Higgins

Higgins  (KN)

Those of us who are involved in Sanctuary work find it hard to understand how people can just dump their cats, or let them out and not search when they disappear. Recent “dumpees” have been very distressed, and though we are thankful they are safe in our care, we wish the method of arrival could be less stressful on the cats in question.  

First view of Higgins on trail cam  (KN)

We also have cats that are spotted on our cameras around the Sanctuary perimeter and who need to be trapped to be brought into safety.  Many of them have clearly been strays and not ferals – they tame up pretty quickly, obviously remembering past contact with humans. What we don’t know is whether they are also dumped cats, or whether the Sanctuary broadcasts a “safety here!” aura to strays.

Trail-cam: Higgins was very good at avoiding the traps  (KN)

There is a Sanctuary tradition of referring to these as our “detective cats” – they have found their way to us. Some of them have clearly been feral – Kojak took a long time to get used to contact, Rico is still very wary with all except his favourite people. Steele (named for Remington Steele) not only found us, but cat-burgled his way IN to the back pens – but is very much a scared feral. Others have obviously had homes, and once settled with us, may find new homes again – Watson, who arrived the day Kojak died, is happily adopted; McCormick is in foster (with me!).

Battered boy in a protective collar  (BC)

For some weeks, staff were seeing a new cat skulking around the outside of the Sanctuary. Perimeter cams showed him on a regular basis, but it took weeks of setting traps before he finally walked into one last spring. Med-staff Louise named him Higgins for a character in the original Magnum P.I. series.  Unlike his namesake, this boy was a mess! To begin with, he was clearly an unneutered male, which probably meant that he had been in his share of battles with other toms – fights over food, over territory, over mates. 

So pathetic, in those first days  (BC)

He had scars and open wounds, fleas and worms, his skin was scabby, and he had the largest tomcat jowls we had ever seen. He needed quite a lot of shaving to access and treat the hurts, and then he was popped into a DoubleWide cage to decompress. We needed to drape the bottom of his cage-door with a towel, since all the local alpha males, like Eli and Jasper, knew that he was in there, and left their mark at his door. 

Will Veruca and Careen leave enough dinner?  (BC)

Once he’d healed up a bit, he went back to the hospital for his neuter surgery, and we waited to see if his huge cheeks would reduce. It was clear at this point that he was used to humans, and very friendly; petting him, we were aware of the body heat coming off his head, and it seemed likely that part of the swelling was an infection, so a course of antibiotics was prescribed. Gradually the heat lessened and the hard-skin quality of his cheeks reduced;  he’s likely always going to have big jowls, but they’re no longer so enormous. He just loves attention from humans. He has some food anxieties, probably going back to his wandering life; if he can get a plate to himself he’s in heaven, but he is easily put off by pushier cats wanting at a plate, and he will hover until he has a clear passage.  

A plate all his own! (BC)

Clearly, he’s not a young cat – the vet estimates he might be around eight years old. His scars and lumps are still apparent;  his shaved fur is very slow to grow back. So far, he has remained in the DoubleWide area and not ventured outside; initially he remained around his cage, visiting any other open ones in the vicinity. Occasionally he will tuck himself under the steps by the nearby couch, emerging when he recognizes a voice calling him. 

Emerging from hiding to greet me   (BC)

Sometimes we have a “Where’s Higgins?” period, finding him high up on the DW Deck with the semiferals, or on a high shelf in the laundry room – clearly, he likes to climb!  We’d love him to come outside when there are visitors here; he’s the sort of cat that would get lots of attention. But so far the steps remain his limit. He loves to be held and cuddled, but let me know clearly that he preferred to remain inside for now.

Do you have anything tasty for me?   (KN)

The Kitty Comforters and DW volunteers all know and love Higgins;  I hope some of our volunteers working outside the DW will take the opportunity to visit, offer cuddles, and let this boy know that he’s come home.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson