Adopted Cats: All I Want For Christmas Is Mew

Some of our Sanctuary cats DO get adopted!

Goose (FIV+) is king in his new home  (KN)

We have a steady flow of kittens and occasionally older cats who pass through the doors of rhe RAPS Adoption Centre – in from a rescue situation or from the loving hands of a fosterer – and out into the warm world of a new home.  The Adoption Centre is the first building a visitor will encounter as they approach the Sanctuary – and there are a whole lot more cats in the Sanctuary itself who may never find a home.

Front Courtyard Alvin has a new home   (KN)

There are many reasons this may be so. The most usual is that a cat is feral – ranging from the ones that are so scared that they will not allow humans to approach them, to the cats who will only accept careful attention: treats and a little petting. These are all cats who, without a no-kill policy, would probably be put down. In this situation, I hate the term “euthanasia” – this is killing for human convenience’s sake, and no amount of gentleness in the procedure makes it anything but unnecessary. 

One-eyed Willi's first adoption failed,
but he is very happy in his new home   (BC)

Many of the volunteers have at some time had a cat who began as a feral, and over time, adjusted to human company – but equally, we’ve had many cats at the Sanctuary who have never tamed, and continue to show fear to the end. For those cats, there will always be a place with us where they can hide, there will be shelter and food, and medical attention when needed.

Riker loved nothing better than lap-time  (BC)

We had multiple cats in merged cages this time last year - the three Dumpling cats, and long-haired Riker and Kramer;  Riker's adoption was facilitated with a visit to a local pet-store, where he was available to the public;  the Dumplings were all taken together, and we were delighted.  Kramer decided that he really wasn't bonded to Riker, and that though he quite like humans, he was not going to bond with them either; he is still with us, mostly playing the role of the Cat Who Walks By Himself.

Little tripod Jelly settled quickly into our hearts
and then into the hearts of her adopters.  (BC)

The other group of cats who will likely never live anywhere but at the Sanctuary are the bathroom baddies – the cats who have usually been surrendered for litterbox problems, and who express themselves in pee and poop. Two other reasons for surrendering do not necessarily preclude potential adoption: cats brought in “for aggression” can often learn with us that they do not need to react so quickly when there are humans around who read their body language and move gently around them. 

Hank, from New Aids, loved nothing more than lap-time
and human attention - he got his wish  (KN)

Of the cats who are here for health reasons, some are better where they can get medical attention, but others are actually adoptable as long as the adopter is aware of the flags to watch for.  Many of our FIV+ cats are adoptable, and of those who are not, with most of them it’s for reasons other than the FIV+ diagnosis – generally that they’ve joined the club and become pee-ers. Some of our younger FeLV cats have also been adopted as well, though many FeLV cats do have shorter lifespans, and you adopt, knowing that you many not have many years.

Audi was shy but sweet;  she spent a long time in a cage
for medical care, but it gave her time to become fully socialized  (BC)

When I first came to volunteer at the Sanctuary, very few of the cats were adopted out – but we have learned so much in the last years about behavioural issues, and about conditions like FIV and FeLV. Now we can name a number of cats who are potentially adoptable, and in the last year alone, at least a dozen have left to find a new home. 

Picasso's adoption ended with travel when his new person
moved back east. He's very happy!  (KN)

Some of them have gone to volunteers, to a person that they have come to know and love, and felt comfortable with even before they left. Some have found a connection out of the blue – I will never forget watching Strike meet his human, jump into her lap and just settle, back in 2023 – or watching Elvis meet his human soul-mate.

Gordo looked like trouble, but was a true pussy-cat,
and was adopted by one of our volunteers   (AG)

Sweet Misto began fearful and then became a cuddle machine
who would dance around wanting non-stop pets.
She would often forget to put her tongue back in... (KH)

Gordo and Misto are now living happily together  (AA)

Next week, I’ll be remembering the cats we’ve lost over the course of the last year – but I felt this Christmas week was the time to think about the cats who have come as gifts into their people’s lives over the course of the year, and who have in turn found the gift of a loving home.  In a time of gifting and goodwill, let’s remember some of our 2024 adopted cats

McCormick came to me for fostering while we adjusted 
his meds and his diet for allergies;
the move is permanent, and he gets on well with my older cat, Scout.

 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Alicia Almeida, Brigid Coult, Akira Graham,
Kim Howe, Karen Nicholson

Another FIV Sweetheart

Chance (KN)

In the last few months we’ve had the addition of some very special cats to our FIV colony. I introduced Trooper in August, and Hank and Goose last month. As we’ve got to know them, we’ve also had another special boy in the background – and he is starting to blossom.  His name is Chance - a name he shares with one of the first cats I met at the Sanctuary, and who Claire Fossey described as "a furry disaster"

The battered boy - a picture from his Victoria foster

This second Chance came to us last July from Broken Promises rescue on Vancouver Island – we think he’s about 5 years old.  Even more than Hank, he’s a poster boy for an FIV stray – a big blocky cat with the musculature and large jowls of a late-neutered feline. He has the crumpled “cauliflower” ears of a long-time boxer; in his case, fighting may not be so much the cause as ear-mites leading to haematomas that never received any care. He reminds me of our beloved Bossanova – the ears are part of that, but the sad eyes and the hissy fearfulness that gradually gave way to trust complete the picture. When he was trapped there were obvious signs of fighting wounds, and he had care from a loving foster before he was transferred to RAPS.

Still wary, but hopeful  (BC)

He spent the first six weeks in a cage – initially with a drape in place, and some aggressive hissing coming from behind it. Many newer volunteers, in this situation, quietly pull the litter box out for scooping and place food and water for him without disturbing him.  The Kitty Comforters push the boundaries a bit, and several of us would climb into his cage with him, even if only to talk.  We discovered that a back-scratcher was a useful tool to allow him to experience touch at a remove, and found that he adored scritches round his head and ears – what he didn’t enjoy was having his drape moved, but once it was out of the way, he became quicker to settle down to enjoying caresses and melted into the petting hand.

Under the chair  (BC)

In the usual way, once the med staff decided it was time, Chance’s cage was opened, and having lived for a few days pretending the barrier was in place, he ventured out and went to ground under the adjacent chair. This presented a little more challenge – entry to the cabin usually meant discovering a Kitty Comforter lying on the ground, and coaxing Chance to emerge – all the while gently dissuading the other FIV cats who felt that humans lay on the ground for their benefit, and gathered around for attention.  Occasionally Chance would take some human-free time to climb the cat-tree and find a place in the cage-top beds, but he really preferred being at floor-level, and where he could retreat to a hidden place.

Chance thinks Henrie is a great cuddler

It’s wonderful that we have so many friendly cats in this pen – cats that are just longing to have someone with whom they can cuddle. Trooper, Biggie, Simon, Hank, Boomer, Angus – they all want attention, and the first four at least would do really well in their own homes (Goose went to his new family last week!) - but the fact that they all want attention means that Chance is very wary about emerging from hiding. 

Cuddles with Marty - and Trooper wants in...   (VE)

Our regular NewAids volunteers have proved to be most successful – they may not be labelled Kitty Comforters, but they sure have the gift!  Once the dinner plates are out and the cats otherwise occupied, Chance is more willing to risk himself and climb up for a cuddle – and the worried face relaxes to the point where you can see the smile emerging.

Look at that smile!  (KC)

Chance’s life has probably been a series of battles with other tomcats, and at the moment he’s actually happier with humans than he is with the other felines.  But he’s come so far from the fearful boy of the past summer; once he becomes fully comfortable with the largely non-aggressive encounters with a testosterone-free community of cats, we hope his growing confidence will make him an active member of our FIV family.

Hey Hank - can I share the lap?   (BC)

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Katy Cobb, Brigid Coult, Vince Edwards,

Henrie Morgan, Karen Nicholson

Goose, aka Augustus

Goose (KN)

Goose?  What sort of a name is that for a cat?
We have one feline Goose already – a pretty little tabby girl who is still shy, but who has made herself at home in the front Courtyard.  This Goose is a very different prospect. He’s a solid boy who came to us through SARC – the Animal Resource Centre of Surrey, just to the east of us. They thought he was around a year old, and would probably have had him up for adoption, but discovered that he was FIV+, and contacted us to see if we would take him.

Goose-grass  (KN)

He came to us with the name Goose, but he is also known as Augustus (or perhaps that should be AuGOOSEtus!) When he arrived in June, volunteers working in the FIV area totally fell for him – he was very vocal from his holding cage, calling for attention and cuddles – and then more cuddles. Sadly, he discovered, when eventually released, that the place was full of felines – and he does not like other cats!

At his most lion-like  (BB)

You’ve heard this before from me, but discovering a cat is FIV+ is no longer the death sentence it used to be thought (and still is, in some places). FIV is a retrovirus that remains in the cat’s system but is not actually AIDS, and feline AIDS may never actually develop. The one problem is that it can still be transferred from one cat to another by means of bite wounds, but as long as the cats don’t fight, the virus doesn’t survive outside the cat’s body. We need to continue with a lot of education to help folks know that an FIV+ cat can be a really good choice for adoption – with two conditions: they must remain indoor pets, and they must get on with other cats in the home.

Birdwatching?   (KN)

So here we now have a pen full of cats who are no longer at the mercy of their hormones, and whose aggression is mostly of the “slightly irritated” variety. And we have Goose, who doesn’t like to be around other cats, and walks around growling when someone gets too close.  Mostly he’s very good at taking himself out of the way – he climbs way up where the others don’t go, and enjoys watching the birds, and keeping his own company.

Getting all the love   (HM)

As much as when he came in, he still loves human company, and if the other cats are occupied with urgent business like dinner, Goose will come looking for a lap and cuddles with a convenient human. But he keeps a wary eye open for cats like Hank and Trooper who think that laps were made for them, and who are not shy about butting in.

More lap-time  (BB)

The RAPS Adoption Centre recently posted an Adoption Special for some of the adult cats – so this is to add a bit of shameless advertising for Goose, who needs a home with no other cats – a home where he can be King.  If you can offer a home, or know anyone who can offer one, this handsome guy will repay you with cuddles and purrs. 

Having a cat-nap  (BC)

Goose has a home with us as long as he needs it – but he would really much rather not have it. Humans are OK, he thinks, it’s just all those other felines... 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brit Burant, Brigid Coult, Henrie Morgan & Karen Nicholson

November 3, 2024 - so pleased to report that Goose went to his new home today, and has settled in immediately and happily.  Congratulations to him and his family!

Hank the Hunk

Hank  (KN)

There are many favourite corners at the Cat Sanctuary, and staff, volunteers and visitors each have their own specials.  But sooner or later, most of us make our way to the New Aids pen, where there is always a feline star. You had a recent introduction to Trooper, who has stolen everybody’s hearts despite three legs rather than four;  Biggie attaches himself to any lap that comes his way; when Amaretto emerges to flirt for attention, she gets it; even not-beautiful Bill has his fan-club (which includes me!).

Hank  (KC)

Enter Hank.

Hank  (BB)

If there is a stereotypical FIV cat, Hank could be the poster-child. He’s a chonky, solid boy with a square muscular build, the chubby cheeks of a late-neutered cat, some of the scars of a life without much human care and the flat ear-tip of a cat that has been TNR’d.  

enjoying the evening sun....  (BB)

We don’t know much about his past – he arrived into our care last May from our friends at CritterAid, in the Okanagan. A feral cat with an FIV+ diagnosis is a problem for many rescues who practice TNR – the cat can be spayed/neutered, but if released, it can still pass on the virus if there is fighting over territory or food.  When he arrived there were warnings on his cage about handling him, and even when released, he was initially wary.

more cuddles, please...?    (KC)

But Hank has decided that humans are The Best Thing since he caught his last mouse!  He has a new home with a pretty tolerable bunch of other felines.  He has food and warmth and shelter.  And he has people to love – people who will sit down and offer laps, and petting and cuddles – people who will stop what they’re doing to give him attention – and at weekends, even more people!

sometimes, a little alone time....  (KN)

Have we created a monster?  Hank has become an attention-hog!  Other cats need attention too, but Hank is determined to be first.  Newcomer Chance is spending his time in hiding and needs to be coaxed out, but volunteer Marty found that Hank would grab the chance for back-sitting rather than lap-sitting.

If a back is offered, rather than a lap....   (MC)

It used to be that cats testing positive for FIV were deemed unadoptable.  We now know more about how the virus affects them (mostly, it doesn’t!)  And our reasons for deciding a cat isn’t adoptable are pretty much the same for these guys as for any other cat in the Sanctuary – feral or very shy behaviour, bad habits of peeing or aggression, or specific medical problems. Several of our FIV boys would be wonderful companions in a home – alone or together. The only criterion of homing an FIV+ cat with one that is FIV- is that the cats should get along and not fight.

Hank is pretty cat-social
- group sleeping with Woodie and Boomer  (HM)

Right now we have three adoption-possible stars in New Aids – Biggie, Trooper and Hank. There are others, but these three boys just shine.  And Hank is probably the one most determined to climb his way into someone’s heart!

Hank - exhausted after an afternoon of visiting!  (KN)

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brit Burant, Katy Cobb, Marty Corey, Henrie Morgan, Karen Nicholson

November 2024:  Happy to report that Hank has gone to his own home!  Apparently he made a very determined claim on his adopter (who had actually come in to see another cat) and demonstrated his lap-sitting skills with great success!