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: 20 September 2011

Preamble


IMPORTANT NOTICES 20 September 2011: All new updates to the The Cats of Parliament Hill are available on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150405879209554&set=o.10150154879045652&type=1#!/pages/The-Cats-of-Parliament-Hill/10150154879045652 13 January 2011: I have posted some messages from Brian Caines with previously unseen historical photographs of the cats. 31 December 2010: I have posted an update on the cats by Brian Caines. 18 July 2009: Since I am updating this blog so rarely these days, if anyone would like to be put on a mailing list advising of updates, just send an email to kgerken@synapse,net with the subject: "CPH ML add" and I will do so. * 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 2008 (in alphabetical order): Lia Alfonsi Ben Asselstine Sebastien Badour Kathryn Bunn Brian Caines Leyla Di Cori Heather Ferguson Klaus J. 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: The Alta Vista Animal Hospital (For medical care). Purina for cat food. And a host of many others. And the cats: Current residents: Fluffy Ti-gris Bebe (Integrated 2000) Spot (Integrated 2004) Max (Integrated 2005) Past Residents: *Brownie: adopted by one of the volunteers for medical reasons *Brunette: lost 2009 to old age *The white mother: killed by a dog Nov 2011 *Snowball (AKA Six Toes - lives with the white mother on the east side of the Hill) - Adopted 2010 *Blackie (adopted 2010 by one of the volunteers for medical reasons) *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) *Bruno (2003/4 - adopted by myself Feb 2004 - and flourishing) *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


December 31 2010 Year end update. From Brian Caines: Hello All: The twenty-ten year-end update on the cats. Some good news and some sad. There has been a slow reduction in the number of cats residing at the Hill sanctuary. When I first began helping Rene, the now-retired Catman of the Hill, there were over 30 cats in the colony. Thanks to the on-going support by Alta Vista Animal Hospital (AVAH), the numbers began to slowly decrease. (The impact of a spay and neutering program is amazing.) For the last few years, the colony remained stable with no more than a dozen happy cats at one time. However since my July 2010 update we lost four cats: Lewis was the first to leave. He had been abandoned at the sanctuary the previous winter, and because he integrated before we could catch him we decided he could stay. He loved climbing trees. One August morning while Laura and I were feeding the gang, Lewis climbed onto a branch just above us, lost his balance and while falling, broke his hind leg after it hit the overhang. We rushed him to the emergency at AVAH, and after treatment, Laura took him home. Since he was able to get out of a number of casts, his vet attached a fixator, a steel bar that was 'fixed' to his leg by 6 screws drilled into the bone. That did the trick. While he convalesced he and Laura bonded and he decided to stay and enjoy an easy indoor life. Which he does! Photo 1: Lewis sporting his first cast. ** Blackie, the oldest sanctuary cat, was also adopted in August. As he aged, he required more medical care which became increasingly difficult to provide effectively outdoors. In addition, we worried about his living at the sanctuary during another long, cold Ottawa winter. As a result, Leyla asked to adopt him. Even though he spent his life on the Hill, he quickly became a house cat, and he’s now the lord of the manor. Photo 2: Blackie relaxing on a duvet on his first day as a house cat. ** Sadly, the White Mother (WM) was killed on November 1, the day the Caregivers and the Alta Vista team got together for the vaccination of the colony. What started out as favourite annual group activity turned into a calamity. The WM was killed by an off-leash dog. She was sitting on a stone wall enjoying the sun as the dog rounded the corner, with its owner nowhere in sight. As she facing in the opposite direction and because she was becoming deaf, she neither saw or heard him. The dog attacked before anyone could react. She died immediately. We were dumbstruck and horrified. I notified the RCMP immediately. I was later informed by an Ottawa by-law office that this was not the first attack by this dog, and that he was not muzzled as the city had previously ordered. As the attack occurred on federal land the city is unable to lay charges. Although the RCMP do not enforce municipal by-laws, I hope they are able to sanction the irresponsible owner. In the meantime, I understand the dog and owner are barred from the Hill. It was ironic that just before the attack, Lara, the cats’ vet, and I were discussing the WM’s condition. The Caregivers were concerned because of her hearing loss and increasing frailty. We hoped a medical examination would assist in making a decision regarding her care. Sadly, the examination was not to be. Alta Vista Animal Hospital had her body cremated, and on November 28 the group gathered on the Hill to spread the White Mother's ashes on her favourite sun bathing spots around the Hill. ** The White Mother was pregnant when abandoned on the Hill in 2002, and she had three white female kittens; Snowball, Thumbelina and Six-Toes, and one orange male tabby, Kid Junior. Eventually all but the Kid moved from the sanctuary; Thumbelina to the look-out close to the Noon-Day Gun, the other three to a heating vent behind the Library of Parliament. Sébastien rescued Thumbi in December, 2006 during one of the worst snowstorms on record, and adopted her. Six-Toes disappeared, and the White Mother and Snowball remained in the vent where we cared for them. With WM's death we decided that Snowball needed to be adopted as she could no longer live alone, and she was reluctant to return to the sanctuary. Sébastien gladly took her in and he now cares for the WM’s two remaining family members. She and her sister are adjusting to being together but there continues to be a few spats over territory. They’ll work it out. Cats always do. Photo 3. White Mother and Snowball (in front) at the vent. Photo courtesy of Elephant Mauve Website: www.elephantmauve.com Photo 4. Some of the Caregivers and AVAH team after the scattering ** And last but not least.... Bugsy, an unfixed male, who was abandoned on the Hill over three years ago has finally integrated with the colony. It was a long process, as he distrusted the Caregivers, and he would often disappear (hide?) for weeks at a time. Gradually, he became less suspicious of us and he began to visit to the sanctuary. Even though he was not welcomed with opened paws by the other cats, he finally decided to stay. We were able to catch him to have him neutered and vaccinated on October 15. This has really helped speed-up his integration. He still can be somewhat aggressive with the volunteers, the result of abuse I believe, but he now allows us to scratch he head which he loves. Success is sweet. Photo 5: Bugsy after surgery cared for by AVAH technician. As the remaining cats are getting older, we monitor their health daily. It is a relief to know that they will continue to receive excellent health care. And should there be a crisis, someone will gladly care for them. They are very lucky cats! Bébé, Brownie, Bugsy, Coal, Fluffy, Max, Ti-Gris, Spot and all the volunteers wish you a Happy New Year. PS. Best quote by a visitor: Dogs have masters; cats have servants.
Lewis sporting his first cast.


Blackie relaxing on a duvet on his first day as a house cat.


White Mother and Snowball (in front) at the vent. Photo courtesy of Elephant Mauve Website: www.elephantmauve.com


Some of the Caregivers and AVAH team after the scattering.


Bugsy after surgery cared for by AVAH technician.


Sunday, January 09, 2011 3:58 PM Brian Caines White Mother and Family Hello All: Rene's daughter made up three albums for him; two of which are of photographs of the Cats of the Hill over the years; many I remember, some I do not. I borrowed 27 of them and I had them scanned to a DVD. I will be emailing them to you over the next while, starting with this group of the White Mother and her four lovely (and much-loved) offspring. I am sending these photos of the Whites first since the White Mother has so recently left us. One of the photographs has the notation "taken 2002" and that seems to be about right. Unfortunately, the only photo of the White Mother, Thumbi, Six Toes, Snowball and Kid Junior together is somewhat blurred. But it is still lovely. The white kittens are wearing collars in two of the photos. I put a collar on a kitten after she was spayed so I could tell "fixed" from "unfixed". I soon learned the collars posed a hazard outdoors so I removed them and began marking the fixed kittens with a blue marker. It worked, but I had to keep marking them. After three or four days they cleaned the mark off and I had to catch the kitten to do it again. Such fun. I vowed that if there were more kittens I would have their ears clipped after being fixed. There were no more kittens born at the sanctuary thanks to AVAH. Photo 1: Six Toes and Snowball Photo 2: Kid Junior and Thumbi Photo 3: Two Whites and some of the gang. Recognize any? Photo 4: Rene and the family Cheers, Brian
Six Toes and Snowball. Summer 2002.


Kid Junior and Thumbi. Summer 2002.


Two Whites and some of the gang. Summer 2002. Recognize any?


Rene and the family. Summer 2002.


Thursday, January 13, 2011 2:38 PM Brian Caines Cat Photographs: Hello All: A few more historic photographs for your viewing pleasure. This group were taken about the time I started visiting the sanctuary in the early 90s, but before I started helping Rene. He was in excellent health at the time so we chatted while he fed and cared for the gang. There were close to 30 cats, Rene always said "twenty-eight"; many of them were very shy so I would only see them fleetingly. The condos were not built until a few years later. At that time the cats lived in small wooden stand-alone shelters that were scattered among bushes where the platform now stands. The last of these shelters is just to the west of the platform walkway. The photos of the original structures will be sent later. During the winter, Rene often fed the cats on mats on the walkway as it often was quite treacherous on the sanctuary side of the fence. They don't call it Parliament Hill for nothin'!!. Most of the toms were orange (as were one or two of the queens) and many of the other females were either dark calicos or tortoise shells. The only cat born at the sanctuary that continue to live there are Brownie and Ti-Gris, all the others have gone to kitty heaven. There are a few cats in the photographs whose names I have forgotten, or never knew. However, The Kid my favourite, is in a few of the snaps as are some of the other orange cats, CoCo, Prince, Princess and the black tortoise/calicos; LouLou, PomPom, LaPune, LaPatte and dear Brunette. It seems that most of the cats and certainly the gals were related but I never could figure out the family tree! I have also attached a lovely photo of Blanchette, Brownie's mother, as a young cat. It was taken before I started visiting the Hill. She was somewhat roly-poly when I first met her and, like Brownie, she loved a warm lap. She was a favourite of all the visitors and she disappeared in 2003; stolen I think. And lastly, two photos of Rene that will put a smile on your faces. He loved calicos. Brian PS: Where there is a definite date (eg. Winter, 2006) the date was taken from the photograph. When there is a "circa" I have estimated the time the photo was taken Photo 1: CoCo, July 20, 2004 Photo 2: LouLou, circa 2000 Photo 3. PomPom, La Pune, Princess and others, Winter 1996 Photo 4: Rene and CoCo, circa 2000 Photo 5: The Gang, 1996 (That's how I often remember them.) Photo 6: The Oranges, Winter 1996 (Don't they look alike?) Photo 7: The Kid, circa 2000. The Kid disappeared not too long before the White Mother had her four kittens. Rene started to call the red kitten, Kid, so we added Junior to his name to distinguish the two. Photo 8: Blanchette, circa 1988. She's almost the reverse of Brownie. Brownie had a twin brother who was adopted by a construction worker. Photo 9: Rene and an unidentified calico kitten, July 1996 Photo 10: Rene and Bebe, Fall 2001; soon after she was abandoned on the Hill. Rene loved her so much I did not even suggest taking her to the OHS for adoption!
CoCo, July 20, 2004.


LouLou, circa 2000.


PomPom, La Pune, Princess and others, Winter 1996


Rene and CoCo, circa 2000.


The Gang, 1996 (That's how I often remember them.)


The Oranges, Winter 1996 (Don't they look alike?).


The Kid, circa 2000. The Kid disappeared not too long before the White Mother had her four kittens. Rene started to call the red kitten, Kid, so we added Junior to his name to distinguish the two.


Blanchette, circa 1988. She's almost the reverse of Brownie. Brownie had a twin brother who was adopted by a construction worker.


Rene and an unidentified calico kitten, July 1996.


Rene and Bebe, Fall 2001; soon after she was abandoned on the Hill. Rene loved her so much I did not even suggest taking her to the OHS for adoption!


20 September 2011: All new updates to the The Cats of Parliament Hill are available on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150405879209554&set=o.10150154879045652&type=1#!/pages/The-Cats-of-Parliament-Hill/10150154879045652

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