Our friends, discarded by people who never realized what a treasure they left behind, are a joy to us.

Our lifelong sanctuary friends are animals who are available for adoption or fostering but rarely get homes because they are feral or elderly or have FeLV or FIV. Our feral cats share the main area with the 'adoptable' cats or go to a colony such as Katie's Cabin. Our FeLV+ and FIV+ cats have their own area. Older animals are fostered if we can find enough foster homes.

Feral cats are plentiful wherever there are people. Companion cats who are abandoned and are not altered produce kittens who grow up without human contact, living in sheds, barns or warehouses. It's a hard life. Food is scarce, and disease and predators are a big risk. They fear humans but they manage to survive and reproduce, sometimes creating a problem for the neighbourhood. If these cats are trapped, altered and returned to the places they consider home, they can live out their lives in peaceful co-existence with each other and the neighbourhood if someone is prepared to put food out for them regularly. But when the neighbourhood is unable or unwilling to co-exist with the feral cats, Katie's Place has taken in as many as we can. Several have been relocated in new, safer colonies. They were confined until they bonded with the property and were then given access to the outdoors while food is still supplied regularly. The ferals at Katie's Place have developed close bonds with each other and have settled into shelter life contentedly though they won't allow us to touch them.

Katie's Cabin was created when a volunteer bought a large piece of property outside of town. Katie's Place tries to take every feral who needs us, but space in the shelter is limited while the need is endless. Meanwhile, feral cats who were accustomed to fairly large ranges, were now confined to a room and a porch. For the younger ferals who could live up to 20 years as indoor cats it was a depressing prospect. We urgently needed space for them and we were delighted when our volunteer said her new place could accommodate ferals.

The property was ideal with a fence, lots of trees and natural hiding areas, and a little cabin in a meadow at the tree line that was renovated with insulation and a screened porch. We chose the feral cats who would live there: adults from rural areas who had strong bonds with each other and a history of being fed by humans. Once they were in their new cabin, we kept them confined there until they were bonded with their new property. Then the volunteer opened the cat door giving them the option of going outside. They quickly discovered the way in and out, and the volunteer could now see them sunning themselves in the meadow or peeping in through her glass doors. The volunteer keeps the cabin stocked with food, water and clean litter pans at all times. It's always there for them. They may not live as long as they would if they spent their entire lives indoors, but they're living as they would choose to live.

We also have a colony of feral rabbits on the property. Katie's Place had taken on a family of feral rabbits that had become a nuisance to the workers at Colony Farm, and they were well suited to life on the property. They're adult feral rabbits from a rural location, they're a well bonded family group, and we'd had them all spayed/neutered. The best location on the property was chosen for their release, allowing for denning, cover, protection, fencing, food, water location and continued monitoring. Hutches were strategically placed for further protection. Like the feral cats, the feral rabbits are enjoying their freedom with all the protection and support that can be offered.

Elderly animals have a tough time of it if they lose their home. Not only do they have a harder time adjusting to the loss of a home and family to which they belonged for years but they are also the least likely to be adopted. Nobody seems to want to give an older animal another chance. But these animals are bright, loving animals with engaging personalities. They will truly catch your heart. Our older animals are fostered if we can possibly find foster homes for them. It's easier for them than coping with a shelter full of rambunctious youngsters.

People seem to have three main objections to adopting older animals: (1) I'd rather have a young one so it will bond with me and grow into my family, and (2) old animals will die too soon after I've adopted them, and (3) older animals have higher vet bills. As for (1), older animals are every bit as capable of bonding with someone new and adjusting to a new home as young ones are. They may be shy or scared at first, but watching their personalities emerge is like opening a box and finding sunshine inside; you watch with delighted surprise the first time they play or come to snuggle with you. As for (2), there's no way to predict a life span. We can lose younger animals too soon just as older animals can surprise us and go on for years. When they end their days in a home where they were safe and loved, that's the most precious gift anyone could give, and it's profoundly gratifying for those who give it. As for (3), we try to arrange for "permanent foster" situations for our old animals who most need it. This means that we will cover any vet bills the animal incurs (they must see our vet) if someone will give them a loving home until they die.

One geriatric animal we had in foster care was Mickey, a 16-year-old Spaniel/Spitz. Mickey came to us in March '02 with bad teeth and arthritis in his hip. But with veterinary attention he was able to run, play and have fun, pain free. In Autumn '03 it was discovered that Mickey had cancer. But it didn't affect his quality of life. Old man Mickey had a routine he followed. He would ask to go out, and despite his growing cancer he would bound out the door, do his little dance and then scoot back inside to the cookie cupboard. He was so happy when he played this trick on his foster mom. Life for Mickey was here and now, not yesterday or tomorrow. He felt good and there were lots of cookies in the world and that's all he knew. His foster mom said, "Mickey is 16 now and he has cancer but he still tricks me for his Fig Newtons!" Then one day in mid December '03 Mickey didn't want his Fig Newtons or any other goodie. He didn't seem quite right and his foster mom took him to the vet. They found a large, rapidly growing mass in his abdomen which had started to bleed internally. Mickey's foster mom said good bye to him and told us later, "That old dog made me laugh ten times a day with his funny little Flying Nun ears flapping like wings as he galloped towards his cookie cupboard."
 
 

Gertie-Two-Shoes came to us in May '02, a 14-year-old who needed a new home. At her age her odds of getting a home were slim to none, but we found her to be a delightful little cat. Most of her time with us was spent in foster care and her foster mom loved her. You'd never have known she was old. She was a funny girl and had a real sense of humour. When a litter of kittens amused themselves by jumping up to the chair where she was snoozing, she batted playfully at each kitten when it popped up as if she was playing the Whack-a-Mole game. They all thought this was tremendously funny and they kept it up for a while. Gert knew how to get the most out of life and played like a kitten! She also had a favourite ratty old string that she took with her when she climbed into a nest for a nap, a quirk that endeared her to us.

In September '03 Gertie was diagnosed with end stage liver disease. She stayed in her foster home (with one of our volunteers) where she continued to delight her foster mom with her quirks, and she was kept comfortable and happy until the time came to help her pass. This is such a huge part of what we do, providing compassionate and caring palliative care to the animals who never find permanent homes of their own. As her foster mom said, "If no other family wants them, at least in Gertie's case she knows how much I adore her and when she dies, it will be with someone who loves her. She has been happy." Gertie passed peacefully at 12:45 p.m. on October 6 '03.
 

Feline Leukemia (FeLV)

What is it?
A virus that causes a breakdown in a cat's immune system making it susceptible to illness.

What are the symptoms?
If a cat's had several illnesses, suspect FeLV.

How is it spread?
By saliva, mucus, blood, urine. Mutual grooming, biting/fighting, sneezing, sharing bowls and litter pans can spread it. Prolonged, extensive cat-to-cat contact is required since the virus dies quickly with warmth and drying.

Is there a vaccine for it?
Yes. The vaccine should protect your cat 7 to 8 out of every 10 times it's exposed. (No vaccine is 100% effective.)

Is it contagious to humans or other animals?
Not that anyone has seen to date. It's specific to cats only.

How long will a cat survive?
Depending on how long it's been sick, for years. But most don't live beyond 4 years.

What's the treatment?
Drug therapies are available. Otherwise, keep the cat from being stressed (changes to the routine or the environment).

How soon can you adopt a new cat after having a FeLV+ cat?
Clean with household detergent or a solution of 4 ounces of bleach to 1 gallon of water. (Thoroughly scrub food and water bowls and litter pan with this solution or discard them.) Then wait 7 to 30 days to be sure any remaining virus dies.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

What is it?
It's a virus that damages a cat's immune system making it susceptible to illness.

What are the symptoms?
If a cat's had several illnesses, suspect FIV.

How is it spread?
Mainly by biting during fighting. Possibly by sharing food and water bowls and mutual grooming but risk of transmission via these routes is low.

Is there a vaccine for it?
Yes. The vaccine should protect your cat 7 to 8 out of every 10 times it's exposed. (No vaccine is 100% effective.)

Is it contagious to humans or other animals?
No, it's species-specific which means it only affects cats.

How long will a cat survive?
Depending on the infections it's weathered, several months to several years.

What's the treatment?
Drug therapies may be available but prompt, effective management of secondary infections is the most important.

How soon can you adopt a new cat after having an FIV+ cat?
The virus itself won't survive for more than a few hours outside the cat. But in case the cat had any secondary infections, clean with a solution of 4 ounces of bleach to 1 gallon of water.
 

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