The Dryer Gang

Cats being the hedonists they are, it’s not surprising to find them curled up in warm places. Most of the Sanctuary’s cat-cabins have ceramic heaters, and even in sub-zero temperatures the outdoor cats have somewhere warm to be. In every building around the Sanctuary there are favoured places that cats choose – mostly related to warmth. In the Tea Room, you will practically always find Sadie face-planted as close to the heater as possible.

MW

In the Double-wide, there’s usually a crowd on the table just inside the door, and another (usually focused on Salty) on the couch. Hot air rises, and there are normally a good number of cats on top of the cages in the Connor. And the papasan chair near the courtyard stairs is always good for a cuddle-puddle as is the one on the Newcomers deck.

BC

But the favoured place has to be just inside the door of the Single-wide, where, as you enter, you are usually greeted by a furry pile.

L to R: Simone, Jenny, Jarod (Yap), Bantam, Belinda, Zoe
with Little Mama up above - PH

Personalities vary, but the core of the Dryer Gang, as they are known, are usually Simone, Bantam and Chickadee. The three of them came from an egg farm (now demolished) and it’s likely they were all related – according to our vet, Simone is older than the other two, and may well be their mama. You’ll find these three on the September page of the 2017 calendar.

Simone is one of those cats that visitors actively seek out.  She is a cuddle-bug, liking to be held upright over a human shoulder, rather like a baby. In her earlier days she would have come under the no-semi-ferals-adoptions ban, implemented after our experience with Jenny and one or two others; now she is older, calmer, and there is a long list of people that would probably adopt her like a shot. However, as with Salty, we have to consider not only her but also all her cuddle-buddies – losing her would seriously affect the dynamic of the group.

Simone and Bantam are very close - MW

Bantam enjoys his share of petting and cuddles, though he’s not as much in favour of being picked up as Simone is. Chickadee is shyer still, preferring that petting is restricted to the cuddle-puddle itself – it’s not so long ago that Chickadee still preferred the safety of the cage-tops

Zoe - always curious - PH

The trio is usually joined by Zoe – older than she looks, but still very active – sweet green-eyed Jenny, Little Mama, and most-recently, Diamond, who we feel is still mourning the loss of her beloved son Garfield. It’s lovely to see her settling in as part of the group, and sharing in comforting snuggles.

Diamond is comforted by Zoe - MW

They, and the many other cats who join them are a delightful group who never fail to draw the attention of Sunday visitors - whether or not the dryer is operating

...so how many cats can fit on a drier?....  MW

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Phaedra Hardman, Michele Wright

Chickadee

Visitors to the Sanctuary are regularly greeted at the door of the Single-wide by a furry puddle of cats on top of the drier. They love the attention they always get there – after all, what’s not to like about getting the first chance at treats! – and most of all, they love the warmth and the vibration when the drier is on.

Chickadee, Simone, Bantam, with Jenny (back)

Certain cats can usually be found there.  Simone is always a favourite, and normally she and Bantam, who is probably her sibling, anchor the pile. They’re usually joined by Chrissy or Jenny, and sometimes by Bonnie Boy. But there’s usually another little grey cat in the cuddle-puddle, and she deserves an introduction too.

We think Chickadee came to us from an egg-farm on Blundell – Lisa trapped ten ferals there when the property was sold and slated for demolition. She is similar in appearance to Simone and is sometimes mistaken for her.  She might well come from the same litter as the Simone and Bantam – we don’t always know, when ferals are brought in, what their family relationships may be.

photo by Phaedra

When the dryer gets going, you occasionally find cats totally blissed out on the warmth. Chickadee can be so relaxed that her tongue peeps out.

Chickadee is more wary than the others about joining in the orgy of fussing over visitors; but when she knows you she can be very affectionate. Phaedra, who knows the single-wide cats better than any of us, says “She is nowhere near as approachable as Simone but if you are slow and gentle she can be receptive to pets. The key is slow and gentle though or she will freak out and run away. Not a pick me up and cuddle cat but there is always hope for the future”

She may be wary of humans, but she has lots of feline friends she likes to snuggle with, and who can show her that being handled really isn't so scary. We have a number of cats that have gone from being wary and shy to being shameless in soliciting attention. Let’s hope Chickadee follows Bantam and Simone’s great example!

Blog by Brigid Coult (with help from Phaedra Hardman)

Photos by Michele Wright and Phaedra Hardman

That little pink tip...

We tend to think of cats as serene, elegant creatures – and for the most part, they are. At the Cat Sanctuary, we do have our raggedy, battered-looking favourites, and we know that when a cat starts looking unkempt it’s usually a sign of ill-health, and a quick trip to the vet follows. But for the most part, the cats do their own grooming, and lounge around looking picturesque.
Until you look closer...

Star
Yes, that’s a tongue sticking out. Sometimes it’s deliberate

Cappuccino - BIG yawn

Or a sign of concentration

Sara Lee - waiting to sample the first can of food

But for the most part it’s a signal to us that this is a cat that has had more than a few visits to the dentist, and has lost the front teeth that keep the tongue in place – so when the cat is relaxed, that cute little pink tip peeps out.

Chickadee sleeping (by Phaedra)

As humans, we’re aware that we have to look after our teeth – and sometimes that necessitates a dentist visit. But many non-cat people (and some cat-owners as well) don’t always realise that the same is true for their feline friends. And just like humans, some cats have naturally good teeth that never seem to need attention, others require a little care from time to time, and a few always have trouble with their teeth.
So we watch for a cat that is drooling a bit, or shows signs of being uncomfortable eating, and a vet visit quickly follows. There are several cats in the Sanctuary with no teeth at all. Surprisingly, it doesn’t seem to make any difference to their liking for crunchy treats!

Chatter - "Treats, please!"

There are vets that recommend brushing your cat’s teeth. The thought of trying to do this with some of our feral cats is more than a little frightening – we rely mainly on good food and daily attention. It is noticeable that with our aging cat population, the dental bills have increased – but that’s just part of what goes with running the Sanctuary. 

Emily (by Phaedra)
But some cats just stick their tongues out because they like to!  Most of them have the ability to curl them way forward to get every tasty bit off the nose

Dusty
And like humans, some have the ability to curl them inwards

Minky
But for most of them, they do it just because it’s a sign of contentment, or that’s what’s most comfortable!

Rob Zombie

 

Marmalade

And the prize for the best tongue must go to a cat who is much shyer than he looks…

Dino

 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Michele Wright and Phaedra Hardman