Shimmering Shouts of Everyday Madness ([info]glowingwhispers) wrote,
@ 2005-11-07 04:00:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:cats, love, sadness

Cats on Parliament Hill have their own refuge?
Wow. I'm crying over a cat story. The cat's of Canada's parliament hill have captured my heart.


LET ALL CREATURES, small or otherwise, BE LOVED. We all need that. Being welcomed into the world and then welcoming others is an essential in the building of dignity.


(Post a new comment)


[info]lousy_timing
2005-11-07 12:23 pm UTC (link)
That's the coolest feral cat colony ever. Thanks for sharing it with us- made my day a bit brighter, I know. :)

(Reply to this)


[info]thevamp
2005-11-07 01:02 pm UTC (link)
I actually was forced to make a stop there once (with treats of course) and I have to admit, they're pretty cool. Kind of an odd feeling to be standing in the shadow of our capitol buildings and see all these cats running around though.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glowingwhispers
2005-11-07 03:49 pm UTC (link)

You were forced? Is this a disguised gf reference?


As for having cats and politics co-mingling, I love the idea. Indeed, I find it injects a lively, tender quality to our nations capital.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(Anonymous)
2005-11-07 04:18 pm UTC (link)
It's more of a went-to-Ottawa-with-a-cat-person reference, but it was indeed my gf.

And you're right - it's nice to see that it's not just some stuffy space up there with no heart.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Cats
(Anonymous)
2006-01-04 10:58 pm UTC (link)
Think I saw you there that day.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]dark_cadaver
2005-11-07 03:46 pm UTC (link)
Ah yes, I remember spending a great deal of time with them while in Ottawa once.

Very cute.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glowingwhispers
2005-11-07 03:48 pm UTC (link)

I had no idea.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
the cats
(Anonymous)
2005-11-23 10:39 pm UTC (link)
I saw this on TV about a year ago and since then i have been wanting to go to ottawa to see these cats, and i am going this weekend, these cats have it good, but so many in ottawa are forced to live outside in not so admirable conditions

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: the cats
(Anonymous)
2006-01-04 11:02 pm UTC (link)
Very true. If people gave unconditional love to each other, maybe all of us would take care of our own kind. Sad that after we have seen this little rock from space we still are violent toward each other when, so fragile, we should lay down arms and nurture peace solutions.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Glad you like my pictures
(Anonymous)
2005-12-01 04:12 am UTC (link)
I was checking my webserver's log tonight and see that you have a link to my cat pictures. I am glad that you like them and linked to them.

I was visiting Ottawa 2 years ago and snapped those pictures. The cats there are really friendly too. When I was kneeing down to take pictures of them, one of them actually walked up to my laps. I would like to one day go back there and see how they are doing.

I don't have a blog, but you can find my email address and send me email. It's in the FAQ section at the bottom of my pictures.

Ka Lam
http://www.vex.net/~kalam/

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Glad you like my pictures
[info]glowingwhispers
2005-12-01 05:37 am UTC (link)

Thank you. Going through your pictures brightened my mood.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
The Cats of Parliament Hill
(Anonymous)
2005-12-09 08:14 pm UTC (link)
Hi Everyone,

I'm always interested what people have to say about the cats. I am one of the volunteers who helps Rene Chartrand feed and care for the cats. I have done so for about 4 years. I do the weekend and holiday shift. Ka's photo's are lovely. Just to update everyone, in the spring of 2004 one of the new gray cats, Smokey, had 3 lovely kittens in one of the doorways in the inner yard of the West Block. We fed them religiously each day and slowly they grew used to us. But unfortunately as winter approached we realized (even though Smokey tried hard) that they would not integrate with the colony, so we had no choice but to put them up for adoption. I am happy to relate that the mother and kittens found fine homes. It was sad not to have them there (as we grew very attached to them over the summer and fall) but having them safe and warm makes us all feel good.
It was a brutal winter, but the cats survived marvellously cuddling up four or five at a time in the condos. Indeed, some mornings when I went there to feed them, there was actual steam rising out of the front opening! As the spring came, they were out in full force and we had some new cats which were abandoned. One, Max, a beautiful grey, took 6 months of coaxing and hand feeding to come out from under the platform. He is now the clown of the colony, along with Spot a beatiful jellicle (sp?) with a white bib on his chest. The other new one is Shadow, a lovely large black cat with bold green eyes and 6 toes. He's still a bit shy, but getting to know us when we feed him. He's adapted well.
Max keeps trying to follow me home, but Spot distracts him everytime that happens. Unfortunately in the spring we also had to put Koko, the oldest, to sleep as she succummed to probably the c word. That was a very sad event. She was one of the cats we could never catch, but in the end she was willing to go so gently. But she was the oldest, and since Big Mama, the calico on the chair is about 20 years old, but no one knew how old Koko was: she was older than Big Mama Rene always said. She lived a good life. So as of today the colony is thriving. Both Ti-gris (the grey tabby on the box) and Brunette came back in November after departing in the spring (as they always do -we have no idea where they go for the other months). In September we cleaned and winterized the condos, and on 21 Nov we caught as many as we could for the annual vaccination steeple chase. An exciting day. If anyone wants additional updates, I can provide them.

Klaus J. Gerken
kgerken@synapse.net

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: The Cats of Parliament Hill
(Anonymous)
2005-12-15 09:31 pm UTC (link)
I might mention that Klaus has a big heart - he adopted one cat which was so aggressive that it was causing real trouble in the colony. Klaus took the cat home, where it has thrived with a lot of care and attention. It is my understanding both benefit from the arrangement. A crazy cat, but lots of fun when it has its own space. I'm a volunteer too - we all do our part.

Heather Ferguson

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: The Cats of Parliament Hill
(Anonymous)
2005-12-29 04:56 am UTC (link)
Thank you for all the work you do! I was thrilled to come across these kitties on a recent trip to Ottawa. I met Rene too. What a beautiful home they have. I just ordered one of your "Cats of Parliament" 2006 calendars, it has great pictures...I just wanted to mention this in case anyone out there might be interested in one. Keep up the good work, I am happy to find out that Rene has people helping him.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: The Cats of Parliament Hill
(Anonymous)
2005-12-29 10:33 pm UTC (link)
Thank you for ordering the calendar. All proceeds go to the cats. You might also be interested in the Cats of Parliament Hill Blog I started over the holiday at:
http://www.synapse.net/kgerken/CatsBlog.txt

For now it's only text, but eventually I will add html graphics and photographs.

Klaus J. Gerken

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: The Cats of Parliament Hill
(Anonymous)
2006-01-18 08:28 pm UTC (link)
I live in Lanzarote Canary Islands and foster cats for the local animal protectorat on the island, I also have 4 of my own. I just watched the program on Sky about Renee and his cats and was moved to tears. I went staright to the internet to see if Renee was still alive as the programm was quite old (2001)and was pleased to see your reports on Renee and the cats.

Please pass on my regards to Renee and all of the wonderfull volunteers and of course give the cats a cuddle from accross the waters. Maybe one day I will be able to afford to visit.

Sally-Ann (Pippin The Clown) Lanzarote

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: The Cats of Parliament Hill
(Anonymous)
2006-01-18 09:12 pm UTC (link)
There are some beautiful posts here :) I have just seen a programme called 'Animal Miracles' that featured Rene and the cats. As I am an avid cat lover (being owned by two naughty torties) I too was moved by the compassion and commitment Rene has shown towards these cats. I only wish all cats around the world were shown the same respect. We can only hope though. Please, if anyone who knows either Rene or any of the helpers reads this post pass on my love and regards to them, and of course (it goes without saying) snuggles to all the kitties.

Best wishes, Saska, Silverblaze and Amethyst xxx

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: The Cats of Parliament Hill
(Anonymous)
2006-01-18 11:19 pm UTC (link)
Hi Saska, Silverblaze and Amethyst,

Thank you for your wonderful comments. I will certainly pass them on to the other caregivers and especially Rene.

For daily updates on the cats log on to:
http://www.synapse.net/kgerken/CatsBlog.HTM

Klaus J. Gerken

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: The Cats of Parliament Hill
(Anonymous)
2006-01-18 11:24 pm UTC (link)
Hi Sally-Ann,

Thank you very much for your generous comments. I will certainly pass them on.

The blog has become a labour of love for me and the other volunteers. I will soon be looking at previous years' emails to see if I cannot put something together historically from 2003 to 2005 which I will make available on CD.

Klaus J. Gerken
http://www.synapse.net/kgerken/CatsBlog.HTM

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…