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