More Adoptables

Guacamole  (KN)

For years the RAPS tradition has been that adoptable cats go to the Adoption Centre, and that most of the Sanctuary cats are non-adoptable. And basically, that’s not changed much. When we take visitors around, they quickly realise that feral cats, scared cats, peeing cats and cats with medical conditions are not the best prospect for a long-term home.

Frank - all dressed up and looking for a home  (KN)

But we now know much more about feline behavioural issues, and about the things that might make a formerly feral cat more or less adoptable – and we are no longer so fixed on “that cat can’t be adopted!”, with better education for adopters.  So currently we have posted some cats in both the Front and Back Courtyards that we think might do well in a home, and visitors can ask to be introduced to some of the candidates.

Lomi is becoming more adventurous  (BC)

What makes a cat adoptable in our eyes?  It should be willing to interact with a human – that does not necessarily mean lap-sitting, or allowing itself to be picked up, but it should be happy with petting, treats and perhaps a little grooming. It should be mostly a litter-box user – though, at the Sanctuary there are many cats who prefer to use the gardens as their bathroom. We look for people who are cat-savvy, who are patient, who don’t expect that the cat will immediately bond with them, and who understand that a cat needs time to settle in a new home. They will often come to visit repeatedly, giving “their” cat time to get used to them.  A cat who is a stray will usually settle much more easily than a former feral, A cat who is adopted as an only cat will be much more likely to use a litterbox and not mark territory in unpleasant ways.

Polar is friendly, but wary of visitors  (BC)

Back in April's blog, Mycroft (Holmes) was still wary, but now he flirts with all the visitors; he's going to his new home this month. In May, I presented two of the Hotel Cats, Westin and Wyndham – one from the front courtyard and one from New Aids; both are enjoying attention from visitors. Bello had his blog in July, and went to his new home in September.  In August I introduced RootBeer, Frank and Lomi, all of whom are still looking for their own homes. The following week I introduced the Sushi Boys, Tobiko and Hamachi – Tobiko is certainly adoptable; Hamachi has annoyed other cats and had cage-time as a consequence (and, sadly, is cage-aggressive), but would probably do fine with his brother.  In September we met sweet Reef, who is getting braver all the time.  Background information can be found by following any of those links.

Speckle welcomes Hill House visitors (LBF)

Two of our Front Courtyard tabbies are on the list – generally you can find them in or around the Hill House. Speckle is particularly willing to come forward for petting at table-height – she’s 5-6 years old, and has been with us for four years, though it’s only in the least year or so that she’s become such a flirt. Kahlua is about the same age, all-tabby, and very friendly. Their buddy Chai who came in at the same time remains resolutely feral in behaviour and will have nothing to do with visitors.

Rosie is wary with strangers  (BC)

In the Back Courtyard there are two small black cats who refuse to emerge while weekend visitors are around, but who come out and make friends when things are quieter.  Both base themselves in the Newcomers area and the shelves around.  If you want to meet Arwen you will probably need to make an appointment outside regular visiting hours;  your chances are better with Polar, who loves petting and attention once most people have gone - he's not yet had his own blog page.  Another shy girl also inhabits the Newcomers; blond Rosie is a little picky about her people and needs a lot of patience, but is very sweet when she becomes trusting.

Kahlua is another Hill House inhabitant  (AG)

The most outgoing of the Back Courtyard adoptables is black Guacamole. He is almost always willing to come for petting and attention, and his only problem is that he refuses to wear his “adoptable” bandana. But you really can’t miss him – he’s our one tripod/tri-paw’d there, and the most likely to come and introduce himself.

Tobiko (SF)

These are all cats who are used to Sanctuary life and would not do well in the cages of the Adoption Centre. They would all prefer space to roam: an enclosed garden or a catio – but like all RAPS cats, they should basically remain indoor cats, and never have to know the terrifying life of a feral again.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult, Sarah Faith, 

Akira Graham, Karen Nicholson

The Sushi Bros

Tobiko  (BC)

We maintain our contacts with shelters around the province – mostly for the sake of occasionally taking in a colony that’s too much for the local rescue, but sometimes for smaller problems.  A few months ago we heard from the shelter in Prince George, who called us about a couple of cats they’d had in care for some time. Nobody – neither cat nor human – enjoys being caged, and when it goes on too long, there are often behavioural problems.  We don’t know why nobody had adopted them, but when cage life began to make them aggressive, their adoption chances took a dive.

Hamachi  (BC)

RAPS Sanctuary Manager Valerie agreed that they would probably do better with us, and Tobiko and Hamachi arrived in June.  The two are obviously related, beautiful flame-points (white with reddish colouring) – flame-point is often thought to indicate siamese in the genes, but may in fact occur in many breeds. Colourpoints are temperature sensitive partial albinos, which means that they only produce color in areas of their body that are cooler, like face, ears, tail, paws. Blue eyes also signal partial albinism (as opposed to the full albino with red eyes). 

Tobiko  (KN)

Tobiko is long-haired (he’s had with a shave-cut to deal with mats) and Hamachi short-haired.  They were caged separately;  Hamachi had an upper respiratory infection and needed treatment, and there were no adjacent cages available. Their cage signs reflected the warning – Hamachi in particular needed careful handling and was liable to bite – but their cages were large enough that they were able to move easily. Tobiko settled quickly, enjoying attention from volunteers.

Tobiko  (BC)

Once released it only took a few days until they became comfortable with new surroundings – the only hitch was that Hamachi looks very like some of the Newton Hoard in Pen 6, and volunteers who had not met the pair kept reporting that a cat must have got out of the pen.  Nope – just Hamachi exploring.

Hamachi (KN)

Their names provoked the title above – tobiko is the flying fish roe often used in Japanese sushi; hamachi is a type of yellowtail used in making nigiri and sashimi.  Unlike the late Neko in the Leukemia pen, who loved it when talked to in Japanese, these guys are quite happy to be addressed only in English.  I am already hearing people calling them Toby and Hammy – but I love their original names!

Tobiko loves to be high on the cat tree  (BC)

Both boys are friendly and playful – Tobiko particularly loves wand toys, and I find I need to be careful putting the barrier ropes away after visiting hours, because any rope on the ground is a fair target for play. Hamachi walks around with his mouth slightly open, which gives his face a “Duh!” expression – I think it’s something physiological in his jaw. They’re still young; about 2 years old.  They may be brothers, but I wouldn’t say they’re bonded, but operate pretty independently.

Let sleeping cats lie...   (BC)

I don’t know whether they will ever be considered for adoption. Since release, we’ve seen no sign of aggression to humans – perhaps a little oneupcatship to other felines, but nothing actively nasty.  There is a question of litter-box use, but that is often tied to the stress a cat is feeling, and may not be an issue when away from other cats. Like so many adoptions from the Sanctuary, it may depend on a potential bonding of cat to human, and on the cat-savviness of a possible adopter.

Till then, Tobiko and Hamachi have a home with us as long as they need it.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson