Another FIV Sweetheart

Chance (KN)

In the last few months we’ve had the addition of some very special cats to our FIV colony. I introduced Trooper in August, and Hank and Goose last month. As we’ve got to know them, we’ve also had another special boy in the background – and he is starting to blossom.  His name is Chance - a name he shares with one of the first cats I met at the Sanctuary, and who Claire Fossey described as "a furry disaster"

The battered boy - a picture from his Victoria foster

This second Chance came to us last July from Broken Promises rescue on Vancouver Island – we think he’s about 5 years old.  Even more than Hank, he’s a poster boy for an FIV stray – a big blocky cat with the musculature and large jowls of a late-neutered feline. He has the crumpled “cauliflower” ears of a long-time boxer; in his case, fighting may not be so much the cause as ear-mites leading to haematomas that never received any care. He reminds me of our beloved Bossanova – the ears are part of that, but the sad eyes and the hissy fearfulness that gradually gave way to trust complete the picture. When he was trapped there were obvious signs of fighting wounds, and he had care from a loving foster before he was transferred to RAPS.

Still wary, but hopeful  (BC)

He spent the first six weeks in a cage – initially with a drape in place, and some aggressive hissing coming from behind it. Many newer volunteers, in this situation, quietly pull the litter box out for scooping and place food and water for him without disturbing him.  The Kitty Comforters push the boundaries a bit, and several of us would climb into his cage with him, even if only to talk.  We discovered that a back-scratcher was a useful tool to allow him to experience touch at a remove, and found that he adored scritches round his head and ears – what he didn’t enjoy was having his drape moved, but once it was out of the way, he became quicker to settle down to enjoying caresses and melted into the petting hand.

Under the chair  (BC)

In the usual way, once the med staff decided it was time, Chance’s cage was opened, and having lived for a few days pretending the barrier was in place, he ventured out and went to ground under the adjacent chair. This presented a little more challenge – entry to the cabin usually meant discovering a Kitty Comforter lying on the ground, and coaxing Chance to emerge – all the while gently dissuading the other FIV cats who felt that humans lay on the ground for their benefit, and gathered around for attention.  Occasionally Chance would take some human-free time to climb the cat-tree and find a place in the cage-top beds, but he really preferred being at floor-level, and where he could retreat to a hidden place.

Chance thinks Henrie is a great cuddler

It’s wonderful that we have so many friendly cats in this pen – cats that are just longing to have someone with whom they can cuddle. Trooper, Biggie, Simon, Hank, Boomer, Angus – they all want attention, and the first four at least would do really well in their own homes (Goose went to his new family last week!) - but the fact that they all want attention means that Chance is very wary about emerging from hiding. 

Cuddles with Marty - and Trooper wants in...   (VE)

Our regular NewAids volunteers have proved to be most successful – they may not be labelled Kitty Comforters, but they sure have the gift!  Once the dinner plates are out and the cats otherwise occupied, Chance is more willing to risk himself and climb up for a cuddle – and the worried face relaxes to the point where you can see the smile emerging.

Look at that smile!  (KC)

Chance’s life has probably been a series of battles with other tomcats, and at the moment he’s actually happier with humans than he is with the other felines.  But he’s come so far from the fearful boy of the past summer; once he becomes fully comfortable with the largely non-aggressive encounters with a testosterone-free community of cats, we hope his growing confidence will make him an active member of our FIV family.

Hey Hank - can I share the lap?   (BC)

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Katy Cobb, Brigid Coult, Vince Edwards,

Henrie Morgan, Karen Nicholson

Geovana

Geovana (KN)

We’ve had our share of cats who have arrived as ferals, and blossomed into friendly companions as soon as they know that they’re safe.  But we also have those ferals who remain wary and untrusting, even though they remain basically indoor cats. Geovana is one of the latter.  She’s a local girl, found and trapped with a single kitten on River Road, not far from the Sanctuary in the summer of 2021. Not only did she have a kitten, but she was found to be pregnant, so she went into care with foster-mom Kati, where she safely birthed another three kittens.  In the wild, it’s likely that few of the kittens would have survived; with our care, all four were eventually tamed and adopted.

