 |
| Dahlia (BH) |
Visitors to the New Aids pen are usually accosted at the gate by the shameless scroungers:
Domino,
Mr Binx,
Cypress (and slightly less assertively)
Wyndham.
Angus, Obelix and
Boomer are rarely far away. Among our FIV+ population, it becomes pretty obvious that it’s male-dominated – in fact, there are only two females in the pen at the moment: calico
Amaretto, and grey
Dahlia.
 |
| You may touch my paw ONCE only (KN) |
That makes sense when you remember that the virus is passed in the context of a deep bite, and that it is usually the unneutered males, both feral and stray, who will fight with each other over territory, or food, or mates. Once trapped and neutered, the lack of testosterone dulls the urge to do battle, and the occasional scuffle is rarely a real fight. A female will sometimes acquire the virus in the course of mating, if the act involves biting, and an FIV+ female can pass the virus on to her kittens in utero. We don’t know how either of our girls was infected, but with care, they will live lives as long and healthy as any uninfected cat.
 |
| Dahlia likes to perch on the steps (BC) |
Many of our FIV+ cats have come to us through other shelters; Amaretto is one of many from the central area of Vancouver Island. Dahlia is local; she was found wandering in the area near the former RAPS Shelter (now SPCA) on No 5 Rd. The person who found her wanted to keep her but she was becoming too fractious for them to take care of (not surprising, knowing our Dahlia!); they took her to the vet for checking, discovered she was FIV+, and surrendered her to the shelter, from which she was transferred to the Sanctuary. This was in the fall of 2020. In early December of that year, she did a jail-break, but remained hanging around the parking lot and was finally coaxed into a trap with a tasty plate of chicken.
 |
| She prefers to be at eye-level to greet you (MW) |
Most of the male cats in New Aids are solid, blocky boys; they build up jowls and muscle as they grow up unneutered, and they maintain their build. Dahlia looks very unlike them, slim and long-haired, she is not usually a fan of people. She likes her comforts, and can usually be found in the main cabin rather than outside; her preference is to hide behind a drape in the top cage, and currently she is a little miffed that it’s occupied by a newcomer, and she has to find an alternative bed. New volunteers are often warned about approaching her; you can frequently get two pets in, and then she’s had enough and lets you know it.
 |
| Favourite resting place in the top cage (HM) |
However, Marty tells me that this week she allowed herself to be petted by a visitor, and loved the attention – when they left, she had an attack of the zoomies, and sprinted outside and then back in. Who knows what attracted her to them? But like all cats, she can take you by surprise. Awhile ago, a volunteer arrived for a New Aids shift just in time to get a phone call telling of the death of a family member. We sorted out how to cover her shift, and she decided she needed to take time with the cats before rushing home. Sitting on the ottoman in tears, she was surprised and touched that the cat who approached and sat with her quietly was Dahlia – not usually any sort of a lap-cat, she obviously understood distress and offered quiet comfort.
 |
| Dahlia (KN) |
She’ll likely never join the social crowd at the gate; she’s not a welcomer, and her tolerance for people usually has its limits. Mostly she prefers to remain hidden, and dislikes being disturbed. But when she recognizes something in a human – perhaps the magic hands, or the sadness – she will emerge and make her presence felt.
Blog by Brigid Coult
Photos by Brigid Coult, Brielle Hutchison, Henrie Morgan, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright
Posts
