Stray cat living in abandoned Toronto landmark rescued ahead of impending demolition
A cat that became somewhat famous for taking up residence in Toronto's defunct McLaughlin Planetarium has finally been rescued ahead of the building's quickly approaching redevelopment, giving locals who've been caring for him a chance to breathe a sigh of relief.
A handful of dedicated residents have been paying regular visits to 90 Queen's Park Crescent for years now to tend to Cheddar, a stray orange tabby that, if you're lucky, you may have spotted at some point hanging out beneath the long-shuttered institution.
But, while the feral feline has happily accepted food, bedding and even the occasional scratch from some of those looking out for him, he's resolutely kept his distance from most humans, making his capture near-impossible (and his future, uncertain).
That is, until this week.
Toronto nonprofit New Cat City was able to succeed where other organizations had tried and failed, working with one of Cheddar's trusted feeders to capture him so he can finally access medical care and, most importantly, safety before his chosen home is torn down.
After what community members suspect was a decade or more of Cheddar living on the streets, the little guy's rescue was undoubtedly a long time coming — and, understandably, he doesn't serve as the most straightforward project.
Since he was carefully trapped on August 22, New Cat City staff have been sharing social media updates about the beloved kitty's progress, which started with a vet assessment, bloodwork and medication.
He was also found to have a few medical concerns that will require further treatment, prompting rescuers to launch a fundraiser to cover the associated costs. At the time of publication, it is just over halfway to its $2,000 goal to treat his skin, dental and other issues.
While it's taking him some time to learn the ropes of being a domesticated kitty, so far it appears that Cheddar is really enjoying the newfound comfort of blankets and soft surfaces, and has finally been able to relax peacefully after years of hypervigilance in an outdoor setting.
In a post on Sunday, New Cat City shared a picture of the critter napping, writing that he is now "Decompressing. Resting. Sleeping under protection. Sleeping uninhibited. Sleeping without wetness from rains or humidity from summers or the cold of winters."
They added that Cheddar "is still settling in, but he's making those baby step progressions, such as resting peacefully."
Also, because Cheddar is taking to humans better than expected despite his years in the wild, the long-term plan for him — which was initially to send him off to a cat sanctuary — has changed.
As the head of the non-profit wrote on Instagram, "upon witnessing Cheddar's friendliness with his trusted feeders, I am hoping that he is easily socialized and may be adopted by one of his former feeders. I think we will have to take it one day at a time and see how he does."
Closed down all the way back in 1995, the McLaughlin Planetarium has long served as an architectural landmark, but has, unfortunately, fallen short of providing any use to the public beyond that.
The six-storey building taking its place will be home to multiple U of T faculties, primarily its School of Cities, along with a new performance venue. Prep work for demolition has already began.
Andree Gagne
