Vonda & Vinnie

Vonda (KN)

There are many rescues across the province who know that when they have a feral cat problem, RAPS is a place they can turn to for support. This is particularly true in a situation involving FIV cats; with other cats it is possible to TNR (Trap, Neuter and Return) the colony, and then maintain it while it no longer increases. But when FIV is present, those cats should not be in a situation in which there is any risk of continuing to spread the virus, and many of them will end up at the Sanctuary.

Vinnie in the back cabin (KN)

One of the rescues we have strong ties with is Sammy’s Forgotten Felines, in Kamloops. The biggest group we had from them was a large farm colony in 2021, many of them orange, and flourishing in our care. I blogged about them last summer in a four-part series featuring The Bonded Ones, Lots of Orange, Blondes Have More Fun, and No Oranges Here. We tend to talk about them as “The Kamloops Cats”, but we’ve had many more from Sammy’s: Len, Lloyd and Crinkle, now passed, as well as Ariel and Aspen, Deelia, Petunia, Vonda and Vinnie.

Vonda (KN)

Vonda was the first to arrive, with Petunia and Spike – the latter was quickly adopted, and Vonda and Petunia went into fosterage to have their kittens. Vonda’s kittens were named Kilkenny, Donegal, Galway and Dublin; all were initially adopted, but Kilkenny was returned to our care with urinary and gastric problems (and passed last fall). It was thought that her issues were probably a result of inbreeding, and when the last cats from the colony were trapped – including Vinnie – the conclusion was that he was probably the baby-daddy, and may actually have sired the other young adults as well. In a colony, the dominant tomcat will often leave his strong genetic imprint; fertile females may be mated by more than one tom, but the strongest sperm will get through! Strong genes are good; however, too much inbreeding increases the chances of genetic problems as well.

Vonda (BC)

Vonda is a front courtyard cat, and usually hides out in the Old Rabbit Area, and sometimes in the Yellow Shed. She is very shy around people and tends to appear early morning and late evening, like many feral cats – the typical crepuscular/twilight pattern that suits creatures who are both hunter and potential prey. Her ears have a flattened Scottish Fold appearance rather than the crumpled haematoma ear that we see more often. We hope she isn’t a true Scottish Fold, because the genetic markers also include hearing problems, polycystic kidney disease and various forms of arthritis, and the formal breeding of Folds is now discouraged (and actively banned in many places).

Vinnie with his buddy Charlie  (BC)

When daddy/baby-daddy Vinnie arrived, somewhat later than Vonda, it was to a place in New Aids, as an FIV+ cat.  He initially established himself in the more distant of the two Prince of Wales cabins, and preferred not to interact much with people.  Over the time with us, he has made friends with the other cats in the area, allowed contact with volunteers and visitors, and has now accepted a role as a lap-cat. Vinnie is a Big Boy, and the owner of the lap needs to be ready for the weight – and for the mountaineering that gets him up there!

Happy lap - blissful smile

Vinnie’s favourite buddy is Charlie (another Big Boy), and the two of them can often be found sunning themselves on the cabin porch, or on adjacent chairs in the PoW courtyard- volunteer Meaghan calls it Preparing for Chonk Boy Summer. We’re going to have to keep an eye on that boy – white cats and sunshine are not always a good combination, and cats are not fans of sun-hats! Perhaps we make life a little too easy for them – Vinnie has gone from fighting to keep his place as Top Cat and hunting for his own dinner to a luxurious lifestyle with comfy beds, clean litterboxes and food delivered to the door. I’m sure he feels he’s earned his retirement!

Charlie & Vinnie soaking up the sun  (BC)

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

Charlie

Charlie (KC)

Charlie came into our care almost a year ago – he found his way into the garden of one of our volunteers. She saw that he was a stray rather than a feral – shy, but not terrified. She was tempted to take him in, but she already had two cats of her own, and when she brought Charlie to RAPS for checking, it was found that he was FIV positive. FIV cats can live with non-FIV cats, but it requires no aggression, and she wasn’t sure it could be made to work – so Charlie came to us, living in the New Aids pens.

An affectionate moment with Vinnie (BC)

Initially he was wary; he preferred to live in the second Prince of Wales pen, right at the back, with the shyer cats like Vinny and Rocket. But Rocket is no longer as scared as he used to be, and there are several volunteers who regularly spend time with the back-pen cats; Charlie was reminded that humans are Good Things, and enjoyed receiving petting and loves. The back cabin has become the favoured base for three good buddies – Charlie, white Vinny, and orange Junior, and they can often be found hanging out there together.

Three roomies: Vinnie, Junior, Charlie  (BB)

Charlie’s a really sweet chonky boy; lap-time is much appreciated, and if you don’t spend enough time with him, he will follow you around – though his “following” consists mostly of getting under your feet. I have a very soft spot for him because he’s a near-twin of my McCormick.  I wonder whether they might be related;  McCormick was a detective-cat who found his own way to the Sanctuary in November 2023; Charlie was found three months later, about 3k away from us, so it’s quite possible...  The vets put McCormick as being older than Charlie – but once cats are past kittenhood, estimating their age is mostly guesswork. Their detailed markings are different, but their body-type and attitude have a lot in common.

McCormick  (BC)

Charlie - possibly a brother?  (AM)

Charlie has one big handicap (well, two, actually) – he suffers from entropion, which is an eye condition in which the eyelid turns in, bringing the eyelashes in contact with the eye, causing painful irritation. Surgery is possible – the problem is scheduling it, since the Sanctuary cats have to be scheduled into the rare quiet times at the hospital.

Wearing a collar as entropion eye #1 heals  (HM)

Charlie’s right eye was done earlier in the year, but it’s taken till now to get the left eye done; currently he’s wearing a collar, looking sorry for himself, but healing well. As with all the FIV+ cats, we monitor them very carefully so that their immune systems don’t have to fight off any infections.

Caged for the initial healing of left eye  (BC)

Whether caged or not, Charlie loves to have attention from visitors. It is quite likely that he will be one of our FIV+ cats to be adopted; he’s a general favourite with everyone, and one couple has been back several times to have cuddle time with him.  Heal up quickly, Charlie – a new home awaits you!

Charlie inverted  (KC)

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Britt Burant, Katy Cobb, Brigid Coult, Anne Marchetti, Henrie Morgan