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: Sunday 11 January 2009

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) Brian Caines (Ensures the colony's health and welfare) 2008 on. The Support Team: --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) Bugsy (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.

The Blog

Klaus Gerken Sunday 7 Dec 08 While I was unable to feed the cats today, here are some photos from Friday and Saturday. Friday evening:

Snowflakes and the colony on a crisp Friday evening

Brunette and Ti-Gris

Spot

Max

Ti-Gris and Brunette enjoying and evening meal

Snowflakes on a Friday night and an empty Parliament

The Centre Block. At least they didn't turn off the lights

Rush hour traffic

Saturday:
No cats greeted me on this cold December morning, but the squirrels sure had the run of the place!

Spot and Max were the first to greet me

Fluffy and Blackie

Fluffy and a bold meow...

Fluffy out for a walk

Fluffy came back and the went down the hill

and came back on the other side of the colony

Brownie, Fluffy and Max as I was leaving

Ben already there ahead of me when I returned at noon

Brownie and Blackie and some fresh warm water

Ben with Bebe and Fluffy

Ben with Bebe and Max

Brownie and Bebe on my lap

Snowing when I returned at 4 with more snacks

The "Max" look

Max, Bebe, Blackie and Fluffy

Klaus Gerken Sunday, 14 December 2008 Saturday: As the temperature was -21C I only stayed long enough to give the cats (including the whites) some food and warm water. Since it was a sunny day I put out the mats and the cats were most appreciative. I went back around 3 in the afternoon for a short time to bring some more wet food and put the mats away.

Fluffy running to greet me on a very cold morning

Spot, Blackie and Max

The gang waiting for me to feed them

Bebe, Spot, Blackie, Fluffy and Brownie - the blistering cold didn't seem to bother them at all. Althought I did notice Bebe and Max were shivering a bit - but they soon found a cubicle to warm up in

Brunette especially enjoyed the warm water

Max keeping warm

Sunday: -6c and overcast. The dampness felt much colder that the -21c yesterday. Max seemed to have been in a fight with another cat and was very skittish and shy. Laura and later Ben arrived. And then Bugsy made an appearance from under the platform! At as if he had always been there, Max, thought made a slow deliberate and cautious exit, which seems to point to a power-play between himand Bugsy. I'm sure they'll work it out.
The Centre Block from Metcalf street

Wellington street looking west

The Centre Block on my way to the colony

The East Block and Langevin Building

The colony after a snowy night, and Blackie

Blackie coming out to greet me

The rest of the gang came from under the platform

Spot looking for an empty cubicle and Brownie not yet ready to relinquish his

Fluffy, Blackie, Spot, Brunette and Brownie

Ah the food!

Spot, after chasing Max away

Max, with tuffs of loose fur

Laura at the colony while I was returning with warm water

Visirors and Fluffy

Max at the moment he say Bugsy appear

Bugsy came from underneith the platform, so is staying at the colony

Max making slow retreat at Bugsy looks on

Fluffy and Laura

Bugsy stayed for quite a while looking at us, trying to decide what to do after he had eaten

Ben, Bebe, Fluffy and Laura

Klaus Gerken Sunday, 21 December 2008 Saturday: Bitterly cold day. Since the sun way out I put down the mats. I even sat on the bench with them for a while, Max in my arms.

Approaching the Hill from the west

The colony after a good snow fall

Max, Fluffy and Blackie decided to brave the bitter cold and greet me

I had to clear the snow before I fed them

Even the pigeons were waiting

Brunette and Brownie

Ti-Gris and Brunette

Fluffy as I was returning with the warm water

Brownie

Spot

Max

Max, Bebe, Fluffy and Brownie

Brownie, Max and Fluffy

Brownie

Spot

Bownie and Bebe

Max in my arms, with Fluffy and Brownie

Brownie, Fluffy and Max watching me leave

Sunday: Bad snowstorm.
Approaching the Hill from O'Connor Street

The colony with thick fluffy flakes of snow falling

Max, Blackie and Brownie

Brunette, Spot, Blackie, Brownie and Max

Gotta feed the pigeons

View from the colony

Max and Brunette as I was leaving

Wellington Street looking west

Klaus Gerken Thursday 25 December 2008 Quite mild. Sunny, and most of the gang was there for Christmas morning.

Spot, Max and Blackie

Max, Spot, Fluffy, Brownie and Blackie waiting for Christmas breakfast

Finally he dishes out the food

Bebe, Blacke, Brownie and Fluffy

Bebe having a scratch at the back of the compound

Brunette and Spot

Brownie

Brunette eating, and Fluffy on the chair as I was leaving

Brian Caines Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:07:00 -0500 Hello All: It is treacherous out there today. There is a tin layer of ice on every surface so it took me at least 20 minutes longer to walk to and from the Hill than usual and I attached "icers" to my boots for extra traction. Slow and steady.....I also brought a small bag of kitty litter to spread within the compound for extra traction and it works OK. There is a bin of salt outside the fence which I sparingly spead on the walkway. I hate that stuff as do the critters. When the bus strike is over I am hoping to pick up a bag of Ecotraction, a new environmentally product that was developed in Ottawa, to try out. Unfortunately, it is only available at a few locations, none of which are downtown. The usual suspects were waiting patiently at the colony for me. Only dear Blackie and Fluffy came out to greet me. Max was smart and stayed on the platform. He and Spot jumped onto the overhang to bump my head in greeting as I picked up the bowls. Someone had left a lot of wet food in five bowls which was frozen solid. I cleaned the bowls and after feeding the cats I put them away in the shed, leaving only the dried food and water bowls out. I will make up a sign to put on the overhang asking people not to feed the cats. With any luck that will discourage visitors from leaving food. How's this for a sign, especially en francais: These cats are feed daily. Please do not give them food. Thank you. Ces chats sont nourris chaque jour. SVP ne pas les donner la nouriture. Merci. I dropped over to feed the Whites. They did not come out but they are making it up to the bowl as I could see their paw prints leading to their feeding station. Take care if you are out walking today. Brian

Klaus Gerken Sunday, 28 December 2008 Some more photos from the Christmas long weekend. Friday, 26 December 2008:

Fluffy braving the treacherous pathway to the colony to meet me

And Blackie joining him - lots of warm meows all around

And a hasty return...

Max, Fluffy, Blackie, Brownie and Spot

Max

* Sunday, 28 December 2008 A very mild but stormy day. The winds almosy blew one off the Hill.
Spot, Max and Fluffy

Squirrel

Brownie

Max and Fluffy

Brian Caines Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:40:04 Hello All: I met Laura on the Hill yesterday morning and we had a grand time feeding the cats. Sebastien dropped by en route to the gym and to check on the Whites who are making it to their feeding station. The usual suspects were in great form and they and the humans were more than happy with the 10 degree temperature. It was lovely to be able to sit on the bench with the gang and to spoil them with treats. I don't know who enjoyed the treats more; the felines or the human. It was still quite icy when we arrived but Laura had a wonderful time bashing the ice with the ice breaker. And I had a wonderful time watching. There was quite a thaw going on and we enjoyed watching Bebe who was up to her "knees" in water watching the rivulets of water. Laura and I were talking about the safety of the frozen canned food that was left at the colony for the cats. It seems that in the name of caution it would be wise to discard it, Klaus. Please see the attached article: http://missourifamilies.org/quick/foodsafetyqa/qafs47.htm As well Klaus are you planning to feed the cats on New Year's Day? Brian * Klaus Gerken Monday, 29 Dec 2008 Hi Brian, Not to worry. I have already decided to discard them. k * Brian Caines Hi Klaus: I am glad to know that you threw out the cat food.It is always best to err on the side of caution. I appreciate visitors' good intentions, but I cannot understand their leaving wet food at the colony in winter. Do they not realise that the food will freeze and spoil? Brian

Klaus Gerken Thursday, 1 January 2009 The cats have been well provided for, including the whites. I, on the other hand am a solid block of ice and slowly thawing out. k

Happy New Year from Parliament Hill and the Colony!

Max, Blackie and Fluffy as I was approaching the colony

Max gave a warm meow on this brutally cold New Year's day

Fluffy and Spot sharing

Bebe, FLuffy and Blackie

And of course little Brunette...Ti-Gris came out after everyone had eaten. And did they ever appreciate the warm water!

Foot prints where the white's hang out. A shure sign they are ok

Leaving the colony: Fluffy, Brownie and Max

Klaus Gerken Friday, 09/01/09 9:46 AM It is with deep regret, due to problems with my hip, I will no longer be able to feed the cats on the weekend during the cold weather. I have noticed that it is increasingly difficult for me to climb the fence into the compound. Once the weather is milder (perhaps March or April) I will reassess my involvement with the colony. I will certainly miss the cats and the volunteers. Klaus Gerken

Hey everybody... Here's hoping everybody enjoyed this fabulous and beautiful weekend, and are prepared for the deep freeze heading our way. -30C? Eeek. Ben and i were chatting (before he headed off to fun in the sunshine of Hawaii) and even though he will be going back to work soon, he will be taking up the feeding of the cats on Saturdays, and i will be the Sunday girl. Brian will be standing strong in his weekday capacity, and everybody else, well you just keep stopping by at any given moment because in the winter, our kitties need every bit of loving and and every bit of body heat they can get. We had a fun morning today. i arrived around 930, running into Ben who was on his way to get some water for our kitties. The whole gang was out in the sunshine, sucking up the heat and charging their 'batteries'. The mood was so good that when Ben brought out the string, it was a playday for sure. It started with Max, then Bebe was going crazy. Along came Spot, and Brownie, and even Fluffy joined in the fun of the string. The best was when Tigris came along for her share. So calm, so serene, with only one paw moving she had her way with that string. It was a good morning. Hope to see all of you soon. Have a great week. Thank you. .:laura:.