Bandana Boys & Belles

One of the most frequent questions from weekend visitors is about the adoption of Sanctuary cats.

Little John is one of our biggest cats,
and affectionate when you read his signals correctly!

My usual response is that we have four sorts of cats - 
-  we have a lot of ferals who don’t want anything to do with people
-  we have a number of semi-ferals who came in as ferals, and who have tamed up quite considerably
-  we have owner-surrenders – usually “the poopers, the pee-ers and the biters” – cats with bad bathroom habits, or aggressions problems – or the older cats whose owners may have gone into care, or passed away
- we have the cats with health issues: feline leukemia, feline AIDS, plus all the standard cat-problems like kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes and other conditions – all of which require vet-care.

Cute Hunter has just come to us from the 
Adoption Centre  (KN)

So, the official line is that the Sanctuary is the home for non-adoptable cats – and if you want to adopt, you need to go to the Adoption Centre.

But it’s not as easy as that. 

Adopting a seemingly tame semi-feral cat may work well – or it may terrify the cat to be taken away from its home and known community. More than once we have had to go and rescue a cat who hides in an inaccessible corner.  That situation is eased when the cat in question first bonds with the adopting human – which is why some of our adoptions are to volunteers who have first got to know the cat in question. Sometimes it’s a visitor who comes every week, and it’s obvious to staff that the cat has come to trust the person.

Sweet Raymond is FIV+ (in the Val Jones pen)
and polydactyl - look at those toe-beans!  (BC)

Cats surrendered for bad bathroom habits sometimes show no sign of it at all with us, and we have to come to the conclusion that something in the original home was stressing them. Given a home without those stresses, it is possible the cat may adjust well.  The same is true for cats labelled as aggressive – a very calm cat-savvy adopter who doesn’t push the cat for handling or cuddling may end up being a place where that cat will cuddle very happily.  We also have a number of cat-aggressive cats who might do well as the only cat in someone’s home, where there is no feline competition.

Older cats often find it hard to find new homes – when younger cats are available for adoptions (and kittens are SO cute!) cats of 14-years plus are often passed over. Of course, end-of-life is closer – but older cats have so much love to give, and they more than deserve to be pampered and spoiled in their golden years!

Mango was initially aggressive with humans and cats,
but now he feels safe, he has become relaxed and affectionate  (KN)

Then, some cats do not do well in the Adoption Centre environment. Cages are smaller, and cage reactivity/aggression can be a real factor. We have several cats in the Sanctuary who have come to us from the Adoption Centre because we can give them some much-needed space either to use up their energy in exploring, running around, and sometimes making friends, or to hide away – it all depends on the cat and their personality.

Of course, nobody wants to take on a cat when you may end up paying vet-bills. Many of us, however, loving our own long-term cats, have learned to do things at home like giving fluids for kidney disease, or administering insulin to diabetics. And with the AIDS cats, they may carry the virus with only minimal effect on their bodies – even leukemia cats can live good and happy lives when their medical needs are understood. The big issue with both these viruses is not passing them to other cats, and that can mean, for instance, having a leukemia-cats-only household.

That’s where the bandanas come into play.  Visitors for this last month of the summer (September 25 is the last day we’re open to the public) are seeing a few of our cats wandering around wearing dashing bandanas. The bandanas are a signal that the cat in question is potentially adoptable. 

Gizmo is FIV+, but a friendly, affectionate boy (KN)

The yellow/orange patterned ones are for outgoing friendly cats that would likely do great in a home but may have some conditions to their adoption. For example, they may need to be adopted in a pair as they are bonded to another cat. Or maybe they have FIV (feline aids).

The red patterned bandanas are for the adoptable cats that have a spicy side where their cattitude likes to shine through in the form of teeth and claws. From time to time they get over stimulated or their boundaries are crossed and they scratch, bite or both to express their emotions. So potential adopters need to be understanding of this behaviour and be willing to respect the cat’s boundaries.

If there is interest, the Sanctuary Manager can be contacted for more information.

Blog by Brigid Coult, with thanks to Shena Novotny

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

FIV+... But Still Adoptable

Angus (KN)

One of the conditions under which people may adopt cats from RAPS Adoption Centre is that the cat they take should remain an indoor pet. Some people find this a very hard condition, and stretch it to teaching the cat to wear a harness and leash, or building a catio for “outside” ventures. But it’s a condition that we will continue to ask for, because outside life for a cat can be a risky business.

Obelix   (KN)

Not only are there perils like traffic, coyotes, poison (and poisoned prey) but other cats they encounter may be dangerous to them. This is because of two viral conditions which are common to ferals and strays. Both present no danger to humans, but to varying degrees, will compromise the feline immune system.  These are Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). There is no medication available to cure a cat once it is infected – all we can do is treat the secondary infections.

Dillon  (KN)

FeLV is the more dangerous of the two, severely compromising the immune system, and transmitted via the cat’s saliva. For that reason, our Leukemia cats are kept separate and we follow careful sanitation protocols with them – not to protect ourselves, but to prevent them from catching something we might bring into their enclosure.  FIV, sometimes called Feline Aids, is transmitted only through blood, and is often found among feral male cats, who fight each other over females, territory and food sources. Infected female cats may pass the virus to their kittens in utero; of our 40 or so FIV cats, only four are female.

Minuet's sister was adopted,
but this girl is still too scared  (LBF)

There are three stages to FIV: an initial acute phase as the virus replicates rapidly, an asymptomatic phase which may last for years, and a progressive phase in which secondary infections occur – skin, mouth, eyes, respiratory or urinary problems are all common in this stage.  Visitors are often surprised to see this healthy bunch of cats being kept apart, but it’s easier for the med staff to keep an eye on them for secondary issues when they’re all together like this.  Accepted wisdom holds that FIV+ cats should not have contact with FIV- ones, but in fact when there is no aggression between cats, there can be no transmission. The story of Simba and Jack is a good reminder that FIV doesn’t need to divide good buddies.

Angus snuggling with his favourite blanket  (KN)

So, though not kept in the Adoption Centre, there are several of our FIV cats who are eminently adoptable – and who, if they bonded with resident cats, could live in a mixed household.  Tuxedo Angus has been on Petfinder for some time; he’s a sweet boy, living in New Aids, and struggling a bit with some of the strong purr-sonalities there. You will often find him buried under a blanket as he shuts out the world, and he’s happy to come for petting and love if he can do so without Domino getting in the way. He's a happy lap-sitter/bread-maker! Sleek black Obelix came to us several years ago, and is related to the calico crew in the front courtyard.  He was very shy for some time, and still tends to hold back until he knows and trusts you – at which point he is excited to come for petting and treats.

Obelix is wary at first, but loving when he trusts  (KN)

The cats who live in the Val Jones corner are also FIV+, and most of them are friendly and sociable. There are three that are immediately adoptable, and they’re all black. Dillon came from the same source as Chai, Kahlua and Dominique, in the main courtyard. He’s pretty cat-friendly, and is definitely pro-human – willing to come out and visit; his buddy Charles was quickly adopted. Longer-haired Gizmo looks is a very different Gizmo from the grey Back Courtyard guy – this Gizmo is friendly and sociable and there’s been no hint of grey-Gizmo’s erratic temper. Unfortunately he is already showing some mouth problems, and it may be better to keep him where he has quick access to RAPS medical attention.

Gizmo loves to come for petting  (BC)

One other boy in the Val Jones is a shoo-in for adoptability - he's the first to climb into a lap, and give love - but he's also the most loving cat to other cats in the pen. Jim arrived with his beloved buddy Frank more than two years ago; we lost Frank last year. Jim now snuggles with everyone - even grumpy Magnus plays with him. He has been the comforter for scared Minuet, and helped bring her to a point where we can touch her. For the health of the Val Jones community, Jim may be a permanent fixture!

Jim  (LBF)

The third black boy is new, and much younger – Raymond is about four years old, and has only recently arrived at RAPS from another rescue. He is an outgoing and very affectionate boy with lots of love to give. Shelter Manager Shena says, “He truly is a real sweetheart and would love a family of his own. He loves chatting and has a lot to say. He is very easy-going and enjoys laying sprawled out across the window ledge looking at all the sights. He is polydactyl which means if you love toe beans, he has an extra one for you to love.” 

Raymond  (LBF)

All our black boys also suffer from black-cat-syndrome – they are easily overlooked for more colourful kitties.  But any black-cat lover will tell you that it usually takes only a little time to uncover the purr-sonality behind all that black fur – and that you will be the lucky one indeed if you take one of these guys to your heart, despite their FIV+ diagnosis.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson