2014 RAPS Cat Sanctuary Calendar - now available

We think we might just like this one even better than last year's calendar!

The calendar costs $15 and is available at the No. 5 Rd. shelter, the RAPS thrift store, and the cat sanctuary.

RAPS Richmond City Shelter
12071 No. 5 Road
Richmond, BC
Open Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm

RAPS Thrift Store
Unit 140 - 8260 Granville Ave
Richmond, BC
Open Monday to Saturday 10 am to 5:30 pm

Enjoy beautiful photos of cat sanctuary residents and help support RAPS at the same time!

Update - OJ

Can you spot the kitty?

Yes, OJ is still feral and still not big on the trust. This was as close as I could get this week:

Others have had somewhat better luck, though, including Ann who's managed to entice him to accept a few pats. She's even heard him purr.

Step 1: Apply salmon.

photo by Ann

Step 2: Commence petting.

photo by Ann

She makes it sound so simple! Still, we recommend leaving this move to the professionals for the time being -- during a patting session last week, another feral sitting nearby spooked OJ, resulting in either OJ or the other cat coming flying out at Ann in attack mode. I think all involved were rattled by the experience, but it sounds like Ann's already forgiven the cats, and I'm sure OJ is still open to to salmon-flavoured bribes.

Woody

Woody had been living on a farm on No. 5 Rd. in Richmond before he was brought to live at the cat sanctuary in December 2006. When he first arrived, he was housed with fellow tabby Mr. Bojangles until he got used to his new surroundings. Mr. B is sadly no longer with us, but many staff and volunteers at the sanctuary will remember what a sweet cuddle bug he was.

Woody still hasn't learned to love people like his former roomie did, but he does have his cat friends and generally seems pretty happy with his life at the sanctuary.

While he wouldn't let me close enough to touch, Woody was kind enough to let me photograph him while he lounged in his big comfy chair on the porch behind the singlewide.

Happy Thanksgiving

found on Facebook
too cute not to share

Happy Thanksgiving all!

I'm taking a short vacation break this week and next, and so there will be a brief pause in my regular blog posts. Will start up again on October 28.

Victoria Marathon, Sunday October 13
-- staying in shape so I can chase down more photos of your favorite RAPS cats --

Cat Sanctuary 2014 calendar update

A big thank you to all the Neko Files readers who sent in their requests for feature cats for the 2014 RAPS Cat Sanctuary calendar. We weren't able to accommodate all requests (for starters, the cats don't always feel like cooperating!), but we did get some. We got a cute photo of Miss Spitz, and we even managed to get one of Bantam and Simone sitting together. AND we did indeed put together a collage of feline AIDS and leukemia cats -- something I don't think would have occurred to us if you hadn't suggested it.

Thank you!!

I'm not going to reveal any of the calendar images yet (it's just about ready to go to the printer), but there were a lot of shots that we liked but that for one reason or another didn't make the final cut. I'll share some of these here so that people can enjoy them:

Leland, by Michele

Harry, by Claire

Mr. Pink, by Michele

Gunther, by Claire

Logan, by Michele

Chip, by Claire

Lana, by Michele

Lumi, by Claire

Yoda, by Michele

Mistletoe, by Claire

It was hard deciding not to use these, but we're very excited about the images that did make the final cut and can't wait for everyone to see the final product when it's ready. Will keep you posted!

OJ

OJ is a feral who was trapped by Carol at the beginning of July and brought to the sanctuary. He lives in the same pen as Ginti, Amelia Earheart, and Lillian. I first met him within days of his arrival and managed to get this picture of him hiding in a doghouse.

I've been meaning to do a blog post on him since then, but have never managed to get another photo-- he always seemed to be hiding in some mystery spot when I went looking for him. Fortunately, Phaedra has managed to make contact (more or less) and get this shot of him.

photo by Phaedra

Apparently, she encounters him regularly when she's doing her early morning cleaning shift. He sits inside the large shed in the middle of the pen while she's working and watches her. He'll accept food while she's there, but makes menacing faces if she gets too close. Well, he is a feral after all, so I don't think she takes it too personally!

Update: Syria

When I introduced Syria a month ago, she was stressed-out new arrival who wasn't ready to come out of hiding. Well, now she's out and about in her cage and ready to start making friends.

It turns out that she is indeed a nice girl, just as we'd hoped. She'll even talk to people who pause by the door of her cage, inviting them in for a visit. She can be a bit on the grouchy side when she's had enough visiting (or when she's ready to turn her full attention to her supper dish), but she'll let you know when it's time to go.