Two Beloved Old Gentlemen

 

Miller sunbathing   (MW)

A fine day in the Front Courtyard almost always sees the presence of two aging tuxies, enjoying the sunshine, and hoping for handouts.

Sylvester  (MW)

Sylvester came to us as a full adult.  He may have been TNR’d and then situated as a farm cat; he came to us when we had to bring the colony in.  He was very shy from the beginning, but without the usual horrified stare of a feral, so he may have had some handling as a youngster. He enjoys the company of other cats, though he's not really a cuddler.

Sylvester sharing siesta space with Figaro  (MW)

He has been with us for 11 years now, and has some health issues that have the med staff keeping a careful eye on him.  He used to be a regular gate-greeter – mostly in hope of treats – and was always on the lookout for volunteer Karen Yu, who would bring a pocketful of goodies.  About 4-5 years ago, we were finding that there was a lot of Temptations-type throw-up after visiting days, and the decision was made to limit the treats. No more McDonalds-equivalent for cats like Sylvester; limited healthy kibble, and straight protein was the rule.

Anything tasty in that bag?  (ML)

I’m sure the odd cat-candy made an appearance, but Sylvester has become a devotee of people carrying bags of chicken tidbits, and he hovers hopefully, looking for handouts.  When I’m sitting on the bench by the gate he’s usually on one side of me, and on the other is handsome Miller.

Miller  (KN)

Miller has been with us a bit longer than Sylvester, but he came as a half-grown kitten, so he’s probably very close in age – we think they’re both coming up on 16 years. Miller and his two sisters, Fiona and Schatze (both now over the Bridge), were trapped as kittens near the Massey Tunnel. The construction workers there were feeding them, but felt they needed to be somewhere safe, and the Sanctuary was the place.  They were three little ferals with very different personalities: Fiona was friendly and ready to cuddle; Schatze did NOT like this place and kept escaping till we finally put her in Pen 4; Miller was shy – friendly enough with other cats, but slow to warm to humans.  Some cage time with Schatze helped there, as they took confidence from each other.

Fiona with Miller  (DW)

Fiona shared the front courtyard with Miller, though the two of them didn’t hang out together very much. Gradually, he became more people-oriented and learned that cuddles were a Good Thing. In the right mood, a spell of Miller Time became a treat all round.  Miller is one of those cats who like to be held upright, with paws making biscuits on the upper chest. He’s not always enthusiastic about being picked up, but he makes it very clear when he does want that attention.

Miller  (MW)

These two will be among the enthusiasts when we open the gates to visitors again!

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Moira Langley, Karen Nicholson, Debbie Wolanski, Michele Wright

I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat!

For a handsome tuxedo cat, there are some names that immediately come to mind.  Who doesn’t remember the antics of Tweetie-Pie’s arch-enemy?

So with the number of Bobbys that have passed through our hands at the Sanctuary, it’s interesting that there have been so few Sylvesters.  The first Sylvester I knew, you can meet here – he was a large cat who lived in the Moore House with the older inhabitants.   Today's Sylvester came to us as a pretty suspicious boy in the winter of 2011, and it took him a good while to decide that humans were to be trusted. I understand there was an earlier Sylvester who passed in 2009

DW

He was picked up from a farm near Steveston Highway, but we think he may have been a stray rather than a feral. He had already been neutered, and his right ear is slightly notched so he may be a TNR (Trap/Neuter/Release) cat like Luke or Marilee, though their ear-clip is much more obvious. He is one of the cats with a shortened tail, with a lump at the end - whether an injury or a genetic marker, we don't know. For a good while he held himself apart from the usual swarms of cats that greet a visitor, but he’s very food-motivated, and it wasn’t long before he was hovering hopefully on the edge of the crowd.

