Four Sweet Oranges

Mandarin - now happy and confident  (SF)

It seems that there is no longer any such thing as “kitten season” – the kittens keep coming throughout the year, often born to feral mamas who are little more than kittens themselves! All over the province, rescues are working to reduce the number of feral cats by spay-neuter programs – but it only takes one careless owner letting a cat out without due care, and another litter is on the way.  Kittens are, of course, inherently cute, and once trapped, raised and ready, they can usually be adopted. But if they stop being kittens before being socialized, the socialization process can take a whole lot longer.

early days cage-top time for Mandarin  (KN)

In January 2025 we were joined in the DoubleWide by a quartet of young cats from Vancouver Island.  They had been living feral, and were probably around 9 months old; like many “teenage” kittens, they had no intention of taming easily. There were three females and one male.  We don’t know if they were litter-mates or just all from the same colony, but they looked amazingly alike. Three of them had had their SNAP tests (identifying the presence or lack of FIV and FeLV) and neutering done before they came to us; the fourth may have been trapped later than the others because she had neither and had to be caged separately until that was done.

Tangerine, on the DW deck  (KN)

As usual, when they’d had their initial cage-time, all their vaccines and necessary treatments, the cages were opened, and the four of them vanished into hiding.  When we did see them it was almost impossible to tell who it was we were seeing; the four of them are orange tabbies with classic whorl markings, and nearly identical. It’s really difficult to do a blog when you can’t tell who you’re looking at (if you’re lucky enough to be able to see them at all) and my plans for writing them up were put on hold until I was better at identifying them.  As orange as they are, the med staff named them Mandarin (m), and Tangerine, Valencia and Tangelo (f)

Mandarin bunting with Walker  (BC)

Almost a year later, we are starting to see progress from most of them, and watching as they develop. Mandarin is now a little larger than his sisters. He is the bravest of the quartet, and ranges freely around the Back Courtyard. He is cat-social, especially with his buddy Walker, and is quick to react when treats are offered.  Not only does he accept food from the hand, but he now enjoys a little careful petting – though still very much on his terms.

Tangerine & Mandarin mooching  (BC)

At first sight he can easily be confused with his sister Tangerine, who now bases herself in Waldi’s Hut, but can often be found hanging out around her brother. She’s now a little paler than his colouring, with a slightly more rounded face. It’s in behaviour we see the clearest difference; Mandarin will approach to accept food and attention; Tangerine is interested, but not yet brave enough – she hovers hopefully a few lengths away and is quick to react to food tossed in her direction.

Tangelo  (BC)

The other two are residents of the DW Deck. Tangelo is the most immediately identifiable, with a narrower face, and slightly crossed eyes. She is very food-motivated, and can be coaxed out of hiding with chicken tidbits, but would rather smack the food out of a hand than risk the possibility of touch.

Want to see Valencia? Look up!  (BC)

Her sister Valencia is the shyest of the four, preferring to remain totally out of reach on the cage-tops, and refusing to venture closer, even for the best bribery.  The DoubleWide renovations are almost done, and we’re looking forward to having the Deck cages removed, and more space available to the cats – it will be interesting to see whether Tangelo and Valencia will remain in “their” space, or whether they’ll move indoors to more light and action.

Two of four  (KN)

It’s generally accepted that the critical socialization window for kittens is the first 2-3 months; beyond that, they are often labelled as feral, and it is very hard for small, fostering-based rescues to do anything other than trap-neuter-release. Effectively, these four oranges were TNR'd, but released into our safe Sanctuary, where they can take their time getting used to the idea that humans really aren’t so scary after all.  Mandarin has already taken that big step; his sisters have as much time as they need to become comfortable with us.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Sarah Faith, Karen Nicholson

Changes

Beautiful Plateau  (BC)

As we all know, cats do NOT like change!  Especially for feral and fearful cats, coming to the Sanctuary can be a difficult experience – more contact with humans than they find comfortable, handling by medical staff, unfamiliar food, cage-stays – it’s not surprising that when we release them from their cages at the end of their initial stay, many of them vanish into hiding in the courtyard, or high up on cage tops.

