Eden & the Voids

Eden  (KN)

Sounds like a rock group, doesn’t it?  But it’s quieter, more fragile and definitely furrier!

Furgie can be identified from her rumpled fur  (BC)

The cats who live in the Feline Leukemia pen are often overlooked – the doorway is marked for No Entry, and there are protocols about sanitizing, dealing with plates and laundry and so on. FeLv is transmitted in cats’ body secretions, so we are very careful about anything from their pen that might bring the virus in contact with the cats in the Front Courtyard. Equally, the virus affects their immune systems, so we have to make sure we don’t bring in cold germs or other infections from the rest of the Sanctuary. This results in an isolation area that many volunteers never visit – but one that is loved by those of us who are in the know.

Classic voids: Athena, with Laszlo & Neptune (now passed)  (JS)

Currently we have eight cats living in the area – one little grey girl and an assortment of blacks. The slang term for a black cat is a “void” – the sort of cat that disappears in a dark corner, and is hard to photograph because the black colour swamps the features. In fact the only true void at the moment is Athena, who came to us as one of the McLeod cats in 2019. Athena was devoted to Neptune, another void who passed last fall at the age of more than 11 years – a good age for a leukemia cat – and now she seems to be taking comfort in Furgie’s company. Furgie came in with the hoarded cats from Calgary in 2021; she is nominally a void, but has a lot of little white flecks in her ruffled back fur. She was the first of that group to be identified as FeLv+. Banff and Creston, who followed her, have both passed; nobody else in that colony has tested positive.

A stack of Moons, with Athena on top (CP)

There is one cat in the pen who is rarely seen; he came to us last May from Saskatchewan, and promptly went into hiding in the outdoor area. He goes by the name of Password 123, and joins the ranks of feral cats who prefer to have minimal contact with humans. On the list, he’s marked as a black cat, but he’s actually a smoke: black on the surface and grey underneath. We don’t know how much contact he has with the other cats, but he has made himself comfortable under the heat lamp or in shelter with a heated pad.

Eden (with Cosmo, above)  (KN)

The little grey girl is Eden, and she has settled well with both cats and humans. She came to us from Winnipeg with a couple of kittens that may or may not have been her own; they were also FeLv+, taken into fosterage as we do for all kittens;  sadly for their foster mom, their immune systems failed them. This is one of the reasons we don’t bring kittens to the Adoption Centre too soon, and why we ask potential adopters to visit there first, before coming to visit the Sanctuary, so that they don’t carry infections from adult cats to juveniles.

Eden enjoying cuddles with Cosmo  (KN)

We don’t know Eden’s background, but she’s obviously had contact with people, and likes to play with wand toys. She has a clipped ear, which usually designates a feral who’s been TNR’d; I wonder if it may be a sign of a Manitoba frostbite instead; we remember Picasso (now adopted) who came to us with clipped ears and tail from a very cold winter.

Eclipse - our most beautiful void  (BC)

Eden is also very cat social, especially with the remaining four cats. Eclipse, Cosmo, Calisto and Galaxy came to us with Mama Moon from the same Manitoba rescue just over a year ago, and are probably about the same age as Eden – she certainly sees them as playmates, and the older cats mostly let them be. Moon was fostered last year by someone who was willing to take the extra care leukemia cats need; her kids are still with us. Eclipse is the only true void; his brother Cosmo has a little locket on his chest, and his fur has taken on a tint that is brownish rather than black, together with some grey..

Cosmo can be something of a goof...   (KN)

Galaxy is now the more social of the two girls; her previously orange eye colour has faded to a gentler gold, and she is the perfect little tuxie with white socks as well as facial and shirtfront markings. Her sister Callisto has a little Harry Potter zigzag streak down her nose. She likes to have her sibs’ company;  she can often be found in one of the cage-top beds, or on the overhead walkway outside. Both boys have black whiskers; their sisters' white whiskers are long and beautiful against their black coats.

Galaxy  (BC)

Callista's favourite flirting position, lounging on the cat tree  (KN)

I spent a couple of hours with them earlier this week: cleaning, scooping, dealing with kibble and water, and all the other things that go into a morning shift. For the last half hour I had all the Moons and Eden with me; Cosmo and Galaxy wanting attention; the other three just wanting to be around. Towards the end, Athena came in to join us and did some head-bunting with Galaxy, but avoided actual contact with me; that’s par for the course!

Eden gets the last laugh  (KN)

Weekend visitors are not allowed in, but volunteers who work in other areas of the Sanctuary can choose to spend some cat-time with this sweet colony, as long as all the sanitizing protocols are followed to protect them, and all the other cats, from a virus that can take them from us far too soon. 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson, Carol Porteous, Justin Saint

Heavenly Newcomers

Mama Moon (KN)

Back in November, we welcomed a mother cat and her four kittens to the Sanctuary.  Normally that would be No Big Deal – our Adoption Centre is kept busy with incoming feline families.  But these five were a little different.  They came to us from Manitoba, where they were found abandoned after their people had moved away – and fall in Manitoba is cold!  

Galaxy prefers hiding  (KN)

Luckily, they were taken in by a small local rescue group with the irresistible name of What’s One More Community  in Winnipeg.  This is a very small organization, doing an enormous job with limited resources – and any financial help is gratefully received. They took this little feline family into foster, and got them checked over by the vet – to receive the sad news that all of them tested positive for FeLV – feline leukemia.

Cosmo - always curious  (BC)

RAPS to the rescue – we are a unicorn among shelters in that we have facilities specifically for leukemia kitties, and we were delighted to welcome Mama Moon and her four teenagers to live with us. They bypassed the Adoption Centre and came straight to the Leukemia area, where they settled in pretty quickly.

Moon likes to know what's going on  (BC)

Mama Moon is a sweet girl with striking looks. The blue eyes and colouring indicate that there’s probably some ragdoll in her, though it doesn’t show up in her offspring. Daddy-cat, whoever he was, was probably black and longhaired, and that’s evident in all four. There’s been a little name-juggling, but they’re now settled as Cosmo and Eclipse (M) and Calisto and Galaxy (F). 

Callisto is a flirt!  (KN)

All four are friendly, but Cosmo and Calisto are obviously extroverts, and Eclipse and Galaxy are much shyer. A visit to the Leukemia room will produce an immediate reaction of interest from Cosmo and Calisto, who will come to investigate and play, and enjoy being petted.  Cosmo is mostly black with a white locket on his chest; he’s active and energetic, he loves attention and is occasionally a shoulder-climber. His sister Calisto has beautiful bronze eyes, and a striking set of whiskers; she’s a true tuxie, with not only the white bib but four white paws. Her facial white is just a thin white stripe.

Eclipse & Galaxy in hiding  (KN)

The more introverted pair often need to be hunted for; they’ve discovered the hiding places, though they will emerge when they feel safe.  Eclipse, as his name suggests, is all black, and because he hides in dark corners, the pupils of his eyes tend to be dilated, so his eyes look as black as the rest of him. He is one who I have most often found in the “outside” of the Leukemia pen, though whether that is escaping or exploring is not clear.  His sister Galaxy is another tuxedo, but her facial white is a striking blaze down her nose, rather than Calisto’s discreet line.  The two of them can often be found hiding away together.

Cosmo goes exploring  (KN)

The five other cats already in the Leukemia pen are all semi-ferals (and not adoptable), but are very tolerant of the new family. Most of them live outside; Siamese Neko is the most usual visitor to the inner room, and Neptune and Athena come in when they think food is on offer.  Like FIV cats, FeLV cats are adoptable to special people – but there are constraints. All RAPS cats are adopted out on condition that they remain indoor cats but this is especially important with leukemia cats. The virus that they carry is transmitted in fluid – mostly though cat saliva. Cats who lick each other, who share food and water, can pass the virus on. It is not transmissible to humans, and it dies quickly when it dries – but in wet form it is a danger to other cats.  

Callisto has the best whiskers!  (BC)

The other thing about feline leukemia is that it affects the cat’s immune system, so that they have less resistance to other infections. We are careful about keeping everything very clean, and because many of us work with other cats who may have things like cat-colds or eye infections, we wash carefully before visiting them, and sanitize when we leave. There is no denying that FeLV cats tend to have shorter lives – but we also know that the virus may go dormant, and we’ve had leukemia cats like Ooly, who lived to be 18 years old.  Anyone who’s lost a cat knows that the grief is a measure of the love – and most of us would rather have the love, despite the inevitable grief.  So, to the right person, under the right conditions, adoption of the Moon family would be possible, though the youngsters would need to go at least in pairs.

Sharing the family tree - Callisto, Moon & Eclipse  (BC)

Till that happy time, they are having a good life in our Leukemia area; they are so engaging that they have a lot of attention from staff and volunteers, and are enjoying being somewhere much warmer than a cold Manitoba winter! 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

Quiet Days in the Leukemia Pen

Neko  (KN)

Looking back over fourteen volunteer years, it’s interesting to recall how the numbers of FeLV (feline leukemia) and FIV (feline AIDS) cats has fluctuated. We’ve always had space for both sorts of residents, but at one time we had leukemia cats in the back of the SingleWide, in the Val Jones area, as well as in the main leukemia pen (which, confusingly, was known as Old Aids), and only one pen of FIV cats; now we have more than 30 FIV cats in two pens.  Sadly, many of our leukemia cats don’t live very long – the virus is very hard on their immune systems – and we love them, knowing that we may not have them with us as long as we would like. We are learning things about the virus that we didn’t know years ago, and we hope that it will give our current leukemia cats more time.  There is no cure for FeLV, but anything that will boost their immune systems is helpful. 

Adria & Creston, now adopted  (BC)

One of the things we still don’t understand it what causes the virus to go into remission or to flare up. Cats like Ooly lived much longer in our care than some of the others – we think Ooly made it to 18 years, which is good for any cat – and we don’t know why; we can only be grateful.  Since my last leukemia cat blog the numbers of inhabitants has gone down: currently there are only six cats living there, but they all seem to be in good shape, and we hope that their health will remain strong.  We rejoiced when sassy Adria and loving Creston were adopted together by someone who understood that they would need constant oversight, and no contact with other cats. But the two were both young, and it’s wonderful to think that they have the experience of living in a home with humans of their own.

Beautiful Neptune  (KN)

We’re left with four black cats, a Siamese mix and a tabby. The four blacks are headed up by Neptune, who is probably the senior resident (if not very senior). He has been with us nearly seven years, having come from Oregon with Portia, who we lost last year. Neptune is shy until he knows you, but once he feels safe, he will come for petting and treats. 

Athena  (PC)

He is trailed devotedly by Athena, who was the only one of the MacLeod cats (arriving in 2019) to test FeLV+; Athena weaves her way around him, and bunts to get his attention. She looks like his mini-me, and you need to see them together to be certain who's who.  She’s still not very sure about wanting human petting, and is very picky about what treats she will accept.

Furgie usually looks startled   (BC)

The other two blacks are very shy as well.  Furgie came from the colony that now lives in Pen 3; the youngsters from a hoarding situation in Alberta. She’s now about 6 years old, and can be distinguished from the others by the little flecks of white on her neck and shoulders; she tends to look a little rumpled, and it always takes time and patience to get her to accept attention.

Laszlo  (KN)

The fourth one is Laszlo. who is the last of a group of leukemia cats who came to us from CatNap rescue in Nanaimo just over two years ago. As a leukemia-infected colony, the virus obviously had a good hold on their immune systems, and they have all passed in those two years, except for Laszlo who is still holding strong.  He is wary, but will accept a little petting if he accepts you. 

Athena, Laszlo, Neptune having a cage-top meeting  (JS)

The four of them integrate pretty well – Furgie and Laszlo tend to find their own corners, but every now and then there is a black cat meet-up to plan the next party.  Volunteer Justin calls it The Void.

Handsome Neko, listening to Joanne talk in Japanese  (JN)

The largest cat in the pen is Neko. Neko came to us almost five years ago, having been trapped as a Valley stray near Abbotsford. Initially he was very scared, and spent considerable time hanging out on the walkways under the roof of the outer section of the pen; in cold weather he took over the wicker basket under the heat lamp, but he was not ready to come inside for real warmth.  Gradually he has come to accept that nobody will hurt him, and began to venture indoors. 

Neko with black cat buddy  (BC)

He became more social with the other cats, enjoying cuddles and company with Boris (now gone) and Adria, and accepting attention from volunteers and Kitty Comforters. He especially enjoys it when Joanne comes and talks to him in Japanese; like Princess in the back courtyard, and her conversations in Farsi, there is something in the sound of the language he heard as a youngster that gives him comfort.

Big Dave preferring quiet alone-time on the cat tree  (BC)

The most recent addition to the Leukemia pen is Big Dave – who doesn’t look so big, when faced with Neko!  Poor Dave was obviously used to being either boss cat or the only cat, and he’s had struggles to deal with his new situation. Initially he remained mostly indoors, while the other cats came and went; Neptune in particular was not friendly, and Big Dave learned to find the corners where he could feel safe. Volunteers made a point of coming to visit for some BD time on the couch, but it took a while before he would venture past the cat-door.  With the recent heatwave, being out in the Leukemia courtyard is infinitely preferable to staying inside; cool stone floors and walkways that catch the breeze are too much to resist. However, there’s not much progress happening yet in terms of cat socializing.

Sweet anti-cat-social boy  (BC)

Big Dave will come for human attention, but he prefers to tuck himself away in a safe bed when the others are out and about.  With only six cats currently in residence, there are lots of places he can feel secure – but he would obviously feel much happier if he had the place to himself, or if, like Adria and Creston, he could score someone who would give him his own home.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Pauline Chin, Brigid Coult,
Joanne Nicholson, Karen Nicholson, Justin Saint

Minuet

 

Minuet  (LBF)

RAPS got its beginnings through the devoted volunteers who established Richmond’s Homeless Cats back in the late ‘80s in response to the increasing number of feral cats in the municipality. Through years of TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) and of establishing the Sanctuary where urban development made releasing colonies an impossibility, numbers have gradually come under control.  But it only takes a little carelessness, and we can see how easily the population surges.

A common view of Minuet  (KN)

Before the pandemic, a well-meaning Richmond resident fed stray cats without realizing the implications. Suddenly, there were cats everywhere, and the family called on RAPS for help.  The staff took on a major trapping operation and brought them into the Sanctuary – adults, teens and kittens.  The latter were all adopted – cuteness has its uses! Two adult males, Pax and Zeus, tested positive for FIV and were moved into the Val Jones area, while most of the youngsters were put in Pen 6. Only Aphrodite eventually tamed enough to be adopted; the others are still living a semi-feral life around Pen One.  Minuet was not one of the initial colony trapped and brought in; she arrived a couple of weeks later, but it was obvious that she and Aphrodite were related, and initially she remained with her family.

Minuet's sister Aphrodite in her new home  (MD)

Given the FIV diagnosis, a careful eye was kept on the group and sadly, we discovered that Athena carried the FeLV virus, and Minuet the FIV virus, and both were transferred before the rest of the colony was released to the back courtyar – Athena into OldAids with the other leukemia cats, and Minuet into Val Jones. Unfortunately by then both Pax and Zeus had both been adopted, and poor Minuet found herself in a new area with a whole bunch of unfamiliar cats.  Like the rest of her family, she was very shy, and she took herself out of everyone’s view and found a hiding place.

Hunched on her shelf : "don't bug me!"  (KN)

Kitty Comforter Mel was not having any of this!  Mel had adopted Minuet’s sister Aphrodite, and was determined to have Minuet feeling more comfortable. She would sit beside the draped shelf where Minuet hid and offer toys and tidbits, or brush the shy girl without attempting to make eye contact. Minuet accepted this, but was not ready for more.

A floofy pile of Minuet and Jim  (MD)

And then Jim got in on the action...

