Black Cats in the Front Courtyard

Allen (KN)

Black Cat Syndrome is indeed a thing!  It takes concentration to recognize the details behind all the black fur, and when that black fur is wary and hiding, it can be hard to distinguish one black cat from another. We have a lot of black cats in the Front Courtyard of the Sanctuary, and learning who’s who is largely a process of elimination. I have to confess that I am still not good with some of the shy ones who don’t interact enough to make personality a good factor.

Reefer  (KN)

Allen is currently the largest of the black cats; having lost his buddy Kenji earlier this year, he has become more social with a whole lot of the others. He has also become braver with people, allowing petting and hand-feeding in a way that he rarely did when Kenji was alive to step up and run interference. Reefer is stockier, and is not so much black as very dark chocolate – a colour that intensifies during the summer months. Both boys are dedicated members of the chicken treats crowd. Reefer and his friend Figaro are the last of a group that came to us in 2017 from a closing shelter on the Sunshine Coast.

Bowie's tail identifies him immediately (KN)

A few of the cats are easily identified visually, though they’re wary of close contact with us. PennyLoaf, with one eye, is usually found on a shelf in the Old Rabbit Area, hiding behind a drape; occasionally she will venture into the Hill House, but will scurry back through the window if she feels insecure.  Bowie, who’s a bob-tail, is mostly spotted on the run; he hides out with his friends Janis Joplin, Joan and stumpy-tailed Jett, and all four of them want nothing to do with us! 

Caleb gets kisses from Wasabi  (BC)

Wasabi, who’s one of the three tripods in the front courtyard, is easily identified; he is out and around more frequently because he is devoted to handsome tuxie Caleb, and follows him around, nudging and grooming his buddy,

Nyla guarding "her" cage  (LBF)

There are many more less-distinguishable black cats.  Three of them are collared; Luka, who I blogged last year, mostly hangs around the sink and generally avoids other cats; the other two originally based themselves in the Connor building, but can now be found everywhere. These are the ones I’d started with when I planned this blog.  They are practically identical, and their collars are what everyone looks for. The older of the two is red-collared Nyla – also known as "the Annihilator". She came to us in 2023, and is more than 10 years old. She’s one of the cats who laid claim to the cage where she was first placed, and when it was opened, she refused to move.  She was very reactive for some time; not just cage aggression, but a believer in attack being the best form of defense. Her red collar is somewhat frayed and tatty, but she is not easy to handle, and nobody’s in a rush to replace it! In three years of living with us she has mellowed somewhat – meaning she no longer rushes to lunge at unwary visitors, But she’s no cuddly kitty, either, and volunteers have learned to treat her with respect

Harbour is working at being a lap-cat  (KN)

Harbour is almost exactly Nyla’s twin but a good bit younger, and she sports an orange collar. She came in last summer, having apparently been found as a stray at a dumpster with three teens and another female, but the Adoption Centre folks said that their fur smelt like someone had been smoking with them in the house...  The other young female, Pier, and the teen kittens, Bay, Cove and Shore were all adopted.  We think Harbour was the mom of the last three. There were a couple instances of her getting overstimulated and bite-y while at the AC – cages are smaller than at the Sanctuary, and it can be stressful for cats – so she was transferred to us.

Harbour has learned to mooch for tidbits  (BC)

There were one or two reports of reactivity, but since coming out of her cage she has settled well, and is willing to come for petting, treats and lap-time. The collar is now less of a warning, and more of identification.   Now that she’s settled, we’ll need to consider whether she's adoptable. If we could find the right cat-experienced family that were willing to put in the work and learn her boundaries, she’d probably do well in a home. 

There are still many other black cats around in the Front Courtyard: Jenny, Norah, spicy Emily, sweet Spooky, curly-tailed Benny – and that’s without taking into account all the nearly-black ones with small white markings: TicTac, Daiqiri, Alyssa, Cuddles....   Probably time for another blog!

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson

Feline Daddies

Biggie is happy to snooze his days away  (KN)

We have our share of Mom-cats who arrived into our care with kittens on board or already born, and who have remained in the Sanctuary because they’re too feral or too shy, while their kittens go on to being socialized and finding their own homes.  It’s harder to ID the Dad-cats when fatherhood for most cats is a moment’s urge and not accompanied by any real bonding with the female in question – in fact, a fertile female cat can be impregnated by more than one tomcat, and her litter of kittens may have multiple sires.  So celebrating Father's Day at the Sanctuary is not as easy as celebrating Mother's Day! Having said that, there are a few instances where we’re pretty sure about both parents – and the certainty comes down to genetics.

Domino still has a tom-cat attitude;
he's probably sired his share of kittens! (BH)

Most of the cats in both New AIDS and the Val Jones are male, and most of them have come to us as unneutered tomcats – that, of course, being the reason they carry the FIV virus, which is conveyed in blood from bites. These boys lived their pre-Sanctuary lives fending for themselves, struggling to establish their territory, their food sources, and their potential mates – and, still ramped up with testosterone as they were, that inevitably involved fighting. It’s likely that many of them have sired litters of kittens before they came to us, but typically, cats are deadbeat dads, and have no concern for their offspring. The first thing that happens when they come into our care is that crucial vet appointment when they’re neutered – which means no more kittens, as well as reducing their urge to fight with each other. 

Simon & Biggie having a private son-and-father moment  (JS)

We’re pretty sure that Biggie, in the New AIDS pen, is the father of Simon and Smalls. The three of them, with female Marble, came to us last year from the Island. We think Marble is the mother of Simon and Smalls;  Biggie is older than the two boys, and likely sired them, but it’s possible that he may be both Marble’s son and her baby-daddy – cat colonies being what they are, there is often a lot of in-breeding. The orange colouring is a strong genetic marker, and Smalls’ black colouring is the most common alternative to a dominant orange gene.

Zeus (MD) and Pax (LBF)
both now adopted.

When in 2019 we brought in a large colony of cats created by someone who was feeding ferals, it was obviously a multi-generational affair – pregnant moms, kittens, teenagers, and a couple of older males who had clearly sired most of the younger ones.  These two males proved to be FIV+, but both were friendly and handleable; probably strays rather than ferals;  Pax and Zeus settled in easily to the Val Jones area, and both ended up being adopted to their forever homes.  

So like their dads! - Nyx & Juno (LBF)

Their genes can clearly be seen in some of the cats still living in Pen 1 – Nyx, Juno, Atlas and Mercury have a real resemblance to their sires, though all four, having grown up feral, have remained wary with people. And it’s quite likely that both Kenji and Allan, in the front courtyard, have the same genetics - though not gathered up at the same time, they came from close by.

Tamale enjoying the heat lamp (AM)

More recently, our trappers were involved in rescuing a colony from Shell Road. Most of these cats were tuxedos or blacks – and not from the same genetic pool as the earlier group, whose more pointed faces are a clear contrast to the broader heads and bodies of the newcomers. One of them proved to be FIV+ and is now living in New AIDS – he was introduced in an earlier blog as Boston. Two other males are in the front courtyard; Tamale is clearly related to Boston – father? brother? son? - and Chicharron (Cheech) has the same stocky build, though he’s tailless and all black. Staff and fosters were able to socialize many of the younger cats trapped at that site, and they were adopted, so we have no clear families to identify.

Percival Snugglebutt - also known as Daddy (JS)

Percival Snugglebutt is the other cat that we know for sure has fathered kittens. He was one of the colony of cats who came from the Kootenays in 2022, and the two little lynxpoint girls, Curious and SweetPea, both arrived pregnant. Rather than coming directly to us, they went into fosterage, where their kittens were born. Both litters had some tail-less kittens, a clear genetic link to Percival.  All the kittens were adopted out, and SweetPea also found a home; Curious is still with us because she’s not as friendly as her sister. 

Majestic (and shy) Basil  (KN)

The rest of the colony has a much more Himalayan look, though in a variety of colours; it’s likely that either shy Basil or friendly Owen (now adopted) was responsible for the younger cats. Percival is sometimes known as Big Daddy, though he has largely detached himself from the rest of the colony, and has moved on to socialize with the floofy Kamloops cats, and especially his buddy Thorne.

Percival with his best friend, Thorne  (JS)

The sentiment that powers the concepts of Mother's Day and Father's Day celebrations falters when it comes to felines.  For the majority of male cats, “love ‘em and leave ‘em!” is the primary urge – not necessarily something we want to celebrate! Whatever their paternal shortcomings, though, we love having them at the Sanctuary.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Melanie Draper, Brielle Hutchinson,
Anne Marchetti, Karen Nicholson. Justin Saint

A Semi-Feral Quartet

Solar & Libby - JK

Pre-pandemic, we took in four cats from VOKRA.  We have great admiration for all that Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association does. They do extensive work with trapping and spay/neuter; they place young mother cats and their litters in a network of hard-working foster-homes, and actively match cats with people seeking to adopt. They do have an operations centre in Vancouver, but it’s not set up for long-term stays. And when they have a feral group of cats come in, with limited space, they will sometimes turn to RAPS for assistance.

Big wary eyes - Mabel's not sure....   -  KN

We accepted Libby, Mabel, Solar and Midnight from them back in 2019. The quartet was scared and wary; they were young adults way past their best-by date for easy taming.  The optimal window is usually up to about 16-20 weeks old. That’s not to say that older ferals cannot be tamed, but it takes more patience – and with a group of ferals, their fear feeds off each other. So this little bonded group avoided contact with the Kitty Comforters, and once out of their group cage, they rushed to find hiding places.

Midnight - MW

Initially they could usually be found together, in various combinations. They didn’t want to be petted, but Solar and Mabel in particular were willing to sit and listen to a voice. Black Midnight was the most contact-avoiding of the group, and in an effort to stay out of sight, he joined a couple of cats who managed a jail-break under the SingleWide trailer – not off the premises, but in the area between front and back. Luckily the escaped convicts were spotted from the other side, and a member of staff in a full coverage suit wriggled through the access to set traps and retrieve the fugitives.  It was decided that we would leave Midnight in his new back courtyard space, and he hides out there with the other ferals, like Steele and Smithy and Sylar.

