Max

It's been about a year since Max came to the sanctuary... for the second time.

He originally came to RAPS when a woman phoned Carol at the No. 5 Rd. shelter and insisted RAPS take her cat. She was not particularly interested in the fact that the shelter was full to capacity or that there is a fee to surrender an animal. If RAPS wouldn't take him, she threatened, she would have to just let him go somewhere. 

RAPS staff member Ann felt bad for Max and decided to take him home herself temporarily until space could be found for him. And so, after a brief sojurn at Ann's, Max came to live at the sanctuary for the first time.

After being diagnosed with bladder crystals, Max's treatment included many months in a cage with a special diet to help resolve the problem. He became increasingly depressed, and seemed inclined to just let himself waste away. Ann stepped in once again to take him home, this time with the idea that it would be a permanent arrangement.

All was well for 18 months or so between Max and resident household cats Stubbs and Muffin. And then Max started acting aggressive, going after the elderly Stubbs with a Jerry-like abandon. Concerned for Stubbs and worried that Max would start going for the big-talking but ultimately pretty defenseless Muffin, Ann had to face the hard decision and the heartache of bringing Max back to the sanctuary.

Remembering how miserable he'd been the first time, she worried about how he'd fare. True, he was a pretty grumpy boy for a while, but he settled in to the singlewide where Ann asked that he be placed and these days seems to be doing just fine. Phew!!

Carreen

Carreen is a sweet, young tabby female with unusually rounded ear tips.

She was brought in last week after someone reported a cat thought to have been hit by a car in west Richmond. Carreen's left hind leg is so badly broken that it was initially suggested that amputation might be necessary. Fortunately, we were then told this extreme treatment may well not be necessary at all, particularly since the leg doesn't seem to be bothering her. Our vet thinks this may in fact be an old injury.

Yes - amazingly, Carreen does not show any signs of being in pain. The pain patch she had when she first came in has been removed and she is currently on no pain medication at all. And yet she's bright eyed, responsive and really, really wants to cuddle. I was way more bothered than she was when she got so enthusiastic about me stroking her that she stood up and I caught sight of this back leg being held at weird angle. Lisa says not to worry as Carreen's quite fine to move around in her cage.

Could this be our Lincoln all over again? Or another version of Ann's cat Muffin, so famous for "That Leg"? Hard to say what will need to be done about Carreen's take on That Leg, but for now it's cage rest for her and a bit of wait and see for us.

RAPS Alumni: (The) Muffin(ator)

With so many stories of cats who didn't get chosen, I'd like to include one who did.

"Grumpy Muffin"

photo provided by Ann

Muffin, aka The Muffinator, is a RAPS alumni. She was adopted from the shelter on No. 5 Road by Ann, who works both at that facility and the cat sanctuary. Ann had this to say:

"Muffin has been living in her new home for about 2 years now. I just started a RAPS in 2007 when I walked into the back room at 5 Road and saw this tiny little tabby head poking out from a box. She meowed like a mad cat and I thought aw cute little tabby and kept on cleaning. The next week there she was in all her glory! Sitting there so majestically, with THAT leg! I remember running to Janet say I MUST HAVE THAT CAT!!!  Two years later she hasn’t slowed down. She is queen of the castle! It’s hard to pin down her story. Depending on who you talk to, it sounds like she had been passed around a lot after her owner died. But no more."

"High Five!"

photo provided by Ann

Ann is justifiably proud of her chatty, leg-in-the-air tabby. The two photos above originally appeared on the RAPS blog as part of a photo contest along with the following text:

"Many of the staff and volunteers remember Muffin very well because she likes to talk. She likes to talk, a lot! Even with her disability she hasn’t slowed down in the 2 years since she came to live with us. She is always ready to give her new brother merry chase, even up and down stairs!!!!! She is a constant source of conversation to all who come over to visit. She even feels it’s necessary to join in the conversation!!! It just goes to show that fostering or adopting older cats from RAPS is a rewarding experience, as these animals provide much needed company and love."

On a personal note, I have to thank Ann for completely rehabilitating the name "Muffin." Previously, the name had been attached to and consequently associated with my grandmother's cat. An odd combination of obese and skittish, this cat would be drawn in from outside every night at bedtime with calls of "Muffy, Muffy!" accompanied by staccato tapping on a cat food tin with a spoon, much to the chagrin of the neighbors. Ann's "Muffinator" nickname takes Muffin out of Little Old Lady Land and into a place of wit and fun.
Thanks, Ann!