Senior Love

Jamie & Calista  - CT

So many Sanctuary cats living together quite happily is something that surprises people.  Many of us will have had the experience of bringing a new cat into our home, to have all the feline relationships go sideways, and cats have a reputation for being picky about their company.

Jasper & Sophie: tabbies with 'tude  -  KN

Somehow at the Sanctuary, that’s rarely a factor. We have the occasional trouble-maker (are you listening, Jasper?) who wants to throw his weight around, and we have several “don’t get in my space!” cats (yes, I mean you, Sophie!). But for the most part, there is enough space that cats who don’t get on are able to avoid each other.

Three Romeos: Mario, Salty, Daniel    (CF/MW/MD)

The ones we love to see are the cats who draw other cats to them. You will have read about our gentle giant, Mario, who had a harem of feral boys and girls – and of Salty, who inherited Mario’s mantle, and made the Double-Wide couch his cuddle-puddle. In the front courtyard, the cat-magnet, until the year before last, was orange Daniel, and his passing left quite a space among the ferals.

Jamie - CT

It seems that Jamie has stepped into Daniel’s place.  When I first met Jamie, he was a wary feral, spending most of his time in the covered yard named “The Old Rabbit Area”. This is a favourite space for the ferals, with covered shelves, hidden baskets, a heat-lamp, and the security of knowing they are rarely bothered by humans.

Jamie - MW

There’s a window between this area and the adjacent Hill House, and depending on how secure cats are feeling, they may come through and visit in comfort. For quite some time, Jamie was a window cat, and the more time he spent in the Hill House, the more comfortable he became with attention.

Calista - sleeping beauty - CT

Calista based herself next door in the shed with the yellow door. But she’s an old lady nowadays, and getting frail, and the attraction of the heat lamp drew her to the “O.R.A” and then into the Hill House. She and Jamie found themselves sharing space quite frequently, and have become very much an item – sometimes just snuggling together, but often grooming each other and bunting together.

Jamie & Calista - CT

Other cats are part of the menage -Jamie is a cat who draws rubs and bunts from all his buddies.  But when Calista is out and about, you’ll probably find her with Jamie.  Both of them are getting up there; At at least 12 years of age, Jamie counts as a senior, and Calista is a good three years older, having come to us with her sister Renee around 2005. But the years don’t diminish the affection, and we love to see the two of them purring and snuggling together.

Jamie & Calista - CT

Blog by Brigid Coult (with thanks to Cheryl Townsend)

Photos by Melanie Draper, Claire Fossey, Karen Nicholson, 

Cheryl Townsend & Michele Wright

Feline Loverboy

This week's blog from volunteer Pauline Chin.

Tibet looks down from the cage-top - PC

We have seen several cuddle kings over the years. These feline loverboys magnetically draw in many cats that snuggle right up to them.  It was as if they possess magic – a love potion that extends beyond genders and makes other cats feel safe, relaxed, and full of purrs.

Tibet - MW

So what makes them so attractive? Pheromones? A magnetic personality? Their aura?  Mannerisms?  Their plush fur?  No one knows for sure.  If only cats spoke human.…

Mario was a comfort to feral buddy Shrek - CF

For veteran volunteers, Mario was lovely in appearance and personality.  He was the most well-known cuddler of cats.  His presence was enough to entice a crowd of cats to form a snuggle pile on top of him.  Only his fur was visible underneath the fuzzy bodies.

Salty (centre) and the boyz - Ridley (L) and Sid (R)  -  MW

Dusty was one of Salty's many girlfriends - DW

 After Mario travelled to the rainbow bridge, it was Salty’s turn.  Salty spent most of his time on the couch of the double wide and the cuddlers followed suit.  The couch was also the “secret spot” for visitors to have 5-10 cats walk all over them. (We know Salty did most of the work.)  Sadly, Salty went to join Mario and we were left without a feline loverboy for a while. 

Tibet - MW

Unexpectedly, a noisy tabby emerged. After being caged for another treatment of a constantly recurring cold virus, back-pen cat, Tibet, chose to stay in the Double-Wide. In recent months, he has shown the cage-top cats and back deck cats a great deal of physical affection.  Tibet would walk up to almost any cat and give them a good head bonk, body rub, or spend naptime with them.  Shadrack, Spike, Scooter, Lulu, even ferals Benji and Ringo have all received Tibet cuddles.

Judy & Tibet - MW

During life in the back pens, he had a girlfriend named Judy. Tibet moved on from that relationship, but Judy still searches for him. She briefly consoled herself cuddling in the newcomers area with Sprocket – a young, handsome feral that used to spend a lot of time with big boy Tiger in an open cage in the Double-Wide. Tiger has now been adopted, and Sprocket is confident enough to venture out into the backyard.

Pixie's warning stare - MW

In the double wide, Tibet’s new girlfriend was Pixie.  Always out of reach, she was untouchable in the 15-ish years she spent with us. Through Tibet’s love and encouragement, she transformed into a happier cat, who finally welcomed petting in her final months.

BC

On the back deck, Tibet may have had a short romance with LouLou. Whatever it was, it was enough for her to become more confident, outgoing, and interested in people.  Even Spike has changed. He makes it a point to hop down for petting during visiting hours. He even tries sharing a bed with Buddy, although the latter refuses cat cuddles.

Watch for the sneeze from above!  - KN

Visitors initially become aware of Tibet by his snorting sounds/snoring/weird purr.  They’re amused by it and it’s usually the conversation starter. Once spotted, he’s quick to approach (he used to be shy!).  He leans down and offers his head for touching.  Then shakes his head.  Watch out for flying snot!   For years, he was known for his incurable chronic congestion.  One of the current causes for his snortiness is a polyp in his nasal passage, but there's no guarantee that its removal will quiet him down.  Some animals and humans breathe loudly and that’s just how their bodies were built.  Although it sounds like his nose is clogged, he can definitely smell when dinner is being served!

MW

If anything, Tibet’s physical affection for cats has grown leaps and bounds in just months.  He is a charmer and a comforter.  He loves cats and cats adore him – a true loverboy.  We’re incredibly lucky to have Tibet.  We get to enjoy his company and the positive changes he’s made in the cats.

Blog by Pauline Chin

Photos by Pauline Chin, Brigid Coult, Claire Fossey, 
Karen Nicholson, Debbie Wolanski, Michele Wright

Ridley

Ridley is a feral who's gotten comfortable enough with people that he's fine with more or less ignoring us while he enjoys hanging out in the doublewide. Fortunately or unfortunately, this does tend to lead to some cases of mistaken identity -- that is to say, from the back it's easy to mistake him for one of the more friendly black cats and try to give him what turns out to be a rather unwelcome pat.

Ridley may not be too sure about humans, but he is quite sure about Salty and can often be seen cuddled up with his friend.

Salty may even be the way to Ridley's heart. Ridley generally won't let anyone touch him, but when I was patting Salty while they were sitting together earlier this week, he became so delighted with me for making Salty happy that he leaned in for some rubs too.

If I tried to pat just him and not Salty, I was shown a warning paw poised for a swat...

...but as long as I was patting Salty, I was permitted to carry on sharing a cuddle with Ridley as well.