Care for the Caregivers

January 2024:  KitKat (MW)
KitKat loved her people (especially Justin) for shoulder time
and lap-time - other cats, not so much....

As we enter a new year, we often take time to review the year past, to celebrate the big occasions and remember the hard ones – and in particular, to think about the friends we have loved and lost in the past twelve months.  

March 2024:  Hope  (KN)
The grand old lady of the Front Courtyard, Hope loved both people and other cats;
her friends Carly and Celine really miss her

At the Sanctuary, we do this not only at the turn of the year, but also in the summer, on what we call the Day of Chance, when a potluck occasion offers the chance to gather in person and remember the cats who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge; I will sometimes write about them at that time, but I have made it a tradition to do a blog tribute to the cats we have loved in a turn-of-year posting like this one.

March 2024:  Huey  (LBF)
Gentle and wise, Huey was greatly beloved, especially by Daphne,
who called him her Quality Control Inspector in the Double-Wide

The term that is strongly in my mind right now, though, is Compassion Fatigue, and I want to take the opportunity to think particularly of our Sanctuary med staff over the past years. As any caregiver knows, it can be exhausting tending to the sick or the ailing, and their days are full of tasks that focus on the cats’ health – wellness checks, monitoring and treating diabetics, administering medications, dealing with ringworm and fleas and ear infections, fluids for kidney cats, complete tending of new incomers who are not ready for volunteer care, and many other tasks.

May 2024: Dodger (MW)
Named for the dodging of cars that brought her to us,
this sweet lady was the benevolent queen in the SingleWide.

Many human patients are grateful to their caregivers – not so, with the majority of cats, and it’s hard to have to express your love by immobilizing your patient in order to deal with an eye infection, or to deal with the dirty bum of an incontinent cat who hates the necessary bath.

May 2024: Cagney  (MW)
One of our oldest "detective" cats, (the link is to Claire's blog of 12 years ago).
Cagney struggled with arthritis in the last years - but always loved attention and tidbits!

It’s the med staff, too, with our RAPS vets at the hospital, who sometimes have to make the necessary call that a cat is suffering too much, and needs to be released from its pain – or who find a cat who has “crashed” and have to do the final run to the hospital.

June 2024: Midnight  (KN)
I spent a lot of time coaxing this feral boy into accepting petting and grooming; 
chicken and consistency were key, until his health took a bad turn.  Miss you, Midnight!

And it’s the med staff who are at the Hospital with the cats to the end, reassuring them as they pass that they are still in loving hands, and undoubtedly grieving as they drive back to the Sanctuary afterwards.

July 2024: Leonardo di Catprio  (KN - the last photo)
This boy was a Back Courtyard icon, and his passing took many of us
by surprise, though he had become more frail...

I don’t think anyone goes into animal rescue care for the money – it’s a calling more than a career.  And burnout is not uncommon – if only a dozen or so cats leave to find new homes by adoption, they are well outweighed by the number of cats who pass in a year.  We have an aging population, we have cats with health issues as the reason for coming to us, and we have many ferals who have begun their lives malnourished and at risk, and who carry the side-effects into their later years.  Someone has to arrive early every morning to give the necessary early meds – and someone is there late into the evening to deal with the last doses.

August 2024: Raisin (KN)
This sweet old lady had come to us via a Vancouver parking lot;
she was fearful and hissy, but learned that humans often brought good food.

Cats who have been greatly loved are watched carefully when we know their time is coming, and it’s the med-staff who are ready when a furry body is found cold in its bed.  How can this be anything other than emotionally exhausting?  We volunteers grieve when a beloved cat passes, but we don’t have to carry the burden of responsibility for all of them – and we can step away and take a break when needed.

October 2024: Tumbleweed  (LBF)
Another Back Courtyard icon - Tumbleweed had cerebellar hypoplasia,
with little control over his movement, but lots of determination, and many people who loved him.

So, along with remembering the cats we’ve loved and lost this year, let’s also remember the med staff who have given them care and love – often unwanted and unappreciated by their furry patients, but always necessary.  I am grateful that we can give the gift of a gentle passing when needed – it is both the most loving and one of the hardest things we can do for a beloved pet. And when we mourn a beloved feline friend, let’s remember that the med staff also mourn, and have to deal with the “nothing that could be done” frustration that comes at the end for caregivers.  

November 2024: Quinn (KN)
This shy sweet boy was wary to the end - unless you had a treat in your hand;
if there was food he would summon up his courage and allow contact.

In this New Year, I hope that they can take all that makes them the caregivers they are, and make self-care a priority, giving themselves as much generosity and love as they give to our furry friends, and turning compassion fatigue into compassion satisfaction.

November: Calvin (MW)
He was the longest, skinniest boy, with the biggest appetite, 
and LOOOOVED his chicken. Michele's favourite cat - so many pictures!

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright

loving memories also of
January: Jethro, Maximilian & Plum  /  February: Perry  / March: Tashi, Desmond, Monty1, Brodie  /  April: Gigi, Portia, & Kiefer  / May: Layla & Chester / June: Salina, Lulu  / July: Hailey, Sambuca & Percival  /  August: Paylan, John Henry, Malcolm, Marie /  September: Ginger  /  October:  Bill, Clementine, Big Dave, Jillian  /  November: Tiki & Cinnamon  /  December: Meepos, Monty 2, Magnus & Len

Be Good While I’m Gone

Elvis - up close and personal   (KN)

I’ve volunteered at the Sanctuary for more than thirteen years now, and being with the cats has been a big part of my life. Not only is the place Sanctuary for the cats, but it is also Sanctuary for many of the volunteers, staff and visitors who enter the gates. I’ve been blessed by loving much about my work life, but cat-time – even when it involves scooping poop and cleaning up cat-barf – is something else, and I have encountered many loves there.  So the prospect of being away from them for more than a month is hard to contemplate – even though I’m very excited by the prospect of a holiday.

The regal and demanding Cole  (KN)

I often arrive with a baggie of chicken tidbits, and there is a certain amount of cupboard love involved. But whatever the motivation, it’s hard not to be touched when you arrive and your voice is recognized; when cats start gathering and vocalizing.  Probably my favourite thing is to enter the back courtyard – to have black Cole asking to be picked up, and tabby Celeste looking for petting. Before I get around the corner Pumpkin is hurrying down the stairs from Newcomers, and Midnight is emerging from his hiding place and anxiously calling me.

Midnight (BC) - still wary,
but increasingly comfortable with petting

Midnight’s very much a work in progress right now – he’s gone from being a touch-me-not feral to gently accepting food from my fingers, and ducking his head to solicit head scratches and full-body petting. He enjoys being groomed, but is easily spooked by the presence of other humans, and warned off by other cats. He is more vocal than many of the cats – and has been known to paw for attention when I have another cat on my lap.  I seem to be the only person with whom he allows this degree of contact, and I really hope that while I’m away, he will allow someone else to give him the pets that he craves. 

Sylar, asking if there's any more chicken,,,,   (BC)

Midnight can often be found with his grey buddy Sylar, who is officially my sponsor cat – Sylar will also accept food from the hand, but you need to watch your fingers; in his anxiety, he will not always aim well, and nipped fingers are a regular occurrence. Sylar does not allow contact that does not involve food – he is definitely a chickaholic. He will (reluctantly) allow petting when caged, and his body enjoys it, but his brain doesn’t – I’m not sure I’ll ever get him to where Midnight is...

Leo loves attention - cuddles often, admiration always...  (BC)

Beautiful Leonardo diCatprio is a regular greeter when I arrive on Friday mornings, and is another who loves to be picked up and snuggled when it’s his idea. Karen is his person of choice, but he is happy to make do with me if she doesn’t arrive. He is one of those cats who drapes himself elegantly in his basket or on the courtyard table, and demands to be admired. Food is less the draw than a caressing hand for Leo.

The Elvis cuddlers - Vince, Daphne, Brigid

And I will SO miss my buddy Elvis, who follows me around on my Friday morning shift, doing quality control on all the bowls of dry food.  At break times, he likes to take a flying leap so that he can cuddle on my chest and offer kisses.  He and I are not exclusive – he will cuddle with other people, so I don’t think he’ll be deprived of attention – but Elvis-time is a very special experience, and I will miss it. I sure hope he can find a home with someone who can give him all the love - but I also hope it'll wait till I'm back.

Scout (BC)

My own boy Scout is going to summer-camp with Debbie, where he will be loved and cared for – and the Neko-Blog is on a five-week hiatus while I am away on a largely cat-less vacation (my family are mostly dog-people!) Check at www.catsanctuary.ca for whatever will take the place of the weekly blog – I’ll be back at the Sanctuary in August! 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

Favourites

 

Everyone loves Cornelius (LBF)

Most of our volunteers fall into one of two categories. The first one loves the cats, and comes faithfully to scoop or clean or feed; the second not only loves the cats but bonds closely with individuals, looks for extra cuddle time, worries when “their” cat is under the weather, and frequently does extra shifts to have more cat-time. Some of these volunteers end up turning into staff members – others are just long-term Sanctuary devotees.

Holly  (KN)

Ann works various shifts, adjusting to her own schedule – she knows and loves many cats in many areas, but she will always make a point of visiting in the SingleWide in order to spend time with Jimmy. Jimmy came to us some years ago, and was living in the Moore House until it closed down;  he is still very wary around most people, but he knows when Ann arrives that she is his safe person. Rather than hiding in his usual way, he emerges to dance on the shelf, looking for her attention; he has recently started to add little vocalizations in his excitement.

Jimmy adoring attention  (MD)

Barbara and Waldi are among the most long-term volunteers. They have recently ceased the cold, wet, Saturday night feed in the back courtyard, though Barb will continue a daytime shift;  they always look for chunky grey Rookie in Newcomers. They actually brought him in to the Sanctuary, as a feral that had moved into their care-zone, and he settled well – initially in pen 5, though now he prefers the warmth of Newcomers. He always comes running when Waldi chirps to him.

Rookie   (KN)

Justin has many favourites, especially adoring the orange cats in Pen 6; Justin sings to Bentley (and to other cats as well) but can usually be found visiting with Roe. Roe particularly loves Justin, and will lie on her back having belly rubs as long as time allows. She is jealous of the fact that other cats, especially Cher, want Justin's attention too, leading her to sulk if someone else steals her Justin-time.

Roe  (JS)

Carol is another who has volunteered for at least ten years; she always arrives laden down with bags containing tasty cat-food other than the standard cans we offer them. She knows who loves chicken and who prefers the fish; she generally spends a good bit of time in with the Leukemia cats, who can sometimes be overlooked. She particularly loves front-courtyard Solar, who is the only one of a quartet of ferals who came to us from VOKRA to have warmed to human attention (though I’m working on his brother!). And she always looks for Autumn, who is the mother of her own Ben, who came to us as a little kitten called Treat – it’s because of him that she is still one of our most devoted volunteers.

Autumn  (KN)

Debbie started as a volunteer, served on staff, and now that she’s retired, is back to volunteering. She has a very close relationship with old Tugboat; she was there when he was brought in, she remains in touch with his family, and regardless of where she is working in the Sanctuary, she will always go and find him for some cuddle time.  He seems to know when she’s around and his demand to be picked up can be heard around the back courtyard. He divides his time between the TeaRoom where he’s often found in the bed close by the heater, and the DoubleWide, where he shares cuddles with Colin and Plum.

Tugboat with girlfriend Plum  (KN)

Karen came in as a student volunteer and is now on staff; she works all the areas, knows all the cats, and has an uncanny gift for seeing the personality of the animal through her camera lens. She’s the creator of many of the blog photos, and half of those in this year’s calendar. She’s a cat-whisperer with a gift for approaching the most scared of cats; like many of us, she knows what it is to have her heart broken by the loss of a favourite. She’s particularly attached to our “bad boy” Jasper, channeling his intelligence into learning tricks and keeping that brain busy!

Jasper in action  (KN)

Lisa also came in as a volunteer and fell in love with the place – she is part-time staff, fosters kittens, and waits patiently as a trapper to bring in strays and ferals. Some of her work was featured last February in the blog. She spends endless volunteer time socializing ferals – Sierra, Lloyd and Len in pen 4 have progressed under her care. Cornelius loves everybody but adores her, and she sponsors little tri-pawd Marmalade in the front courtyard.

Marmalade   (LBF)

I have so many favourites, it’s hard to limit the list!  I’m having a love-affair with Elvis, who gives the best snuggles.  I always make time with pretty Holly in pen 3, who really needs a home and a person to love and groom her. Bossanova knows my voice and is always ready to come for attention (and for treats). I’m known as the chicken lady – a bag of chicken tidbits is the best tool for making friends with ferals – and not-so-ferals as well. The DoubleWide deck cats hover hopefully – Bodhi, Hamlet and Luke are as keen for cuddles as they are for food. I’ve a longstanding lure out with the feral boys in the back courtyard – Sylar, Quinn and Midnight – and am excited that Midnight is finally taking food from my hand. 

Midnight waiting anxiously for treats  (BC)

So many personalities, so much love – and so many lives that would not have been possible without the no-kill principles of RAPS, promising hope for our furry friends.

Blog by Brigid Coult

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

Midnight & Steele

Steele, Smithy and Quinn - KN

In the last year we’ve had more black cats added to our back courtyard population, and I frequently find myself asking one of the staff, “Who is that cat?”  Some of the black ghosts turn out to be McLeod cats, like Atlas and Nyx, who used to live in Pen 6, and have now mostly relocated to the back of Pen 1. Others turn out to be cats who were caged in an area I have not been working in, and I’ve never got to know them – with them I will have to start from scratch.

Moxie, Smithy, Quinn, Albi,
and Midnight lurking at the back  (KN)

I have been spending time working on Sylar, the wary grey boy near Waldi’s hut, who looooves chicken, but is himself rather chicken among other cats.  He has finally come round to accepting food from my hand without letting Pumpkin and Walker (who are also chickaholics) scare him off. Surrounded by eager meows. I am aware of a couple of other cats in the vicinity – cats who don’t want to join the crowd, but are curious.

Midnight (MW)

Neither is curious enough to be easily approachable, though.  The trimmer of the two turns out to be Midnight. He is one of a group of four who came to us as ferals a couple of years ago. They were set up in the Hill House, and then released to the front courtyard. Of the four of them, grey Solar is the friendliest; tuxedo Mabel and tabby Libby prefer to remain at a distance, though it depends on their current feline company.  Black Midnight wanted nothing to do with us, and was one of a small group of cats who staged a jailbreak, not out of the Sanctuary, but into the area underneath the Single-Wide trailer.  Luckily, they were spotted from the other side, and a staff member in protective gear crawled underneath to set traps and retrieve them.

Midnight (KN)

Because Midnight had obviously not appreciated the front courtyard, we decided that he might as well remain in the back, and he joined the group of wary ferals who hang out around Waldi’s Hut and on the shelves backing against the Single-Wide deck.  Here he is in company with cats like Sylar, Smithy, Midnight, Quinn and others who like to be close enough for food, but with lots of places to hide.  We’ve not yet found his weakness.  Sylar and Quinn are equally wary, but love food, and it’s just been a matter of time (a lot of it!) before they come to us. Midnight is not generally food-motivated – certainly not enough to brave coming close enough to accept offerings.  It may take a while!

Steele  (BC)

The other black phantom is longer-furred, and often has a more raggedy appearance. He was one of the “detective” cats who found us, and was named Steele (for Remington Steele) since he burgled his way into the Sanctuary. He then discovered that climbing in was one thing, but it was much harder to get out.  However, with a source of food, safety and shelter, he has decided that he is better off – as long as he can avoid the humans.  

A more typical view of Steele  (KN)

Steele does not live up to the dashing appearance of Pierce Brosnan’s character – he’s pretty shaggy and unkempt, and obviously is not ready to allow us to groom him. Like Smithy, his thick fur mats, and he may end up joining Smithy in the LionCut club next summer.  We think he is deaf – it is possible to get quite close to him before he startles and scurries away.  

Steele is suspicious  (LBF)

These two are cats for whom the Sanctuary is all-important. Neither will ever be tame, even if we can some day touch them, and life in a cage would drive them crazy. At the Sanctuary they have the company of other cats, the semblance of freedom, and provision of food and safety. We always try to tame the ferals, but we know it’s not always possible, and we are glad that they can have good lives in our care.

Blog by Brigid Coult

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

A Semi-Feral Quartet

Solar & Libby - JK

Pre-pandemic, we took in four cats from VOKRA.  We have great admiration for all that Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association does. They do extensive work with trapping and spay/neuter; they place young mother cats and their litters in a network of hard-working foster-homes, and actively match cats with people seeking to adopt. They do have an operations centre in Vancouver, but it’s not set up for long-term stays. And when they have a feral group of cats come in, with limited space, they will sometimes turn to RAPS for assistance.

Big wary eyes - Mabel's not sure....   -  KN

We accepted Libby, Mabel, Solar and Midnight from them back in 2019. The quartet was scared and wary; they were young adults way past their best-by date for easy taming.  The optimal window is usually up to about 16-20 weeks old. That’s not to say that older ferals cannot be tamed, but it takes more patience – and with a group of ferals, their fear feeds off each other. So this little bonded group avoided contact with the Kitty Comforters, and once out of their group cage, they rushed to find hiding places.

Midnight - MW

Initially they could usually be found together, in various combinations. They didn’t want to be petted, but Solar and Mabel in particular were willing to sit and listen to a voice. Black Midnight was the most contact-avoiding of the group, and in an effort to stay out of sight, he joined a couple of cats who managed a jail-break under the SingleWide trailer – not off the premises, but in the area between front and back. Luckily the escaped convicts were spotted from the other side, and a member of staff in a full coverage suit wriggled through the access to set traps and retrieve the fugitives.  It was decided that we would leave Midnight in his new back courtyard space, and he hides out there with the other ferals, like Steele and Smithy and Sylar.

Midnight - KN

Solar is a chunky light-grey tabby, and definately the friendliest of the four. He has decided that he’s on to a good thing now he lives with us, and he makes nice with the staff and volunteers working around the front courtyard. He is particularly fond of volunteer Carol P, and hovers, waiting anxiously for her attention – and her chicken tidbits! He can often be found in company with the other cats on the climbing frame; he is one of many cats who will allow contact when they are on a wall or a shelf, but not on the ground – we’re just too big for their comfort.

Solar - BC

Mabel is the most distinctive of the four, with her smart tuxedo colouring, and the facial markings that make her appear to have a Batman mask. She’s still wary, and prefers the feral area, but can occasionally be found visiting in the Hill House.  She likes to hang out with Allen and Kenji – and they are similarly wary of any except the gentlest of contact but are starting to enjoy coming out for play. As the weather improves, the boys are more often found in the gazebo, in the middle of the courtyard – we hope that they can encourage Mabel to come out too.

Mabel's favourite place
is in a high-up basket!  -  MD

Libby is one of those tabbies who fades into the background. Cookie Hill, Freya, Cricket – all are tabby plus some distinctive characteristics. Libby is just Libby – and very good at hiding.  When you see her face-on, you’ll see the little white marking at her throat; but often she’s curled up on herself and you won’t notice it at all.  Lately she’s been hanging out with mustachioed Sweet Pea, which is hopeful – Sweet Pea has gone from being a don’t-touch-me feral to a girl who is willing to accept petting. We hope that she can teach Libby that we’re not that bad.

SweetPea and Libby - LBF

Solar, Mabel and Libby are no longer bonded in the way they used to be, but we will still occasionally find them visiting with each other. But they’ve all established their own spaces and they know that they are safe at the Sanctuary.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult, Melanie Draper, 

Jennine Kariya, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright