Mr Binx

Mr Binx  (KC)

Any visitor to the New Aids pen is bound to be greeted by the welcoming committee, usually led by chunky Mr Binx. Binx and Domino consider themselves to be the primary New Aids hosts, and both will happily take any opportunity to slide past a carelessly open door and into the between-gates area.  Luckily, they are both easily scoopable for return to their own space.

A position of power - overseeing everyone else  (KC)

Mr Binx came to us about four years ago with his buddy Panda, who passed a year later. He was from Broken Promises on Vancouver Island - one of many other cats who have come from that rescue - and like most of the other New Aids boys, had lived feral for a while. He’s not forgotten his feral skills; he is one of the keen hunters when a stupid young rat tries to enter cat-territory. Like some of the others, Binx is not the most reliable user of litter-boxes, and therefore not a good candidate for adoption.

On the lookout for prey?  (KC)

He does not live up to his role model. The Mr Binx of the 1993 movie Hocus Pocus is an elegant black cat. Our Mr Binx is a chubby mess, with his black fur offset by a splotch of white on the right side of his muzzle;  he tends to look rumpled and needs regular grooming, but does not really enjoy the process.

Serious bed-head...   (KC)

Weekend visitors learn that if they want time with really friendly Sanctuary cats, New Aids is the place to be! Volunteer Marty spends Sunday afternoons with NA cats (and visitors), and knows them well. Food is a strong motivator, and Binx is always in the lead when it comes to mooching. Marty says that Binx will accept few pets, but generally doesn’t have much time for most humans unless bribed. He is front of the line when the red treat cups are full, but will go sit on the sidelines when they are empty. He’s not aggressive or anything – just more solitary, and while he has friends in the pen, he spends most of his time alone by preference. 

Lounging around, waiting for goodies  (BH)

Some of the cats will stay out of the way when there are more than one or two humans around; cats like Vinnie and Rocket prefer the quiet life. Mr Binx doesn’t object to crowds – the more visitors, the more treats will come his way!

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Katy Cobb, Brielle Hutchison, Karen Nicholson

Feeeeet!

Freya's feet   (MW)

 If you are reading this blog, you are probably one of the many people who uses social media to indulge in your feline addiction.
We post pictures of our own cats, our friends’ cats, cat-memes, famous cats like Cole & Marmalade or Maru.  If we are lucky enough to be associated with a shelter or a cat sanctuary, our cell-phones are loaded with images. Kittens and seniors, feel-good stories and sad tales of abandonment, all touch our emotions. 
And one of the never-fail images is of FEET.

Bentley paw over nose  (KN)

Paws, to be exact.  Poofy paws, usually, with claws discreetly hidden.  Poofy on the top, and with a variety of patterned toe-beans below.

Claws are useful for Plum to grab a treat  (KN)

Human feet are definitely not so interesting. Nobody wants to look at pictures of cattle or horses’ feet – impressive though they may be. Dogs – well, perhaps some of them.  But cats’ feet almost always get an “Awww” response.

Jasper demonstrates the pile of paws pose  (KN)

Cats are DIGITIGRADE – meaning they walk on their toes. This is why it is so cruel to declaw a cat – you’re taking away the top joint of the toe, and everything is more uncomfortable without it.  Many declawed cats will end up in a shelter or a sanctuary because they hate to use a litter-box – it hurts their feet. And many will lose muscle tone because they don’t like to move around so much, and are unable to give their muscles a real workout without digging their claws into something.

Akiva has no claws - but he still needs to clean between his toes  (KN)

On a hot day, they can often be found with pads exposed – when you have a fur coat, paws may be the only place you can cool off by sweating.

Lindor cooling off, with all paws exposed  (MW)

Cats use their paws for much more than just walking. They climb (sometimes having to return backwards down a tree); they dig (with luck, mostly in the litter-box), they leave scent markings for other cats to decode, they fight other cats (especially Jasper and Gizmo), they swat unwary humans, they wash up with velvet paws, and then extend their toes so they can clean between them.

Mr Binx clean-up time  (KN)

Our Sanctuary cats give us a wonderful collection of feet to admire

Alexandria is one of our very active cats, and her flexible paws are often used for climbing.

Alexandria offers the Vulcan salute  (KN)

Jackie-O is also a climber, possibly made easier by an extra “thumb” on her front paws

Jackie O's paw  (KN)

Extra thumbs help to hang on   (MW)

We have several polydactyl cats at the Sanctuary. Raymond in Val Jones, Christina Aguilera in the Front Courtyard, and NikkiSixxToes in the Single-Wide all have more than their share of toes.

NikkiSixxToes could also be called Bigfoot   (KN)

A glass table-top in Pen 3 is an irresistible tool for getting feet pictures from another angle

The models on top  (LBF)

paws from below  (LBF)

This dark tortie girl was named for her blond toes!

Toes  (EW)

Sometimes we call them “murder mittens” – but often when you see them like this, the cat is usually asking for attention

Kiefer's velvet paws reaching through from the Single-Wide (KN)

Winston says "Reach out and touch me!" (KN)

And of course, there is nothing we like better than to have a purring pile of fur in the lap, and the sensation of being kneaded gently as the paws show how much we are loved!

Roe loves a lap!  (JS)

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill Friesen, Brigid Coult, 

Karen Nicholson, Justin Saint, Erica Warren, Michele Wright