Adopt me, please!

RootBeer  (SM)

The Adoption Centre is overflowing with kittens – and as quickly as a fosterer brings a new group in to us, a new pregnant mom arrives, and the foster family is back in action.   We are so grateful to our supporters in adoption – the various pet-stores who give temporary home to our kittens so that more people can see them, and the partners who allow us to exhibit them in unexpected places.  Of course, it’s kitten season, and the weather has been fine, so lots more kittens are coming to us from both safe and unsafe origins – and with the unsafe ones (like the trailer park kittens), being trapped and coming to us may be a matter of life and death.  But the kittens are not the only ones needing homes, and we have a few cats at the Sanctuary who are needy as well.  Two of them have been featured in earlier Neko Blogs.

RootBeer enjoys visitors who will work at his pace  (SM)

RootBeer came to us more than a year ago, a solid golden-tabby boy with a chip on both shoulders. He had come to us from another shelter that was not able to keep him, but they didn’t want to see him euthanized.  He didn’t like humans, he didn’t like other cats, and he just wanted to be left alone. He had some health issues which vet investigation discovered meant that he needed to be on a limited diet, and he turned out to have asthma, which is easily treated with an inhaler. In the course of RAPS Hospital visits he bonded with one of the vet assistants, who fostered him, though she knew that it had to be a short-term commitment.

Watch me grooming...  (SM)

So – time’s up, and RootBeer is back with us. Currently he’s living in isolation at the back of the SingleWide. He’s very happy not to have other cats around him, but he’s grown used to people, and welcomes visitors. He needs to be an only cat, both because of his dislike for other felines, and because he needs specific food. He could continue as a foster, with RAPS taking responsibility for all his medical and feeding needs – what he really wants is someone who will be patient and loving with him, and allow him to take his time adjusting to yet another home. We think he’s about 5 years old.

Frank spent much of his time hiding  (KN)

Sweet Frank  came to us earlier this year, having been surrendered by a family who was moving and couldn’t take him. He struggled with life in the Front Courtyard; he was the new boy in a schoolyard being picked on by the bullies – and like some bullying victims, he turned his anger on smaller cats.  He was moved into the SingleWide, and discovered the joy of door-dashing; he didn’t really want to be back in the Courtyard, but he really wanted to be on the other side of the door!  

He still needs to hide - but there is more choice in the Back Courtyard!  (BC)

When his bullies were adopted (separately!), he was allowed to return – though he would occasionally door-dash the other way, back into the SingleWide!  He still needed to be watched, though, and we were concerned by the way he would hide.  The decision was made to move Frank into the Back Courtyard, and I think it was a good one. He had to put up with a little cage-time in transition, but now he’s out and about and has much more space in which to keep out of other cats way. Cats like Jasper and Gizmo can be avoided, and his favourite humans watch for him and offer cuddle time.  

Frank loves a lap!  (BC)

He really needs a home where he can be The Cat – allowed to have his quiet time when he needs it, but with petting and attention available. Sadly, he tends to vanish at the weekends when visitors arrive – even wearing a bandana, he manages to become invisible until things are quiet again. The vets think he’s about 8-9 years old

Lomi has claimed her bed, and wants to stay there   (BC)

The third Adoptable is a very pretty tabby & white girl who is still reticent about coming forward. Five-year old Lomi was surrendered to us recently by her elderly owner, who was no longer able to care for her. After her Hill House cage time, Lomi vanished into the Old Rabbit Area, the covered courtyard that is the safe area for many shy cats.  She has taken up residence on one of the shelves, and is now happy to hold court for admirers; she’s friendly and happy to accept petting and attention; she’s not really food-motivated, and though she has allowed herself to be held, she is nervous about going beyond the doorway.

She's curious - but not quite ready to come out  (BC)

This is a disadvantage in terms of adoptability; the Old Rabbit Area is an out-of-bounds area during visiting hours, because it’s really important that the shyest cats have a safe area that they know will not be invaded when we have strangers around. Anyone interested in meeting Lomi will need to make an appointment with Shelter Manager Valerie to be introduced during a quiet time. Lomi appears to be quite relaxed around other cats (though not actively social with them) and might do well in a home with another friendly feline.

Such a sweet face...   (BC)

We really hope all the cats & kittens in the Adoption Centre will find loving homes, and most of the people visiting the AC are going there for that purpose.  There are a few other Sanctuary cats (Guacamole, Gwen, perhaps Bello) who, with luck, will eventually find their own places.  RootBeer, Frank and Lomi need to be sought out with purpose; they all need experienced cat-people with much patience for these three whose pre-RAPS life has not been easy, and for whom the Sanctuary is just not enough.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Selena Marchetti, Karen Nicholson