Buddies on the way

An unlikely friendship - but one that helped them both...   CP

  MW

Tiger is a 7 year-old boy, surrendered to us for a peeing problem. Medical checks tell us that it’s not physiological – he’s just one of those cats who’s got out of the habit of using a litter-box.  He’s a beautiful boy with classic tabby markings, and right from the beginning he was friendly with people who visited him.  We hoped that the peeing problem might go away, and that he could eventually be adopted out, but no such luck – either it’s hardwired into him now, or he is so easily stressed that it’s his way of coping with things.

VL

The smell of pee, of course, is one of the ways that a cat marks its own territory, and Tiger has claimed the cage he was placed in as his space – even though the door has been opened for some time, he is reluctant to wander too far, and constantly returns to the place he feels most comfortable. He’s not a food-motivated boy, but one who enjoys gentle petting, and a human that will allow him to roll and have his belly stroked.

MW

Sprocket came in to us  about the same time as Tiger as one of a pair of feral cats caught in north Richmond by Stephanie, our most experienced trapper.  They are probably about a year old.  His brother Rocket (also orange) tested positive for feline AIDS, and is now living in the New Aids pen. Both were very shy; when startled, Rocket will fly around erratically, and we’ve learned to move very gently around him. Sprocket was caged in a corner of the DoubleWide, and for several weeks remained hiding in his carrier.  The med-staff worked with him, and eventually he learned that humans were worth purring for.

LP

Once the Kitty Comforter team set to work, Sprocket decided he was on to a good thing. Though still very timid, he would sit within reach and allow gentle petting; for a while we had to be very wary because we wanted to keep him caged, and he would sit a little too close to the door for comfort.

KN

Eventually Leslie decided that cage-time was no longer necessary, and his door was opened. Being a cat, he promptly decided that this was where he really wanted to be, and for a while longer, we continued to serve his dinner to him. But obviously, when humans weren’t around, Sprocket started exploring, and was often found in the cage opposite his own.

MW

And then he vanished.  There was some concern – had he gone out on the deck with the ferals? Had he somehow got past the main door? When we have new cats around, it is kept closed, but experienced paws have learned to open it for themselves. With some relief, we found that Sprocket had not gone far – he’d braved the diagonally opposite corner of the DoubleWide and found Tiger’s open cage.

TV

For some time we consistently found the two of them together. Occasionally they snuggled; mostly they lay separately, but each obviously took comfort in the other’s presence. The older, steady boy, and the younger, still easily startled feral made a good pair.  And gradually Tiger was completing the Kitty Comforters’ work, and letting his buddy know that he was in a place of safety and one where humans are not to be feared.

Sprocket & Tiger paws - MS

Both cats have moved on now - each one has gained confidence from the other's presence.  Tiger has remained in the DoubleWide - he likes warmth and comfort. But he's no longer confining himself to his original cage area, and he's often found buddying up with Pancake.

Sharing a shelf with Pancake - BC

Sprocket has made his way into the great outdoors, and is usually found in the Newcomers area with the other shy cats. Kitty Comforters and regular staff and volunteers are watching for him, and making sure he remembers that we aren't to be feared.

Sprocket outside - KN

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Vicki Lo, Karen Nicholson, Lisa Parker, Chris Peters, Molly Sjerdal, Tanisha Vincent, Michele Wright

Nothing Stops Terry

Terry came into our care a few months ago, and has walked straight into everyone’s hearts.

MW

This is the second ginger Terry to come our way – Terry (I) was a long-term resident who passed only a few years ago; he was one of those ferals who became half-way tame in his last years.  Terry (II) came to us a couple of months ago as one of many cats who arrived with us because the place he was living couldn’t manage his problems any longer. With some cats, like Ollie, peeing problems occurred because that’s what Ollie wanted to do; with other cats, the peeing is symptomatic of a stress situation at home – a new baby, a barking dog, loud arguments...  Terry’s problem is entirely involuntary: he was hit by a car several years ago. For whatever reason, his injury was not treated properly and his pelvis and legs “healed” in a twisted position that left them entirely stiff. Not surprisingly, he has no control over his bladder and bowels.

DW

I talked to Leslie about him and discovered that Terry is actually an immigrant!  He was picked up  following his accident on a road in some middle eastern country – Leslie wasn’t sure where.  His owner had him for some years, but when she moved, her partner said “Him or me!” She was obviously concerned that surrendering him to a regular shelter would mean he would be put down, and she found a private shelter that was willing to take him on.  The shelter had him well vet-checked and was told that there was nothing to be done now in the way of rehab or corrective surgery. He was much loved there, but living with a cat that has no control is very hard on a home.  So Terry came to us.

JR

For the first while he lived in a cage in the SingleWide.  Immediately he endeared himself to all his visitors, enjoying attention from humans (in his cage) and from cats (sniffing through the mesh).

Terry with visitor - DW

Because of his disability he was set up with a small staircase so he could access the upper level as well as the floor. It’s astonishing to watch him climb – he obviously has developed front-body strength, and effectively he walks on his front paws, using his back legs just to help balance.

The higher, the better! - MD

It was decided that he would probably do better where he had more space to roam; the Single-Wide is limited in area, and though it appeared that the other cats were going to accept him, it would be very difficult for him to get away if another cat took against him.  He was relocated to the Double-Wide, and then released, under a degree of cautious supervision.

Terry exploring with Honey Bear,
who is also disabled - DW

Terry loved being out again. He has no fear of exploring, and can be found roaming the back pens quite happily.

On walkabout - DW

Our concern for the behaviour of other cats was, to some extent, justified. Cats, like people, are not always kind to those who are disabled or different in any way. However, Terry is not afraid of a scrap and is quite ready to defend himself! Unfortunately, two other recent newcomers – Licorice and Digby – seem to have taken him in dislike, and Terry is usually caged at night for his own safety. Currently he’s recovering from an injury inflicted by Licorice;  as a recently-neutered male, the latter is probably reacting to the smell of Terry’s pee, which he perceives as a territorial challenge.

MW

Terry is getting lots of love and attention from the med staff and from the Kitty Comforters – but he’s obviously longing to be out and about the back pens again, or mountaineering his way to the top of the cages.

Blog by Brigid Coult
Photos by Melanie Draper, Jenny Reid, Debbie Wolanski, Michele Wright

Pumpkin Cats for Halloween

Tradition holds that black cats are the symbols for Halloween – but with an abundance of pumpkins around, this Halloween I’d rather think about the Sanctuary's crop of orange cats.

Pumpkins - DW

Pumpkin is obviously a great name for an orange cat – in fact, I’m surprised we have had only two Pumpkins at the Sanctuary – one a feral leukemia cat, now passed, and our current Pumpkin, who was actually named more for his orange eyes than for his pale orange colouring

Pumpkin - MW

This Pumpkin is mostly an inhabitant of the Newcomers area; he’s an excellent example of a semi-feral cat who appreciates humans bearing food, but is not really happy about all the touchy-feely stuff – he will allow a little stroke here and there, and he’s a long way from being the angry feral that came in to us, but he prefers to stay at arm’s length, other than with specially favoured visitors like Moira.

Simba - DW

The intense orange of a good pumpkin is better echoed in the colouring of a cat like Simba. This sweet boy came to us as one of the first from a closing shelter on the Sunshine Coast; since the pen he was in has been opened, Simba has enjoyed the chance to wander and make new friends. 

Simba - MD

He excels at finding laps and making himself comfortable – and as all cat-lovers know, there’s no better therapy than a purring cat in the lap. Apparently he was initially surrendered as a pee-er – probably a protest against not being allowed outside. Here at the Sanctuary he has outside privileges in safety, and lots of friends to love him.

Simba lap-cat - MD

OJ is not only pumpkin-coloured, he’s also pumpkin-shaped! He is one of the few cats in pen 4 (ferals) who will allow touch, and it usually needs to be accompanied by treats. 

OJ - DW

We recently opened pen 2, all the inhabitants of whom had come to us last year from the Five Road shelter. Some of that colony have stayed safely in the area they know, but others have enthusiastically ventured out to explore. Parry is one of those cats, happily visiting with volunteers in the tea-room or poking his nose into the double-wide. His orange friend Pavel is much more wary about passing the gate...

Parry - BC

A long-time back courtyard feline pumpkin is Albi, though his solid-orange coat is a darker shade than Parry or Simba. Another semi-feral, Albi will cautiously allow touch, though he’s obviously not that enthusiastic about it. 

Albi - MW

Another pumpkin-shaped orange cat lives in the Single-Wide; Paylan came in with Mom Marisa (now passed).  After several years living with us, a vet-visit informed us that “he” was “she” and the renamed Sarah Paylan can usually be found tucked away on a shelf. She belongs to the school of cat behaviour that calls for as little exertion as possible – hence the shape! We do have several other orange female cats (statistically, 95% of orange cats are male) but most of them are orange and white, and only Blanche and Paylan are predominantly ginger

Sarah Paylan - DW

The front courtyard also has a good collection of orange cats – sweet Gilbert, shy Lucky, brothers Henrik (in the Val Jones area) and Daniel, as well as orange and white Tigger.

Fall in the front courtyard - DW

But a feature on our pumpkin-coloured cats wouldn’t be complete without a look at the not-so-small Little Orange, friend and protector of Merilee, worshipper of Sunday visitor Allison, and one of the softest-furred cats in the Sanctuary.

Little Orange - MW

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Melanie Draper, Debbie Wolanski, Michele Wright

Blanche - another orange female cat

Like Brady, who arrived last year around the same time, Blanche is another of that very unusual species of cat - an all-orange female. 

Blanche was surrendered by her owners whose patience was stressed to the limit by her howling to be let out, starting at 4:30 in the morning and continuing throughout the day.  The only time she didn’t deafen them with her cries was when she was allowed outside.  There was obviously nothing physically wrong with Blanche because she was happy and active (and silent!) when she was outside but her owners weren’t in a position to allow her out as much as she wanted.  Their local SPCA indicated that, if Blanche were surrendered to them, she would be considered “unadoptable” and probably …..  well, you know what.   Her family loved Blanche and weren’t willing to allow any such sad ending for this sweet little cat.   Fortunately, they discovered RAPS and Blanche now has a forever home at the cat sanctuary, where she can be outside just as much as she desires.   But that’s not how things started out for Blanche.

photo by Michele Wright

When Blanche first arrived, she was put into one of the large walk-in cages assigned to new cats until they get used to their new environment and the strange faces (human and furry) around them.  Although there was barely a “peep” heard from her during the daytime, one of the early morning Animal Care Staff was witness to the 4:30 howling that Blanche’s owners had put up with for so long.  Once her cage door was opened and Blanche could have come out,  all the other curious cats wanted to get in and get up close and personal with the newcomer.   Their presence was definitely not welcomed by Blanche,  who hissed to chase them away and then retreated to the back of the cage if any intruder got past her.  Not a happy start!  But, determined Blanche eventually began to venture out from her cage - into the main areas, into the laundry room, on to the porch (hissing at any cats who got in her way)  and then finally one happy day - outside  into the back courtyard!    That’s where I found her the other day, out in the sunshine, enjoying the garden and exploring in one of the back pens.

She seemed very content out there and happy to have some petting from me but still not quite willing to share any of her space,  not even the great outdoors, with those other cats. 

Does she still howl at 4:30 a.m.?  I’m not sure, but if she wants to get outside now, she can do so at any time of the day or night.  And as for all those other cats around? Well, there’s lots of room out there for everyone,  as the rest of them have found out, and she will too.   Another happy ending for a cat with “issues”, and one more unusual orange female cat for us to admire and love!     

 

Blog and photos by Marianne Moore

Brady

Due to some complicated quirkiness of cat genetics, all-orange female cats are quite unusual. Only about four out of every hundred orange cats are female.   There are a number of orange-and-white females at  RAPS’ Cat Sanctuary but all-orange ones were seldom seen.  Until recently anyway, that is.   For some reason, we suddenly seem to have acquired a few of them.  Brady is the most recent  orange female to arrive – more on the others in upcoming blogs.

Ten-year-old Brady joined us last December, around the same time as big orange-and-white Bubba.  Both of them have feline leukemia and were transferred to us from other cat shelters that  were unable to keep cats with this condition.   Although she’d never met Bubba before coming to the Sanctuary, Brady, like most people and several other cats in the leukemia area, has apparently fallen under his spell.  It seems that Bubba takes after Mario, another big handsome orange and white cat who was also a magnet to other cats.

At first, when still in a cage, Brady was very scared and would hiss and back away from any human encounters.  She gradually mellowed a bit but remained quite shy until she was allowed out of the cage.  Since then, although she still has skittish and reclusive days, she’s turning into a friendly and happy little cat.  I haven’t actually witnessed her cuddled up with Bubba, but she’s often part of the cuddle-puddle in the big “Papa-san” chair. 

When I found her there the other day, surrounded by Lisa Marie and several black cats, she was quite insistent that I pet her, even pushing her little head under my hand when I tried to pet Lisa Marie!  She then proceeded to do a little head-stand and somersault into the middle of the chair so that I could give her a tummy rub!  She must have realized that this was being a bit too forward  and maybe a little embarrassing so she scooted under the chair.  I was able to coax her out into the open with a stringed toy but the petting and tummy rubbing session was over for the day!

Even though she’s not totally comfortable with our attentions just yet, she’s a very different cat from the scared and hissy one who first arrived.   And, being an all-orange girl, she’ll always stay just a little bit more special than the rest!      

Blog by Marianne Moore

Photos by Marianne Moore & Michele Wright

Rusty

Rusty and fellow feral Patches had been fed for years by people who'd come across them at their workplace. As the cats aged, the people noticed with concern that Patches didn't look well. They asked RAPS to trap and treat Patches and then return him to the site where they would continue feeding and looking out for him and Rusty. RAPS did this, but Patches's problem, ear polyps, returned, and so RAPS was asked to give him a permanent home at the cat sanctuary. Rusty, who was also getting on in age, was later trapped and brought to the sanctuary as well.

The people who'd cared for the cats all that time didn't forget about them and paid regular visits to them at the sanctuary. Patches sadly died earlier this year, but Rusty continues to live out the back in a feral-friendly pen. He's still scared of strangers and will flee if approached. He's much more comfortable with the people he knows, though, and the people who used to feed him have no trouble getting close enough for a proper visit.

Rusty has recently started letting Leslie get close enough to administer fluids when he needs them. Like more than a few of the cats at the sanctuary, he can be more willing to make friends if there's food in it for him. I hear he particularly likes ham.

Albi

Albi was trapped as a stray by a woman in Richmond who brought him to RAPS in June of 2012.

He was very shy at first, but Leslie's been working with him. She says if she passes by where he's sleeping on a chair, she'll reach out and stroke him a bit. Through interactions like this, Albi has slowly stopped running away when approached. Recently, he even let Leslie rub his tummy.

Lucky

Deciding which cat to feature in a blog post can be a challenging job sometimes but luckily, I found Lucky (sorry, couldn’t resist), a beautiful long haired orange tabby that reminds me of a small lion with a gorgeous mane.

 

Lucky came To RAPS with his brother Tippy many years ago as feral kitten but unlike Tippy, Lucky has yet to trust us two-legged creatures.  So not being able to entice him for a scratchy-scratch, I watched him from a distance as he wandered around the compound one sunny afternoon.  Lucky, it seemed was seeking some affection from someone or something as he head butted a few table legs, rubbed up against many of the other cats and generally danced around me at a safe but curious distance.  Unlucky for Lucky, many of the cats he chose to rub against would then turn around and bat at him as if to say: “get lost red!”

 

Friends?

 

Seeing as I have a thing for orange tabby cats, I couldn’t resist trying to get near him and get in a pet or two.  I was hoping he would eventually get enough courage to finally come over to me but I’m told that Lucky is quite wary of people and doesn’t let anyone touch him.  I did actually manage to make contact with him after a lot of persistence but it was clearly not appreciated as he scooted off in disgust having had enough of me.

Bobby

If asked to list of most popular cat names, I'm not sure the name Bobby would have occurred to me. And yet, at the cat sanctuary there are four Bobbies (that I know about so far): tabby&white Bobby in the front courtyard, sneezy tuxedo Bobby in the doublewide, shy black&white Bobby in the doublewide, and orange bobtail Bobby in the Old AIDS.

This Bobby is my most recent acquaintance. Not sure yet whether we're likely to hit it off. He's a semi-feral who's been at the sanctuary for a long time but remained shy. Leslie says he will let people pet him if approached slowly and that he may even be inspired to put his bum in the air to show his approval of the petting.

Unfortunately for me, I'd already taken some photos of him with my big scary camera and its big scary flash before I learned that petting might have been a possibility. By this time, he'd decided that he didn't think much of my camera and really wasn't too sure about me. He did let me get close enough to present a fingertip for sniffing, but I'll have to go back another time, sans camera, to try and earn a proper audience.