Lucius

Lucius is on the prowl  (KN)

The Pen 3 cats who came to us from Alberta more than three years ago have remained a cohesive family unit.  Many of them have become adventurers who roam the length of the Back Courtyard, but they prefer to be together, and they always return to mutual snuggles in their own cabin at night. 

Summer snooze with his shy buddy Reinhardt  (KN)

Since they arrived their personalities have become clearly defined. There are several quiet ones, like Reinhardt, who prefers not to encounter us too much, and there are the social butterflies like Cornelius. Up at the top end of that happily social spectrum is Lucius.

Handsome boy  (MW)

Lucius is a tubby-tabby – dark tabby with classic markings – who is more than happy to play rough (though not nastily) with other cats.  He’s a people-positive boy who has made himself a favourite with staff and volunteers, and is always ready to make nice for visitors – happy to jump up on a lap for a cuddle and actively seeking out petting for as long as the petter will indulge him. Despite his size, he’s not strongly treat-motivated – touch is the best treat for him.

Enjoying the winter with his buddy Cornelius  (LBF)

Many of the Pen 3 cats would probably be adoptable – but they are really dependent upon each other, and even Lucius, self-confident as he is, would do better in adoption with another of his family to bring comfort. Most of them are also used to being able to roam freely within the bounds of the Sanctuary, and might need access to an enclosed garden, or to a catio for "safe freedom".

The outdoor kennels are good summer resting places  (KN)

Lucius’s self-confidence took a hit recently. He is used to being the big guy, and the easy winner in a playful rough-and-tumble. Unfortunately, he encountered Root Beer.  Root Beer carries a very sensitive personal bubble around him and is not a fan of other cats. We moved him from the Front to the Back Courtyard so that he could have more space to roam, and he spent some time in a DoubleWide cage getting his meds adjusted so that he could feel calmer.  Lucius obviously said the wrong thing, and Root Beer decided that only one of them could be Boss Cat.  Luckily there were people around, water was deployed and Lucius finally escaped, a warier but wiser cat.  He’s sticking closer to home in Pen 3, these days, and has learned a lesson about not messing with the older guys.

Posing   (BC)

Blog by Brigid Coult

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

Almost Ready to Go Home

"Dudes Chilling Park" - cat-style  (LBF)
Cornelius, Jenkins, Sherbet

This time last year, we brought in a good clowder of cats from Alberta – some of the rescued felines from a large hoarding situation. As usual, we took moms and kittens, who went first to fosterage and then to the Adoption Centre, and we also took “the teens” – the young cats past the easy socialization point. The latter moved into Pen 3, and were introduced in the blog over three installments. A year later, it’s interesting to see the progress that has been made!

Finneas - now adopted  (KN)

Tabby Finneas had a lot of handling in the process of some medical care, and became very happy to accept petting and attention. In the spring, he was adopted out with his “brother” Shimmer. This established a guideline that the staff have decided to follow – not to allow these cats to go singly, but only to a home where they can be with a cat they already know, or one that is of similar age and personality. This may be difficult to find in a single-cat home, so we are encouraging potential adopters to adopt as a pair.

Holly (KN)

Right now, the Adoption Centre is full of wonderful kittens (and a few adults – we were delighted to hear that Thomas, blogged last November, has gone to his own home). And we have been identifying some of the adoptable Sanctuary cats – we really hope that homes can be found for the FIV+ boys.

But a quick visit to the far end of the Sanctuary offers some potential treasures who could steal your heart if you’re prepared to take two of them.

Lucius  (BC)

Lucius has always been one of the most social of this group – both with the other cats and with humans. With other cats, his size sometimes means that he plays rough, but it’s never nasty, and his friends always come back for more. With humans, he loves attention – both gentle petting and belly-rubs; he will hang around until it’s clear you have to go, and then he follows, hoping you’ll change your mind. In spite of his size, he doesn’t seem to be food-motivated; he’s not one of the “gimme chicken” crowd.

Jenkins  (BC)

Lucius is often found hanging around with his buddy Jenkins. The smaller of the two short-haired tuxedos in the pen, Jenkins is a little shyer with people, but very cat-social. He’s one of the cats who could do with some grooming attention, as his fluffy grey undercoat occasionally bursts through. 

Holly begging a little lap-time  (BC)

Longer-haired tuxedo Holly really needs a home where she can get regular grooming. She is one of those cats with fine hair that mats if not cared for, and we have occasionally had to shave some hair mats out altogether. Holly is very sweet and affectionate when she trusts; she will allow herself to be picked up and cuddled, and she is happy to be a lap-cat.

Cornelius (KN)

Cornelius is known to everyone – I blogged him as “Everybody’s Friend” and he really is – for cats, at least. He’s more wary with humans; he will allow the odd stroke, but he’s not willing to approach unless food is offered. Normally we might say that he’s not ready for adoption, but he’s so cat-social that he might be fine if he were with a buddy and in a really cat-savvy home.

Jason & Cornelius  (BC)

His usual pal is Jason – named because he came to us on Friday the 13th! Jason is a bit easier with humans than Cornelius – painfully so, because he likes to put his paws up on a knee and flex his claws. It’s not meant nastily in any way – he just likes to use us as a scratching post! The two of them can often be found hanging around together.

Mewlius Caesar (KN)

There are several other cats in the pen that might be adoptable – solid tuxedo Baker is part of the crowd, playful Sherbert with his orange eyes, mustachioed Mewlius Caesar – but many of them are still wary, and having other social cats around is probably good for them. Some cats can live with us for years before deciding that yes, they can trust these humans who feed and clean and offer play and petting – and it’s a wonderful feeling when you’re finally trusted like that.

Blog by Brigid Coult

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

Finneas

Finneas  (BC)

There are so many great personalities among the cats who came to us from Alberta and started in Pen 3.  Originally, they were penned while we assessed if these were to be potential adoptables and would need work from the Kitty Comforters.  It rapidly became obvious that these guys, for the most part, were not lacking in confidence, and repeated jail-breaks led to the permanent opening of Pen 3.

Early days in Pen 3   (KN)

Finneas began with this colony, but while they were still closed down, he managed to injure his foot, which abscessed, and necessitated bringing him in for treatment.  The poor boy was not a happy camper – not so much about the injury, but he hated being caged, and cried all the time. This in turn meant that both staff and volunteers spent more time sitting with him, and he became more and more comfortable with human contact.  Now he divides his time between visiting in the DoubleWide and being out in the back gardens with his buddies.

In the courtyard, initially staying at a distance   (KN)

In the DoubleWide, he takes over an empty cage or a cat-tree, catches someone’s attention and flirts like crazy – purring, rubbing, rolling over – giving all the signs of a cat who really needs human contact.  Out in the garden he is warier – hovering at arm’s length, doing the just-out-of-reach thing that cats are so good at. He will sniff at fingers, but takes a while to decide if he will allow any touch at all.  Half an hour later you’ll see him back in the building, and it’s all “Pet me! Touch me!”  Every time I see him he is more confident about contact, and I'm sure that indoor behaviour will soon influence the outdoor interactions. 

Finneas with his pal Sherbet   (KN)

He still visits with his Pen 3 buddies, but he’s no longer a permanent part of the clowder. Many of them tend to operate together – where you see Cornelius, you will also see Jason and Shimmer and Lucius.  Some of them, like Scarlett, prefer to remain mostly in Pen 3, on safe territory; others, like Reinhardt, are solo wanderers. Finneas interacts with the others, but then returns to the DoubleWide, which seems to have become his own safe place.  Because the group came in together, we're not sure who's related to who, but I suspect that he's a brother of tubby Lucius; there's something about the matching tabby faces, and they both have quite thick tails.

Come pet me NOW!   (BC)

When the Adoption Centre has found homes for all of the many kittens it has been housing, it will likely be some of these Pen 3 cats that will be transferred for potential adoption.  Finneas would probably not have been on the original list, but he’s definitely a candidate now – as long as you find him in the right situation, he’s ready for any amount of love and attention.  Someone is going to be lucky to have a new companion!

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

Walking the Dark Side

golden-eyed Sherbet  (KN)

In last week’s blog I introduced a few of the Pen 3 newcomers; this week, in true Halloween style, I’m turning to the black cats (and tuxes) who make it their home.

Shimmer  (MD)

Shimmer is the friendliest of the blacks – hovering at the gate to welcome a visitor, and ready to accept attention. He is small and sleek, with lots of personality, and is one of most agile cats when presented with wand-toy play. He’s on the list to go to the Adoption Centre soon, probably with Jenkins and Lucius.

Jenkins  (BC)

Tuxedo Jenkins was pretty much at ease with us from the beginning. He likes to be around people and lap-sits when he trusts.  He can usually be found hanging out with his friend Lucius, who I will include here, though he’s not one of the blacks – they may not be with us for long, because they’re good candidates for adoption.  Lucius is a stocky boy with beautiful classic-tabby whorls – rather more black than tabby. He’s a bit bossy around the other cats – assertive and dominant, so that some of the more timid ones stay out of his way.

Lucius & Shimmer play rough  (LBF)

Once Jenkins has gone for adoption, it will be easier to zero in on Baker, his “twin” - much shyer, and good at finding hiding places, though he is friendly when he feels he can trust.  The fourth tuxedo of the group (the third is Mewlius Caesar, introduced last week) is pretty Holly – a long-haired girl, unlike the sleek boys.  

Holly  (KN)

Holly’s fur is still growing and changing – she has more than a hint of the ghost-grey that front-courtyard Mozart shows off, and her grey ruff gives the effect of mutton-chop whiskers.

Gemini & Sherbet  (BC)

There are three other plain black cats – but easily distinguished from each other.   Gemini is the smallest; she has a look of Shimmer (we’ve no idea how these cats are related to each other, but it’s likely that at least some are litter-mates).  One of her eyes is a little larger than the other.

Sherbet  (KN)

Sherbet is the most elegant of the cats – a long-haired black, he nevertheless manages to stay sleek and tidy, showing off his plumed tail. In the right light he has the most astonishing eyes – dark orange, almost copper-coloured.

Jason  (BC)

Normally the rule is that when a cat arrives with a name, that name remains – it’s only when nameless cats arrive that med-staff have the privilege of naming them,  But someone didn’t like his given name of Galloway for some reason, so, since he arrived with us on Friday the 13th, he was given the name of Jason. Jason is still a little skittish, but the offering of chicken tidbits has established a bargain of taste for touch and the motivation is strong enough to bring him up onto a lap. He and orange Cornelius seem to enjoy each other’s company, and Jason’s leadership is helping us coax Cornelius into allowing touch more easily.

Cornelius & Jason  (BC)

This is a pen of cats who could easily have tipped to the feral side, but the presence of a few key individuals who enjoy attention, and the steady work of the Kitty Comforters, as well as staff and other volunteers, holds much hope that most of these cats will eventually find their own homes.

Blog by Brigid Coult

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