Thor-Theo

Thor, aka Theo

Last summer part-time med staff Gracelyn was also part-timing at a veterinary office in South Surrey. A cat was brought in for euthanasia – not because he was sick, but because his owners were going into care, and nobody else would take him. Gracelyn holds to the RAPS belief that convenience is not a reason for euthanasia, and she brought him to us. His name was Thor, and he was not a happy camper!

Slightly suspicious....  (BC)

He’s a small boy, light tabby with a white muzzle and there’s something about him that reminds me of a Bengal cat, though his markings are tabby stripes rather than the typical Bengal rosettes. He is tailless, though I understand it’s an amputation from a tail injury when he was young, rather than a natural mutation.

Do I have to go back in the cage?  (WN)

Thor is one of those cats who seems to have a perpetually worried face, and for him, there was a lot to worry about. We hoped that he might be adopted out – he was about 7 years old, and was initially housed in the Adoption Centre. However, it became apparent that in fact, all was not well with him – he has a sensitive stomach, and either one end or the other was giving him problems. Various medications and changed diets were offered, but Thor’s biggest difficulty was that he was stressed by his environment. Nobody likes living in a cage, and the Adoption Centre’s cages are smaller than the ones at the Sanctuary, and not intended for living in for very long.

Loving being in a home  (WN)

Fortune was on his side; Wenda, one of our Sanctuary visitors, offered to foster him, and Thor went home with her. She renamed him as Theo, and the quiet environment she offered him, and her gentle patience, brought him out of his shell.  Sadly, his intestinal problems continued, and required repeated visits back to the Adoption Centre or the Hospital, and though Theo had changed with her care, he knew what it meant when his carrier came out. He proved to be a hard cat to manage and transport, and it was finally decided that in order to facilitate his frequent need for medical care, he needed to remain at RAPS, though in the Sanctuary rather than the Adoption Centre.

Relaxed enough to play  (WN)

He was admitted to the SingleWide trailer, where the cage in which he was placed was ten times the size of his Adoption Centre digs. Here he had room to move around, places to hide, places to climb, and a chair for visitors – and the Kitty Comforters swung into action. Wenda continues to visit him regularly, but we all learned the subtleties of dealing with Theo/Thor (he officially remains Thor in the Sanctuary). The main thing is that he needed time; he would come and sit by the door, but often when a visitor went in, he would move away and hide behind the drape, or turn an eloquent back! If we had the patience to sit quietly with him, to talk gently and not push for contact, he would usually come around and allow a little touch. He likes to play, and wand toys have been a big part of initiating contact and activity.

Guarding from the shelf  (KH)

The digestive problems continued, though with closer monitoring by the med-staff, they have come under better control. Initially he only ate prescription food and hydrolized protein, but without keeping him in a cage, it’s not possible to maintain him on a limited diet. So, gradually that was phased out, and the staff keep a careful eye on him for throw-up or poop problems and a consequent adjustment of medication. Now the cage door is open and he is getting to know his surroundings – he doesn’t really care for the company of other cats, but he enjoys exploring, especially now the SW deck has been refurbished, and he loves having the space to move when there’s a wand toy available and someone to play with him.

Even if I only half-fits....   (WN)

Wenda’s visits remain a special treat for him and with her he is comfortable enough to allow lap-time and touch in a way that takes much longer to achieve for more infrequent visitors. There’s sufficient space in the SW that he can remain aloof from the other cats if he wants, though he is often an interested onlooker when Ophelia, Oscar or Teddy Swims are enjoying playtime on the floor. Perhaps some day he will join them!

Watching the other cats in action!  (KH)

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Kim Howe and Wenda Nairn