Adopted Cats: All I Want For Christmas Is Mew

Some of our Sanctuary cats DO get adopted!

Goose (FIV+) is king in his new home  (KN)

We have a steady flow of kittens and occasionally older cats who pass through the doors of rhe RAPS Adoption Centre – in from a rescue situation or from the loving hands of a fosterer – and out into the warm world of a new home.  The Adoption Centre is the first building a visitor will encounter as they approach the Sanctuary – and there are a whole lot more cats in the Sanctuary itself who may never find a home.

Front Courtyard Alvin has a new home   (KN)

There are many reasons this may be so. The most usual is that a cat is feral – ranging from the ones that are so scared that they will not allow humans to approach them, to the cats who will only accept careful attention: treats and a little petting. These are all cats who, without a no-kill policy, would probably be put down. In this situation, I hate the term “euthanasia” – this is killing for human convenience’s sake, and no amount of gentleness in the procedure makes it anything but unnecessary. 

One-eyed Willi's first adoption failed,
but he is very happy in his new home   (BC)

Many of the volunteers have at some time had a cat who began as a feral, and over time, adjusted to human company – but equally, we’ve had many cats at the Sanctuary who have never tamed, and continue to show fear to the end. For those cats, there will always be a place with us where they can hide, there will be shelter and food, and medical attention when needed.

Riker loved nothing better than lap-time  (BC)

We had multiple cats in merged cages this time last year - the three Dumpling cats, and long-haired Riker and Kramer;  Riker's adoption was facilitated with a visit to a local pet-store, where he was available to the public;  the Dumplings were all taken together, and we were delighted.  Kramer decided that he really wasn't bonded to Riker, and that though he quite like humans, he was not going to bond with them either; he is still with us, mostly playing the role of the Cat Who Walks By Himself.

Little tripod Jelly settled quickly into our hearts
and then into the hearts of her adopters.  (BC)

The other group of cats who will likely never live anywhere but at the Sanctuary are the bathroom baddies – the cats who have usually been surrendered for litterbox problems, and who express themselves in pee and poop. Two other reasons for surrendering do not necessarily preclude potential adoption: cats brought in “for aggression” can often learn with us that they do not need to react so quickly when there are humans around who read their body language and move gently around them. 

Hank, from New Aids, loved nothing more than lap-time
and human attention - he got his wish  (KN)

Of the cats who are here for health reasons, some are better where they can get medical attention, but others are actually adoptable as long as the adopter is aware of the flags to watch for.  Many of our FIV+ cats are adoptable, and of those who are not, with most of them it’s for reasons other than the FIV+ diagnosis – generally that they’ve joined the club and become pee-ers. Some of our younger FeLV cats have also been adopted as well, though many FeLV cats do have shorter lifespans, and you adopt, knowing that you many not have many years.

Audi was shy but sweet;  she spent a long time in a cage
for medical care, but it gave her time to become fully socialized  (BC)

When I first came to volunteer at the Sanctuary, very few of the cats were adopted out – but we have learned so much in the last years about behavioural issues, and about conditions like FIV and FeLV. Now we can name a number of cats who are potentially adoptable, and in the last year alone, at least a dozen have left to find a new home. 

Picasso's adoption ended with travel when his new person
moved back east. He's very happy!  (KN)

Some of them have gone to volunteers, to a person that they have come to know and love, and felt comfortable with even before they left. Some have found a connection out of the blue – I will never forget watching Strike meet his human, jump into her lap and just settle, back in 2023 – or watching Elvis meet his human soul-mate.

Gordo looked like trouble, but was a true pussy-cat,
and was adopted by one of our volunteers   (AG)

Sweet Misto began fearful and then became a cuddle machine
who would dance around wanting non-stop pets.
She would often forget to put her tongue back in... (KH)

Gordo and Misto are now living happily together  (AA)

Next week, I’ll be remembering the cats we’ve lost over the course of the last year – but I felt this Christmas week was the time to think about the cats who have come as gifts into their people’s lives over the course of the year, and who have in turn found the gift of a loving home.  In a time of gifting and goodwill, let’s remember some of our 2024 adopted cats

McCormick came to me for fostering while we adjusted 
his meds and his diet for allergies;
the move is permanent, and he gets on well with my older cat, Scout.

 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Alicia Almeida, Brigid Coult, Akira Graham,
Kim Howe, Karen Nicholson

Finding Homes for Multiples

Purrito and Potsticker

Some of the cats that come into our care at the Sanctuary are cats that don’t like other cats. At the Sanctuary, that’s actually not an issue – they can find space for themselves and avoid unnecessary encounters. And if that dislike results in peeing and marking – well, we can always do more laundry!

Dumpling

Occasionally they will do really well in a home if they are the Only Cat – where they can claim the territory for themselves and have all the attention of their human.  But when it comes to adopting out cats and kittens, we usually suggest that people adopt a pair – especially when it comes to kittens – or to match a new cat to the social nature of their existing cat.  

Jinx

Currently we have the situation of several bonded adult cats in our care, cats that we feel should be kept together if possible. These are cats who have a clear preference for each other’s company, and who we think would be unhappy to lose friend or sibling. All of them are very sweet cats, tame and sociable.

Whiskers

In the SingleWide are 7-year old brothers Whiskers and Jinx.  They were caged together initially, and when released they wandered freely in the area – not necessarily together – but they can often be found in company, and sharing the couch with a volunteer or visitor.

Whiskers specializes in "yoga sleeping" - AG

They’ve had an enforced separation recently, when Jinx had some necessary dental surgery and was caged to recover, so it will be interesting to watch the re-establishment of the bond. Whiskers regularly visits with his brother and talks through the cage door.

Kramer & Riker

In the DoubleWide are Kramer and Riker. Both boys had originally come from us, and were returned when there were family difficulties; Riker is about two years old and Kramer several years older. 

Kramer is very regal!

Kramer is a big tabby boy, probably with some Maine Coon in him (though not the pointed ears!); he was very wary and reactive initially, but has calmed down a lot, and now solicits petting. A lot of his comfort, I think, derives from the company of his buddy Riker. Riker is also a tabby, but with a lot of reddish fur – he’s a very beautiful boy. He’s also probably got some ragdoll in his make-up – he just loves to be picked up and cuddled, and is happy to be held on his back and have his tummy rubbed.

Riker is more curious, and loves lap-time

Our DoubleWide cages are much larger than the ones in the Adoption Centre where the kittens are kept, but for two big boys, it’s still a bit cramped, so Riker and Kramer have a duplex – we cut a small panel between cages so they can choose where to be. Sometimes they’re in separate areas; sometimes they’re visiting together.  We’re reluctant to let them out with the other cats, because we don’t want them to get used to going outside; when RAPS adopts cats out, we require a commitment to keep them as indoor cats. We can also keep them safer from infections in a confined area. But we’d love to see the two of them go to a good home where they can roam the house.

Pussycat pile

The other duplex in the DoubleWide is the home of not two, but three large cats. Potsticker, Dumpling and their sister Purrito were dumped without any explanation. The three of them are beautiful healthy cats in good condition, so someone loved them, but we have no knowledge of their background. They love attention and petting – Potsticker is the attention hog – and though Dumpling was initially a bit reactive when he arrived, like Kramer, he has relaxed and taken comfort from his cage-mates.

Purrito - all the cuteness!

Finding an adopter for three big beautiful cats is not easy – thinking of taking two is feasible, but three...  But these three need to be together – so we keep looking for a situation where they can have room to explore and be at home, with lots of love and attention.

Dumpling

There are always lots of kittens looking for homes, and single adult cats – but it’s so much harder to find homes for multiples.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Akira Graham