Midnight - KN

Solar is a chunky light-grey tabby, and definately the friendliest of the four. He has decided that he’s on to a good thing now he lives with us, and he makes nice with the staff and volunteers working around the front courtyard. He is particularly fond of volunteer Carol P, and hovers, waiting anxiously for her attention – and her chicken tidbits! He can often be found in company with the other cats on the climbing frame; he is one of many cats who will allow contact when they are on a wall or a shelf, but not on the ground – we’re just too big for their comfort.

Solar - BC

Mabel is the most distinctive of the four, with her smart tuxedo colouring, and the facial markings that make her appear to have a Batman mask. She’s still wary, and prefers the feral area, but can occasionally be found visiting in the Hill House.  She likes to hang out with Allen and Kenji – and they are similarly wary of any except the gentlest of contact but are starting to enjoy coming out for play. As the weather improves, the boys are more often found in the gazebo, in the middle of the courtyard – we hope that they can encourage Mabel to come out too.

Mabel's favourite place
is in a high-up basket!  -  MD

Libby is one of those tabbies who fades into the background. Cookie Hill, Freya, Cricket – all are tabby plus some distinctive characteristics. Libby is just Libby – and very good at hiding.  When you see her face-on, you’ll see the little white marking at her throat; but often she’s curled up on herself and you won’t notice it at all.  Lately she’s been hanging out with mustachioed Sweet Pea, which is hopeful – Sweet Pea has gone from being a don’t-touch-me feral to a girl who is willing to accept petting. We hope that she can teach Libby that we’re not that bad.

SweetPea and Libby - LBF

Solar, Mabel and Libby are no longer bonded in the way they used to be, but we will still occasionally find them visiting with each other. But they’ve all established their own spaces and they know that they are safe at the Sanctuary.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult, Melanie Draper, 

Jennine Kariya, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright

Kenji & Allen

Right now it feels like the Sanctuary is full of little black semi-ferals!

Allen (left), Kenji (right), Dawn (front) - LBF

Black cats, of course, come to us with a handicap – even at the City Shelter, people can pass them over because they don’t take time to get to know the personality behind all the black fur.  In some ways, the pandemic has been good for the Shelter adoptables, because the staff there do take time to learn the quirks of each cat, and will make recommendations based on personality.  Adopters come for a meet-and-greet with a specific cat rather than a “pick one of these” session – so black cats get equal time.

Kenji on the climbing frame - KN

At the Sanctuary, though, many of our black cats are feral, or semiferal at the least, and getting them habituated to human contact can be hard when a) they would rather hide, and b) so many look alike, at first glance!  

Allen is getting braver - KN

Kenji and Allen came to us in April a year ago, trapped near the home of a retired volunteer whose house seems to send out welcome-cat vibes, as we have often brought in cats from that area.  In fact, it’s not that far from where we did a major trapping effort last summer, bringing in 50+ cats and kittens from a situation in which someone was feeding ferals without calling to get them spayed and neutered first!  

Kenji's worried face - LBF

These two arrived before the crowd, but may well have been part of the same family – they are a bit older than most of the more recent ones, but there is definitely a family resemblance – perhaps Zeus (former Val Jones area, now adopted) was the father.  In fact, there were three of them: first named Kingsley, Kuma and Kenji  - but Kingsley’s name was changed to Allen, and Kuma proved to be FIV+ and is now one of the very shy boys in New Aids.

Shy Kuma, in New Aids - KN

When Allen and Kenji arrived, they were caged briefly and then released in the front courtyard. They promptly discovered the sheltered courtyard we call The Old Rabbit Area, and the basket-beds high up – and disappeared up there.  Occasionally they would emerge for dinner or a little feline socializing, but mostly we saw Allen’s slightly worried face watching from the basket, and Kenji lurking behind the shelf curtains.

Allen watching the wand toy - LBF

A year after their arrival, and both have relaxed a lot.  Though they’re not really tame, they are at least willing to visit with humans. Kenji loves to play, and has frequently joined in acrobatics over wand toys;  both are venturing away from the “safe zone” and exploring the other side of the courtyard, and the climbing “ship” that so many of the cats love.  Allen’s little white chest-blaze is a useful signal to differentiate him from other short-haired blacks like Beetle and Salem.  

Melon making friends with Kenji - LBF

Kenji also has a little blaze, but if that's not visible, I find I have to see him with other long-haired blacks before I can be sure who is who. Lancelot, Twining, Benny, (Devil-Child) Dawn and Kenji can easily be mistaken for each other, and behaviour is often a better key to identity than looks. Kenji is a little larger than most of the others, and is becoming more relaxed with his black buddies, though it can still take a while to coax him out of hiding, initially.  Kitty-Comforter Lisa has made something of a project of these two boys, and we hope that, with time, they will come to know that they are in a safe place, and need not fear human attention.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen & Karen Nicholson