Remembering Friends

Back Pens - everyone loved  Chatter - MW

At the end of each December, we wish each other a Happy New Year – but we also look back at the year just past and remember the triumphs we've won and the trials we’ve survived.  And especially at the Cat Sanctuary, we’ll remember the cats we’ve lost.

SW - Georgie & her Christmas Mouse - MW

We actually memorialize them in the summer at a pot-luck event held at the Sanctuary and attended by humans and cats alike (it can be a little hard to keep them off the tables!)  And part of the event always includes the reading of the names of the cats who have passed in the previous year – a moment that is named for raggedy Chance who got a second chance of life when he came to us. We are reminded of the legend of the Rainbow Bridge, and the cats who are waiting for us to cross as well – and there are always tears and fond memories.

Front - Gilbert, much loved - MW

But remembering Big Personalities who have passed is more common in the media at the turn of the year – so here are just a few of the beloved cats who have been in our care, and have gone on to the Rainbow Bridge.

Moore - Spicer, missed by her buddy Shaggy - MW

In the Moore House, established by and named for our beloved Marianne Moore, most of the cats are seniors (it’s affectionately known as “geriCATrics”), and though we grieve their passing, we know that these are cats who have had their final days with much love from us

Moore - PomPom (BC) & Fluffy (MW) -   both came to us
when they were already seniors

Moore - Jack went from being a cranky aggressive cat
to one who loved being petted - MW

Our FIV+ cats may not ever develop full-blown AIDS, but many of them have lived feral, rough lives before they came to us, and their bodies are more fragile than in the general population

NewAids - Mr Moochie - BC

NewAids - Achilles - MW

The FeLV (feline leukemia) cats’ fragile immune systems mean that we tend them with great care for cleanliness. Of the cats we’ve lost this year, two stand out for me:

OA - Zanda loved to come and cuddle - PH

OA - Cleo was disabled, but gutsy! - MW

Those of us who work in the SingleWide quickly develop our favourites

SW - Zoe was a member of the Dryer Gang - MW

SW - Tammy hated other cats - but loved Shelter Manager Lisa - MW

Some really significant cats in the front courtyard have passed

Brothers Tommy & Pogo were well-loved by everyone - MW

We lost Daniel in 2018; Cloverleaf has gone to be with his buddy - MW

Many of the Double-wide cats who have gone are either seniors (Binky, Deenie) or the cage-top shy ferals (Pixie, Peanut, Mary). The cat that I still subconciously look for is Sativa, whose Manx-Syndrome incontinence brought her to us, and whose human family faithfully visited her every Sunday.

DW - we all got used to cleaning up after Sativa - MW

So many big personalities in small furry bodies in the back courtyard have passed.

PawPaw happily made the transition from an outside pen
to live inside with his buddy Chimo - MW

B/w WobblyBob and his grey buddy Yogi went
within weeks of each other - VL

Terry never let his disability stop him! - PH

And I can’t pass up the chance to memorialize the two I adopted from the Moore house, and had in my care for all too short a time – much loved and not forgotten.

Mr Bojangles and Madame Hooch - MW

Many of these cats came in to us as ferals, and as ferals they would have had short, hard lives. In our care they were loved by staff, volunteers and visitors. Their passing was grieved – but it also left space to accept other homeless cats – ferals, strays, rejects – all of whom are now discovering that life can be good at the Cat Sanctuary.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Phaedra Hardman, Vicki Lo, Michele Wright

P.O.W. Cats

At the back of the AIDS pen is a smaller one where a group of five cats live together.

Frontier & Walter - MW

The enclosure is known as the Prince of Wales pen – it was built about 9 years ago with a generous donation from fundraising by students from Prince of Wales school in Vancouver. Initially it housed a group of feral cats that had come to us from the Interior; they were not FIV-positive, and as the older ones passed, it was decided to combine the remaining colony with the feral cats in Pen 3 

Malcolm & Mr Moochie - BC

Our population of AIDS cats was growing.  Cats who are feral, or who have lived wild for a time, are more likely to become infected with the virus in the course of battles over territory or potential mates. And many of them have decided that humans are to be feared – no matter how kindly they are treated. Cats like Tiberius and Zimmer have made the transition to toleration – they will move from cabin to pen easily, and though they don’t like touch, they will accept it. But there are also cats in the back of the AIDS pen who don’t even like to be looked at; they prefer to hide when visitors are around and are stressed by too much movement.  For some of those we have made a sanctuary within the pen; for others the move to the Prince of Wales pen was the answer.

Malcolm - BC

Five cats make up the POW colony. Many of our AIDS cats have come from other shelters around the province where there are no facilities to keep FIV or FeLV cats separate from the general population. Big blocky Malcolm is usually the greeter at the gate. He may hiss a bit, but allows gentle petting and can be quite chatty. He loves his chicken and catnip treats. He’s almost a twin to Harold, who was an AIDS cat we lost about a year ago – similar colouring and build. I wonder if they came from the same colony...

Malcolm (left) and the late Harold (right)  - MW

Also fairly comfortable with himself is tabby Frontier. He’s obviously lived a tough life, with a harsh coat and a few scars, but he now knows he’s in a safe place and is more relaxed.

Frontier - BC

Mr Moochie is a long-haired dark-brown boy who likes to lounge in a box. Actually, given half a chance, they ALL like to lounge together if they can find a big enough bed.  When he came to us, he was determined to find an escape route, and the relocation to POW was our move to foil that – in a smaller pen, it was easier to ensure that all the possible cracks that might lead to a breakout were secured. 

Mr Moochie - BC

We never want our cats to escape – life outside the pens is too dangerous. But especially, we wouldn’t want any of the AIDS cats to escape, to be a possible danger to other cats.

Walter and Harvey prefer to hide - BC

The remaining two in the pen are tuxedos – Walter has an all-white nose, and Harvey has a white blaze. Both are definitely feral; Walter is brave enough to turn and hiss as he takes cover; Harvey just hides, though if he’s cuddling with his buddies he does well as long as we don’t get too close.

Harvey - BC

When Walter first came in, and was in a cage, he was pettable (bum-in-the air!) but now he has his "freedom" he has decided that he doesn't much like us.

Walter - BC

These five don’t get outside visitors; the latter will sometimes visit the AIDS cats at the weekend when there is a guide available, but we don’t allow access to these shy boys.  They get regular attention from the staff and volunteers who are more familiar to them, and the Kitty Comforters team members spend quite a bit of time with them.

Frontier & Mr Moochie - BC

As with all our feral cats, we will be delighted if they decide they would like a closer friendship with humans, but if that never happens, they will just be allowed to continue in their small colony, with the furry friends with whom they know they can snuggle.

Louise says this makes her think of a rock band album cover
- perhaps a band called "Stray Cats"

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Louise Parris & Michele Wright