Remembering Friends

Back Pens - everyone loved  Chatter - MW

At the end of each December, we wish each other a Happy New Year – but we also look back at the year just past and remember the triumphs we've won and the trials we’ve survived.  And especially at the Cat Sanctuary, we’ll remember the cats we’ve lost.

SW - Georgie & her Christmas Mouse - MW

We actually memorialize them in the summer at a pot-luck event held at the Sanctuary and attended by humans and cats alike (it can be a little hard to keep them off the tables!)  And part of the event always includes the reading of the names of the cats who have passed in the previous year – a moment that is named for raggedy Chance who got a second chance of life when he came to us. We are reminded of the legend of the Rainbow Bridge, and the cats who are waiting for us to cross as well – and there are always tears and fond memories.

Front - Gilbert, much loved - MW

But remembering Big Personalities who have passed is more common in the media at the turn of the year – so here are just a few of the beloved cats who have been in our care, and have gone on to the Rainbow Bridge.

Moore - Spicer, missed by her buddy Shaggy - MW

In the Moore House, established by and named for our beloved Marianne Moore, most of the cats are seniors (it’s affectionately known as “geriCATrics”), and though we grieve their passing, we know that these are cats who have had their final days with much love from us

Moore - PomPom (BC) & Fluffy (MW) -   both came to us
when they were already seniors

Moore - Jack went from being a cranky aggressive cat
to one who loved being petted - MW

Our FIV+ cats may not ever develop full-blown AIDS, but many of them have lived feral, rough lives before they came to us, and their bodies are more fragile than in the general population

NewAids - Mr Moochie - BC

NewAids - Achilles - MW

The FeLV (feline leukemia) cats’ fragile immune systems mean that we tend them with great care for cleanliness. Of the cats we’ve lost this year, two stand out for me:

OA - Zanda loved to come and cuddle - PH

OA - Cleo was disabled, but gutsy! - MW

Those of us who work in the SingleWide quickly develop our favourites

SW - Zoe was a member of the Dryer Gang - MW

SW - Tammy hated other cats - but loved Shelter Manager Lisa - MW

Some really significant cats in the front courtyard have passed

Brothers Tommy & Pogo were well-loved by everyone - MW

We lost Daniel in 2018; Cloverleaf has gone to be with his buddy - MW

Many of the Double-wide cats who have gone are either seniors (Binky, Deenie) or the cage-top shy ferals (Pixie, Peanut, Mary). The cat that I still subconciously look for is Sativa, whose Manx-Syndrome incontinence brought her to us, and whose human family faithfully visited her every Sunday.

DW - we all got used to cleaning up after Sativa - MW

So many big personalities in small furry bodies in the back courtyard have passed.

PawPaw happily made the transition from an outside pen
to live inside with his buddy Chimo - MW

B/w WobblyBob and his grey buddy Yogi went
within weeks of each other - VL

Terry never let his disability stop him! - PH

And I can’t pass up the chance to memorialize the two I adopted from the Moore house, and had in my care for all too short a time – much loved and not forgotten.

Mr Bojangles and Madame Hooch - MW

Many of these cats came in to us as ferals, and as ferals they would have had short, hard lives. In our care they were loved by staff, volunteers and visitors. Their passing was grieved – but it also left space to accept other homeless cats – ferals, strays, rejects – all of whom are now discovering that life can be good at the Cat Sanctuary.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Phaedra Hardman, Vicki Lo, Michele Wright

The Dryer Gang

Cats being the hedonists they are, it’s not surprising to find them curled up in warm places. Most of the Sanctuary’s cat-cabins have ceramic heaters, and even in sub-zero temperatures the outdoor cats have somewhere warm to be. In every building around the Sanctuary there are favoured places that cats choose – mostly related to warmth. In the Tea Room, you will practically always find Sadie face-planted as close to the heater as possible.

MW

In the Double-wide, there’s usually a crowd on the table just inside the door, and another (usually focused on Salty) on the couch. Hot air rises, and there are normally a good number of cats on top of the cages in the Connor. And the papasan chair near the courtyard stairs is always good for a cuddle-puddle as is the one on the Newcomers deck.

BC

But the favoured place has to be just inside the door of the Single-wide, where, as you enter, you are usually greeted by a furry pile.

L to R: Simone, Jenny, Jarod (Yap), Bantam, Belinda, Zoe
with Little Mama up above - PH

Personalities vary, but the core of the Dryer Gang, as they are known, are usually Simone, Bantam and Chickadee. The three of them came from an egg farm (now demolished) and it’s likely they were all related – according to our vet, Simone is older than the other two, and may well be their mama. You’ll find these three on the September page of the 2017 calendar.

Simone is one of those cats that visitors actively seek out.  She is a cuddle-bug, liking to be held upright over a human shoulder, rather like a baby. In her earlier days she would have come under the no-semi-ferals-adoptions ban, implemented after our experience with Jenny and one or two others; now she is older, calmer, and there is a long list of people that would probably adopt her like a shot. However, as with Salty, we have to consider not only her but also all her cuddle-buddies – losing her would seriously affect the dynamic of the group.

Simone and Bantam are very close - MW

Bantam enjoys his share of petting and cuddles, though he’s not as much in favour of being picked up as Simone is. Chickadee is shyer still, preferring that petting is restricted to the cuddle-puddle itself – it’s not so long ago that Chickadee still preferred the safety of the cage-tops

Zoe - always curious - PH

The trio is usually joined by Zoe – older than she looks, but still very active – sweet green-eyed Jenny, Little Mama, and most-recently, Diamond, who we feel is still mourning the loss of her beloved son Garfield. It’s lovely to see her settling in as part of the group, and sharing in comforting snuggles.

Diamond is comforted by Zoe - MW

They, and the many other cats who join them are a delightful group who never fail to draw the attention of Sunday visitors - whether or not the dryer is operating

...so how many cats can fit on a drier?....  MW

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Phaedra Hardman, Michele Wright

Graceless Kitties Part Deux

Back by popular demand!

Thanks to all who sent in your photos in response to last month's All hail the graceless kitty post. Here are a few more of our ever-so-noble furry friends (plus a repeat offender or two) in the goofiest poses they could come up with for us.

"I claim this bedding in the name of... me."
Greyson

photo provided by Marianne

"I love this couch!"
Benson

photo provided by Marianne

Sweet Pea

photo provided by Phaedra

Sunshine: it does a belly good.
Fred

photo provided by Debbie & Marianne

"No pictures, please"

Diablo

photo provided by Kim

"Hey blackie, could use a hand here!"
Morgan (?)

photo provided by Debbie

"Yes, I am comfortable here. Why do you ask?"
Jenna-fur

photo provided by Debbie 

 a blissfully graceless tabby

photo provided by Michele

Looking goofy and too hot to care
Kiddie

photo provided by Debbie & Marianne

washus interruptus
Madison

photo provided by Phaedra  

 a cheerfully graceless tabby

photo provided by Debbie

"Yes, I know you put easy to reach water dishes everywhere, but..."
Meowy

photo provided by Marianne 

Will perch for gravy
Zoe

photo provided by Michele 

Newman

photo provided by phaedra  

"Hey look, you're standing upside down!"
Pickle

photo by Claire 

"I wonder if these meds will make me drowzzzzzzzz...."
Queen Mum

photo provided by Kim 

Squirrel

photo by Claire

 In loving memory: TJ

photo provided by Karen M

Want to see even more graceless kitties on the blog? Keep sending me your funniest photos!

Zoe

Zoe is another of the 6 cats brought from the same home and, from what I gather, her former owner's favorite. If Daphne was the princess in this little group, Zoe was the queen.

When I started visiting my two at the shelter, I unfortunately threw off the balance of power a bit, with the little princess thinking that with all this attention she was now the favorite and should have a shot at alpha status. Zoe did not agree. Fortunately, their personalities being as they are, these disagreements never seemed to escalate beyond the level of claws-free slaps in the face.

Although around the same age as Snowball (9), Zoe is more outgoing and will sometimes come to greet people rather than waiting passively for them to come to her. She doesn't insist on being the alpha female in her new, expanded area of operation, but she gives the impression that she can hold her own.