Tri-paw'd Alert

Kicks  (KN)

Most of the cats that come to us from outside the Lower Mainland do so through contacts with a number of rescues around the province, but especially in the case of FIV+ or FeLV+ cats, we will take cats from further afield; there are very few places where there are specific facilities for them, and where they can continue to get ongoing medical care and attention. Mostly, they don’t need it – FIV+ cats can live long lives, and can also co-exist happily with FIV- cats, but keeping them separated means greater safety from anything that might compromise their immune systems.

Checking from the upper walkway  (KN)

Fans of the cats in the New Aids pen will probably remember Trooper, who survived a bad winter experience with a leg-hold trap in Saskatchewan, and who came to us with his right front leg amputated. We are delighted to welcome another tripod cat to join the other FIV cats – this time without his left front leg.   Kicks arrived from Manitoba – part of a large fostering situation that needed reducing. The original email from the rescue that sent him said, "Our vet thinks he lost his leg to a leg trap but it has healed over. How did he survive??? Only Kicks knows the answer to that." 

Favourite place to lounge  (BC)

Kicks came to us last fall. It was obvious that he was not a feral cat – he was certainly very timid, initially, but having overcome his shyness, he was quick to respond to petting and treats from the Kitty Comforters. Once out of his cage, progress was swift. Initially he would take himself into hiding up on the walkways, but rapidly realised he had little to fear from us. 

Slightly more wary at floor level  (BB)

Climbing the ramps is a bit of a challenge when you’re a cat with three legs, but Kicks worked out how to do it without much jumping, and he now spends much of his time lounging on the table by the big window. Angus is usually the inhabitant of one of the beds there, and can be a bit of a bully, but Kicks has learned to stand up to him without any actual fighting, and Angus will mostly stay out of his way. Other cats like Obelix are quite comfortable around him.

Sharing the table with Obelix (BC)

From his table-bed he summons his fan-club – he likes attention not only from volunteers and KCs, but is happy also to interact with weekend visitors.  When we have particularly crowded days, some of the cats may get stressed, and band-aids are produced for the unwary. It doesn’t take much petting for Cypress or Dahlia to let people know not to touch! Kicks has a much higher tolerance for petting hands, and when it gets a bit much, his reaction is to remove himself quietly up the ramp to the upper levels.

Enjoying the sunshine (BB)

FIV+ cats can make good adoption prospects; the retrovirus in their systems often affects them only  minimally, and several of the New Aids boys – including tripod Trooper – were adopted last year. I think we’re all hoping that the right person will come along for a mutual love affair with our sweet Kicks.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brit Burant, Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson