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

Grumpy Old Ladies

The blog this week comes to us from Sanctuary Manager Lisa Parker

Tammy on semi-snooze - BC

In Oct. 2018, I was privileged to be offered a position as manager of the RAPS Cat Sanctuary.
This was a dream come true for me. Of course this new position meant that I would have to meet, and get to know a tremendous number of purr-sonalities – my new staff, a ton of volunteers and, of course, literally hundreds of cats. This is definitely something I consider a perk of my job. As I was settling in, and setting up my new office, I learned that I would be sharing my office space, and my work days, with three old lady cats with extremely strong personalities. This space had been re-purposed several times when an area was needed for special cases (such as difficult old kitties that really don’t get along well with other cats).

Kitty Desk Cat - BC

Two of my office mates are different versions of tortoiseshell and one is a calico. Tortoiseshell cats are a breed that is commonly known to have what is called "tortitude". Anyone that has gotten to know a tortie knows exactly what "tortitude" means. Little did I know how interesting they would make my work days.

Mindy enjoying the deck - BC

Mindy is a dilute grey tortie, meaning her colours are faded, as if she has been in the sun too long. She came to RAPS from another rescue in July 2017 and was exhibiting signs of arthritis and some bathroom issues. It became obvious that she did not like other cats so the decision was made to keep her in the room that would become my office, as it was quieter and had fewer cats to deal with.

Mindy sleeps - notice the stuff, arthritic legs...   LP

She was estimated to be 13 years old, but I can honestly say that she is most definitely older than that. With rescue cats we're never really sure of their true age. Mindy is also most likely suffering from dementia,as she has exhibited behaviour that is symptomatic of such a condition. She seems old and fragile, but she is probably the toughest of the three.

Don't disturb me! - TV

Then there is the beautiful pale calico girl Kitty. She is tiny and has the sweetest appearance, but isn’t thrilled with other cats or most people for that matter (unless, as I discovered, you share your lunch with her). Kitty was surrendered to the sanctuary by her owner in the fall of 2017 after becoming aggressive when her owner had a baby. She is 15 years old and lives in my office because she was bullying other cats where she was originally placed. She and Mindy have a strong dislike for each other which is most often settled by staying away from each other. Occasionally there is an encounter that is very noisy with a lot of swatting, usually when both are trying to access the cat door to the patio at the same time. Most of the time they are sleeping and ignoring each other.

Since I have become a regular in their lives, Kitty actually appreciates my affections and tries to be close to me whenever possible. She will likely never be a cat to sit on my lap or let me pick her up, but her desire to be close to me tells me she has accepted me.

Beautiful Tam-Tams - MW

The third old lady – Tammy - is very special to me. She is a small, gorgeous traditional tortie with big green eyes. Tammy was surrendered to the sanctuary in Jan 2017 by a RAPS volunteer on behalf of her great grandparents that needed to go into care. We were told she was 17 years old at that time. During one of her escape-artist adventures back in 2004, she was hit by a car, and ended up requiring a pin in her leg. After being at the sanctuary a little while, Tammy went to a foster home with my aunt as an alternative to being at the sanctuary. She was unhappy and quite anxious at the sanctuary which causing her to be quite volatile. She developed some medical issues and was diagnosed with advanced kidney disease which sadly is not uncommon in older cats. Because she requires IV fluids and can be a bit…..difficult, she had to return to living at the sanctuary.

Tammy - CN

I instantly adored her upon meeting her. And I am pretty sure she knew that, because she quickly became my best buddy. We have a bunch of little daily routines and I have been told she can hardly wait for me to arrive everyday. She is my lap cat and I often have to try and type around her. But I don’t mind. Her purring and slow blinks are worth it. Recently, she needed to spend a couple days at the RAPS animal hospital and I was lost without her.

Kelley - MW

In the last couple of weeks another very sweet old lady cat named Kelley has been vying for a permanent position as office cat. She is almost 13 and isn’t nearly as grumpy as the other three. She mostly just ignores their unwelcoming hissing and growling. She just wants to sleep in the sun on my deck and know that I am nearby. Kelley and I bonded early in her time here because she was so small and fragile looking compared to the 3 other cats she came with. She also has the herpes virus and her little face needs to be washed regularly, which makes her think of me as a mother figure.

Kelly mid-grooming...   BC

Sadly the three other cats that she used to live with have all passed. You have undoubtedly heard the story of Mme. Hooch and Mr. Bojangles. They were Kelley’s housemates and they all came here with a handsome all white male named Legolas after their human passed away suddenly. Kelley is a heartbreaker and sits outside my office door waiting for me when I am not around. So the volunteers send me pictures to pull at my heartstrings.

Let Me In! - MW

I was unsure how this was all going to play out with all of us sharing this space, but I truly look forward to seeing my grumpy old ladies every morning.

Blog by Lisa Parker

Photos by Brigid Coult, Phaedra Hardman, Caitlin Norman, 

Tanisha Vincent, Michele Wright