Supper on the Deck

The back Deck of the Double-Wide building is both a home for a colony of semi-ferals, and a transition area for felines expanding their comfort-zone to include the back courtyard. In the winter the residents snuggle together on a mattress under the comfort of a heat-lamp, while the rest of the “room” is protected from the elements only by plastic screens. The “red light area” is the home to the core-group, and every other cat-bed around the upper area is occupied. Now that warmer weather is with us, natural body-heat replaces the need for the heat-lamp, and more cats pop in and out of the cat-door in the corner.

One of my regular shifts for the past fourteen years has been to feed in the Double-Wide building on Saturday evenings – usually working with Molly, who began as a volunteer, then a staff cleaner, and is now the med-staff person on Saturdays, mixing up the necessary medications and delivering them all across the Sanctuary. Operating from the Laundry Room sink, I plate up wet food for the building, including smaller dishes for caged cats. And usually I do the clean-up and wash the cans before I take the last three plates through to the Deck, so that, with a clear conscience, I can sit for a little while with the cats there.

One plate gets delivered to the upper level in front of the mattress; one to the main area inside the door, and one to the back of the deck, where the shyer cats can eat without feeling too close to a human. I will usually sit on the steps inside the door, and am quickly surrounded by feline friends who are so certain that I have something even tastier than the assortment of cat food flavours being offered.

At my feet, Gwen hovers hopefully, smacking any other cat within reach.

Crinkle comes down to the shelf beside me; she is still inclined to swat food from my hand rather than accept it, but the swat now comes without claws. The other tabbies prefer to get first dibs at the plate before coming to beg for tidbits; Hickory, Mitzi and Ziggy wait at the top, while the black boys, Denzel, Luke and Bodhi swarm closer. Bodhi doesn’t actually care much for the chicken tidbits, but he wants to be part of the crowd.

Other cats hover at a distance; they are still wary around humans, but visits like this can help them to learn that we don’t need to be feared, and that if their companions can approach easily, they may do so as well. Little Nootka remained comfortably on her chair without feeling she had to hide; she came to us with black and white Tofino who prefers to wander the back courtyard;  Nootka prefers to stay indoors.

Pretty Madonna has moved from hiding on the upper-level shelves to remaining on the other side of the room; she is cautious but no longer feels she has to hide.

I had two small orange tabbies hovering hopefully. They’re from a quartet that came into our care a few months ago, and were named Mandarin, Tangelo, Valencia and Tangerine. Mandarin is the single male and the only one I can identify from a little white patch on his chest; he is also the bravest of the four and the most food-motivated.

He has made himself at home in the Double-Wide, preferring to roam the cage-tops, but has also begun to explore the back courtyard. The three girls are much shyer, but at least one of them has become more confident in being around people on the back deck. I will look forward to getting to know them better in the next few months.

At another time, I will come to the deck without food, but with a wand toy or something to chase, and spend time to coax the shyer cats to interact with me. Pretty Ivy is getting braver all the time, and Marshmallow will accept petting and gentle grooming if there’s not too much action around.  Food is a useful motivator, but we need not rely on it.

The cat radar is working outside the deck – they know when tidbits are being offered. Before long Fletcher and Fonzie have joined up; Fonzie prefers the plated food, but Fletcher is watching the chicken bag with full attention. And then of course Lindor and Jasper arrive  – Lindor in particular doesn’t need more food; he’s been accepting treats from visitors all afternoon. Jasper and Gwen get into a swearing match, and then Jasper moves into “cute” mode and offers a high-five as incentive for something tasty, while Gwen retires under the stairs to lurk and mutter darkly.

Once the feline sharks gather, it’s time to wind up the treats visit, and return to the rest of my shift – checking and changing water-bowls as needed, and topping up kibble. I need to visit the DW deck again on one of my Kitty Comforter shifts and take quiet time for some one-on-one with these delightful cats without food being too much of a factor!