Chanel

Who could ever look at this cute face, and not fall in love?

MW

That was certainly the case for this pretty girl, who came into the SPCA in Vancouver as a pregnant mom, and was adopted by a couple who just fell for her. Like many cats in a shelter situation, she was very shy, and they took her home and named her Pixie, confident that the shyness would wear off and she would warm to them.
Didn’t happen!

MD

They must have been very good cat-parents, because they were endlessly patient with her shyness, and her ability to hide herself away.  They didn’t push her to interact, but as any owner of a feral cat knows, you wonder how long you can live with a shadow permanently lurking under the bed.  By the sixth year of her time with them, she had progressed to sitting beside her human dad on the couch, and allowing just a little petting before running away to her hiding place again.

BC

Then something happened that made it necessary for them to move – and not just a single move, but one that would probably involve several transitions.  They loved her, and they knew that this would be very stressful for her. And so they brought her to us, seeking sanctuary for her, and a place where she might feel safe.

MD

Her original name of Pixie suited the scared, wary creature she was at the beginning, but Leslie thought she needed a name-change to suit the classy little cat she could be.  Her lovely dilute colouring reminds us somewhat of Princess Diva and of Latte - both of whom are very much their own personalities - and Leslie named her Chanel, hoping that she would grow into the confidence of her classy namesake. For the first while Chanel lived in the DoubleWide, in a quiet corner cage. She accepted visitors from the shelter of her box, but firmly stayed inside – the volume of her purring made it clear that petting was welcome, but her non-appearance also sent a very clear message.

MD

Finally she was moved over to the Moore House – the area also known as “GeriCatrics”. Chanel was not that old – probably no more than 7 or 8 – but the quiet life in the Moore House was much more to her taste.  For some time she preferred to hang out in a shelter of some kind – preferably one that was just out of reach. She didn’t allow for our determined Kitty Comforters, who were quite prepared to perch precariously on a chair in order to pet her and remind her that humans have their uses.

CP

In the last year or so she has improved in confidence, wallowing in caresses when offered, and interacting fairly peaceably with the other cats – in particular, with Sophia, with whom she can often be found snuggling. For Chanel, the Sanctuary is truly a place where she can feel secure.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Melanie Draper, Chris Peters, Michele Wright

Princess Diva

This elegant lady came to us more than a year ago when her owners moved out of town.  When she was surrendered, we were told that she had originated as a feral barn-cat, and when adopted, had settled into home life quite happily. However, her adopters then got a dog. This did not go down well with Princess Diva, and she reverted to living outside.

MW

True feral cats may be TNR'd (trapped-neutered-released), but this girl's owners had the sense to realise that they couldn't just go off and leave her to fend for herself. At the same time, as a former feral, she didn't make a very likely candidate for adoption. One of the requests RAPS makes of adopters is that they do not allow their cats outside; coyotes, raccoons, cars and all the other perils of outdoor life usually make for a shorter lifespan, and with the right enrichment (interactive play, seating at different heights, places to hide) an indoor cat will do very well.

PH

But Princess Diva would not fare well at the No 5 Road shelter – too little space, too many cats – and it was decided that she would come to us at the Sanctuary.  She began her stay with us in the Moore House with the "gericatrics", thinking to give her some quieter space, but her cranky roommates upped her own quotient of crankiness.  For a while she was transferred to the Double-Wide in preparation for eventual release into the back courtyard – it was during this period that the lovely photo of her in the 2016 calendar was taken.

CP

Upon release she made her way to the back pens, and has settled there fairly happily. She is the original "cat who walks by herself" - we rarely see her interacting with other cats. It`s not like Timmy or Leland, the front courtyard "garbo cats" who actively dislike other cats – Princess Diva just seems not to notice lesser felines; they're beneath her attention.

CP

With humans, she will occasionally permit a little worshipful petting; in the right mood, a bit of gentle head-rubbing will produce a quiet purr, but she rarely allows further contact, and a warning growl will let you know that the hand has gone too far down the body, before she wanders off again to be about her own business.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Phaedra Hardman, Chris Peters, Michele Wright