Senior Love

Jamie & Calista  - CT

So many Sanctuary cats living together quite happily is something that surprises people.  Many of us will have had the experience of bringing a new cat into our home, to have all the feline relationships go sideways, and cats have a reputation for being picky about their company.

Jasper & Sophie: tabbies with 'tude  -  KN

Somehow at the Sanctuary, that’s rarely a factor. We have the occasional trouble-maker (are you listening, Jasper?) who wants to throw his weight around, and we have several “don’t get in my space!” cats (yes, I mean you, Sophie!). But for the most part, there is enough space that cats who don’t get on are able to avoid each other.

Three Romeos: Mario, Salty, Daniel    (CF/MW/MD)

The ones we love to see are the cats who draw other cats to them. You will have read about our gentle giant, Mario, who had a harem of feral boys and girls – and of Salty, who inherited Mario’s mantle, and made the Double-Wide couch his cuddle-puddle. In the front courtyard, the cat-magnet, until the year before last, was orange Daniel, and his passing left quite a space among the ferals.

Jamie - CT

It seems that Jamie has stepped into Daniel’s place.  When I first met Jamie, he was a wary feral, spending most of his time in the covered yard named “The Old Rabbit Area”. This is a favourite space for the ferals, with covered shelves, hidden baskets, a heat-lamp, and the security of knowing they are rarely bothered by humans.

Jamie - MW

There’s a window between this area and the adjacent Hill House, and depending on how secure cats are feeling, they may come through and visit in comfort. For quite some time, Jamie was a window cat, and the more time he spent in the Hill House, the more comfortable he became with attention.

Calista - sleeping beauty - CT

Calista based herself next door in the shed with the yellow door. But she’s an old lady nowadays, and getting frail, and the attraction of the heat lamp drew her to the “O.R.A” and then into the Hill House. She and Jamie found themselves sharing space quite frequently, and have become very much an item – sometimes just snuggling together, but often grooming each other and bunting together.

Jamie & Calista - CT

Other cats are part of the menage -Jamie is a cat who draws rubs and bunts from all his buddies.  But when Calista is out and about, you’ll probably find her with Jamie.  Both of them are getting up there; At at least 12 years of age, Jamie counts as a senior, and Calista is a good three years older, having come to us with her sister Renee around 2005. But the years don’t diminish the affection, and we love to see the two of them purring and snuggling together.

Jamie & Calista - CT

Blog by Brigid Coult (with thanks to Cheryl Townsend)

Photos by Melanie Draper, Claire Fossey, Karen Nicholson, 

Cheryl Townsend & Michele Wright

The RAPS Calendar is Coming

The selections have been made; the captions have been written; the calendar charts are laid out; it’s just back from the printers now, and due to launch in the next few days.

Ollie was featured in the 2019 Calendar, so he has to miss a year.

I’m not going to spoil the surprise, but I’m going to give you a few of the photos that didn’t make it, for one reason or another. They are all by our volunteer Michele Wright, who freelances as Furry Friends Photography

This picture of sweet Pops was one of the ones considered for the cover.  We decided in the end that much as we loved it, the cover photo needed a "pop" more of colour,

Mischa missed his opportunity for the best of reasons - he got adopted!

I always ask Michele for "couple" and "group" pictures.  I love this one of Calista and Jamie - they love each other so much - but I wanted to see more of Calista's face.

The same is true of this one of Shaggy and Chanel, in the Moore House.  Shaggy lost his best buddy Spicer, and it's good to see him making friends with shy Chanel.

We had a lot of orange cats to choose from this year. Sprocket was definitely a contender, but someone else won!  I try to make sure that the calendar has a cross-section of colours and shapes, so that everyone can find a favourite cat somewhere!

There were several possible torby candidates too. Roe is a front-courtyard favourite, and always a greeter at the gates.

Chase appeared in a perfect autumnal photo. Unfortunately, he was also featured in another photo, so someone else got the autumn leaves in the end.

Skittles just missed as well - but these days this former feral spends more time climbing into people's laps than sitting and looking photogenic!

HoneyBear's incredible blue eyes were featured in 2018, so he was eligible for the 2020 calendar. But another blue-eyed boy sneaked in ahead of him...

I'm wary of including some of our fragile older cats, like little Debbie.

There will be three RAPS calendars: the Sanctuary Cats one, one of some of the Shelter dogs, and one for the RAPS hospital.  All of will be available from all our RAPS sites - The Sanctuary, the Shelter, the Hospital, and both Thrift Stores, as well as by purchase though our website. In addition they will be on sale at four of the fall craft fairs scheduled in Richmond.

Tubby Tiger was another adoption success!

Start making your Christmas lists now, and write "RAPS Calendar" by as many names as you can!

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Michele Wright

Calista

Calista came to the cat sanctuary five or six years ago after being trapped in Marpole by Lisa and Stephanie.

When she first arrived, there was no room for her or her sister Renee, and so they initially had to be housed in the shed with Doug's tools. Both were very scared little girls, and so perhaps a quiet place away from all the other cats was a good way to start shelter life.

Calista is still a little on the shy side, but is now quite willing to accept pets if you're gentle and ask her nicely. And she's more than happy to pose for photographs.