDzWQbra7IqlP3dzyNPfb8W9vHloGiq3DKWO9F3V0TzY_K-kSj4KBcBWriPtXnaJXqlCtEsd9DXWrxyCCyQxAN_3f4wGTOhjhvab1VR9LqOP_wcpvUUNH5ftxhTjj/w225-h400/Bricklyn%206%20-%20BC.jpg" width="225" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bricklyn (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I have to admit, for many years she worked very hard at it! Bricklyn came to us in August 2012, trapped by Carol at BC Brick. She came to us with kittens, and was fostered out until the kittens were old enough to go to the Shelter for adoption. Like <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2012/10/autumns-babies.html">Autumn</a>, who came around the same time, the kittens were ready for new homes, but no way was Mama going to approve of this new life. Autumn was a particularly angry girl for a while, joining the ferals in what was then the Val Jones corner, but within a couple of years she’d changed her thinking and began <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2014/10/autumn-update.html">enjoying</a> contact with humans.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0c-Mq-luBsWCnpQa3MDkLo-8pkRAnsa695Wp_9gZiSB3Oqg3WywiRTHxwFraN1aCIkBSHE_CwqjvuDuGsCXpobdBgYbUjxyr6Wn9Wq1YotrZx0yOyq08Jqi72jOYKdYPGiBIRtKXV-4SXgQ7a00dTHlL0Ti-TMPnx_CfLR8VuG3IBq9GjV4DhwCNHRdQ/s720/Autumn%20scared,%20cropped%20-%20PH.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="720" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0c-Mq-luBsWCnpQa3MDkLo-8pkRAnsa695Wp_9gZiSB3Oqg3WywiRTHxwFraN1aCIkBSHE_CwqjvuDuGsCXpobdBgYbUjxyr6Wn9Wq1YotrZx0yOyq08Jqi72jOYKdYPGiBIRtKXV-4SXgQ7a00dTHlL0Ti-TMPnx_CfLR8VuG3IBq9GjV4DhwCNHRdQ/w400-h272/Autumn%20scared,%20cropped%20-%20PH.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Autumn, scared - in 2012 (PH)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCxa1IcfgGRZ47e9KvpFS6XIqbKVo2bOVje3mMLXZjIkJusWMXTVr9thmRLDHIhFPk7yccbYxEYblG_2QSOrT6eWIik5dPL3Yh-KOCKMCjPCXmPJrVhCcEw1Kcq4ckaFhhb7dsi0_w15-4W3dxQ3bA-V5vv3tBH9gocZAllL6muBWmhr1L8eDr0LbzMJY/s1440/Autumn%2028%20flirt,%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCxa1IcfgGRZ47e9KvpFS6XIqbKVo2bOVje3mMLXZjIkJusWMXTVr9thmRLDHIhFPk7yccbYxEYblG_2QSOrT6eWIik5dPL3Yh-KOCKMCjPCXmPJrVhCcEw1Kcq4ckaFhhb7dsi0_w15-4W3dxQ3bA-V5vv3tBH9gocZAllL6muBWmhr1L8eDr0LbzMJY/w400-h267/Autumn%2028%20flirt,%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Autumn the flirt, now (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>Bricklyn was also not ready for human contact, and certainly not for adoption, and she vanished into what we call the Old Rabbit Area. This is a covered courtyard, with all the shelves draped so that scared ferals can remain out of sight. In theory, we’re ready for ferals to be ferals as long as they please, but we do try to bring them round to our way of thinking – and that can be very hard when they have such a great place in which to hide!<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdT1pFIR1McTJqBfIm0r2XaRgcjMjxFx84pPSmRz3zvSy9U3ig7PmK7FcM4goZ0iGM5SQfvMbTlwIfls3M7I66m63c01H4dqPOV0AGV9fWWWYTg-5ohrUHRuxDTH7j9ul86C-tTUzhTbtgE2WcfbBJOv8HSc0_kEubjWw1VmGR4Y7LIP-0oKN9jzCU9ZP/s960/Bricklyn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdT1pFIR1McTJqBfIm0r2XaRgcjMjxFx84pPSmRz3zvSy9U3ig7PmK7FcM4goZ0iGM5SQfvMbTlwIfls3M7I66m63c01H4dqPOV0AGV9fWWWYTg-5ohrUHRuxDTH7j9ul86C-tTUzhTbtgE2WcfbBJOv8HSc0_kEubjWw1VmGR4Y7LIP-0oKN9jzCU9ZP/w400-h267/Bricklyn.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bricklyn, seen only at a distance (MW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />So for years, all we got was the occasion flash of Bricklyn emerging and vanishing again. Cats are crepuscular, meaning that they are most active at dawn and dusk. Like many of the shyest cats, she could often only be seen by the early morning or late evening staff and volunteers. She hung out with similarly shy cats, like the older <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2015/09/lorelei-lora-two-tubby-torbies.html">Lora and Lorelei,</a> and as they gradually allowed more contact with us, Bricklyn would look on but not venture any closer.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TrxSIG7ZwRvp0Hs47bOy4KEbQuHKAhGHbB6WV3bMyjUeW3NcNu7td1S6JyyyrLSX3_eB8hJlKXwVwofPXhFKxvGHzE1Ti0XnFPh7HxOfSkAdsA1ouwYCnzkrwuq-zscKXnbNN5RT4vKWKz19vgpk-vkX-lVcJnXlD5BJ6bywctlRWyeVGxvBUQSzDfYB/s430/Bricklyn%207%20cropped%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="430" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TrxSIG7ZwRvp0Hs47bOy4KEbQuHKAhGHbB6WV3bMyjUeW3NcNu7td1S6JyyyrLSX3_eB8hJlKXwVwofPXhFKxvGHzE1Ti0XnFPh7HxOfSkAdsA1ouwYCnzkrwuq-zscKXnbNN5RT4vKWKz19vgpk-vkX-lVcJnXlD5BJ6bywctlRWyeVGxvBUQSzDfYB/w400-h382/Bricklyn%207%20cropped%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bricklyn (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />She’s now around 14 years old, and I don’t know whether it’s part of the aging process – as some cats become senile, they forget that they’re scared – but more and more we’re seeing less feral fear from Bricklyn. She can be spotted exploring around the north side of the courtyard, and sometimes venturing onto the climbing frame. She is cautiously interested in us (especially if chicken is offered), but not ready to accept food from the hand or to allow touch. But if she thinks the chicken donor isn’t noticing her, she can get quite vocal.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMgDhWParvC_UoW7VtQHyaU_kaoopf4zi2VTppkG5IWYEgVL9gUvqlcjY3BwJ5CRzt1wlzEwgOrHWGE6H-zY-wVBysEqp2IK8siZecLupanv6gXpvl-OYbWx47j5UPPfcUViWmZ6hl2as6N-4jB4c3U-WR6ydV0-V5dmnevAg8Js_mAumMlIlsdcuwcAT/s1124/Bricklyn%208%20cropped%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1124" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMgDhWParvC_UoW7VtQHyaU_kaoopf4zi2VTppkG5IWYEgVL9gUvqlcjY3BwJ5CRzt1wlzEwgOrHWGE6H-zY-wVBysEqp2IK8siZecLupanv6gXpvl-OYbWx47j5UPPfcUViWmZ6hl2as6N-4jB4c3U-WR6ydV0-V5dmnevAg8Js_mAumMlIlsdcuwcAT/w400-h243/Bricklyn%208%20cropped%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bricklyn, hoping for handouts (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Bricklyn’s also something of a cougar, flirting with the younger male cats. She particularly likes blond Leo and big Kenji, and will head-bunt them happily. They have many other friends with whom to interact, and sadly, the older lady is not big on their radar – but she doesn’t give up hope!<p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Brigid Coult, Phaedra Hardman, Karen Nicholson and Michele Wright</span></i></div></i><p></p><br />The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495732111192964121.post-70501464577246324542023-09-27T19:18:00.000-07:002023-09-27T20:13:36.959-07:00Brunet and Blonde, revisited<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OGjxsODYmm8sA1Go-2GxdKawVa2fQAgpUdZdH62_qqdc4UIynIPvAsUI8oehBgtFtNKZ5c8Oni0sI-KeTWg83ucR_Ku_65KX1k3NU5AY3ooPOlchW4TdLu47r9AHsaBmrXhq9Er78wEyzmE_l5PuAPWbAJPAeN_owWVPS085fHz1_O121AuYI28FX4H0/s2048/Lindor%2011%20-%20MW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OGjxsODYmm8sA1Go-2GxdKawVa2fQAgpUdZdH62_qqdc4UIynIPvAsUI8oehBgtFtNKZ5c8Oni0sI-KeTWg83ucR_Ku_65KX1k3NU5AY3ooPOlchW4TdLu47r9AHsaBmrXhq9Er78wEyzmE_l5PuAPWbAJPAeN_owWVPS085fHz1_O121AuYI28FX4H0/w400-h267/Lindor%2011%20-%20MW.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lindor in regal mode (MW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>It’s interesting to look back at some of our cats when they arrived with us, and see how they’re doing today. Five years ago <a href="https://neko-raps.blogspot.com/2019/05/brunet-blonde.html ">Lindor and Parker</a> came to us – they just happened to arrive at the same time and were put in adjacent cages to acclimatize. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85P_pnfY-Gn0uYXmxotf3VxBjsrM8zIny4tUiGkYUy4Nw5gW21hHyg7K_bbtvKNZfQYqO8ppCXLEXGaBOG0hpoiy895-g2rrE1cHgYfH4igA9OLVTYt727ReXp3aXGVXvYcsPCAympdS9tjflMQZv0Ih1SfwnMJ16OGoHY6_OvknqjZ24BQmHEb5d3_EM/s996/Lindor%2012%20-%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="996" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85P_pnfY-Gn0uYXmxotf3VxBjsrM8zIny4tUiGkYUy4Nw5gW21hHyg7K_bbtvKNZfQYqO8ppCXLEXGaBOG0hpoiy895-g2rrE1cHgYfH4igA9OLVTYt727ReXp3aXGVXvYcsPCAympdS9tjflMQZv0Ih1SfwnMJ16OGoHY6_OvknqjZ24BQmHEb5d3_EM/w400-h225/Lindor%2012%20-%20BC.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Exploring on the cage-tops (BC)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Black Lindor came to us from the Shelter with a reputation for ambush attacks from the shadow of his cage; Debbie was on staff there at that time, and said that it took some care to be cleaning in the cat room without becoming a Lindor target. There are many cats who come from an experience of freedom and don’t do well within the confines of a Shelter environment. Many of these do much better when they arrive at the Sanctuary and have more space to move or to hide in, according to their needs. <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4rABZmiKbPxKib-9MhQwjfAwTeVe-fV_Xca8CUQ5DAF-RnidUVNG2wLphN8oiOM0Li04tw8BzltagvzKIMcKMx339V3G2dCCMdaUD0grnrbHXojXDY6FOK0WDIa4ZHtiwEwaJV-9qDO1B-iYPEY2ThB3pOe0U6zm2nR4lPCiNkkIuJTeqXfGm9-3BWOQ/s960/Lindor%206%20table-snooze%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="960" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4rABZmiKbPxKib-9MhQwjfAwTeVe-fV_Xca8CUQ5DAF-RnidUVNG2wLphN8oiOM0Li04tw8BzltagvzKIMcKMx339V3G2dCCMdaUD0grnrbHXojXDY6FOK0WDIa4ZHtiwEwaJV-9qDO1B-iYPEY2ThB3pOe0U6zm2nR4lPCiNkkIuJTeqXfGm9-3BWOQ/w400-h273/Lindor%206%20table-snooze%20cropped%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snoozing on the table puts you closer to the treats (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Once released from his cage, Lindor made himself at home around the DoubleWide and the back courtyard. He’s a beautiful fluffy boy, but the fluff extends between the ears – he’s not the smartest cat we’ve ever had! Initially he was a bit reactive, and we all gave him some space. He’s not particularly cat-social, though he doesn’t really mind other cats being around – he just doesn’t socialize with them. What he has discovered is that when humans sit down around the courtyard table for coffee, there are sometimes goodies on offer! We are told that cats don’t taste sweet stuff – but Lindor leads the queue when Timbits come out, and can often be found trying to cat-burgle his way into the box.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCc9sGmqdi59kDClXi6fSjSI-e-hJFiPIKtXU1dhSXoiqw68TRN1_lMpe27vcXzflqINABJ2rDxUZXoQHzYatVUAQ1J2b0AkUmP22cO6_1QH-JlwOb9womfuR8FKjSUcHhdFE57heikapzZTr1c5z-1V_cuww064xG5QR5_5qAEtkHQfyH27SYsK_A60H/s2040/Lindor%209%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2040" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCc9sGmqdi59kDClXi6fSjSI-e-hJFiPIKtXU1dhSXoiqw68TRN1_lMpe27vcXzflqINABJ2rDxUZXoQHzYatVUAQ1J2b0AkUmP22cO6_1QH-JlwOb9womfuR8FKjSUcHhdFE57heikapzZTr1c5z-1V_cuww064xG5QR5_5qAEtkHQfyH27SYsK_A60H/w400-h400/Lindor%209%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Big and fluffy (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>He likes attention – he’s not really a lap-cat, but he loves to be petted, and he has joined the ranks of the cats wearing a bandana during visiting hours as a signal that he is adoptable. If you’re into big fluffy cats, he’s a winner!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eqKrrilHE4_b14Cx8wPX7ZJzKdhpo77WtqD-5WoRu4NlxbiqNn-gWoKKdYth0l6momf0f5nP1pw01NpHcuiVsM2F1H5A8tKjYH1ldvKo5D6qcq1DDLoilCidp6UZmQDW84Xvy-yUIsY1K0qHZEjoResPOy5zUfVewCg0WKfSpWIPdZQ8e6veclomsCT1/s2048/Parker%2015%20-%20kn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eqKrrilHE4_b14Cx8wPX7ZJzKdhpo77WtqD-5WoRu4NlxbiqNn-gWoKKdYth0l6momf0f5nP1pw01NpHcuiVsM2F1H5A8tKjYH1ldvKo5D6qcq1DDLoilCidp6UZmQDW84Xvy-yUIsY1K0qHZEjoResPOy5zUfVewCg0WKfSpWIPdZQ8e6veclomsCT1/w400-h267/Parker%2015%20-%20kn.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Parker doing a little exploration (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>His blonde counterpart, Parker, had been surrendered for aggressive behaviour, and sadly, that has not changed much. Occasionally she can be seen out in the courtyard, but the upper shelves of the Laundry Room are very much her turf, and she defends them against all invaders.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ADkQPu2yHgfFqD9UUhKWQJa9Pn2mzXal-OV1j85Z8p0hIyvjH8IJp8RZeoyZmbs7HVenMPoHc0Guc8SDyuEHzRS2TAtpJ1QQMpdry0PdFzdq15AsLDDPQLhkElaiKT2eFs3i7aD_rhq068tQ0pUiBZt4VEPQqd0uotWHQsAT6H_lDJNj1RWmXtv4vTbh/s2048/Parker%205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ADkQPu2yHgfFqD9UUhKWQJa9Pn2mzXal-OV1j85Z8p0hIyvjH8IJp8RZeoyZmbs7HVenMPoHc0Guc8SDyuEHzRS2TAtpJ1QQMpdry0PdFzdq15AsLDDPQLhkElaiKT2eFs3i7aD_rhq068tQ0pUiBZt4VEPQqd0uotWHQsAT6H_lDJNj1RWmXtv4vTbh/w400-h267/Parker%205.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This shelf is Parker's favourite perch (MW)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Her blonde prettiness is irresistible to the uninitiated, but it only takes a smack or two to realize that the collar this girl wears is not just decorative – it’s a real warning. She does have some favourite humans who are permitted to offer petting when she’s in the right mood, but most volunteers have learned to be wary around her, and that contact with her is likely to produce blood.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHJSgek2X7obwoKjPg3w0weExIoxbtGrri4uS-Zm0Rh0_DqTlQPbL8yBQ6OfnmEi_xwJxYaJI8DUra6HTxhz5zi0hVphCWkVncg95_Q6wvYyjQYon-zmyWka3m1gZ_RJ_NBiIc-5BhOdxf0zGnVM5IbqjY0UJAWZQVJpHNcDImwT3yghc6DIk_Gl1bgO2/s960/Parker%208%20-%20hard%20being%20fluffy%20-%20KN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="960" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHJSgek2X7obwoKjPg3w0weExIoxbtGrri4uS-Zm0Rh0_DqTlQPbL8yBQ6OfnmEi_xwJxYaJI8DUra6HTxhz5zi0hVphCWkVncg95_Q6wvYyjQYon-zmyWka3m1gZ_RJ_NBiIc-5BhOdxf0zGnVM5IbqjY0UJAWZQVJpHNcDImwT3yghc6DIk_Gl1bgO2/w400-h236/Parker%208%20-%20hard%20being%20fluffy%20-%20KN.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hard at work, being fluffy and cute (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>I usually do DoubleWide feeds from the sink, and most of the time it’s black Cole sitting there and stealing the first bite on every plate – and Parker is at floor-level, growling to keep other cats away from her plate. Just occasionally, Parker beats Cole to the top of the washing machine, and then I find myself being very cautious as each plate is filled and moved. This level of aggression is often seen in feral cats and is usually fear-based; Parker’s not a feral, and she fears nothing; this is straight dominance, and letting everyone know that what Parker wants, goes! <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMrEugZnEV9up0RSL6RkwCLTRC_efDPjw6kEx_gaSI3bFpJpi5kZAg5oF5VsthMAgP8L-9L2csvDAB2TSZIlHF79wL_1ZtMB6KvC7sDM4D0w9xUQ6-VYWPvZaO_D6JlfoJi4BzrHxUgCZLLSGj5XTA1fiOe_syPl5dJ5-6b14PGcurA4KFEjGKyYPL-Nu/s960/Lindor-bun.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMrEugZnEV9up0RSL6RkwCLTRC_efDPjw6kEx_gaSI3bFpJpi5kZAg5oF5VsthMAgP8L-9L2csvDAB2TSZIlHF79wL_1ZtMB6KvC7sDM4D0w9xUQ6-VYWPvZaO_D6JlfoJi4BzrHxUgCZLLSGj5XTA1fiOe_syPl5dJ5-6b14PGcurA4KFEjGKyYPL-Nu/w300-h400/Lindor-bun.jpg" width="300" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Good-naturedly posing as the Easter bunny (KN)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>I wonder how these two would have made out in a jurisdiction where there wasn’t a no-kill Sanctuary option. As it is, they both have space and time to meet their needs – Parker has her shelves where she can get away, and our patience with her swatting; Lindor has attention and love and the possibility of eventually finding his own home.<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog by Brigid Coult</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright</span></i></div></i><p></p>The Neko Fileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16685602468319886801noreply@blogger.com0