Midnight & Steele

Steele, Smithy and Quinn - KN

In the last year we’ve had more black cats added to our back courtyard population, and I frequently find myself asking one of the staff, “Who is that cat?”  Some of the black ghosts turn out to be McLeod cats, like Atlas and Nyx, who used to live in Pen 6, and have now mostly relocated to the back of Pen 1. Others turn out to be cats who were caged in an area I have not been working in, and I’ve never got to know them – with them I will have to start from scratch.

Moxie, Smithy, Quinn, Albi,
and Midnight lurking at the back  (KN)

I have been spending time working on Sylar, the wary grey boy near Waldi’s hut, who looooves chicken, but is himself rather chicken among other cats.  He has finally come round to accepting food from my hand without letting Pumpkin and Walker (who are also chickaholics) scare him off. Surrounded by eager meows. I am aware of a couple of other cats in the vicinity – cats who don’t want to join the crowd, but are curious.

Midnight (MW)

Neither is curious enough to be easily approachable, though.  The trimmer of the two turns out to be Midnight. He is one of a group of four who came to us as ferals a couple of years ago. They were set up in the Hill House, and then released to the front courtyard. Of the four of them, grey Solar is the friendliest; tuxedo Mabel and tabby Libby prefer to remain at a distance, though it depends on their current feline company.  Black Midnight wanted nothing to do with us, and was one of a small group of cats who staged a jailbreak, not out of the Sanctuary, but into the area underneath the Single-Wide trailer.  Luckily, they were spotted from the other side, and a staff member in protective gear crawled underneath to set traps and retrieve them.

Midnight (KN)

Because Midnight had obviously not appreciated the front courtyard, we decided that he might as well remain in the back, and he joined the group of wary ferals who hang out around Waldi’s Hut and on the shelves backing against the Single-Wide deck.  Here he is in company with cats like Sylar, Smithy, Midnight, Quinn and others who like to be close enough for food, but with lots of places to hide.  We’ve not yet found his weakness.  Sylar and Quinn are equally wary, but love food, and it’s just been a matter of time (a lot of it!) before they come to us. Midnight is not generally food-motivated – certainly not enough to brave coming close enough to accept offerings.  It may take a while!

Steele  (BC)

The other black phantom is longer-furred, and often has a more raggedy appearance. He was one of the “detective” cats who found us, and was named Steele (for Remington Steele) since he burgled his way into the Sanctuary. He then discovered that climbing in was one thing, but it was much harder to get out.  However, with a source of food, safety and shelter, he has decided that he is better off – as long as he can avoid the humans.  

A more typical view of Steele  (KN)

Steele does not live up to the dashing appearance of Pierce Brosnan’s character – he’s pretty shaggy and unkempt, and obviously is not ready to allow us to groom him. Like Smithy, his thick fur mats, and he may end up joining Smithy in the LionCut club next summer.  We think he is deaf – it is possible to get quite close to him before he startles and scurries away.  

Steele is suspicious  (LBF)

These two are cats for whom the Sanctuary is all-important. Neither will ever be tame, even if we can some day touch them, and life in a cage would drive them crazy. At the Sanctuary they have the company of other cats, the semblance of freedom, and provision of food and safety. We always try to tame the ferals, but we know it’s not always possible, and we are glad that they can have good lives in our care.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright

Boys' Club

Luke, Bodhi, Guthrie - KN

 Because RAPS came into being through the efforts of founder Carol Reichert and her supporters to get all our Richmond feral cats spayed and neutered, that vital operation happens for every cat that comes into our care at the Sanctuary.

Pax - KN

Sometimes it comes a little late – handsome Pax has no doubt sired many of the kittens that have been adopted out in the last year, and may be father of some of those currently in residence. Every kitten that leaves the Shelter leaves with the promise of spay/neuter when they are old enough. And gradually, other than in hoarding situations, we hope that the feral population is dwindling.

