Four Sweet Oranges

Mandarin - now happy and confident  (SF)

It seems that there is no longer any such thing as “kitten season” – the kittens keep coming throughout the year, often born to feral mamas who are little more than kittens themselves! All over the province, rescues are working to reduce the number of feral cats by spay-neuter programs – but it only takes one careless owner letting a cat out without due care, and another litter is on the way.  Kittens are, of course, inherently cute, and once trapped, raised and ready, they can usually be adopted. But if they stop being kittens before being socialized, the socialization process can take a whole lot longer.

early days cage-top time for Mandarin  (KN)

In January 2025 we were joined in the DoubleWide by a quartet of young cats from Vancouver Island.  They had been living feral, and were probably around 9 months old; like many “teenage” kittens, they had no intention of taming easily. There were three females and one male.  We don’t know if they were litter-mates or just all from the same colony, but they looked amazingly alike. Three of them had had their SNAP tests (identifying the presence or lack of FIV and FeLV) and neutering done before they came to us; the fourth may have been trapped later than the others because she had neither and had to be caged separately until that was done.

Tangerine, on the DW deck  (KN)

As usual, when they’d had their initial cage-time, all their vaccines and necessary treatments, the cages were opened, and the four of them vanished into hiding.  When we did see them it was almost impossible to tell who it was we were seeing; the four of them are orange tabbies with classic whorl markings, and nearly identical. It’s really difficult to do a blog when you can’t tell who you’re looking at (if you’re lucky enough to be able to see them at all) and my plans for writing them up were put on hold until I was better at identifying them.  As orange as they are, the med staff named them Mandarin (m), and Tangerine, Valencia and Tangelo (f)

Mandarin bunting with Walker  (BC)

Almost a year later, we are starting to see progress from most of them, and watching as they develop. Mandarin is now a little larger than his sisters. He is the bravest of the quartet, and ranges freely around the Back Courtyard. He is cat-social, especially with his buddy Walker, and is quick to react when treats are offered.  Not only does he accept food from the hand, but he now enjoys a little careful petting – though still very much on his terms.

Tangerine & Mandarin mooching  (BC)

At first sight he can easily be confused with his sister Tangerine, who now bases herself in Waldi’s Hut, but can often be found hanging out around her brother. She’s now a little paler than his colouring, with a slightly more rounded face. It’s in behaviour we see the clearest difference; Mandarin will approach to accept food and attention; Tangerine is interested, but not yet brave enough – she hovers hopefully a few lengths away and is quick to react to food tossed in her direction.

Tangelo  (BC)

The other two are residents of the DW Deck. Tangelo is the most immediately identifiable, with a narrower face, and slightly crossed eyes. She is very food-motivated, and can be coaxed out of hiding with chicken tidbits, but would rather smack the food out of a hand than risk the possibility of touch.

Want to see Valencia? Look up!  (BC)

Her sister Valencia is the shyest of the four, preferring to remain totally out of reach on the cage-tops, and refusing to venture closer, even for the best bribery.  The DoubleWide renovations are almost done, and we’re looking forward to having the Deck cages removed, and more space available to the cats – it will be interesting to see whether Tangelo and Valencia will remain in “their” space, or whether they’ll move indoors to more light and action.

Two of four  (KN)

It’s generally accepted that the critical socialization window for kittens is the first 2-3 months; beyond that, they are often labelled as feral, and it is very hard for small, fostering-based rescues to do anything other than trap-neuter-release. Effectively, these four oranges were TNR'd, but released into our safe Sanctuary, where they can take their time getting used to the idea that humans really aren’t so scary after all.  Mandarin has already taken that big step; his sisters have as much time as they need to become comfortable with us.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Sarah Faith, Karen Nicholson

Changes

Beautiful Plateau  (BC)

As we all know, cats do NOT like change!  Especially for feral and fearful cats, coming to the Sanctuary can be a difficult experience – more contact with humans than they find comfortable, handling by medical staff, unfamiliar food, cage-stays – it’s not surprising that when we release them from their cages at the end of their initial stay, many of them vanish into hiding in the courtyard, or high up on cage tops.

Still fearful   (KN)

Beautiful Plateau was mentioned only in passing when I introduced Westin and Wyndham, who came from the Commuter Colony in the early months of 2025. They were two of the tamer group of refugees – likely strays rather than ferals – and both have made themselves at home with us, and are favourites with weekend visitors; we hope that both will find homes eventually. Plateau went first to the Adoption Centre; we couldn’t believe that such a gorgeous boy wasn’t a stray, and hoped that he would tame up. But Plateau was terrified; he flattened himself on the floor of his cage and reacted aggressively out of fear; when he was moved to the Sanctuary, his behaviour didn’t change, and when he was finally released he vanished so completely that we feared he’d escaped altogether.

You can't see me...  (BC)

Very slowly, we began to see this lovely boy ghosting around in the early morning and late evening hours. Initially he based himself somewhere in the back of Pen 5 – we think he hid under a pallet – occasionally he would emerge into the breezeway, and climb into the shrubbery to hide. Gradually he relocated closer to the main courtyard, usually at the back of Pen 8, where a number of other ferals went, and where there are number of boxes and kennels in which to hide.

Much more calm  (BC)

Then another set of changes – we were sent a group of cats from a hoarding situation on the Island, with Pen 6 already full of our Newton Hoard, we had to empty Pen 8 to accommodate them. Initially there was confusion, but gradually the cats who had established themselves in Pen 8 relocated nearby – mostly around the back of Waldie’s Hut, or in the shelving in front of the SingleWide deck. Plateau remained mostly a loner; there was mutual tolerance with the others, but he didn’t seem to interact with them much.

Still prefers to be alone   (BC)

Another month, and more changes: the DoubleWide, which has been the centre of activity for more than 20 years is really showing its age. In an ideal world, a devoted donor would step up and replace it; in practice, it’s Ken that steps up with a plan to refurbish it, and deal with some of the problems of wiring, insulation and rot – not to mention years of cat-pee! The main rooms are stripped; cages are relocated anywhere space can be made for them; the Med-Cage is relocated to the SingleWide – and every cat who has based themselves there (mostly on the cage-tops) has to relocate too. There are a lot more cats wandering around the back courtyard – some of them adjusting well, others obviously not really happy. The courtyard reminds me of when I first came to the Sanctuary and our cat-total was around 700!

The spectator at the edge...

Interestingly enough, Plateau seems to be taking this in his stride and adjusting well. Increasingly he is emerging earlier in the day, as long as things are fairly quiet and there are few people. He makes eye-contact and listens when I talk to him; he’s not ready to accept actual touch yet, but will accept chicken tidbits as long as nobody else gets pushy about it. He’s not ready to stand up to Mandarin or Walker or Motley when they make first claim, but he’s ready to lie in the sun and bask while others move around him. He reminds me of the early days of Bello, who was brought to us as “too feral to tame” and who has gone last week to his own loving home.

Sitting near Motley - a budding friendship?  (BC)

I think our initial assessment was probably correct – this beautiful boy is a stray rather than a born-feral – but his experience of living in a colony with other ferals, in a situation that was full of fear and danger, swung him back to the feral instincts that underlay many cats’ behaviours. Long-term RAPS people will remember our beloved Dell – so terrifying in his initial time with us, and then so loving when he realised he was safe with us. Plateau may not know it yet, but the best is yet to come.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

Revisiting Pen 5

May & Adam  (KN)

The Sanctuary has been sited here since 1999, and many cats have come under our care in those intervening years. The majority of them have been ferals, and a lot of ferals don’t live long lives – longer with us than if they were truly out in the fields, but an early lack of care can affect them in later life.  We have had two significant generations of cats in Pen 5. The first group came to us as Steveston was being developed in the early years of this century, and we called them the Packers cats. BC Packers was known as one of the largest salmon canning industries, but by the ‘80s, the fishing industry was in decline, and the last processing took place in 1997.  As buildings were demolished and sites prepared for new construction, many cats were trapped by Carol and her Richmond Homeless Cats friends, and they were early tenants of the new Sanctuary.

Nevada - one of the Packers cats   (CF)

When I first volunteered twelve years ago, the Packers cats were getting very frail, and their numbers were diminishing. But there was no lack of new cats being brought in to the Shelter, and transferred to us when needed, and one such group joined the Packers cats in Pen 5. Initially it was kept as a closed pen, hoping that some of the inhabitants might return to the shelter for adoption – Katie, Moe & Theo all found homes. But when there are kittens, that’s what many people adopt, and the remaining adults stayed on, establishing the now open pen as their home.

Salish & Rudolph  (MW)

For some time it was also the pen of the bonded cats. Adam and May, Rudolph and Salish, Willow and Careen, the menage a trois of Chinook, Capilano and Walker – all devoted to each other, and rarely seen separately. In the last few years we’ve lost Chinook and Capilano, and sadly, Rudolph as well (to dental anaesthetic). 

Salish  (KN)

That last death was worrying because of Salish, who was devoted to her black buddy, but she seems to have adjusted well – she stays close to Adam and May, and though she’s still skittish about touch, she’s ready to emerge when treats are offered.

Walker  (MW)

Blond Walker lost both his loves: Capilano and Chinook had no great fondness for each other, but both turned to Walker as a calming influence, and he cuddled impartially with either of them.  He continues to sleep in Pen 5, but is to be found anywhere around the back courtyard, often in company with Pumpkin. The two of them are determined chickaholics, with a keen instinct for when tidbits are being handed out!

Careen  (MW)

Willow and Careen, who were always found together, appear to have separated. Careen still bases herself in the Pen 5 cabin but will often come out into the courtyard to visit if humans are sitting on the benches.

Willow  (KN)

Willow has become much more migratory, no longer confining herself to Pen 5 – in fact, she can most often be found in Waldi’s Hut at the south end of the courtyard, where she can get some space to herself – but she too joined in the courtyard cat-party last weekend!

Kramer  (MW)

Kramer joined the colony about four years ago, and remains the odd guy out – he doesn’t interact much with the other cats, but he has clearly made the Pen 5 cabin his home, and rarely ventures further afield. He is very happy to have human attention, but on his terms. Sadly, one of the attentions he doesn’t enjoy is a long-haired cat’s consequence to solitary living – he doesn’t appreciate having to be de-matted (though he’s not yet been in a bad enough state to need a lion-cut!)

a pleasant afternoon on the Pen 5 porch   (MW)

Many other cats wander in and out of the pen – it’s a favourite bathroom for the DoubleWide cats who prefer not to use a litter-box. And it’s one of many areas that will need a good work-party to make it look clean and inviting before we welcome visitors back to the Sanctuary at the end of the month.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Claire Fossey, 

Karen Nicholson & Michele Wright

The Divorce is Called Off

Princess & Spike are back together! - BC

Many people think of cats as solitary creatures – and we certainly have our share of felines who would be perfectly happy if every other cat at the Sanctuary disappeared.  But we also have many cats who are happy to tolerate each other’s company – and even a few who have clearly bonded relationships.

Dusty & Ridley - BC

A quick scan of past blogs will give us an array of Best Feline Friends: Adam & May, Rudolph & Salish, Samantha & Chimo, (Chimo's love, PawPaw, is gone, but he and Samantha are good buddies), Dusty & Ridley.  Some have been bonded for most of their lives with us; others have had bonds with other cats, now passed, and have sought out a new BFF.

Princess & Spike - MW

Spike and Princess have been a “couple” for some years. Though they didn’t arrive from the same place, they could almost always be found sharing a bed in the Double-Wide – preferably somewhere close to the med cage and the possibility of treats.

Princess - LP

And then at some stage in the last few months, they started drifting apart – I noticed it most often when showing visitors around, and finding Spike occupying his regular space, but Princess high up on the cage-tops, or out in the back courtyard.  Various other cats shared Spike’s bed, but Princess seemed to prefer keeping her distance.

Watching the old med-cage door - JN

About six weeks ago, the med-cage (and that’s really all it was – a walk-in cage where the med-staff could track cats and dispense medications) was enlarged to about twice its size by expanding into the space of an adjacent cage and the equivalent corridor.  And it just so happened that this bit of corridor was the home base for Spike, Buddy, Tugboat and half a dozen others.  Of course, there is no lack of available alternate space, but there was a week or so of negotiating feline realty, and of deciding who wanted to base themselves where.  During this period, little smoke-cat Sara Lee had a cage-stay for some dental care, and with her release, all the patterns seemed to change again.

Sara Lee - KN

For years Sara Lee has been my quality control assistant at mealtimes, but now her place has been taken over by Miss Parker, who is much less ladylike (though equally enthusiastic) about getting the first taste. Sara Lee normally hovered on the other side of the laundry room, but I started to find her in the space she had once shared with her friend Kiddie.

SaraLee, with her late friend, Kiddie - DW

 And then, suddenly, there were three – Sara Lee occupying the middle of a basket, and Spike and Princess flanking her.  Couple mediation?  A menage a trois? I don’t know – but the three can often be found together, with the alternate combination being Spike and Princess being lovebirds once again, with Sara Lee in an adjacent bed.

A small bowl - and three loving cats - BC

All our cats are safely spayed and neutered, of course – but, as with humans, loving relationships are less about biology and more about psychology. And these three seem to have found a balance (like Capilano, Walker and Chinook) in which they all have a part to play in making each other happy.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Joanne Nicholson, Karen Nicholson, 

Lisa Parker, Debbie Wolanski, Michele Wright

Pairs of Purrs

How can I pass up a Valentine’s Day posting without giving some time to all the cats who prefer each others’ company rather than being the stereotypical Cat Who Walks By Itself?

Semi-ferals cuddle under the heat lamp - KN

Most cats do tend to be solitary by nature;  some, like the “Garbo” cats, actively dislike the proximity of any other cats; others – the majority, I think – can take it or leave it. Many cuddle-puddles come into existence for the sake of physical comfort rather than any emotional attachment.

Walker and Capilano - MW

The Sanctuary has had its share of cat-magnets – some loved and now lost, like Mario, Salty or Daniel; some still with us. Blond Walker, in Pen 5, is loved by Capilano, and by Chinook (neither of whom cares particularly for each other), and is usually found in company with either one.  The trio share a cabin with two other pairs of love-birds: Rudolph and Salish, and Adam and May. Pen 5 is definitely Valentines territory! ❤️

Rudolph and Salish are always together - KN

Sweet semi-feral Tibet is affectionate with the humans he knows, but reserves his real love for feral girlfriend Judy; Judy has been at the Sanctuary since December 2011 and resolutely refuses human contact.

Tortie Judy loves to snuggle with Tibet - KN

The group of cats that came in to Pen 2 a couple of years ago still tend to hang out together, and many of them prefer to stay in the privacy of the cabin – so it was good to see this pair of good buddies have a mutual affection moment in the courtyard.

Tux Booty tells his buddy Chase how much he likes him - KN

In the Moore House, Shaggy and Spicer came in to us as a bonded pair, and their love is very clear; both enjoy human company, but they are most often found together.

Grey Spicer and the aptly named Shaggy - VL

The February page in our calendar features front courtyard BFFs Vesper and Fable. These two boys are less dependent on each other than when they first arrived, and both enjoy interaction with human visitors, but togetherness is still their favourite thing.

Vesper is very possessive of his buddy Fable - MD

Spike and Princess, in the Double-Wide, did not arrive together, and have come from very different origins, but these days, they are nearly always found together, somewhere near the med-cage. Princess is perhaps the more adventurous of the two, but she always gravitates back to her buddy.

Spike and Princess - ML

In the Single-Wide, Babylon is probably the nearest we have to a cat-magnet – he can most often be found cuddling with Presley or with Harvest, but many of the other cats gravitate to him for reassurance.

Babylon snuggles with shy Siamese Presley - MW

And the quintessential Sanctuary love-in, of course, is the Dryer Gang, who rotate in and out of position as the mood and the warmth takes them.

The "core" Dryer Gang - DW

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Melanie Draper, Moira Langley, Vicki Lo, 
Karen Nicholson, Debbie Wolanski, Michele Wright

Calendar 2019 out-takes

It’s coming.... it’s coming....

Jasper: "Listen up, folks!"

It’s almost time for the new RAPS Cat Sanctuary Calendar for 2019!

Reefer: "Did you say it's coming?"

Once again, photographer Michele Wright provided a great selection of photos from the Sanctuary inhabitants, and once again, it was hard to make choices, and to bring the final numbers down to the chosen fourteen.

Pico: "Where is it?"

We hope that you will hurry to get your calendars ordered so you can see who made it – and so that you can plan your Christmas lists so that you can give Cat Sanctuary gifts to all your friends and families.

Palma - we loved the colours of this

The photos in this blog are some of the ones we loved, but that for one reason or another just didn't make it into the final selection.  Sometimes it was because we already had a photo of that cat; sometimes we didn't need another black one; sometimes it was a good shot, but perhaps not a calendar picture you might want for an entire month.

Handsome tortie Blaze was just beaten by another tortie.

I'd asked Michele for a couple of pair or group shots, and we loved this one of Walker and Capilano playing together.  But for me, one of Michele's talents is eye-contact with cats, and these guys weren't watching the camera!

Walker is the only creature Capilano loves

Pico is so photogenic!  But she'd already featured in the 2018 calendar, and much as we love her, it was too soon for a repeat - plus, we already had a tree-climber!

Pico is a fearless climber

Everyone who works in the Single-Wide knows and loves Bossanova - though his love isn't given to everyone! His was the last photo that we reluctantly moved into the "not 2019" column.

Life is a serious business for Bossanova

Sophia always reminds me of an elderly lady with wild hair - especially, when she's just had a body-shave to deal with her constantly-matting fur!  She was a cat I ended up deciding not to add because she one of our old Moore House cats, and therefore a bit more fragile than some. It's so hard when we lose a calendar cat, and have to see their image months after they've gone. We lost Tricia and Faith who featured in the 2018 calendar; Sophia and another couple of cats ended up being put in the "no" pile for potential health reasons.

Sophia says "We are not amused!"

Looking over these photos, I can't help but smile - but I think you'll be smiling too, when you see the photos in Calendar 2019. Copies will be available in all the RAPS facilities - the 5 Road City Shelter, the 6 Road Sanctuary, both Thrift Stores and at the Hospital as well as online - and they make wonderful Christmas gifts.
When you give, they live... every calendar sold supports RAPS cat-care.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Michele Wright