Triple FFFelines

Shy Flynn and Fonzie on the cage-tops  (KN)

Sometimes our new cats come into the Sanctuary and settle down really easily, and sometimes the acclimation period may be extended – and then it’s a matter for much patience on our part, the application of the appropriate bribery, and the cat’s determination to hold (or not!) to their feral roots.

Fletcher discovering the joys of solo play  (KN)

In the late fall of last year we had contact with Boundary Helping Hands rescue in Grand Forks. They had previously trapped a trio of young male cats in the spring, but had no luck in taming them. In some jurisdictions cats like this might be returned to the place from which they had been trapped, but sometimes that’s not possible. RAPS can offer an alternative; a space where they can remain feral if that’s what the cats need, but where potential socialization can happen at a slower pace.  The three of them were transferred to our care, arriving just after Christmas.

Handsome Flynn, considering contact   (BC)

Whoever named them was an Ice and Fire fan – they were Jorah, Corlys and Theon – but whether the RAPS med-staff were not followers of Game of Thrones, or just wanted other alternatives, the trio was renamed as Fletcher, Flynn and Fonzie. Claire suggested that given Theon's end in GofT, it was perhaps not such a bad idea to try an alternative.

Fonzie is happy not to be living a GofT life!  (KN)

The three of them might well not be genetically linked; they are very different in appearance. Fletcher is a beautiful silvery grey tabby – spotted more than striped – with neat lynx-tips to his ears. Flynn is the largest, a handsome brown and white tabby boy. Fonzie is black and white, and was named for his black “sideburns” markings, like the Happy Days character. The two tabbies are around three years old, and Fonzie is a little older.

Fletcher guarding a scared Fonzie   (BC)

The three of them were caged in the DoubleWide for their initial stay – for vet-checks and neutering and vaccines. Flynn, as the biggest, had a cage to himself; he spent much of the time hidden behind his drape, hissing and swearing at us when we visited him.  Fonzie and Fletcher shared the cage next door and obviously took comfort in each other’s company; both were fearful, but not so vocal about it. Fonzie usually elected to climb over Fletcher in order to hide behind him.  Once released, these two boys made their way to the Great Outdoors – they can occasionally be found visiting on the Double-Wide deck with the other semi-ferals, but they are happy to explore the pens.

Fletcher seeking the safety of the DW Deck  (KN)

Fletcher in particular has had a wonderful time exploring mainly in pens 1 & 2, or finding bushes under which he can lurk and keep an eye on whatever’s going on. Initially he was very wary of contact with us, but he has joined the chickaholics crew, and hovers hopefully when tidbits are offered. He is still happier to take food off the floor, but he has dared to nibble from my hand, especially when he thinks I’m not looking at him. He and Fonzie can function independently, but they enjoy each other’s company, and can often be found play-wrestling in the long grass. There is a guarded truce with the other cats.  

Fletcher & Fonzie playing in the grass  (BC)

Fonzie is the most social of the three – he’s not ready for much petting, but allows contact and offers occasional leg-rubs. He likes to divide his time between the DoubleWide and the back courtyard, often coming in to share dinner with the Deck semi-ferals, before returning to be with his buddy.

Flynn observing DoubleWide life   (BC)

Flynn had the biggest struggle with coming to us; he was initially cage-aggressive, but rather than fleeing the cage area on release, he has remained in the DoubleWide, mostly on top of the cages.  Height obviously gives him a sense of security, and he would perch on the edge and watch all that was going on below him.  

Ready for just a little petting...  (BC)

In the last few weeks he has come down to shelf-level and allowed a little tentative contact – not much in the way of touch, but interest in being talked to. He has also occasionally been spotted outside, though his outings don’t yet last very long.

Fonzie enjoying back courtyard exploration  (KN)

I’m looking forward to getting to know these three sweet boys much better. The progress they have made is in small increments so far, but they’ve got all the time they need to decide that in true cat-fashion, they have fallen on their feet with their arrival at the Sanctuary.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

Sweet GeriCatrics

Senior Hannah still looks young!  (KN)

Volunteers and staff working in the Adoption Centre are used to a steady flow of cats and kittens coming in from fosterage, and leaving when the right adoptive family comes along.  We can celebrate these departures, knowing that they are going to loving homes, and more kittens will always come along.

We've just lost Amelia Earheart  (KN)

But the volunteers and staff in the main Sanctuary area get used to checking the calendar when we sign in, looking for names of cats who have crossed the Bridge that week – sometimes very suddenly (because cats are so good at hiding what is wrong) and sometimes inevitably, as we watch the med staff increase the care for a failing body. Sometimes the losses go in waves – I remember a particularly hard couple of weeks in the spring of 2021 when we lost a dozen cats in a very short time – and sometimes we have weeks of peace and hopefulness.

Under all that fur, Autumn is getting very old-cat-bony  (BC)

The cats I always worry about are the old ones. Age, of course, is relative;  like humans, some cats continue into chronological age like Energizer bunnies, and other are frail at 14 or 15. Early aging may be a factor of the adolescent years; a cat who has been malnourished as a youngster may not have the same stamina as a cat who has enjoyed good health all its life, and many of our seniors are little old ladies who may have used their early growth in nourishing their first (and last) litter of kittens.  Appearance is not always the tell-tale of age; our oldest cat in the Sanctuary at the moment is little orange and white Hannah (sometimes known as Hannah-Banana) who is regularly assessed at being half her age. In fact, she has lived here more than fifteen years, and the vets estimate her as being about nineteen!

Queen Hannah rules  (BC)

Recently we lost little Amelia Earheart from pen 4; Amelia lived most of her life as a touch-me-not feral cat, and only made a sudden U-turn to being handleable two years ago when she had to come into a cage for some medical care.  Amelia’s sister, sweet Willow, is still with us, but is definitely more fragile.  She had a bout with vestibular disease awhile ago, and remains a little tottery, though she doesn’t let it stop her from visiting around the back pens. Usually she can be found on one of the shelves in Waldi’s hut, and we have to be careful to leave furniture where she can safely make the ascent to her favourite bed.

Little Willow gets snugs with her buddy Basil   (BC)

Sometimes aging can produce a change in behaviour. I don’t think we’ve got anyone currently exhibiting vocalizing, but we’ve had a few oldies who wailed when they were confused about where they were, where their friends were, where they should go....  Sweet old Vesper in the Connor building is more vocal, but in his case, it’s probably because he is getting very deaf, and can’t tell how noisy his voice has become. His two much younger girlfriends (Dominique and Butterfingers), keep him active, and don’t seem to object to his loud voice.

Flash is slowing down  (KN)

Flash, in the SingleWide, is sleeping more and more; typically cats will sleep 12-16 hours a day, but that figure increases for both very young and very old cats.  Flash used to live up on the cage-tops, but her disability (she had been attacked by a dog), made it harder and harder to manage ascents and descents, and she made the transition to floor-level last year, and can usually be found sleeping comfortably on one of the lower shelves, or, if she can get there before anyone else, on one of the easy-chairs.

Sweet Pea is interested in contact from "her" people  (KN)

Currently there are two little old ladies on my Front-Courtyard radar – both of them around 16 years old, but looking more frail than the older Hannah. SweetPea came to us as a semi-feral at the far end of the spectrum – “you may look at me but not touch!” Over the years she has become accustomed to us, and especially loves Sunday volunteer Alison Murphy who has taught her that good things come from humans; the trust she gave to Alison now extends to many other people. 

At last, Bricklyn is seeking petting from us  (CM)

The other senior is little Bricklyn who for years could only be seen at dawn and dusk, and hid under the drapes in the Old Rabbit Area. In the last few years she has become braver, and more ready to hover close enough to field her share of tidbits – though only if tossed to her; hand-feeding has not been a possibility, and actual touch was no-go.  In the past month I have found that I can sit beside her and pet her. This situation always gives me conflicting feelings: gratitude that she is allowing contact at all, and sorrow that this is mostly a factor of her senility – she has forgotten that humans are scary creatures.

The boy who allowed grooming in the cage... (BC)

There’s very much the same sort of situation with my sponsor-cat Sylar – I’ve spent more than nine years offering treats and coaxing him into accepting attention, but generally the only time I’ve been able to touch him has been when he’s been caged, and as soon as he’s released, he forgets all about what it feels like to have a human friend. Recently he was again in cage-care to receive meds, and rather than greeting me with hisses, he was more inclined to meow when I visited.  He rubbed and bunted against me, and allowed me to groom him – and I wonder how much of that was because he had moved past feral behaviour, and how much was being old and forgetting his fear. Now that he's out, he is hiding again - though less from me, than from the other pushy cats, who also want treats. When tucked away on his shelf in Waldi's Hut, he allows petting and talk. He’ll probably never be fear-less, but I think his age has much to do with his change in behaviour, and I hope that he will continue to allow physical contact. from the people who love him.

...is now back to hiding in the courtyard  (KN)

We’re always sad to see these signals of aging – but grateful that they give us a chance to make loving moments to hold in our memories when the favourite old cats finally pass.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coulr, Courtney Milburn, Karen Nicholson

Promises Kept

Nugget  (KN)

I have often mentioned in earlier blogs that RAPS Cat Sanctuary does not work in isolation, and that we have strong ties with other rescues around the province. The most consistent one is probably with Sammy’s Forgotten Felines in Kamloops, with whom our Manager, Valerie, was associated, and we have a number of cats who have originated from there – but we also work with rescues on the Kootenays and on Vancouver Island.  Most of these are grass-roots organizations, funded by local donations and made possible by the devoted work of volunteers. Many have very little space, and rely heavily on those volunteers to foster the rescues they take in until a more permanent home can be found for them.

Thistle  (KN)

Our visitors this past Saturday afternoon included a small group from Broken Promises Rescue near Victoria. Over the past year, we have taken some of their cats, and they were anxious to see how they were doing, and that they had settled safely into a new life with us.  We had a heads-together with Karen, to identify them all, and to establish the ones whose names had been changed, and where they might be found, and then I abandoned the regular visitors to the care of Kate and Brad, and became their exclusive tour guide.  

Chance  (BC)

We began in the New Aids pen, with a visit to Chance. Chance had come to us from Broken Promises last year because he was FIV+ and could not be released to a feral colony after neutering; he had loving care from a fosterer, but was still very hissy-swatty when he arrived into our care. Quiet, and lots of patience from the Kitty Comforters helped him to relax, and he now is one of the established lap-claimers in the cabin.  It’s hard to know if his happy reaction to the visitors was because he recognized voices or just appreciated company, but he was quick to jump up and ask for petting and treats.  It will be interesting to see if he decides to explore outside as the weather warms; he’s been almost exclusively an indoor cat since he arrived.  We introduced some of the other cats as well – both the very social ones like Biggie and Obelix, but also with a quick visit to shy Boston, as well.

Nothing Nugget loves more than a box!   (KN)

Returning to the back pens, we did a little hunting round to see if we could ID any of the more recent Broken Promises cats, and to let the visitors see the space available to our resident cats.  At least one of the BP cats is in Pen 4, and most of the Pen 4 cats are expert hiders; that afternoon Ranger (from Haida Gwaii) and Annie were the only ones basking on the path, and everyone else was safely tucked out of sight. A return to the main courtyard and the TeaRoom gave us an encounter with Nugget, enjoying his under-the-chair bed.  Nugget wears a collar as an indication of his tendency to be reactive, which is the reason he’s with us; when he began getting aggressive with the other cats with whom he was fostered, it was clear that he couldn’t remain in a standard home.  Like Chance, Nugget also seemed to recognize his visitors, and wriggle-squirmed in an effort to get more attention.

Aster  (BC)

The Double-Wide is off-limits to visitors usually, but under these circumstances I was able to take just one person in, while we hunted for a couple of the newer cats who had joined us.  I was pretty sure I knew where Aster hung out, and there she was!  She had come in with the name of Daisy, but for us there is only one Daisy, and the name was retired after her passing. Keeping the flower theme, this little one became Aster, and her buddy became Thistle. 

Thistle  (BC)

Both are still pretty shy, and divide their time between the Double-Wide and the courtyard, but with visitors around, I guessed that they might well be indoors. I think Aster recognized the voice calling her, but she was still nervous enough that she preferred to remain on the cage-top in her safe zone; she was interested, but not brave enough to approach.  I hoped Thistle might be on the back deck, but at that point he was hiding, and didn’t appear until later.

Gwen hoping for goodies   (BC)

A couple of other Broken Promises cats were around; poofy tortie Gwen hovered anxiously, hoping for chicken handouts and quite unmoved by the presence of her rescuer.  Blond Tucker was sound asleep in bed and not to be disturbed. We returned to the courtyard and more joyful interactions with Nugget.

Tucker - Do Not Disturb!   (KN)

Broken Promises takes its name as a reminder that we make commitments to the animals in our lives.  And when those promises are broken, when we don’t spay/neuter, when we hoard, when we act without compassion, it is the animals that suffer. The team at Broken Promises is there to pick up the slack, to try to remedy some of the carelessness and cruelty.  And their commitment goes beyond taking in animals and finding homes for them.  Even when handing them over to another organization for care, they want to follow through and make sure that all is well.  Truly, promises kept...

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

The Holmes Brothers

 

Mycroft  (BC)

Many of the Neko blog readers will remember that when a cat finds its way to the Sanctuary, we call it “a detective cat” – previous detective cats have included Magnum, Kojak, Cagney, Horatio – and more recently, Rico, Steele, Munch, Cassidy and Rollins – all named for TV detectives (our med staff watch a lot of Law and Order!)  For our most recent detective-cat newcomers, somebody has reverted to the classics, and Conan Doyle’s wonderful stories.

Sherlock joins the ferals who meet on the Waldi's Hut rooftop  (KN)

Everyone knows about Sherlock Holmes, but you need to be a Conan Doyle aficionado to know that Mycroft was the older brother of Sherlock Holmes, and is a government official who has abilities of deduction and knowledge exceeding even those of his brother, though their practical use is limited by his dislike of fieldwork. 

Sherlock backed up to the boundary netting  (KN)

Our feline Sherlock and Mycroft were spotted on the perimeter cams, trapped, and brought into the DoubleWide trailer late last year. We think they're about two years old.  Like Munch and Cassidy, they are obviously brothers;  unlike Munch and Cassidy they did not rush to share a cage when it was offered. The two of them were initially caged separately so the med-staff could make sure each had the right care with vaccines and neuter surgery. Both cages carried the warning “Med staff only” label, and both boys resisted gentle approach, hissing in fear. There is a limit to how long we will leave ferals caged, and the staff decided to open both cages and see if they would get comfort from being together.

Mycroft hiding  (BC)

Mycroft resolutely stayed behind his drape. Sherlock wanted out, didn’t want to take time with his brother, and made first for the cage-tops, and then for the door – probably via the back deck and the ferals’ exit. He has largely joined the colony that hangs around Pen 8; there are a number of good places to hide in that pen, and behind Waldi’s Hut.  Initially we were concerned that like Munch, Sherlock had escape forefront in his mind – he certainly did a lot of prowling, investigating every possible place there might be a gap. But Karen and Ken have been doing a lot of checking since Munch’s breakouts, and Sherlock couldn’t detect his way out.

Sherlock enjoying the outdoor life - but very human-suspicious!  (KN)

In the end, he decided that he really had the best of all worlds – no cage, regular food, places to hide and similarly wary-minded cats to hang out with. We see him fairly regularly, but he doesn’t want to be approached by humans, and will probably remain one of the many felines that lives a feral life inside our boundaries – safe from the eagles and the coyotes and human machinery.

Mycroft also remained suspicious
- the ears say it all!  (BC)

His brother Mycroft, obviously takes after his human model and dislikes fieldwork!  He remained in his open cage for some time, gradually allowing staff and Kitty Comforters to spend more time with him. Like a lot of ferals, he was wary of hands, but if he could be distracted while petting was started, he came to realise that he actually liked it!  It was not long before his bum came up and his head went down, and then he was rolling around and enjoying contact (though you still needed to be careful of the exposed belly.

Pet me, pet me!   (BC)

Gradually he became more confident, and started to explore, enjoying the cage-tops and the cat-trees in the middle of the room. And then suddenly his cage was needed for another cat (Cornelius needed eye-drops) and he had to relocate more permanently. Those central cat-trees and shelves are now where he is most often found, and he just loves having the people he knows stopping and giving him attention. To a newcomer he can appear a little scary; he has a forbidding stare and tends to sport flat airplane ears. But how he looks and how he behaves are two different things.

Mycroft in the mouth of a mouse  (KN)

We don’t know if Mycroft will ever choose to venture outside, or whether he and Sherlock will meet up again. It would be nice to think he could convince his brother that we’re the good guys – but don’t hold your breath!  To go from two really feral boys to one that has accepted the confines of the Sanctuary, and one that actually enjoys human touch is enough of a gift for us all.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

Frank

Frank  (KN)

Sweet Frank was not originally a RAPS cat, but came into Delta Community Animal Shelter as a stray, and was adopted from there.  Sadly, his family had to relocate and were unable to take him with them, so he was surrendered to our care.

Hiding in his cage in the Connor  (BC)

Many adult cats find that life in the Adoption Centre is overwhelming.  Their cages are not intended for long-term residence, and it’s not always possible to allow the cat access to the open room. And then there are all those kittens! - very annoying for a mature male who wants to be left alone.  Frank was transferred to the Connor building in the Sanctuary, where life was much quieter and he could have quiet one-on-one encounters with the Kitty Comforters and the staff.

What better place to sit than in a box?  (BC)

Like so many cats who come to us, he picked up a cat-cold, and just like any human, was pretty miserable with it. But once it had run its course, and he was feeling better, he was ready to venture out and explore the world of the Front Courtyard.

Hiding from other cats  (KN)

Many cats are social beings and enjoy interaction with each other. But I think it must be a pretty significant cultural shock for a cat that has been a one-and-only in a home, to be faced with a whole bunch of felines – like having been a work-from-home person, and suddenly having to deal with being at the office.  Frank did not like it!  He quickly found the corners where he could hide and watch the activity going on without being too involved in it.

Mango & James Earl (KN)
poor Frank's bêtes noir (or perhaps that should be bêtes roux et tigré)

Mostly, the cats get on well with each other, but as with any group, there are always a couple of trouble-makers.  In the front courtyard, these were beautiful James Earl and big orange Mango – James Earl with a personality twice his size, and Mango who had established himself as the dominant male.  Poor Frank kept running afoul of these two.  And having been faced with their aggression, he transferred it by bullying some of the smaller cats, so we had to watch out that they were safe from him. We try to monitor these sort of problems, and the staff decided that the best bet would be to move Frank to a place that felt safer for him – so he was relocated to the SingleWide trailer.

Lots to explore in here!  (KH)

Frank didn’t want safety – he wanted to be the other side of that door!  We are always careful with the entrance to the SingleWide, but Frank became an expert door-buster, waiting hopefully to dart between someone’s legs and make an escape. Once out in the courtyard, of course, he realised that Mango was waiting, and it was usually easy enough to scoop him up and return him to the safe zone – until next time!

Lounging in comfort (KH)

Eventually, the best thing happened – both the trouble-makers found homes. James Earl had been adopted out once and returned, but the right person came along, and he found a permanent place to establish his own territory. Mango was adopted by a family with a couple of pre-teens – old enough to be cat-savvy, young enough to challenge Mango’s energy.  With the two boys gone, Frank was returned to the Front Courtyard – and being a cat, promptly turned his energy into trying to return to the SingleWide, and door-bust in the other direction!

Dressed up in his bandana, and ready for adopting  (KN)

Life is much quieter now in the Front Courtyard. Frank doesn’t interact much with the other cats, but is much more comfortable with humans, and can often be found claiming a lap and asking for pets.  Now that his anxiety has lessened and he is more relaxed, we hope that someone will bond with him and take him home to where a lap can be all his own territory, with no competition.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Kim Howe, Karen Nicholson