The intimidating stare  (BC)

Mama Geovana was decidedly not a candidate for adoption – she was a very spicy lady; once her kittens were weaned, she came to us at the Sanctuary. She was featured in one of the first season shows of our Pets & Pickers series, but fame didn't warm up her personality!

Hiding is the first defence; hissing is the next  (KN)

Meeting her in her Sanctuary cage for the first time involved a lot of hissing and spitting on her part. It’s disconcerting for a new volunteer to have this directed at you, but it’s important to remember that for most cats it means defence rather than aggression; it’s an expression of fear, rather than of wanting to attack. She was perfectly ready to swipe a sharp set of claws at someone who moved too quickly, and was certainly not ready for touch, but she needed to learn that Sanctuary humans meant her no harm, and the first stages of learning that involved having Kitty Comforters simply sitting with her and talking quietly.

Cage-top exploration (BC)

Some cats respond well to this; for others, more time is needed.  Geovana was not keen to interact with us, and her cage was opened;  like many other ferals, she stayed for awhile, in a place in which she felt familiar – and then she ventured out and vanished.  Initially she stayed close by: on the cage-tops out of reach, or on the back deck with the other ferals and semi-ferals. The latter is a good space, because many of the latter are happy to make friends with or mooch from visitors with toys and tidbits, and it can provide a good example to a watching cat. 

Enjoying a peaceful moment   (KN)

The med staff actually needed to watch Geovana carefully at first;  new cats often pick up a cold or an eye infection while their immune system adjusts to a new situation. Geovana developed a very goopy eye that needed monitoring and occasional eye-drops – something of a challenge, when they didn’t want to have to cage her again.  But gradually she came to the realization that though it was unpleasant being caught and treated, nobody was actually hurting her. And gradually, her explorations took her further afield, so we would occasionally encounter her in the back courtyard or in the Newcomers area.

Claiming a cage for some quiet time  (BC)

I have sometimes met her curled up in an otherwise-unoccupied cage, and though she looks uncomfortable initially, she is beginning to be more accepting of volunteer attention, allowing the occasional touch, and enjoying a little grooming. Initially very much a feline loner, she is starting to socialize with other cats a bit more.

Tyson is The Boyfriend  (KN)

It’s possible that Love is the Answer!  Apparently she has quite a crush on stocky black Tyson. During the day they do their own things – Tyson enjoys the weekend visitors (Sunday visitors only till next spring!) and explores the back courtyard; Geovana finds a hideaway in Newcomers or the DoubleWide.  But late in the evening, the med staff tell me that Geovana can often be found settled in the cage next to the med-staff (a cage also known as Tucker’s bedroom), and Tyson will visit her there, or when he appears, she will get up to follow him around. Sadly, I have no photographic evidence at this stage...

A much more relaxed Geovana  (BC)

For the greater part, Geovana is one of the semi-ferals at the feral end of the spectrum; she’s mostly a “you may look at me, but not touch” lady.  But she was very young when she came to us, and she’s still got as much time as she needs to get used to her surroundings, and to the humans who care for her, and respect her hissy defence.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

 

Goose, aka Augustus

Goose (KN)

Goose?  What sort of a name is that for a cat?
We have one feline Goose already – a pretty little tabby girl who is still shy, but who has made herself at home in the front Courtyard.  This Goose is a very different prospect. He’s a solid boy who came to us through SARC – the Animal Resource Centre of Surrey, just to the east of us. They thought he was around a year old, and would probably have had him up for adoption, but discovered that he was FIV+, and contacted us to see if we would take him.

Goose-grass  (KN)

He came to us with the name Goose, but he is also known as Augustus (or perhaps that should be AuGOOSEtus!) When he arrived in June, volunteers working in the FIV area totally fell for him – he was very vocal from his holding cage, calling for attention and cuddles – and then more cuddles. Sadly, he discovered, when eventually released, that the place was full of felines – and he does not like other cats!

At his most lion-like  (BB)

You’ve heard this before from me, but discovering a cat is FIV+ is no longer the death sentence it used to be thought (and still is, in some places). FIV is a retrovirus that remains in the cat’s system but is not actually AIDS, and feline AIDS may never actually develop. The one problem is that it can still be transferred from one cat to another by means of bite wounds, but as long as the cats don’t fight, the virus doesn’t survive outside the cat’s body. We need to continue with a lot of education to help folks know that an FIV+ cat can be a really good choice for adoption – with two conditions: they must remain indoor pets, and they must get on with other cats in the home.

Birdwatching?   (KN)

So here we now have a pen full of cats who are no longer at the mercy of their hormones, and whose aggression is mostly of the “slightly irritated” variety. And we have Goose, who doesn’t like to be around other cats, and walks around growling when someone gets too close.  Mostly he’s very good at taking himself out of the way – he climbs way up where the others don’t go, and enjoys watching the birds, and keeping his own company.

Getting all the love   (HM)

As much as when he came in, he still loves human company, and if the other cats are occupied with urgent business like dinner, Goose will come looking for a lap and cuddles with a convenient human. But he keeps a wary eye open for cats like Hank and Trooper who think that laps were made for them, and who are not shy about butting in.

More lap-time  (BB)

The RAPS Adoption Centre recently posted an Adoption Special for some of the adult cats – so this is to add a bit of shameless advertising for Goose, who needs a home with no other cats – a home where he can be King.  If you can offer a home, or know anyone who can offer one, this handsome guy will repay you with cuddles and purrs. 

Having a cat-nap  (BC)

Goose has a home with us as long as he needs it – but he would really much rather not have it. Humans are OK, he thinks, it’s just all those other felines... 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brit Burant, Brigid Coult, Henrie Morgan & Karen Nicholson

November 3, 2024 - so pleased to report that Goose went to his new home today, and has settled in immediately and happily.  Congratulations to him and his family!

KC Afternoon

Shy Vonda  (BC)

One of the joys of volunteering at the Sanctuary is that once the shift is done (sometimes, even while the shift is in progress) there is time to interact with feline friends, to pet and to play, to treat and to groom. Even the hard-working staff will take time out when cats ask for attention. But just to ensure that it’s not just the extroverts that get attention, Anne coordinates the team of Kitty Comforters, and we have a list of cats we need to watch for, as well as spending time with the caged ones.

Bricklyn - you may look, but not touch... (KN)

My usual Kitty Comforter shift is on Thursday afternoon. I tend to miss the Adoption Centre possibility when I know there are cats with whom I need to spend time – the kittens need socializing, but everyone that goes in there ends up playing with kittens!  Last Thursday I headed right for the Connor building;  I had done the feed-&-scoop shift the previous Monday, and there had been seven cats in cages there, mostly being very vocal about unfair imprisonment! By Thursday, things were quieter. 

Leo  (KN)

Blond Leo was one of the noisiest on Monday; caged for a gut problem, he's now out. He could probably do with being on a special diet, but for an outdoor cat at the Sanctuary, that’s impossible. Currently he's spending his time sitting outside his friend Caleb's cage. Caleb is caged for an asthmatic problem and the med staff are trying to see how his medication can be sorted so that he's more comfortable. New boy Maverick had left his cage and gone to hide somewhere – we’ll need to track him down and find where he’s gone to ground, so that we can coax him out.  

Autumn being noisy  (BC)

Pretty Autumn has been having mouth problems. She was very vocal from her cage, but dealing quite well with food as long as it was well watered down. She's now out., and still being very vocal!  Bricklyn is in for some TLC. She's an elderly lady and pretty fragile; she’s not actually very keen on the offered TLC unless it involves chicken – and that, preferably when we can’t be seen.

Frank  (BC)

Frank is our new one, a very pretty gray and white boy. He's very friendly and vocal and eager to get out; he's probably got another couple of weeks in the cage, so visiting with him has to be about climbing into the cage with him.  Big Celine was caged on Monday so we could check her litter box. She's very happy to be out now, but throwing her weight around with old Vesper. She leaves us in no doubt that she's the dominant female in the room.

Kia - regal and smacky!  (BC)

I moved on to the Hill House where I visited with Kia and Vonda. Kia is still fairly unfriendly. She allowed me to pat her very briefly and then the paw started coming up to smack me. Vonda is still caged. She's spending a lot of time in her cave underneath the chair and is very shy. However, she likes chicken, so that gives us a bargaining tool.   
I made a short visit to the Val Jones pen, where Jim, Magnus, Merrin and Minuet shared a patch of sunlight, and decided that they wanted its warmth more than attention from me!

Tubby boys Mojo & Licorice   (BC)

In the SingleWide there was no one caged in the main building, but in the office room in the back I spent some time, as I do regularly, with Mojo and Licorice. These two big boys are kept separate so that we can monitor their food intake. There is a cage in the office which is currently the home of newcomer, stubby-tailed Darjeeling. She is acutely allergic to many types of food and is on a restricted diet. She really needs a home where she can be a solo cat.

Darjeeling has a forbidding stare!  (BC)

It’s all too easy to spend time in the SingleWide, but the main room cats get a lot of attention, and despite constant begging for treats and laps, they’re not high on my regular Thursday priority list. I headed over to the DoubleWide, where we have the greatest number of caged cats, because of access to the med staff. Sierra has had dental surgery, and her neighbour Skye is waiting for it, so both needed little more than reassurance, and a little coaxing to eat some wet food. 

Skye's mouth hurts...  (BC)

Root Beer has been having a good time outside - 
as long as it lasted...   (KN)

Grumpy Root Beer is caged for some time out. Shortly after I wrote his blog, the med staff moved him from the Front Courtyard to the Back to give him more room to roam.  Though he has found a few quiet corners he likes, he does NOT like other cats, and he picks fights not only with the ones who can also be aggressive, but with some of the more timid cats. There is probably some discussion around medication, but nobody really wants that to be necessary. He was OK with my presence in the cage, and with the sound of a voice, but he let me know very clearly that he did not want physical contact, even at back-scratcher length, and when he got grumbly, I let him be.

Newcomer, Burt Reynolds  (BC)

Newbie Madonna does not want to be seen, nor black Keno, and Charlotte used some very rude language when I came to her cage, so I moved on to handsome tuxedo Burt Reynolds.  Burt came in labelled as a feral, but it didn’t take long before he was allowing petting, and even rolling over to show his tummy, so there may have been human contact in his past. He’s been on a wet-food only diet, with possible mouth problems, but gobbles his food at mealtimes, and is always ready for second helpings. Without knowing much about his background, I would say that he certainly has signs of food insecurity, and when I offered chicken without enough caution, I wasn’t prepared to be grabbed with sharp claws; not from nastiness or fear – just anxious to get at the food.

Guacamole getting braver  (BC)

Having mopped myself up, and band-aided as necessary, I took a little time in the back courtyard with “my” boys – shy grey Sylar and tabby Quinn, the increasingly approachable trio of Betsy, Zoey and Cleo, and the pushy ones: Pumpkin, Walker, Jasper, Lindor, & Cassidy. Both Sylar and Quinn will take food from my hand, but are easily deterred by the pushy crew.  Our new tripod Guacamole is getting braver and closer, but is not seriously food motivated – or if he is, I’ve not found the right bribe yet. Old Clementine in Pen 7 sees that the others are gathering for treats, and is vocal in claiming her share of the goodies at the gate. 

Clementine - "where's my share?"  (KN)

I know as I end my KC afternoon that the feeding team is arriving soon, and that nobody will waste away before dinner is served!

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult  Karen Nicholson

Hickory & Mitzi

Mitzi & Hickory  (KN)

For several years the DoubleWide Deck was known as tuxedo central, but in the last while the tabbies have been staging a takeover!  Luke, Bodhi and Denzel are still present, but they are also wandering more freely, and looking up at the furry pile on the mattress, there’s often more brown fur than black.  

Did you say chicken?  (BC)

Floor level is dominated by tortie Gwen, who doesn’t like other cats any more than she did at the beginning. They have learned to avoid her, and to stay outside her personal “bubble”. While the weather has remained fine, there is a steady flow of Deck cats out to the cat-tree by the New Aids entrance, and some of them venture further.

Hickory  (LBF)

Hickory and Mitzi are two of the most regular venturers.  They may well be litter-mates; they arrived four years ago from CATS rescue, in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. They are not particularly bonded, but may often be found together, since they both use the DW Deck as their base.   Hickory is a handsome dark tabby with the classic-tabby whorls on his coat. He is initially wary with humans, but ready to accept attention; he can often be found visiting cat-pals in Pen 1.  When the cat-door was first installed on the Deck he was one of the first to explore – and then got a bit panicked when he couldn’t find his way to return; he’s much more sure of himself now.

Luke with Hickory  (KN)

Hickory extends his social presence outside the Deck cats; if there is a courtyard gathering for chicken tidbits, he is often part of it. However, he’s not really interactive with the dominant boys of the Boys’ Club – Pumpkin, Walker, Quinn and their buddies. Hickory sits back and observes. Most of his socializing is with his tuxedo pals on the Deck.

Mitzi   (KN)

Mitzi is a big-eyed, stripy-variety tabby with a large white bib. She is very food-motivated, but not enough to make her act nice with humans;  she has a lightning front paw that is quick to smack. But the potential for tasty tidbits, brings her closer and closer, and though she’s not happy about being touched, she will tolerate it for the sake of an adequate pay-off.

Seeking a little sun-worshipping  (KN)

Like Hickory, she enjoys little excursions into the gardens, but tends to remain close to home-base; the platform with the cat-tree is her favourite place on a nice day; and she can dodge human attention easily.  Though the two of them mostly do their own thing independently, just occasionally we will see moments of affection (or possibly annoying-the-sibling moments) that signal a loving family connection.

Hickory & Mitzi  (KN)

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson

Hank the Hunk

Hank  (KN)

There are many favourite corners at the Cat Sanctuary, and staff, volunteers and visitors each have their own specials.  But sooner or later, most of us make our way to the New Aids pen, where there is always a feline star. You had a recent introduction to Trooper, who has stolen everybody’s hearts despite three legs rather than four;  Biggie attaches himself to any lap that comes his way; when Amaretto emerges to flirt for attention, she gets it; even not-beautiful Bill has his fan-club (which includes me!).

Hank  (KC)

Enter Hank.

Hank  (BB)

If there is a stereotypical FIV cat, Hank could be the poster-child. He’s a chonky, solid boy with a square muscular build, the chubby cheeks of a late-neutered cat, some of the scars of a life without much human care and the flat ear-tip of a cat that has been TNR’d.  

enjoying the evening sun....  (BB)

We don’t know much about his past – he arrived into our care last May from our friends at CritterAid, in the Okanagan. A feral cat with an FIV+ diagnosis is a problem for many rescues who practice TNR – the cat can be spayed/neutered, but if released, it can still pass on the virus if there is fighting over territory or food.  When he arrived there were warnings on his cage about handling him, and even when released, he was initially wary.

more cuddles, please...?    (KC)

But Hank has decided that humans are The Best Thing since he caught his last mouse!  He has a new home with a pretty tolerable bunch of other felines.  He has food and warmth and shelter.  And he has people to love – people who will sit down and offer laps, and petting and cuddles – people who will stop what they’re doing to give him attention – and at weekends, even more people!

sometimes, a little alone time....  (KN)

Have we created a monster?  Hank has become an attention-hog!  Other cats need attention too, but Hank is determined to be first.  Newcomer Chance is spending his time in hiding and needs to be coaxed out, but volunteer Marty found that Hank would grab the chance for back-sitting rather than lap-sitting.

If a back is offered, rather than a lap....   (MC)

It used to be that cats testing positive for FIV were deemed unadoptable.  We now know more about how the virus affects them (mostly, it doesn’t!)  And our reasons for deciding a cat isn’t adoptable are pretty much the same for these guys as for any other cat in the Sanctuary – feral or very shy behaviour, bad habits of peeing or aggression, or specific medical problems. Several of our FIV boys would be wonderful companions in a home – alone or together. The only criterion of homing an FIV+ cat with one that is FIV- is that the cats should get along and not fight.

Hank is pretty cat-social
- group sleeping with Woodie and Boomer  (HM)

Right now we have three adoption-possible stars in New Aids – Biggie, Trooper and Hank. There are others, but these three boys just shine.  And Hank is probably the one most determined to climb his way into someone’s heart!

Hank - exhausted after an afternoon of visiting!  (KN)

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brit Burant, Katy Cobb, Marty Corey, Henrie Morgan, Karen Nicholson