He caught the eye of long-time volunteer and Board member Karen Yu, who made something of a project of him, coaxing him closer and closer until he allowed himself to be handled.  He’s still very picky about who he allows to touch him; if there is no food on offer, he’d rather curl up somewhere separate and watch what’s going on.
Karen says:
Sylvester only made himself known to me a couple of years ago, even though he’d been at the Sanctuary since 2011.  One day, I showed up and noticed that there was a black and white face peering through the fence.  Since that time, I’ve found him at the gate almost every time I arrive so I make it a point to spend time with him, whether to give him treats and/or give him some attention.  Last year, Sylvester had some balance issues so I spent quite a bit of time in his cage with him.  His short crooked tail reminded me of one of the first cats I took home from the Sanctuary, Lanny, and Sylvester’s habit of waiting for me by the gate was reminiscent of another favourite, Tex.  Seeing Sylvester faithfully wait for me is hard to resist, so I have to admit that he gets the majority of treats that I bring, although other front courtyard cats like Cagney and Blaze have learned that being in Sylvester’s vicinity gives them some benefits.  I hope that because of the time (and treats) I spend with Sylvester that he has become more comfortable being around other people, so that others can also see what a special cat he is.

Sylvester hanging out with Little Orange - MW

He’s not one of the actively antisocial cats like Leland, but he’s pretty picky about his feline company as well – not a snuggler, but willing to sit next to a chosen friend for a little while. He and his tuxedo pal Miller are two of the cats that are not interested in volunteer Laurie’s Sunday fish offerings; they would much rather pig out on Temptations!

He knows and loves Karen, coming to meet her on the evenings she’s working at the Sanctuary. The fact that she has a pocket full of treats doesn’t hurt!  And you won’t hear him saying “Sufferin’ Succotash!” like his namesake.  It's more likely to be "More crunchies, please!"

ML

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Moira Langley, Debbie Wolanski & Michele Wright

Just good friends

Just as with people, there are extroverts and introverts in the cat world; cats who love company and those who hate it. I introduced some of the “I vant to be alone” cats in the Garbo Cats blog, and more of the devoted couples in the Valentines blog.  Today’s blog introduces some of the front courtyard cats that can often be found together.  They’re not bonded pairs, like Diamond and Garfield, or Adam and May. But they are cats who can often be found sharing a bench or a bed; cats who obviously feel easy in each other’s company.

Little Orange - MW

Little Orange (I don’t know if there was ever a Big Orange) is a friendly boy with a crumpled ear, and the softest coat of fur. On Sundays he anxiously waits for Allison to arrive, and has just started venturing onto her lap. He’s a calm cat, and obviously attracts more skittish friends; he’s a particular favourite of wee Marilee, who is more open to being touched by human hands when she’s cuddling with him. 

Sylvester - anticipating treats! - ML

Sylvester used to be a very shy boy and is gradually coming to realise that nobody will harm him; he has started to join the crowd at the gates, and is a big fan of Temptations (but not of chicken or tuna). He’s not progressed to laps yet, but leg-rubbing is a favourite. This Sylvester is not to be confused with a much larger cat of the same name who used to live in the Moore House (Gericatrics)

Sylvester & Little Orange hanging out together - MW

Spencer - MW

Spencer is another cat who’s still quite shy, though he’s lived with us for some time. He has a hard time when food is being handed out; he doesn’t like to take tidbits from fingers, and when you put a treat down in front of him, someone more determined (usually Jake) often pushes in to get it.

Lancelot sitting on Puffin's favourite perch - BC

His buddy Lancelot is a relative newcomer, and is also shy; he suffers somewhat from Black Cat syndrome in spite of his magnificent coat – he’s sometimes confused with Cooper in the Connor, and since she is a Nasty Cat, I think people are wary of Lancelot.  He tends to hang out in the area just outside the single-wide, which is often missed by visitors, and he’s often found sharing the papasan chair with Spencer.


Lancelot & Spencer - BC

Gilbert - MW

Gilbert is a quiet sweet boy who is one of my own favourites – and of several other volunteers as well. It’s hard to believe that 5-6 years ago he was hiding on a shelf and refusing to come down; now he happily hops up on the laps of the people he loves.

Dirky - MW

Dirky is not as quiet and sweet as Gilbert – in fact, he can be downright pushy with cats like Leland, though he’s not the scrapper he used to be. He suffers from skin cancers on his ear, which occasionally need to be nipped off, so unfortunately he’s no longer as handsome as he was. We still love him, though.  With his human friends, he’s always glad to be offered a lap and a little attention; if that’s not available, a cuddle with Gilbert is quite acceptable!

Gilbert & Dirky - BC

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Moira Langley, Michele Wright