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, 28 March 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 maintained the colony till he retired November 2008 -- he built the shelters in 1997.) The Volunteers (in alphabetical order): Lia Alfonsi Ben Asselstine Sebastien Badour Kathryn Bunn Brian Caines Leyla Di Cori Heather Ferguson Klaus Gerken Laura Jaremkow Lorraine Milobar Helene Pomerleau Sally Sax & 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: Current residents: The white mother and her brood: Snowball (AKA Six Toes - lives with the white mother on the east side of the Hill) Blackie Fluffy Brownie Brunette Ti-gris Bebe (Integrated 2000) Bruno (2003/4 - adopted by myself Feb 2004 - and flourishing) Spot (Integrated 2004) Max (Integrated 2005) Past Residents: *Coco (RIP 2005) *LePune (Lost 2003 and perhaps sister to Brunette and Lulu) *Big Mama (RIP 1985? to 2006) *Thumbelina (Adopted by Sebastien Bador 2008) *Kid Jr (lost 2006) *Blanchette (lost in 2003) *Lulu (lost 2004 and sister to Brunette) *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) *Samantha (Lost Nov 2004) *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 Saturday, 7 March 2009 Fed the cats on a warm March morning between 7 amd 8 am. Had the most wonderous nuzzle from Fluffy and Blackie followed me all the way the to the rest room where I got some fresh water. All in all, a good visit, but miss the cats waiting for me like they used to do.

Approaching the colony

The compound

Max, Spot and Fluffy

Fluffy

Someone had left a row of peanuts for the squirrels

Spot

Blackie

Bebe

Spot, Max, Fluffy, Blackie and squirrel

Squirrels all over the place

Blackie guiding me back to the colony

Max

Brownie

Fluffy and Spot

Brian Caines Tuesday, 10 March 2009 Hello All: While returning from feeding the Whites I could see Bugsy sitting by the benches looking relatively relaxed even though Fluff, Max and Brownie were looking at him intently although they were not in an aggressive stance. Meanwhile, the grlllllllssss were not remotely interested in the goings-on. I gave him some food and after eating a little he wandered off. Fluffly then made a slight, low growl and that was it. I'll take that as a good sign. So it seems our Bugsy is getting braver (and our boys are getting more accepting). Brian

Klaus Gerken Wednesday, 11 March 2009 Some photos from Sunday 8 March. The cats were basking in the warm sun.

Wellington Street from the Hill looking east

Max and Spot

Ti-Gris and Brunette

Spot, Fluffy, Brownie and Blackie enjoying the warm sun

Ah! Togetherness...

Bebe playing

Fluffy makes some friends...

Ben playing with the cats

Brian Caines Friday, 13 March 2009 3:45PM Hello All: I got a message from Guy, a supporter of the cats, that he had some food to deliver. Unfortunately I missed him but I am hoping that he put the bags in the shed as I had requested. I will go there tomorrow morning to help Ben and Laura pack it away in the plastic container (and to enjoy our morning visit together). Please spoil the cats with it. Studio La Griffe located in Gatineau donates the high quality food that Guy delivers. It is food they cannot sell as the bag has be ripped or it has passed the Best Buy date, but it is still very palatable (to a cat at any rate). I will send the Studio a thank you on behalf of the cats and the Caregivers. Bugsy was with the Whites this morning but he came to the colony before I left. He let me approach him but wouldn't let me get closer than two feet before moving. When I returned at noon he approached the colony from Queen Vic Hill. Blackie took exception to him being there but our Bugs stared him down. Then Fluffy had a go and Bugsy eventually left but he seems to want to integrate. Patience is a virtue in cases like this. With luck he'll integrate himself into the colony, even if it takes a showdown or two. They should work it out. I also wrote a note that Helene is translating. It asks that people not abandon their cats at the Hill but to take them to the OHS, address and phone number will be provided. I'll attach it to the sign PWGSC put up. Have a good weekend everyone, Brian

Klaus Gerken Sunday 28 March 2009 Photos from March over the past two weeks. As you can see, To paraphase the Who: "The cats are alright".