Tuxie Frank and his grey buddy Jim are known as FrankenJim - KN

So sexual instincts don’t come into play with our cats. We certainly have our bonded pairs – Frank and Jim in the Val Jones area, Adam and May, Rudolph and Salish in pen 5, and many others – but the essence of the attraction is comfort and familiarity. 

Boy buddies now gone: Ridley, Salty & Sid - MW

We also have our cat-magnets – our beloveds now gone across the Bridge: Mario, Salty, Daniel – and several other cats that draw other cats to them. This can be very clearly seen in the back courtyard, near the Newcomers area.  

Sprocket, Woody & Pumpkin - KN

Tabby Woody has been with us for many years, and has always been popular with other cats, but increasingly we’re seeing groups gathering around him.  His best buddy seems to be tuxedo Moxie, but recently he’s been found cuddling with Pumpkin or with Sprocket, and the latter, who began his time with us as Tiger’s buddy, has also found a following. The deck of Newcomers is their usual area.

Steele, Smithy & Quinn - KN

Six or seven yards away is another similar group – Quinn and Sylar, who hang out around Waldi’s Hut, with Smithy from pen 8.  On the fringe of that group is long-haired Steele, and Midnight, who began in the front courtyard and made his way to the back. Quinn and Sylar are tempted by food and long to get closer to tidbits, but are easily put off by braver, more assertive cats. The others know they’re being coaxed and they’re not interested! There are lots of good hiding places behind the bed-shelves and they like to stay out of sight. Other boys are less specifically a part of either group, but like to hang around in the same area – Albi, Rookie, Moxie, Skittles and several others. 

Moxie, Smithy, Quinn & Albie (Steele hiding at back) - KN

There's a similar group centered on Pen 1, and led by tabby Zivko, who can sometimes be heard calling his buddies to a Very Important Meeting

Pavel, Kevin, Zivko & Booty - LBF

It’s noticeable that the females - with the exception of Balak - tend not to hang around with these males. The Love-Birds in Pen 5 and the pen 8 girls are also inclined to stay in the area where they feel safe.  Other females stay closer to the Tea Room and the path to the back pens. It sometimes feels like the Newcomers and courtyard has a sign that says NO GURLZ ALOWD. There is no aggression – it’s just very clearly a feline Boys' Club..

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Karen Nicholson and Michele Wright

Under the Radar and Overhead - part 2

This is a continuation of last week’s blog by Pauline Chin.

Blackie - PC

Blackie has lived in the single wide for years!  Funny thing is that he hasn’t had a blog entry until now.  He looks like a shiny, mini panther with a thin tail who patrols the shelves.  Blackie doesn’t really jive with the other cats, nor has he joined the dryer gang.  He likes petting when he’s in the mood.  He’ll slap people if they wake him from naps, which happens very frequently.  Serve him wet food and he’s happy.

Traveller - PC

Traveller has chosen the mostly-feral life.  He’s a tad rough around the edges, kind of like black Fable with bedhead.  They both live overhead in the double wide.  While acclimating, he was nearly untouchable and hid inside his carrier.  Nowadays, he’s content enough to quietly watch us from up high.  Unlike most of the ferals, Traveller hasn’t hidden himself on the rear deck.  Being black makes the perfect camouflage!  Perhaps there’s something or someone in the trailer he wants to be near?

Stevie - MW

In Pen 4, this big fluffy boy can be spotted from outside.  Stevie has a lot of rust in his long black coat.  Like most of Pen 4, he avoids humans.  If you peer through the fence, you might just catch him sitting on the porch with his friends.  As soon as the gate is unlatched, the residents make a mad dash for the bushes.  He’s not into playthings, but moves fast.  He’ll come forward if you leave food and back away.  He insists on having a large gap and staring from afar.

Steele - BC

Just occasionally you will find a long-haired black boy in the back courtyard, who ISN'T Lindor or Ruff. If he looks at you in horror, and runs to hide, it's probably (Remington) Steele. We give detective names to the cats who find us; Steele, who cat-burgled his way in to the Sanctuary, likes the safety, but still isn't so sure about the humans.

Kermit - PC

With Pen 8 open, Kermit can be found wandering the back courtyard.  He’s a shy boy with a round face, greenish eyes, and medium-sized body.  He’s never found a replacement for his late buddy, Splotch.  When Splotch was present, Kermit would play, approach, and rub our legs with no hesitation.  Without Splotch’s company, he’s been keeping to himself.  He’s not that enticed by food or toys.  When approached by humans, he’ll stare like a deer in the headlights before taking off.  Unlike the other Pen 8 cats, Kermit has taken advantage of the newly found freedom.  I’ve found him looking at Pen 4 and playing in the long grass in Pen 5.  Hopefully, with all the new arrivals, Kermit will find a good friend with whom he can roam.

Black cat face-off - MW

While it’s not easy to recognize a black cat that prefers to hide from humans, if you take the time to truly know a shy or feral cat, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the positive changes.  My own feral favourite, Luke, (black with a tipped ear) has long passed but I joyfully recall the days when I heard his little feet sprinting towards me from overhead.  When befriending a feral, you might be the only human they share a bond with.  That bond cannot be predicted or forced, but it can mean a radiant world to that small, furry soul.  It’s so special, you could even say, “This is my lucky black cat!”

Blog by Pauline Chin

Photos by Pauline Chin, Brigid Coult,  Michele Wright

Tyson

I have written before about Black Cat Syndrome, and how it doesn’t play out at the Sanctuary.

MW

Sure, there are a lot of black cats, but they all have personality, and it only takes a little individual attention to establish how that personality fits into the community.  And I think many of those black cats have at least one human who knows that cat really well, and to whom the cat responds.

MW

Tyson has been with us for the last couple of years. Rumour has it that he was an illegal immigrant – caught in a truck that had arrived from the USA.  He was brought in to the City Shelter, and his fear-aggression led them to send him over to the Sanctuary as a likely feral.   With us he continued aggressive for a while, until he realised that nobody was out to harm him. Since then he has relaxed into be a big loveable cuddle-boy, who gets along with practically everyone.

In the suspicious early days - PH

Mostly he hangs around the Tea-Room area – which means that there are a few other black cats with whom he can be confused. I have to confess that I don’t always ID him correctly in photos, but when I see him move, or with other cats, he’s easy to distinguish.  Cole is taller (Cole is taller than all the other black cats!). Jay-Z is tubbier (ditto) and has green eyes. Ninja is closest in body type, but a quick ear-sniff tells us that Ninja is the one getting medical care for his ear. Steele has longer fur, and won’t allow himself to be touched. Celia is smaller and swatty.

Tyson loves his toys - KN

Tyson’s a sort of in-between boy. He loves attention, allowing himself to be picked up and cuddled; he will happily follow around with whoever is cleaning the back pens.  Unlike Ninja, who likes to sneak through gates, Tyson is happy to go off and do his own thing, and then return when the human is free to pay attention again. He likes to play – a ball or a wand toy will keep him occupied for a while, and in the recent snowfall, he enjoyed chasing after snowballs, and destroying them by grabbing and kicking.  He is one of the few cats who seems to enjoy being held on his back, and it’s often the best way to clip his nails.

Tyson gets a pawdicure - BC

Tyson illustrates the clear difference between a stray and a feral. A stray usually knows that humans are a source of food and comfort; a feral only knows that they are to be feared. A stray may exhibit feral fear/aggression, but will often revert, like Tyson or like our big boy Dell in Pen 3, to the behaviour of a domestic cat; a feral may tame down to the point of being petted, but is rarely relaxed and comfortable with many people. Ferals Hillie and Merran have learned that humans are a Good Thing – but they remain wary with the people that they don’t really know. For Tyson, everyone is a friend; life is a party for him, and with us, he’s truly landed on his feet.

MW

Blog: Brigid Coult

Photos: Brigid Coult, Phaedra Hardman, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright