William Shakespurr

William Shakespurr  (MW)

This little cutie is one of the cats from a hoarding situation in Alberta, who came to live in our Pen 3 back in 2021. The cats in this group were all young, and some were slightly socialized, but others were (and are) much warier.

Curious - but not enough for petting   (LBF)

William Shakespurr is one of the cats right on the cusp.  He’s social – but with cats rather than with humans. He hangs around with Cornelius and Jason – the latter likes attention and petting, but Cornelius is still very wary about being touched by anyone other than Lisa.  William’s very much in that space as well – he likes to be around the activity, especially if there is food being offered, but he’s not ready to be petted, and prefers to stay a foot or two out of reach.

Peeking through the cabin window  (KN)

Like Cornelius, he is something of a ham, and is ready to take part in photo-shoots as long as they don’t involve physical contact. He’s an active boy, ready to climb the structure behind Cabin 3, or even to the roof of the cabin itself. He can often be found visiting in the adjacent pens, but is not as ready as Cornelius to get as far as the Tea-Room.

Posing for Tongue-Out Tuesday with Jenkins & Cornelius   (LBF)

We don’t know who’s related to who, in this clowder, but my guess is that he and calico Baby are siblings – very similar in body shape and size, and often found together.  William’s colouring always makes me think of a bad haircut; he has beautiful tabby and white colouring, but it looks like he wears his hair in bangs.

Baby and William share a summer snooze   (LBF)

We would love to see some of these cats getting adopted, though this is such a social group that we would prefer that they go in pairs, so they have company. Sadly, though, I think it’s still too soon for William – hands are only acceptable to him if they hold chicken tidbits, and being petted is still pretty scary. Perhaps a little more time with the Kitty Comforters working on him...   

And if not – he’s always got a home at the Sanctuary.

Blog by Brigid Coult

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

Much Love for the Cats

Ginger & Chamomile

February blogging often offers a struggle between featuring either our Cat-Lovers for Valentine’s Day or our furry Cat-Families. This year not only are the two days well separated (especially when allowing for an early Valentine’s blog), but there are SO many Valentine's pictures to share with you all!

Cadbury

For the last month, Lisa Brill-Friesen has been bringing photo-props in with her to help stage a heart-felt tribute to her beloved Sanctuary kitties.  

Chamomile & Ginger

Lisa and Ken discovered RAPS in early 2019, and visited us regularly. If something can be made, fixed or constructed, Ken will do it; an early gift from the two of them was refurbishing up the back cabins with mended roofs and fresh paint. 

Newly painted pen 2 - (M.Wright)

Now they’re both on staff.  Lisa loves to garden, and has done much for the back courtyard.  But her particular love is working with the shyest cats, and she will spend hours willing them into accepting petting and tidbits.

SO much love for Holland...

Like other staff and volunteers she has dealt with the joy of bonding with a new furry friend, and the heartbreak of losing them – shy Napoleon, from the Merritt cats; well-named Princess Diva; sweet HIV cat Holland – all were particularly dear to her. But they remain heart-cats, and somehow her heart finds space to love another one – or two, or more...

Billy

She has made a particular project of the cats from Kamloops who have been our Pen 6 furries. All that orange fluff makes them look the same to many of us, but she knows their names and personalities, and though they remain resolutely untamed, the way they are accepting of the presence of humans owes much to her work.

"I will never let go, Jack!"

Thankfully, they’re not ALL orange and floofy – there are at least a few of them that are easier to tell apart! And though they may not cooperate in the intended poses, she is quick to grab the opportunity when they want to re-enact the scene from "Titanic"

Billy & Chamomile

Lisa’s love for shabby-chic decor is another passion, and she refurbishes and stages her “finds” with great enthusiasm.  Her own two cats are among her best “meowdels”, but there is no lack of feline talent to take the stage at the Sanctuary.

Baby

Cassidy

It’s easy to see which ones are the cats who are reacting with treats in mind, and which are the ones that just love being centre-stage!

Cornelius is a consummate ham!

Nor did she confine her photographic efforts to the back courtyard cats – she visited around in both Single- and Double-Wide to catch the romantic view of some of our friends there.

Bossanova

Oscar

Hearts and flowers from the cats to all of you that love them. And hearts and flowers to Lisa for all the love she shares around the Sanctuary.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen

Pen 3 - Part 3

 

Finneas   (KN)

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve had an introduction to the teenagers in Pen 3, and started to identify the ones who may end up in their own forever-homes, and those who are people-wary and may never make that progression.  

Reinhardt & Lucius   (KN)

Part 1 introduced the Shakespearean crew:  William Shakespurr, Mewlius Caesar, Mercutio (who went straight to adoption) and Cornelius.  Part 2 offered the dark cats for Halloween: Shimmer, Sherbet, Gemini, Jason, Jenkins, Baker, Lucius and Holly. 

Reinhardt   (LBF)

Six more are presented this week – mostly tending on the shy side, but starting to make real progress in their comfort with being around humans.  The most wary of them is dark tabby Reinhardt;  he is cat-social but people-averse;  he is very good at finding hiding places and staying out of the way – and yet, he’s curious, and wants to see what’s going on.  On Sunday afternoon when I visited, there was a lot of scurrying around the pen – and Reinhardt had taken himself up on the roof of the cabin, and was soaking in the fall sun, and keeping an eye on things.

Golden   (KN)

The other two males are Golden (orange with strong tabby markings) and tabby and white Finneas.  Golden was obviously named by the same person who named his buddy Baker  as well as Banff and Creston, who are leukemia cats – there are lots of places that would make good cat-names!  Obviously, it’s a wonderful name for him!  Both Golden and Finneas are wary of contact, but interested in activity.

Baby & Beans  (LBF)

The three females are torbie Scarlett, calico Baby and tortie Beans. All three are on the shy end of the spectrum, allowing some touch, but not really comfortable with it yet.  Baby is active and curious, and endlessly interested in what’s outside the pen.  She is often one of the first to the gate when a visitor arrives, and she listens and watches for exciting movement. 

I know there's a mouse out there!  (BC)

Pen 3 backs on to the exterior of the sanctuary and stupidly brave mice are known to regret their bravery around these cats – one of the occasional penalties of being on a morning shift is to find and remove the victims.

Beans  (KN)

Beans is delightful – torties have a reputation for cattitude (or tortietude), but Beans has it only in the nicest way. She hovers around where the action is, and occasionally ventures close enough for contact; she likes treats but is not as food-motivated as the guys are!

Miz Scarlett, posing   (BC)

Sweet Scarlett (named for the actor or the character?) holds herself slightly aloof.  She doesn’t seem to be part of the crowd, but she can stand up to cats like Jason who get in her space, and send them away with a smart smack!  She’s a beautiful girl – and it feels like she knows it; watch her pose!

Scarlett & Baby   (BC)

It will be interesting to see how the dynamic of this pen changes when the most human-social cats go to the Adoption Centre – will the shyer ones relax when there is more space?  We will look forward to coaxing them into more contact with us.

Blog by Brigid Coult

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