Franko

RAPS cats come by their names in a variety of ways. Some come with names, while others either never had human names or can't tell us what name their former people used to call them. These are given names when they arrive at the sanctuary.

Here's what the photo caption on the gallery page says about Franko:
"I'm named after the nice man who found me. There, now the name story is out of the way - RUB MY BELLY!"

photo provided by RAPS

photo provided by Michele

The name story may be out of the way, but there's a bit more to Franko's story at RAPS. From Leslie (originally published in The Love Blog in July, 2009):

"Franko, a large brown tabby and white male, stopped eating and became lethargic. A blood panel showed severe lipidosis, a liver problem caused by his failure to eat. Our vet put Franko on IV and we visited him daily to provide love and to coax him to eat. His condition worsened and he became thin, frail and barely responsive, but we weren't willing to give up on him. The vet tube fed Franko twice daily and continued to administer medication for his liver. Franko began to improve and was able to spend brief periods out of his cage for exercise. Our vet noticed that the cat held his neck tipped to one side, a position characteristic of potassium deficiency, and began supplements. Franko's recovery escalated and, after five weeks of hospitalization, he was able to return to our sanctuary.

From his experience, we learned to never give up too quickly. Since that time, we have successfully treated several cats with lipidosis at the sanctuary. When the animals become jaundiced (yellow) from lipidosis, it can take several weeks to heal them. Our Animal Care Staff provide intensive care to the cats in their home environment, sometimes after just a few days on IV at the vet. We believe our charges deserve every chance at life."

These days, doing well and free to roam around the sanctuary, Franko seems a long way from the sickly, almost unresponsive cat Leslie describes above. Today's Franko has a lot more in common with the cheerful upside down cat from the old RAPS gallery picture. All about warm laps and cuddles.

Franko - lap's eye view

Elizabeth

 photo provided by RAPS

Back in May, the RAPS Blog did a post titled Cat Sponsorship is a Gift of Love which featured three of the many cats who would benefit from sponsors (see my post on Panda for more information on the program). One of these is Elizabeth, "a friendly, well-mannered senior who loves attention" and who had at that time been at the sanctuary a year and a half and is still waiting for her chance to go to "a new forever home."

"Elizabeth's Story -- A tabby named Elizabeth lived with a woman and her brother for 9 years. When the brother died, the woman was distraught and went to live with relatives in Germany. Sweet, gentle Elizabeth was given to a friend, but the cat was traumatized by the loss of her family and didn't adapt well to her new home. When Elizabeth was surrendered to RAPS, we were told that her original owner might return to Canada in 6 months time and reclaim her cat. Sadly, that day never came."

We sometimes see that, cats surrendered with a hope or a promise to return and take them home. Best of intentions, but sometimes the change in situation that would make it possible never comes. And so cats like Elizabeth still make their home at the sanctuary.

P.J.

P.J. is a big, fluffy grey and white fellow who most typically inhabits a tabletop basket in the tea room.

photo provided by RAPS

The following was written by Marianne for the RAPS blog in April:

"P.J. just showed up in someone’s back yard one day. The kind home owners put food and water out for him and tried to befriend him, but he was having none of that. With the assistance of RAPS trappers, P.J. was brought to the cat sanctuary where he eventually settled in quite happily. Like Cecilia, [who also became friendly and trusting] he had most likely been abandoned by his former owners. ... most cats in such trapped groups never become tame."

photo provided by Michele

With the tea room being P.J.'s napping place of choice at the moment, he's not generally a hard cat to find. Warm, sunny days may see him setting up shop on this table outside... just meters away from the tea room door.

Updated April 26, 2010: Unfortunately P.J., who was of late living with not only kidney disease but a heart murmur as well, left us this weekend. He will be missed.

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!

Howie

Last month, I wrote about everyone's favorite cat magnet, Mario. Now for Howie, the former feral who adores him.

Howie

photo provided by RAPS

From Leslie (originally published in The Love Blog in July 2009):

"Howie was trapped and brought to the sanctuary as a feral adult. Our blue-eyed, flame-point boy resisted all of our efforts to tame him. Every attempt to touch him resulted in a hiss and a swat. After 3 years, we had pretty much given up on him. Then, Mario came into Howie's life and won his heart. Mario is a cat magnet extraordinaire. He has an entourage of around a dozen cats, both female and male, who adore him. Howie fell in love with Mario a few years ago and started to follow him everywhere. Before we realized what was happening, Howie began to rub on our legs and befriend us as well. Eventually, Howie felt safe enough to climb onto our laps. Thanks to Mario, who helped him live happily with RAPS."

Howie's on meds and back in a cage at the moment, but there's Mario in there with him in support. He's a cat who looks after his peeps.

I asked Howie for comment, and he had this to say:
"Purrrrrrrr......."

Updated July 28, 2011: Howie is very sadly no longer with us. A trip to the vet to have his mouth checked revealed a tumor in the bone of his jaw. It wouldn't have been fair to let him suffer in pain.
Good-bye, Howie, you'll be missed.

 photo by Michele

Dekka

 photo provided by RAPS

"I'm wild," reads the caption next to this photo on the RAPS sanctuary gallery page, "but I love chicken sooooo much, I'm almost ready to let my feeders pet me."

Dekka is one of the many ferals who love to be up on top of the cages where they can feel safe and keep a close eye on the movements of the bipeds.

Lately, Dekka & Co. have taken to whapping passers-by on the head if they catch wind of treats being handed out. Dekka is also not above engaging in gratuitous acts of cuteness to score a little extra something food-wise.

Shelley

Shelley is the other half of the once inseparable Salty&Shelley duo and a bright-eyed girl with an expressive tail.

She can be recognized quite easily by her fondness for carrying this tail of hers in a big sweeping arch over her back.

Shelley and Salty aren't wrap-arms-around-each-other close like they were when they first came to the sanctuary and are happy to spend time with other cats. Still, they don't forget to exchange a little question-mark tail greeting if they happen to cross paths.

Shelley and Lincoln

Salty and Shelley

Active, attractive and intelligent... here's yet another cat who gives off a strong vibe of barely tapped potential. I need to scour the copywriting resources out there for a good subliminal font that might help here.

adopt the nice cat.....

   adopt the nice cat.....

     adopt the nice cat.....

       adopt the nice cat.....

         adopt the nice cat.....

            adopt the nice cat.....

               adopt the nice cat.....

                  adopt the nice cat.....

                    adopt the nice cat.....

                        adopt the nice cat.....