Still fearful   (KN)

Beautiful Plateau was mentioned only in passing when I introduced Westin and Wyndham, who came from the Commuter Colony in the early months of 2025. They were two of the tamer group of refugees – likely strays rather than ferals – and both have made themselves at home with us, and are favourites with weekend visitors; we hope that both will find homes eventually. Plateau went first to the Adoption Centre; we couldn’t believe that such a gorgeous boy wasn’t a stray, and hoped that he would tame up. But Plateau was terrified; he flattened himself on the floor of his cage and reacted aggressively out of fear; when he was moved to the Sanctuary, his behaviour didn’t change, and when he was finally released he vanished so completely that we feared he’d escaped altogether.

You can't see me...  (BC)

Very slowly, we began to see this lovely boy ghosting around in the early morning and late evening hours. Initially he based himself somewhere in the back of Pen 5 – we think he hid under a pallet – occasionally he would emerge into the breezeway, and climb into the shrubbery to hide. Gradually he relocated closer to the main courtyard, usually at the back of Pen 8, where a number of other ferals went, and where there are number of boxes and kennels in which to hide.

Much more calm  (BC)

Then another set of changes – we were sent a group of cats from a hoarding situation on the Island, with Pen 6 already full of our Newton Hoard, we had to empty Pen 8 to accommodate them. Initially there was confusion, but gradually the cats who had established themselves in Pen 8 relocated nearby – mostly around the back of Waldie’s Hut, or in the shelving in front of the SingleWide deck. Plateau remained mostly a loner; there was mutual tolerance with the others, but he didn’t seem to interact with them much.

Still prefers to be alone   (BC)

Another month, and more changes: the DoubleWide, which has been the centre of activity for more than 20 years is really showing its age. In an ideal world, a devoted donor would step up and replace it; in practice, it’s Ken that steps up with a plan to refurbish it, and deal with some of the problems of wiring, insulation and rot – not to mention years of cat-pee! The main rooms are stripped; cages are relocated anywhere space can be made for them; the Med-Cage is relocated to the SingleWide – and every cat who has based themselves there (mostly on the cage-tops) has to relocate too. There are a lot more cats wandering around the back courtyard – some of them adjusting well, others obviously not really happy. The courtyard reminds me of when I first came to the Sanctuary and our cat-total was around 700!

The spectator at the edge...

Interestingly enough, Plateau seems to be taking this in his stride and adjusting well. Increasingly he is emerging earlier in the day, as long as things are fairly quiet and there are few people. He makes eye-contact and listens when I talk to him; he’s not ready to accept actual touch yet, but will accept chicken tidbits as long as nobody else gets pushy about it. He’s not ready to stand up to Mandarin or Walker or Motley when they make first claim, but he’s ready to lie in the sun and bask while others move around him. He reminds me of the early days of Bello, who was brought to us as “too feral to tame” and who has gone last week to his own loving home.

Sitting near Motley - a budding friendship?  (BC)

I think our initial assessment was probably correct – this beautiful boy is a stray rather than a born-feral – but his experience of living in a colony with other ferals, in a situation that was full of fear and danger, swung him back to the feral instincts that underlay many cats’ behaviours. Long-term RAPS people will remember our beloved Dell – so terrifying in his initial time with us, and then so loving when he realised he was safe with us. Plateau may not know it yet, but the best is yet to come.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

Supper on the Deck

Happy anticipation! - Bodhi, Luke & Denzel  (BC)

The back Deck of the Double-Wide building is both a home for a colony of semi-ferals, and a transition area for felines expanding their comfort-zone to include the back courtyard.  In the winter the residents snuggle together on a mattress under the comfort of a heat-lamp, while the rest of the “room” is protected from the elements only by plastic screens.  The “red light area” is the home to the core-group, and every other cat-bed around the upper area is occupied.  Now that warmer weather is with us, natural body-heat replaces the need for the heat-lamp, and more cats pop in and out of the cat-door in the corner.

Classic tabbies Ziggy and Hickory  (LBF)

One of my regular shifts for the past fourteen years has been to feed in the Double-Wide building on Saturday evenings – usually working with Molly, who began as a volunteer, then a staff cleaner, and is now the med-staff person on Saturdays, mixing up the necessary medications and delivering them all across the Sanctuary.  Operating from the Laundry Room sink, I plate up wet food for the building, including smaller dishes for caged cats. And usually I do the clean-up and wash the cans before I take the last three plates through to the Deck, so that, with a clear conscience, I can sit for a little while with the cats there.

Lotsa tabbies on the mattress   (LBF)

One plate gets delivered to the upper level in front of the mattress; one to the main area inside the door, and one to the back of the deck, where the shyer cats can eat without feeling too close to a human.  I will usually sit on the steps inside the door, and am quickly surrounded by feline friends who are so certain that I have something even tastier than the assortment of cat food flavours being offered.   

Gwen says "Gimme!"  (BC)

At my feet, Gwen hovers hopefully, smacking any other cat within reach. 

Crinkle looking hopeful (BC)

Crinkle comes down to the shelf beside me; she is still inclined to swat food from my hand rather than accept it, but the swat now comes without claws. The other tabbies prefer to get first dibs at the plate before coming to beg for tidbits; Hickory, Mitzi and Ziggy wait at the top, while the black boys, Denzel, Luke and Bodhi swarm closer. Bodhi doesn’t actually care much for the chicken tidbits, but he wants to be part of the crowd.

Nootka remains in loaf-pose  (BC)

Other cats hover at a distance; they are still wary around humans, but visits like this can help them to learn that we don’t need to be feared, and that if their companions can approach easily, they may do so as well. Little Nootka remained comfortably on her chair without feeling she had to hide; she came to us with black and white Tofino who prefers to wander the back courtyard;  Nootka prefers to stay indoors.

Madonna (BC)

Pretty Madonna has moved from hiding on the upper-level shelves to remaining on the other side of the room; she is cautious but no longer feels she has to hide.

Two little oranges  (BC)

I had two small orange tabbies hovering hopefully. They’re from a quartet that came into our care a few months ago, and were named Mandarin, Tangelo, Valencia and Tangerine. Mandarin is the single male and the only one I can identify from a little white patch on his chest; he is also the bravest of the four and the most food-motivated.  

Mandarin   (BC)

He has made himself at home in the Double-Wide, preferring to roam the cage-tops, but has also begun to explore the back courtyard. The three girls are much shyer, but at least one of them has become more confident in being around people on the back deck. I will look forward to getting to know them better in the next few months.

Ivy  (BC)

At another time, I will come to the deck without food, but with a wand toy or something to chase, and spend time to coax the shyer cats to interact with me. Pretty Ivy is getting braver all the time, and Marshmallow will accept petting and gentle grooming if there’s not too much action around.  Food is a useful motivator, but we need not rely on it.

Marshmallow prefers cat-food to treats  (BC)

The cat radar is working outside the deck – they know when tidbits are being offered. Before long Fletcher and Fonzie have joined up; Fonzie prefers the plated food, but Fletcher is watching the chicken bag with full attention. And then of course Lindor and Jasper arrive  – Lindor in particular doesn’t need more food; he’s been accepting treats from visitors all afternoon. Jasper and Gwen get into a swearing match, and then Jasper moves into “cute” mode and offers a high-five as incentive for something tasty, while Gwen retires under the stairs to lurk and mutter darkly.

Supper-time (BC)

Once the feline sharks gather, it’s time to wind up the treats visit, and return to the rest of my shift – checking and changing water-bowls as needed, and topping up kibble.  I need to visit the DW deck again on one of my Kitty Comforter shifts and take quiet time for some one-on-one with these delightful cats without food being too much of a factor! 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen & Brigid Coult