Jim had come to us from Alberta with his buddy Frank, and was almost immediately comfortable with us all. He is a cuddler, a little pushy and a lot loving. He loved Frank most of all, but he had lots of love to go around, and he decided that Minuet needed it, so he moved in on her. Increasingly, we checked Minuet’s shelf to find her and Jim cuddled there. And since Jim loved being petted, Minuet learned to enjoy it as well. When Frank passed, the two became more and more an item, and Minuet began appearing in the courtyard more openly, accepting attention more from Mel and other volunteers.

Magnus and Minuet  (MS)

Now she is more relaxed and comfortable with regular visitors, joining the crowd looking for treats, pushing her way into the favoured spot under the heat lamp, and even sharing space with Magnus, who is not usually a fan of other cats. The Val Jones cats are the FIV+ cats who are most comfortable with humans, and the more likely to be adopted; Minuet would probably not handle that sort of change well unless it was to go with someone she trusted, but it is good to see her more relaxed and at home in her surroundings.

Catnip makes everything better  (KN)

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Melanie Draper, Karen Nicholson, Molly Sjerdal

Athena and Neptune

Volunteer PAULINE CHIN has been visiting with the Leukemia cats...

Athena - KN

Little Athena was originally part of the godly Pen 6 crew.  A few months ago, she tested positive for FeLV, so off to the Leukemia playground she went.  (The rest of the pen was quarantined for testing and it was only her results that showed positive.)

Trying to get Neko's attention - PC

In the first few weeks, she tried very VERY hard at making a feline friend.  As expected, her efforts were rebuffed by many of the cats - as we all know, cats loathe being forced into doing anything.  Keanu would walk away.  Dexter, Smoochie, and Bear are a tad too old for her taste.  And Portia made herself scarce.  Athena seemed to like Neko the most.  She’d greet him with a headbutt or body rub.  His reception was lukewarm at most.  Does she like him for his coat colour?  Or because he conveniently hangs out by the cat flap door?

Neptune - BC

After all her efforts, she was finally befriended by big black Neptune.  Poor Neptune has lost so many friends in less than 2 years (Henrick, Voodoo, Zanda, Ooley, Chateaux) that it’s fitting he would welcome her.  They’ve become cuddly buddies and constantly stick close to each other, like velcro.

Athena & Neptune - PC

With humans, Athena is vocal and demanding.  She expects gifts, but is very finicky about them.  She’ll take some small toys, catnip, grass, and the laser.  Wands are little too scary for her.  Unlike her feral brethren, she’s actually fussy about meat and treats.  She could enjoy a flavor one day, and ignore it the next.  Oh well… More yummies for the other kitties!

Athena - PC

While we work on Athena to welcome human touch, Neptune is mostly pettable now and sleeps less.  I look forward to petting his ultra soft fur.  It’s similar to Ninja’s plush coat.  Prior to Athena’s arrival, Neptune spent his time hiding in high places.  He’d only hang out by the couch if one of his buddies was present, acting like a shadow of sorts and mirroring their actions.  It’s funny to see him eating from the same bowl at the same time as another kitty.  

Neptune staying out of reach - PC

Ironically, Neptune is the largest cat in the area, yet still one of the shyest. What does he have to fear these days?  If anything, it’s FOMO on treats and playtime.  I used to have to lure him out with food.  If he didn’t appear fast enough, the other cats would devour his share.  Nowadays, he’s often in the main room.  If I pet him without an offering, he likes to nip my hand.  Then again, if I don’t give him attention right away, he also nips me.  (Did you learn that from Neko, Neptune?) Best thing is to leave a treat and step back.  If he wants seconds and thirds, he’ll keep approaching.  Same idea with pets.

Neptune - KN

Just like Athena, he’s a bit nitpicky on food and wands also send him flying out the flap door.  Unlike Athena, I haven’t heard a single meow out of him.  I have yet to find a toy he consistently likes.  He’ll bat catnip toys around until he gets them wedged in a corner.  Grass is worth a sniff.  He has no interest in non-moving toys.

Neptune & Athena - PC

What seemed like an unfortunate surprise actually proved a blessing.  Both Athena and Neptune wanted a cat friend.  Their bond has made them happier and less hidey.  Besides companionship, their confidence has grown.  That extra courage means all the FeLV cats can gather simultaneously in the main room for a felicitous visit, like a big family reunion.  Let’s hope this bond lasts a lengthy lifetime.

Blog by Pauline Chin

Photos by Pauline Chin, Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson

Oh my gods...!!

Handsome Pax - MW

It’s one of the jobs of our med staff to find names for incoming cats arriving into our care as anonymous kitties – and this is particularly a factor when we take in a colony of ferals.  When they are very young and adoptable (like the kittens at the Shelter) the names of a litter may all begin with the same letter, or they may all have fruit names or some similar theme – we know that their adopters will probably rename them, so having the perfect name isn’t really an issue. But when they come to us as feral adults or adolescents, the names they are given are the names that they will probably carry most of their lives.

Freya - Norse goddess of love - KN

Last summer we took in a big group of semi-feral cats that were being fed by a well-meaning Richmond resident, who became overwhelmed when suddenly there were kittens everywhere. Leslie and Louise spent hours trapping cats, and our team of fosterers sprang into action.  Moms and kittens went into fosterage, knowing that early handling was likely to produce more adoptable kittens. The adults and the adolescents came to the Sanctuary to be assessed, and likely to find a permanent home with us.

Odin - (a somewhat wary) Father of the Norse gods - KN

This was a big naming proposition!  What names could they have that would link them together in some way?  Leslie decided to go for the pantheon of Greek and Roman gods of mythology, and lists were generated.

Zeus, Father of the Gods - and feeling much better after eye surgery - KN

The two big black males proved to be FIV+, as is common with feral males, who can share the virus when blood is exchanged in fighting.   They were moved into the Val Jones area, with the most people-oriented FIV cats, and named Zeus, for the father of the Greek gods, and Pax (which is actually a Roman goddess’s name – though it doesn’t seem to worry him too much.  Zeus, who proved to be very friendly,  was adopted - FIV cats are good candidates for adoption as long as they are either alone or can get on with other cats.  Pax is still with us. His distinctive pointed face and luxurious mane showed up in a number of the kittens that were adopted, and also in a few of the adolescents.

The magnificent Pax - KN

Pen 6 was turned over to this group. They were too old to be easily tamed – old enough to know that humans were scary things. Old Kiko, the only resident of Pen 6 to be left, occupied the cabin, while the young ones scattered to the many other hidey-holes we’d established. When the fall gardening took out all the vegetation that screened the pen, more screening was woven in to give them a sense of privacy. Through the fall and much of the winter we would see them early in the morning or late at night; they discovered the cabin heating and many of them moved in. With spring came new bravery and an increase in visits from staff and Kitty Comforters.

Floofy Aphrodite - LBF

The most outgoing of the bunch is long-haired tortie Aphrodite – named for the goddess of love, and very lovable she is!  She has been the bravest in daring to come forward and accept treats, and finally contact; she’s also probably the most photogenic of them all.   Her short-haired tortie sister is Vesta (Roman goddess of hearth, home and family) and is much shyer; if the others are around, Vesta may come out, but she’s rarely seen alone.  You'll quite often see her with black short-haired Athena (goddess of wisdom) or twin black Atlas

Aphrodite, Athena, Vesta and Nyx - LBF

There are two long-haired black girls – probably sired by Pax. Nyx (goddess of night) and Juno (queen of the gods). At first sight they are identical, but Nyx’s eyes are yellower and Juno’s are green.

Nyx & Juno - LBF

The shyest of all of them is Mercury (the messenger of the gods, but also the Roman patron of merchants and finance!).  You can’t mistake him if you’re luck enough to see him – other than his colouring, he has a look of Pax about him, but he lacks his dad’s confidence.

Mercury - KN

We also have, from Kamloops, Freya and Odin (from the Norse mythology pantheon) and Loki, (the trickster god) who came to us separately.  We don’t yet have one named for the Egyptian cat-goddess Bastet – but there’s plenty of time, and many as-yet unnamed cats out there.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright