Graceless '12

It's been a few months since the last Graceless Kitties post - high time for the first installment of 2012.

So here are some of our sillier (or at very least more relaxed) friends at the cat sanctuary doing what they do best. Enjoy.

 photos by Marianne

photos by Michele

photo by Ayako

photos by Phaedra

 photos by Claire

In addition to thanking the photogs credited above, thanks to the cats (Fred, Piper, Morrissey, Diablo, Ricky, Leland, Larry, Ella and others) for playing along.

Let sleeping cats lie

photo by Brigid

Why let sleeping cats lie? Because, for some of them, if they wake up and catch you calling them cute as a little buttercup while they snoozed, furry belly exposed and paws in the air, you may be in trouble.
Trust me. I know.

With the warm weather comes an increased likelihood that cats at the sanctuary can be found sprawled in any manner of cute-as-a-buttercup (or sometimes just plain strange) poses as they rest to save up energy for more napping later.
Here's a sampling.

 Jenny

photo by Michele

 Max

photo by Michele

 Ziggy

photo by Michele

 Georgie

photo by Phaedra

 Fred

photo by Ayako

 Gunther

photo by Ayako

 Morrissey

photo by Brigid 

 Savannah

 Latte

 Faline

Patterson

Update: Morresy (and too many kittens)

Remember poor, bedraggled Morresy from back in June? If not, go here for a few photos of when he first came in.

By later in the summer, his ears had healed and his fur grown in enough that he could be sent to the No. 5 Rd. shelter for adoption. I was sorry to see him go, but looked forward to writing a post-adoption, RAPS Alumni post on him.

And then on Monday night, who should I find installed back in the doublewide but Morresy.

No, no sudden behavioral problems cropped up at the other shelter. The problem turned out to be nothing to do with Morresy, but still pretty much ruined his chance of getting adopted for now.

Three words: Too. Many. Kittens.

Kitten season is apparently rather late this year and local shelters, 5 Rd. included, are finding themselves overwhelmed. The CBC even ran a story yesterday about how the Surrey SPCA is "overrun with cats." Go to www.cbc.ca for the video story.

RAPS currently has many kittens at the 5 Rd. shelter plus a few at the sanctuary and even at Carol's home. Here are a few of the ones currently at the sanctuary, where staff are working with them to tame them up a bit so they can eventually be adopted.

Unfortunately, with all these kittens it can be hard to get people interested in seriously considering one of the adult cats waiting for a forever home. And of those who are interested, there are also a whole lot of adult cats to choose from.

And so Morresy waited and waited at 5 Rd., but nobody really looked at him. Getting consistently passed over and missing the human fan club he'd enjoyed at the sanctuary too, he wasn't the happiest boy.

Now he's back at the sanctuary and couldn't be more pleased. Anyone who remembers the quivering ball of patheticness he was when he was first brought in and worked with him then can't help treating him as a special boy. Which, of course, he doesn't mind in the slightest.

He'll be sent back to 5 Rd. for another chance at adoption later on, but until then, we'll just enjoy keeping those happy purrs and paw stretches coming.

Mini update - Morresy

Since so many people have taken an interest and an active role in poor frightened Morresy's well-being, I thought I'd do a quick update to let you know he's doing quite well indeed.

The concerted efforts of all to make him feel safe and loved seem to be paying off already. On Monday night it was the beginnings of a purr, then this afternoon he gave Ann a little purr and leaned his head into her hand while she scratched his chin. By the time I came to visit him this evening, he was ready to stand up and climb out of his bed for a proper cuddle culminating in purrs, rubs and finally a solid head butt.

We're thinking this one has the makings of a most excellent cat to be around.

I'll post more pictures once his fur's grown in and his ears have healed so we can all revel in his transformation into a handsome boy.

Morresy

This sorry looking creature arrived at the sanctuary just last Thursday. He was trapped on McLennan Avenue in Richmond, a wandering unneutered male with an impossibly matted coat and earmites so bad that he would have scratched his ears off if only it would put a stop to the discomfort.

Given the name Morresy, he's been to the vet, had his ears treated and his coat shaved. His cage in the doublewide is has blankets hung around his bed to give him a little refuge.

And a refuge he needs. Unlike many of the frightened strays I've met so far, I haven't seen Morresy lash out or spit; instead he just hunches down and quivers. He's thought to like being scratched under the chin... but that only works if you can quietly sit with him long enough for the quivering and flinching at every touch to subside. Wait a little longer, still being quiet and gentle as ever, and he slowly starts to relax enough to remember how hungry he is. It begins with a few lip smacks, a couple of licks, and then suddenly he's inhaling the plate of canned food being held in front of him.

Even with all the patience needed and the likely prospect of slow progress, there's something so rewarding about working with a cat who needs convincing before they realize that their world doesn't have to be a place of fear and uncertainty.