Home At Last

LittleCat has such a sweet face  (KN)

Cats are surrendered to us for a variety of reasons – most commonly because of bad bathroom habits, but reported aggression, or aging owners, or any number of other factors may bring them in to us.  Nearly three years ago, a pair of females came into our care, aged around 12 years. They had been adopted from a Seattle shelter at the age of 6 months; they may have been littermates. We were told there were allergy issues and dog-stresses and a new baby, but whatever the formal cause, they lost their home and found a temporary hideaway in the SingleWide building at the Sanctuary.

LittleCat with her best buddy, Menjosie  (BC)

It was rapidly evident that they really were bonded. The SingleWide is home to several cats who have come to us as pairs - Winston and Oscar, Marie (now gone) and Noelle, Whiskers and Jinx - but all seemed to be as happy on their own as with their partner, and are frequently found separately.  Not so with these two!  Menjosie was the more social of the pair – a tubby little tabby with a hint of torbie colouring – her partner LittleCat preferred to hold back and hide behind the drapes or under the bedding. But the two of them were always together, and refused to leave the cage that they had made their home.

Happiest making a cave to hide from sight  (KN)

In the last half of 2023 we lost eight of the SingleWide cats for a variety of reasons, and Menjosie was one of the eight, succumbing to a tumour in November. LittleCat struggled with her sudden isolation.  She didn’t have to live solo – lots of other cats wandered in and out of her cage, but she didn’t want them, and in true Garbo-style, told them firmly that she wanted to be alone. Staff and Kitty Comforters made a point of visiting with her, but her tolerance level was limited, and though she was vocal about wanting attention, she was also dramatic (and accurate!) in letting us know when she’d had enough, which was usually after no more than three or four pets.

We learned to take her warning collar seriously  (KN)

Weekend visitors would come and interact with her, and occasionally she would show her nice side – but more often than not, she would disdain human attention with all except a few selected people.  The trouble with a personality like LittleCat’s is that she needed a very cat-savvy home – and most of the cat-savvy homes already have cats in them. And she needed a home with NO other cats – in fact no other animals at all.

Christmas in new surroundings  (KN)

But LittleCat had her Christmas miracle.  Staff member Karen (the eye behind so many of our wonderful photos in the blog and the Calendar) is not from an animal-free home – her family has two cats and a pretty lively dog. But the opportunity to move into her own apartment meant decisions about leaving the animals in their own home, and the possibility of offering LittleCat a space and a human that would be all hers.  What a Christmas gift!

Exploring in the new home  (KN)

LittleCat is chatty in her approval of the new surroundings.  Karen says
LC has only been with me for three weeks but it feels like she has lived with me her whole life. The transition from bustling Singlewide life to being an only child in a quiet apartment was nearly seamless. She is quite a polite little princess, though if I try to only give her a few head pats and walk away, she is quick to give me a (gentle) swat to let me know that she did not dismiss me. I'm still learning about her food preferences, since the sanctuary diet is so varied, it was difficult to discern what she actually liked. Given her somewhat troglodytic lifestyle at the sanctuary, I did not anticipate how playful she would be once she came home. She loves chasing and pouncing on wand toys, but she also plays independently and carries her toys all over the apartment. It's wonderful to see her finally relaxing enough to enjoy life again.

Play with me some more!  (KN)

We tell most of our weekend visitors that the majority of our cats are non-adoptable, and people certainly can’t point and say “I want that one!” - the adopting staff need to know a lot more about the surroundings a cat is going to, and the handling they will get in that home.  But there have been many successful adoptions of Sanctuary cats by Sanctuary staff and volunteers – they know the quirks of the cats in question, and love them even when they’re difficult (I’m thinking of dedicated volunteer Daphne who took on the care of Smokey, who was one of the feistiest cats we’ve had, and gave her a loving home with so much patience...). 
Karen is a true cat-whisperer and in her care, this pretty old lady will have the best possible home, with no feline competition, and lots of love for the rest of her days.

Nose boops from the hand she loves   (MK)

Blog by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson
Photos by Brigid Coult, Mike Kossey & Karen Nicholson

Caging Cats

Plum caged for one of her Manx-syndrome bladder infections (MW)

One of the things that visitors love about the Sanctuary – well, we do, too! - is the way that cats roam freely. They can choose whether to be in or out, hidden or in sight, alone or cuddled with a buddy.  There are limitations, of course, the Leukemia (FeLV) cats need to be kept isolated from the general population for everyone’s good, and we keep the AIDS (FIV) cats separate for similar reasons, though, strictly speaking, it’s not essential.

For BB, being in a cage is sanctuary; she's not a fan of other cats  (KN)

But the concern that so many people have before they experience the place is the thought of dealing with cats in cages – and that’s simply not the norm with us.  In fact, some of our cats have come to us from the Adoption Centre because they don’t handle the inevitable cages in that smaller space, and show shelter aggression – as happens to many animals in confined spaces. Elvis, Hunter, Mango, Lunette and many others have settled well now that they are no longer shut in, and can take their time to find the person who is right to adopt them from the Sanctuary, rather than returning to the Adoption Centre.

LittleCat & Menjosie have claimed their cage in the SW,
and do NOT want to be moved   (BC)

Cages are necessary, though. Most of our cats are caged when they first arrive. The caged period gives them a chance to settle, to hide behind a drape if they need to do so, to encounter first the highly cat-savvy med staff, then the calm, encouraging Kitty Comforters, and then the other volunteers, and to learn that no harm will come to them and they’re getting food and care.  This is the period when they get their vaccinations and health checks, and when we get to work out whether we have a scared stray on our hands or a fearful feral. Many scared or angry cats choose to stay in their cage once it's opened; it becomes a place of security for them.

Ariel took a long time to move out of her cage after it was opened (GA)

Cages are also necessary when cats need specific medical attention. For many receiving care, it’s a matter of getting a little plate of something tasty with meds in it, and you will often see the med staff around with a tray of little dishes, watching that a cat eats all its dose (or turns its nose up, because the food is chicken and it wanted fish!). But there are many cats who will not take their meds that way, or who need it syringed into the mouth, or who need eye-drops or cage rest for an injury – and each of the main buildings has cage space, so that cats who need caging can at least have it in a familiar area.

Luke and Bodhi were photographed for Valentines,
while Luke was being caged for insulin adjustments  (LBF)

Sometimes there’s even an advantage to caging. When big tuxedo Luke was diagnosed diabetic, he was one of the semiferals on the DoubleWide Deck. Because he needed twice-daily insulin, he was initially caged so that the med staff could monitor his intake, work out what his favourite foods were and give him his “treat” plate along with his insulin shot. From being a wary boy, Luke decided that he was definitely on to something, and when the cage was opened he decided to stay – after all, that was where the good food was!  And with all those humans who came and fussed over him, Luke became a lap-cat, and persuaded his pal Bodhi that he should join in too. Luke now loves lap-time and fuss – he doesn’t need food-bribery, just love.

Amelia in Pen 4 - anxious eyes, ready to swat  (LBF)

I just spent time this evening with Amelia, similarly caged. Amelia is interesting, because she’s a feral farmcat from Pen 4;  she came in many years ago with her sister Willow and was named Amelia Earheart for her flattened aeroplane-ears. Most of the Pen 4 ferals want nothing to do with us – it takes the patience of Lisa or Catherine to make any headway at all, and it’s measured in inches.  But both Amelia and her friend Annie had to come in for medical care, and while Annie preferred to hide behind the drape, Amelia would emerge at mealtimes and let us know what she thought of this restaurant and the service.  Annie is now back in Pen 4 and still hiding, but Amelia is bunting and preening and talking in a way that makes us wonder how she’ll be when she’s returned to her home pen – will she forget all about her enjoyment of human company and go and hide with her cat-pals, or will she be more like Ranger, and come looking for attention? 

Amelia loving cage-pets  (BC)

The general rule is that if you don’t tame a feral cat within a specific window of time, you probably won’t – but general rules are made to bend, and sometimes a feral will decide that humans are OK, after all.  We do often see it with the old cats – when an old feral becomes friendly, it’s often a side-effect of senility.  But though Amelia’s no spring chicken, she’s got plenty of life in her still, and we would be delighted if the rest of that life was spent enjoying more contact with humans at the Cat Sanctuary.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Graham Akira, Lisa Brill-Friesen, 

Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright

Pandora

Pandora   (KN)

For the last eight months, the centre cage in the Single-Wide has been occupied by a Grump.

Grrr....  (BC)

To be fair, Pandora has her reasons for being a Grump.  She was surrendered to us for aggression after her owner went into assisted care; she was a one-person cat, and change was very hard on her. She is a SuperSenior - a phrase that applies to cats over 15 years old, who are more likely to have problems like hyperthyroid, kidney disease, UTIs and other problems. At nearly 18 years old, Pandora has all the above, and possibly others, and our job is to make what time she has left as comfortable as possible.

I did not ask for this haircut!   (KN)

She’s a bit overweight, probably arthritic, and came to us with such heavy matting in her fur that it must have been been very painful for her.  She actually had to have much of it shaved initially - a process she didn't appreciate. The staff have been medicating her, but her skin looked worse for awhile before it dried out a bit, and her fur is beginning to grow back in a wispy way.  The centre cage gives her lots of room to move about, but in classic old-lady-cat style, she prefers to spend her time sleeping, either hidden behind a drape or curled in a cat-tree nest. “Up” is key; she does not choose to spend much time at floor level, other than for bathroom breaks, and she has claimed that upper level for her own.

Doing a little exploring  (KN)

The cage has actually been open for some time, but Pandora has left the other cats in no doubt that this is Her territory. Warm and fuzzy are not terms to apply to Pandora; another cat approaching her, and the growl leaves both intruder and observer in no doubt that she “Vants to Be Alone” – a classic Garbo Cat!  Noelle and Marie occasionally occupy the lower level, but are more comfortable being away from their irritable neighbour, and prefer to room with Little Cat and Menjosie.

Starting to grow fuzz again   (KN)

The stairway of cat-trees that makes it possible to access the upper level without discomfort unfortunately works both ways, and the warning rumble is often heard as she discourages visitors. This usually includes humans, though we’re not hated quite as much as other felines – unless we bear medications.  She reminds me of an elderly lady who’s been moved into a seniors’ home after a life of independence. She doesn’t want to admit that she’s more comfortable than she used to be; she thinks the staff are busy-bodies who should leave her alone, and she has no time for the other residents.

May I have more pets?  (BC)

And yet when I visited last week with chicken tidbits, I was astonished to see Pandora emerge and come and join the chicken crowd.  I use the word “join” loosely – she sat at a distance, and when offered a tidbit, was very unfriendly with Paylan, who has no boundaries when it comes to getting chicken! But as the supplies vanished and the other cats drifted away, Pandora came closer and closer to me, allowing me to pet her.  Initially, I applied the “reactive cat” technique – stay above collar level: head, ears, cheeks, throat – nut as she remained relaxed, I was able to stroke further down her body, including the bald patches.  When she decided she’d had enough, she wandered off without any fuss.

You may look, but not touch   (BC)

Visiting her again this week, the goodwill was gone:  “don’t bother me!” was the strong message.  Part of it may be position;  Jazz, for instance, who had many similar old-lady problems in settling in, now loves to be petted on her shelf, but obviously feels less safe on the floor. Other cats similarly – we do loom over them, after all, and eye-level contact may be preferred. Pandora, however, chose to come to me at floor level, and that may be her comfort-place when it comes to petting.  And we need to let her make the decisions about when and where contact feels safe; reactivity often has its root in fear, and only time and good experiences will let her know that she no longer needs to be fearful and quite so grumpy.

Blog by Brigid Coult
Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

 

Visiting the Dilutes

LittleCat & Menjosie   (BC)

A recent shift in the Single-Wide offered the opportunity to spend time with a couple of cats who are fairly new to us.  Little Cat and Menjosie are a bonded pair who came in to us as a result of allergies and dog-stresses at home. Menjosie is a chonky little torby with beautiful green eyes; she is outgoing and happy to interact with visitors. She is deeply attached to her companion, Little Cat, who is a calico.  Little Cat is still wary until she trusts you, when she can be very chatty!

LittleCat   (BC)

The rules around tortoiseshells (torties) and calicos ensure that they are practically always female – the genetics binding colour and gender are very strong. Rarely, you will find a male, and they are usually infertile. A similar genetic linking was thought to tie orange cats (almost always orange tabbies) to gender; it used to be thought that something like 90% of them are male, but the proportion is probably less extreme, and we certainly have our share of orange girls at the Sanctuary. Torties and calicos are basically the same colour combination – but in torties, the primary fur colour is black, and in calicos it’s white.

Menjosie  (BC)

Our SingleWide torties (except Blaze) and calicos all have dilute colouring. Dilute is a gene that affects the cat’s hair by causing the pigmentation to be patchy, giving the illusion of a lighter coat colour. Black colouring becomes grey, red colouring becomes anything from peach to cream. Little Cat is a calico with plenty of white fur, but her coloured fur is a lovely grey/peach mixture. Even torby Menjosie has some of the dilute colouring, and you can see that her fur beyond the tips is mostly pale.

Flash  (KN)

The two of them are in one of the SingleWide cages, with the door wide open. Cats tend to be territorial, and one of the problems of caging is that they end up claiming the space – so it’s frustrating for them when they have to be turned out in order to accommodate another cat needing the cage. So far Menjosie and Little Cat have remained home-bodies – they don’t want to explore further.  But they are getting visitors.

Noelle  (KN)

Noelle and Marie are former occupants of the same cage, and now the door is open, they are wanting to be in “their” space again. There are no territorial battles, but there are frequent visits. They are another bonded pair – mother and daughter, in this case. They too came to us after stresses at home caused inappropriate use (or lack) of the litter-box, and they’re still stressed enough that it’s still a problem, which probably means they’ll not get adopted out.  

Marie  (LBF)

The two of them were evicted from the cage about a year ago, and have moved to several other areas, but they now seem to have settled at ground level either in Pandora’s cage (Pandora is an extremely grumpy senior girl who prefers the shelf or the cat-tree.) or in a two-tier sleeping cave in Menjosie and Little Cat’s cage.

Noelle & Marie  (BC)

They too are dilutes – Noelle is calico, with clear white base-fur; Marie is dilute tortie, with minimal white and a strong suggestion of the split-face pattern common in torties, though given her colouring, it’s not as clear as it appears in Blaze, for instance. Both are shy, but willing to be coaxed for petting and attention.

Flash - (KN)

Of course, after visiting with this quartet, I also needed to climb a ladder, and visit with Flash, who prefers to live quietly on the cage-top.  This sweet girl came to us with old injuries from a dog, and she rarely ventures down to floor level, but feels that she has everything she needs on the top floor. She has her favourite humans who know where she hangs out, and she enjoys a little loving. These gentle girls are all lacking in “tortietude” (perhaps the dilute gene affects that too!), and appreciate a visitor who will interact with them at their own pace. 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson