The Cats of Parliament Hill Blog

by Klaus J. Gerken Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, North America, Planet Earth, the Sol Planetary system, the "Milky Way" Galaxy, the Local cluster of Galaxies, the Universe, and whatever is beyond or ever was before. Latest update: Monday 5 October 2008

Preamble

IMPORTANT NOTICES Please under no circumstances abandon cats or kittens on the Hill or by the Cat Sanctuary. The cats will not readily accept newcomers and for the most part chase them away. Nor is it a given new cats will find the Sanctuary in search of shelter and food. Most abandoned cats are very disorientated and will just randomly wander off finding starvation and death - especially in the winter. If you can no longer care for your cat, please take her to the Humane Society where she can be well taken care of and put up for adoption. This is what we do for any abandoned cat we find. And it causes us great grief when we cannot capture one - which happens way too often. And if you give kittens as a gift for Christmas, ensure the person or the household you give them to can provide for them. If not, then you should reconsider your priorities. No kitten deserves to be abandoned like an unwanted toy. Owning a pet is a serious responsibiliy. If you don't share that feeling, you shouldn't own a pet. It's as simple as that. Abandoning your pet is a criminal offence with up to 2 years in jail. Perhaps you who would be so callous should think about that. Treat your pets well, and they will reward you with unconditional love for the rest of their lives. Should we all care so much as they care for us. Klaus J. Gerken Before you abandon a pet you can no longer care for, please contact these organizations:

Previous logs are available at the Library and Archives Canada:

All photographs by Klaus J. Gerken unless otherwise stated.

Comments are always welcome: Please send any comments to kgerken@synapse.net (We reserve the right to publish any comments on this blog).

Invitation I would like to invite anyone who has recollections or photographs of the colony before the present condos were built; especially any recollections or photographs of Irene Desormeaux before Rene Chartrand took over caring for the cats, or even prior to that, to send them to kgerken@synapse.net . We are trying to establish a definitive history of the cat colony for a book to be published in the next year or so.

A Brief History of the Cats of Parliament Hill There is a story that Colonel By brought hundreds of cats with him when he built the Rideau Canal in 1826, to take care of the rodent population, but unfortunately that cannot be confirmed. What can be confirmed is that cats were employed in the Parliament Building (as in many other building) as pest control until 1955 when they were replaced by chemicals. Until 1970 ground keepers fed the cats in various locations, when Irene Desormeaux began feeding the cats where the existing colony now resides. Rene Chartrand began helping her in the mid-nineteen eighties and began building some wooden structures (some of which can still be seen) for the cats to keep warm in. In 1987 when Irene passed on to take care of stray cats in a greater colony beyond this world, Rene took over and loyally fed the cats to this day. In 1997 Rene and a friend built the existing structures. Brian Caines began helping about that time, and I began helping out in 2003. That year brian and I decided to put together a support team to ensure that Rene would be ok (he's in his mid-eighties now) and that the cats would always be well provided for. We now have a team of eight caregivers who volunteer their time to this amazing cause. * The cast of characters: Irene Desormeaux (Who started it all in the 1970's) Rene Chartrand (Who took over when Irene passed on in 1987 and maintains the colony till this day -- he built the shelters in 1997) The Support Team: Brian Caines (Ensures the colony's health and welfare) Klaus Gerken (Official Photographer, and Keeper of the Blog - I do the weekend shift) Laura Jaremkow Lorraine Milobar Sally Sax Helene Pomerleau --Kathryn Bunn --Leyla Di Cori --Heather Ferguson Sebastien Badour Ben Asselstine Lia Alfonsi Christ Oliver - Author of "Fish Lecan, Maria Dorfinkley et les Chats de la Colline du Parlement" and the blog below:

True Stories about the Cats on Parliament Hill by Christ Oliver

The Alta Vista Animal Hospital (For medical care). Purina for cat food. And a host of many others. And the cats: *Coco (RIP 2005) *LePune (Lost 2003 and perhaps sister to Brunette and Lulu) *Big Mama (RIP 1985? to 2006) The white mother and her brood: *Thumbelina (Adopted by Sebastien Bador 2008) Snowball (AKA Six Toes - lives with the white mother on the east side of the Hill) *Kid Jr (lost 2006) *Blanchette (lost in 2003) Blackie Fluffy Brownie *Lulu (lost 2004 and sister to Brunette) Brunette Ti-gris Bebe (Integrated 2000) Bruno (2003/4 - adopted by myself Feb 2004 - and flourishing) *Smokey and her three kittens living in the West Block ( put up for adoption fall 2004 because they could not integrate, no matter how much Smokey tried) *Monty (lost 2004) *The black and white we never got to name who only stayed a month (summer 2004) Spot (Integrated 2004) *Samantha (Lost Nov 2004) Max (Integrated 2005) *Shadow (Integrated 2005 - but probably there earlier and the father of Smokey's kittens)) - Put up for adoption March 2008 because of special medical needs *Penelope (Abandoned Christmas 2005 - taken to the Humane Society Feb 2006) *Lillian-Wentworth (Integrated 2007 - Believed stolen from the colony Spring 2008)) *Phoebe (The new white - taken to the HS by Brian and Laura 18 June 2007) *Hero (15 years old - abandoned - taken to the HS for adoption) *Mike the cabbie (Abandoned July 2007 - Named by Joanne Stanbridge) - Taken to the Humane Society 24 July 2005. *Great Tiger (abandoned in the heaviest snowfall of the winter - rescued by Laura and taken to the Humane Society for adoption - March 2008) Betsy (2008) Hangs out with the whites. And so many others who just walk in and out or are adopted when we can catch them.

Note for all: As Rene Chartrand is now in his mid-eighties several years ago Brian Caines and I decided to put together a support team so we check on the cats to ensure that Rene has been there to care for them on the previous day and to leave some food and water in case he would be unable to make it for whatever reason. To date Rene has not missed a day and is still, and always will be the primary caregiver. Besides, our help allows him to take the occasional well deserved day off, especially when the weather is bad.

The Blog

Klaus Gerken Some photos from the Labour Day Weekend. Saturday, 30 August 2008:

Visitors and Brunette

Blackie, Fluffy and Brownie

Max Fluffy and Brownie in the back hamper

Fluffy and Brownie

Another of Brownie using Fluffy as a pillow

Max and Bebe

And of course the raccoons

Max

Rene Chartrand in an ebullient mood - dancing

Another

And another

How much energy has he got!

Even more!

Fluffy finds a shady spot in the bushes

The visitors just keep arriving

Brownie decided to attack Spot for seemingly no reason at all - Spot survived and they made up later

Max and Brownie after the attack

Max realizing I was leaving decided to follow me - he got to the path leading to Queen Victoria's statue and watched me leave from there.

Sunday, 31 August 2008:
Balloons over Parliament

Max, Spot and Brunette

Brunette, Bebe and Blackie

Blackie, Spot and Brownie

More balloons

Snowball

The white mother

More balloons

It is a balloon festival after all - the National Art Gallery in the foreground

Betsy waiting patiently for the whites to stop eating

The whites

Ever more balloons

MAx

Brunette

Max relaxing in the back

Brownie and Blackie enjoying the hot sun

Brownie, Bebe and Max

Monday, 1 September 2008
The gang waiting to be fed

Blackie, Bebe, Brownie, Fluffy and Max

And of course...the balloons!

Snowball

The path to the colony and visitors - always a popular place

Max

Bebe

Brian Caines Tuesday, 02/09/08 4:15 PM Hello All: Sad news. I just heard the news that the Ottawa composer, Eldon Rathburn, died today at the good age of 92. He immortalised the cats in the piece 'The Cats on Parliament Hill'. It is available on the following recording: French Link: http://www.atmaclassique.com/fr/catalogue/disques.asp?id=ACD22371 English Link: http://www.atmaclassique.com/en/catalogue/disques.asp?id=ACD22371 Brian

Klaus Gerken Wednesday 10 Sep 08 Some photos from this past very rainy Saturday.

What a rainy morning - the cats didn't come out to greet me or even jump on the platform.

Munching away

Went back in the afternoon to see if I could feed the whites

Good time to leave the sprinkler on

Brunette getting very wet

Since Rene hadn't been there the cats were very hungry

Brownie

Blackie left the compound when the rain suddenly abated

I went and fed the whites

Betsy waiting patiently in the bushes

The whites were ravenous - I hope they left Betsy some

Leaving the Hill - Brian fed the cats on Sunday

Klaus Gerken Sep 10 2008 Here are some photographs Brian Caines sent me a while back: Brian Caines 04/09/08 2:21 PM Hello All: Here are some photos taken by Nathalie, a fan of the colony who was visiting from Montreal a few weeks ago. As she had some treats Brownie and Fluffy were very charming and all over her. The two photos of Brownie waiting expectantly for a treat are just wonderful. Brian *

Klaus Gerken 10 Sep 09 Here is a message Brian Caines sent me a while back that I haven't had a chance to post: Hello Klaus, et al: I am attaching a note and some photographs from Pierre, a gentleman that Rene and Lia met on the Hill. He takes care of a colony cats in the DND Dockyards in Halifax. It would be wonderful if you could put his story and some of his photos (more to follow) on the Blog. He does wonderful work (heated shelters even!) and I am certain that the Blog readers would love to hear his story. Thanks. Brian > Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:33:26 -0300 > Subject: Feral cats > > Hi Mr. Brian, > My name is Pierre Filiatreault and I am the Halifax's Cat-man. > > I was in Ottawa this past 3 days and I met Lia and another lady early > "I can mot remember her name at this time" > in the morning, she was feeding all the cats at the Parliament Hill, > she was a very friendly person and she works near by, maybe you can > write me some names of the volunteers and I will remember it !!!! > > I have known about the Ottawa cats for a while but never had a chance > to see them, I am very impress with the cares they are getting from > all of you. > > I myself take care of 35 + feral cats with the DND Dockyard area, > there are 4 different colonies there. They are spayed and neutered . I > have not had any kittens in 2 years, so I am running a tight TNR > Program. > > Here are some pictures of my cats and shelters witch are heated for > the Winter. > > I hope that we can talk and maybe share stories. > > Pierre

Klaus Gerken Tuesday 16 September 2008 Some images from this past weekend.

Brunette waiting for me Saturday morning - purring very very loudly

The gang leading me to the Colony

Ok, now, where's the food?

Snowball

Spot

Brownie

Max and Fluffy

Max

Having fun with the pigeons

The raccoon pups grooming each other

Sunday morning - Betsy waiting for me to bring food

Snowball getting there ahead of me

Brownie and Spot on a rainy sunday morning

Brunette - give them fresh water and they opt for a puddle

Bebe keeping dry

Pipers on the Firefighter's Memorial Day

The helmets of fallen Heroes

Solemn march

Parade

Blackie and Brownie entertaining the visitors

Brunette grooming Ti-Gris

Fluffy being Fluffy

Brian Caines Friday, 19/09/08 11:01 AM Hello All: Betsy is getting braver. This morning when I arrived she was lying in the bushes close to the sanctuary observing the colony from a safe distance. I went over to see her and she ate treats from my hand and let me pet her while Fluffy and Max looked on from a close distance. There were some low growls but she held her own. She disappeared but when I was about to leave she was in the compound being stared down by Blackie and Max. She eventually turned around and left but she did not appear to be in any distress. Progress. Have a good weekend all, Brian

Brian Caines Saturday 20/09/08 9:23 AM Hello All: Yesterday afternoon I contacted Rene and he and I met with Diane Peters, a reporter from the Metro newspaper, who will be profiling him in her weekly "Odd Jobs" column in Metro. It was a beautiful afternoon and Rene was in very good spirits. I gave background information about Rene's work and discussed the support of the Caregivers. I am hoping that it will be a good story. Diane thinks the article will appear in the Monday, September 29, 2009 issue of the paper. She will send me a link to it which I will forward to you. Metro is a free daily newspaper and it is distributed to a number of Canadian cities, including Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver so the colony will have cross-Canada coverage for one day at least! Brian

Klaus Gerken Monday, 22 Sep 2008 A lovely weekend. Some photos: Suturday:

Approaching the colong Saturday around 11am

Brunette and Fluffy

Sweet Brunette

Max

Blackie snoozing away next to me

Blackie

Brownie

Sunday:
Approaching the colony Sunday morning - Fluffy, Brunette and Blackie

Breakfast time - thanks to whoever donated the dry food - it's well appreciated

Brunette and Rockie Raccoon - this time Brunette swatted his nosed with her paw and walked away

Tired of the raccoons taking over I began to plug all the holes in the fence they get through. It won't stop them, but why make it easy for them?

Interesting cloud formation looking east to lowertown

The white mother

And...well what can I say...the visitors love them

Laura, with Brownie, Fluffy and Bebe

Bebe grooming Fluffy

The Hill on a Sunday evening

Approaching the colony

Brunette in Autumn shadows

Brownie just snoozing away - oblivious to all

(From the top) Max, Blackie and Bebe

Blackie after a long gentle relexing tummy rub

Brownie again just as I was leaving

Brian Caines Monday 22 September 2008 12:42 PM Lia's' Good Deed: On Thursday, September 11, Lia noticed four baby squirrels by the Queen Victoria Statue close to the sanctuary. She not only observed them following the visitors but also watched as visitors picked them up to be photographed. She came back to the colony a couple of hours later and the squirrels were still there with no mother in sight. She realized they were orphaned. She managed to catch two that night and returned to catch the remaining two on Friday. After spending Friday contacting many wildlife facilities she finally found them a place at Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in North Gower. The woman was very kind. On Saturday, September 13 Lia and her husband went to North Gower to deliver the squirrels to Linda for her care. They were quite underweight and she had to treat them for fleas and also administer shots to rehydrate them. One squirrel unfortunately did not make it. The other three are doing well. Linda will be fostering them for two weeks after which they will be re-released into the wild. She made a donation on behalf of the Cat Caregivers for all her help and the wonderful work she and her volunteers do for the animals. I thought we should share Lia's success story with the many Blog readers. Caring for the Cats on the Hill involves more than just caring for the cats!! Brian

Brian Caines Monday, 22/09/08 7:13 PM Hello All: A friend was going to Ritchie's this afternoon so I joined her. So I was able to pick up two bales of straw. Luckily, Neil Ritchie was there as I again asked for two bales of hay (duh!) and he said, no Brian, straw is what you want. So we are assured that we will have straw for our Saturday clean-up. Brian PS. This morning as I was feeding da puddies I noticed that Max was staring at something in the distance and he ignored me when I called him. (A first.) I took a look and there was Betsy staring back up at him while standing on the steps to the "concrete bunker" just east of the compound.

Brian Caines Wednesday 24 September 2008 2:16 PM Hello All: Betsy was at the compound waiting for me this morning and although she ate away from the others she stayed and ate with the group nearby. When she finished she went into the bushes and she was followed by Brownie, Blackie, Fluffy and Bebe. There was quite a cacophony, so much so that the raccoon that was eating ran away and had not returned by the time I had left. While wondering what to do, Blackie and Bebe came running out with their tails between their legs (literally) while she sauntered off up the pathway where I later visited her with treats. I am hoping to make it to the Hill at noon tomorrow, Thursday. I hope some of you will be there. Brian

Klaus Gerken Monday, 29 September 2008 A wet dark drizzly weekend. Some photos:

Approaching the Hill from Bank Street

Donated peanuts especially appreciated

Visitors with Blackie

Spot, Brownie and Fluffy

Max, Bebe, Blackie, Fluffy and Spot

Snowball

Betsy

Max, Brunette and Blackie

Another view of the colony from the parking lot

Police Memorial Day

Police Memorial Day gathering

Brunette and Brownie

Police Memorial Day Observances

The colony empty of cats, who were hiding from the cannon blasts

Afternoon visitors and Rene

Brian Caines Monday, 29 September 2008, 12:19 PM Hello All: Here's the link to the article. It's pretty good, although I believe the annual cost of keeping the cat is somewhat overestimated. I believe the amount comes from various articles written when the colony was larger. I must remember to mention that should there be any other articles on the colony. Brian http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/Comment/article/118678

Klaus Gerken Monday, 5 October 2008 Not many photographs. I missed the annual clean-up this Saturday because of other commitments, but did manage to get down around 4 in the afternoon. Then fed the cats Sunday morning and down again around at noon.