BeeBoo

 Admire, but don’t touch!

KN

Actually, that’s probably not quite fair to BeeBoo – you can touch her, very carefully and briefly, or let her do all the touching, but you have to be very cautious. We’re working our way through a BeeBoo’s Victims Club...

JN

Aggression in cats is one of the reasons they sometimes get surrendered – and very often it’s human-caused. In BeeBoo’s case her family said that she’d never been good with strangers, and though obviously she coped with the humans she knew, the arrival of a very tiny, noisy human who took all the attention was not a happy experience for this cat.  Already angry and stressed by her perceived displacement by the baby, BeeBoo did not do well at the City Shelter and was transferred to the Sanctuary.

JN

She actually came to us with the name BeeBee – but we already have a BB (blogged a couple of weeks ago) in the DoubleWide, so her name was adapted.  There is certainly no way we can confuse the personalities of the two cats!

KN

BeeBoo had always been an indoor cat, and when she came to us, she was put into the SingleWide, into an indoor environment. She spent some time in her cage, and even when it was open, she defended what she regarded as her territory.  Warning signs were placed – we found that visiting her was best done with minimal contact – sitting and talking with her was generally acceptable, but touch could easily go too quickly.

KN

Now that BeeBoo is out and about, we all need to be a little more wary. It’s second nature to reach out and pet a furry back, but even our experienced staff have received their BeeBoo markings. Usually we put a collar on an aggressive cat – the current back courtyard biter is a handsome tabby called Benji and he wears his collar with pride. But nobody really wants to think about the process of getting a collar on BeeBoo – besides which, a collar on a long-haired cat inevitably means tangles.  In any case, she is a pretty distinctive cat – not easy to mistake for another one.

KN

She has the markings of a Snowshoe cat – the white paws, the inverted (but sketchy) V on her face, and the blue eyes. But the typical Snowshoe is affectionate and attention-demanding;  BeeBoo is definitely not affectionate with either people or cats, and though she appears to solicit attention, it only takes a few touches before she smacks hard!   She really dislikes other cats; she will tolerate humans if they will play with her – and she does love to play (at arm’s length!)

KN

We have had cats who have needed medication to deal with their anxiety –the late and much beloved Leland, when he first came in, was one, and I will be introducing Algy/Journey next week. In extreme situations, we give them a degree of isolation – the late “grumpy old ladies” of the Manager’s office did much better away from the other cats. What she really needs is a home of her own with a very cat-savvy person who is willing to commit to not having other cats – we’ve had our share of angry cats who changed with adoption (see Buster).  But for now, BeeBoo seems to be settling, and though APPROACH WITH CAUTION remains the warning, we hope that she’ll soon feel more comfortable with us.

MW

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Joanne & Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright

Large Ladies Looking for Love

For most of our existence, we have categorised the Sanctuary cats as being unadoptable – and for the majority of them that is still the case. A series of blogs several years ago  (Jan 2015) introduced the unadoptable categories – the ferals, the behaviour problems, the health problems, the semi-ferals – and also introduced some potential adoptables.  Many of those have lived at the Sanctuary long enough that we are reluctant to uproot them to the 5 Road Shelter, and still more reluctant to let them go to any but the perfect home for them – i.e.to someone with whom they have truly bonded.  But every now and then that perfect person comes to visit, and cat and human fall in love with each other.  Often the human is a regular volunteer, and the bond has grown over time. But sometimes it’s just a visitor who comes every Sunday to spend time with the cat they love.

Cookie 

Recent discussions have led to increased willingness to be open to adoptions, or to fostering in some cases, and there is now a list on the RAPS website at rapsbc.com under the shelter & adopt menu. Sunday visits to meet possible cats, an adoption approval from the City Shelter (all the paperwork happens there) and then discussions with the Sanctuary Manager and the med staff mean that the process may take a bit longer than a regular adoption, but we hope the end result will be happy.
The cats I’d like to introduce you to here are all adoption prospects, they all have their quirks, and they could all do with a loving home, a little dietetic control and some encouragement to exercise!  One of the problems at the Sanctuary is that cats have different style of eating, and we have to have some dry food out all the time – which is not necessarily good for cats that put on weight.

Marble

Marble is one of our older girls; she has lived in the Moore House (“gericatrics”) for about six years, and we reckon she’s probably around 14 years old. She’s much less cranky than she used to be; a recent encounter with a visitor saw her lying on the floor to cuddle his boot, and loving the attention she was getting.

Heidi

Her next door neighbours are in New Aids. Most of our Aids cats are male; Heidi and Tia are two of the  four females. Heidi’s tortie colouring is almost as dark as Marble’s but she has quite a lot of white, which qualifies her as a calico. What we now know about Aids in cats is that they can live full lives, and in conjunction with non-Aids cats, as long as there’s no fighting. Her room-mate is tabby Tia, quiet and shy. Tia came from a shelter on Vancouver Island, having lost her home when her owners moved. Anne, who heads up the Kitty Comforters, says Heidi and Tia are both real dears. They just don't like the close company of the other cats (Heidi even more so than Tia, maybe because Tia has had longer to get used to the rest of the kitties?) Heidi is affectionate, loves to have you sit with her and pet her forever. Although she does enjoy her nap time, she'll get up to greet you when you arrive or if you call to her. She's not shy with any visitors, and willing to meet anyone who wants to give her some lovin'.

Tia was not amused being a Christmas decoration prop! 

Tia is also a sweet affectionate cat, friendly and fairly quiet, trying to find some space of her own away from the other cats. She enjoys being pampered and having lots of human attention. Both cats would like nothing better than being doted on by a favorite human. They would both make lovely companions and family members, just not in the same family - only one cat per household would be best.

Carla 

Carla and her sister Cookie came in together, and they have to qualify as the largest cats we have.  The med staff regularly take Carla on walks, much to her disgust – she’d much rather find a quiet shelf and curl up.  When she first came she was really cranky – the crank is now considerably dialed back and she’s willing to accept attention (as long as it doesn’t immediately involve exercise!).  We think that with the right home, she might become a loving companion.

Cookie - with summer highlights 

Cookie is much sweeter, but equally sedentary – we’re holding off on her adoption prospects for now till she gets some treatment for her ear polyps. Her favourite thing is lying in the sun - and by the end of the summer her brown fur has reddish highlights.

Mookie

Mookie was adopted out from 5 Road and came back super-sized!  This sweet girl is picky in the humans she likes, and has no hesitation in letting us know she hates ALL cats.  She has claimed a cage in the Double-Wide, and lets the other cats know very clearly that this is her territory.  She does explore a bit, but always returns to her turf. Mookie needs someone who will take time to earn her trust, and who will promise her a loving home with no other intruders – a bit of grooming, a promise of snuggles, a careful diet, and you’ll have a wonderful companion. She reminds me of a less aggressive version of Buster, who was adopted a couple of years ago, and is the complete cuddle-cat nowadays.

Mookie being cute

These are all cats who really need attention and love, and who struggle with communal living at the Sanctuary. For most of our cats, Sanctuary life is a joy; sadly, these ladies are not cut out for it and need a home where they can be the centre of attention from their very own human.

Blog by Brigid Coult

All photos by Michele Wright

Feline Weightwatchers

Cats, like humans, come in all shapes and sizes. We have our share of little cats (like Marilee, Shady, Emily…) all of whom are far from being kittens; they’re just small slim cats.  But we also have our share of the plus-size cats, and just like humans, we need to consider whether the plus-sizing is a health issue, or just the way the cat is.

Capilano & Chinook - MW

When we had Pen 5 closed, it was more noticeable how many of those cats were large-size varieties. Chinook, Adam, May, Capilano – none of them were shrimps. With some concern for their size, their food was changed to a higher-protein variety, but they liked it so much, they just ate more of it and seemed to gain more weight!  We soon reverted to the ordinary variety...  Now that Pen 5 is open, some of them are getting around a bit more, and with the constant stream of feline visitors, the concentration of large cats in there is no longer so obvious.

Sid - BC

Being overweight, in cats as in humans, can lay them open to a variety of health concerns. Both Sid and Marmalade are plus-size and are also diabetic; med-staff monitor them carefully to make sure their insulin levels are under control.

Carla & Cookie - BC

As with humans, there are two important parts to weight-control: diet and exercise. At the Sanctuary, there is always dry food out for the sake of the shyer cats who don't want to eat at mealtimes, or who don't like the wet food. So the only way to control intake is to cage the cat – and that obviously then cuts out the possibility of exercise. Newcomers Cookie and Carla are decidedly tubby – Carla can be a bit crabby with cats and sometimes with humans, but she likes to play, and volunteers are encouraged to get her moving as much as possible.

Deety - MW

Any visitor to the double-wide trailer knows Deety; this boy likes to stay on his shelf in the laundry-room, but it was noticed that his size increased and his ease of movement decreased. Med-staff Catherine would take him down to the back gate and encourage him to walk back; Deety now not only comes down by himself, but occasionally comes out and visits in the back courtyard (especially when he feels that the dinner service is a little late)

Eiffel - BC

Another newcomer is Eiffel – this 26-lb boy is not just tubby, he’s a LARGE cat (and a very sweet one); currently caged while he’s in the settle-in phase, he should be out in the general population soon.

Autumn & Lorelei - MW

Sometimes with the long-haired cats it’s hard to tell whether it’s fluff or pounds. Looking at Lorelei and Autumn in the front courtyard, you could be excused for thinking we have too many tubby tabbies; a little petting quickly establishes that a lot of Autumn is fluff and Lorelei is solid!

Buster: preparing for the Westminster Cat Show - ML

When volunteer Maureen blogged about her beloved Buster recently, she also wrote about Buster’s size issues.
Buster was contacted by his vet’s office with a proposal to join their “Biggest Loser” contest.  We of course accepted as he is weighing in at 10.85kg (24lbs) and he is not getting any younger.  I have had Buster on a grain-free diet for a year now but to no avail.  We have found this food makes him hungrier and of course I succumb to his demands when he is hungry!  Knowing that Buster was an unwilling participant and disliked trips to the vet he participated by Skype. I brought him in  to have all of his tests done (which of course he had to be sedated for) get his nails clipped and a nice little haircut for the summer. After the full stats were analyzed Buster’s goal was to lose 13lbs over a 37 week period. 

"I am lovin' my new haircut..." - ML

We started Buster on his new food – which contains more fibre to allow him to feel fuller longer and he seems to be okay with the transition. We do of course reach his quota by 2:00pm though…baby steps, baby steps...

A phone-call recently from the vets told us that Buster was their “Biggest Loser” for the July/August period, having lost an astonishing 12% of his body-fat (1.3kg/2.9lbs) and I went down to collect his prize.

(the next update will be Buster showing off his new Speedo)

Blog by Brigid Coult & Maureen Lahaise

Photos by Brigid Coult, Maureen Lahaise, & Michele Wright

Buster comes home!

Buster was introduced to us by Claire here and here. Any volunteer working in the Moore House will have stories to tell about this unhappy boy.  But that was in the days before Maureen came into his life!

I remember the first time we saw Buster!  It was our first visit to the cat sanctuary and my sisters and I had parked our car next to the Moore House.  Once out of the car we saw him, a glorious white mass of fur rubbing up against the mesh wall of the patio.  Chris reached in to pat him and woosh…out came a claw and the warning ‘stay away from the big white guy’ was born!

Buster - PH

Easier said than done: I found myself feeling sorry for Buster more and more as the weeks, then months went by.  We always finished up our volunteer hours (yes, we immediately wanted to become volunteers after visiting the sanctuary) in the Moore house and I tried to befriend Buster in different ways.  But to no avail.  It was even noticed by others that he hated the sound of my voice, which would be LOUD, and displayed this by leaving when I would show up.  If I sat on the patio – he went in.  If I sat on the couch inside the trailer – he would go out on the patio.  

Buster - PH

When I first decided to share the idea that had been floating around in my head of taking Buster home, no matter what audience I had, the response was always the same …”Are you insane?!”  I was convinced it would be impossible for Buster to keep up with his façade of despising cats AND humans forever therefore; on Christmas Eve it was my pleasure to be able to pick the big boy up…he was after all part of the master plan.  Thanks to Leslie not worrying about losing digits or having parts of her face rendered unrecognizable within minutes, we managed to net him and get him in a kennel.   And it wasn’t until the unveiling in his new home did Buster decide life could be good!  He came out purring and has not stopped for two months

Apparently I get a larger garden planted just for me in the spring!

His very first night in his new home was spent by my head on a pillow.  He has now since moved down to the end of the bed because I think my snoring bothers him…I’m trying to keep it down. 

Just resting my eyes..... zzzzzz...

Buster is a lovely, loving boy. 

Must be hugged regularly

I did not expect him to turn around so quickly.  He follows me around like a puppy dog and is perfectly trained…he does not sharpen his claws on the furniture and keeps his potty area clean.  I now have him on a grain free diet to help with his weight and we do a lot of playing on my deck with his pom-pom ball and a laser light at night.

One of many sunrises together on the catio!
Lovely... now where's my beef pate?

 He will be looking and feeling better soon as he no longer has to eat to forget! Buster would also like his bio to include that he is afraid of lady bugs, TV and the wind.  He enjoys baroque chamber music and is learning sign language. 

My mommy says the King of Venice rules the body pillow tonight
- Bellissimo!

Esconced in purple velvet...

Fun times are ahead for Buster & Maureen!

Blog by Maureen Lahaise
Photos by Phaedra Hardman and Maureen Lahaise

Update: Buster

Buster, who was very upset and aggressive when he arrives at the cat sanctuary back in April, has made some baby steps in the past months in the direction of being a nice(er) cat. 

Staff has been working to help him be more comfortable and to minimize his agitation. His hind end can be a bit sore (X-rays revealed a bit of a deformity on one of his hips), so we limit the pats to his front end. He was found to be scared of the full sized broom, so a small hand brush was tried. He can get scared when people move too quickly around him, so we aim for slow and gentle.

Buster still has his own room where he can be away from other cats, but recently staff have been opening the door so he can venture out if he wishes.

A nice enclosed porch area has been added to the building Buster lives in, allowing him to sit not just outside his private room but outside outside, where he can feel the wind in his whiskers. He apparently quite enjoyed the porch when he was let out there, staying for a few hours in this new territory before heading back to his room.

When I visited him tonight, he was welcoming and happy to receive a few chin tickles. And then he was done with me and my big camera, and let me know with a series of growls. Unlike when I first meet him in the spring, though, he didn't feel a need to follow and menace me on the way out.

Baby steps.