Cat rescued from abandoned Toronto landmark now up for adoption
A resilient stray cat whose story of survival captured hearts across Toronto last year is now looking for a permanent home to provide him a well-deserved happy ending after approximately a decade of living alone in a derelict Toronto landmark.
The handsome tabby was worse for wear when he was first spotted by passersby around the Toronto Planetarium, the long-shuttered brutalist complex at 90 Queen's Park Crescent where he had apparently been taking refuge for some time.
While a number of community members grew devoted to his cause over the years — even coordinating with one another for feedings and wellness checks — the feline remained a timid stray for years, only coming close enough for the occasional pet from his most regular visitors.
One of these volunteer carers was Andree Gagne, a resident who became increasingly concerned for the kitty's well-being after the University of Toronto revealed its plans to redevelop the property last summer.
"I saw him hiding in there between all of this wood, and thought, 'Oh, poor cat. He's gonna die.' So I kept going back," she told blogTO of her initial meeting with the tabby, whom she called Cheddar. "There were people looking out for him, but I was still worried about what was going to happen to him. It was my fear that he was going to be buried alive in there."
Cheddar's plight became ever more urgent as the demolition of the building drew closer, but attempts to catch him proved futile.
Finally, local nonprofit New Cat City was able to work with those who knew the critter to successfully save him from the construction site last August.
It was a huge relief for all of the humans involved — and for Cheddar, the start of a new and very different journey: the one to domestication. He spent a few months receiving medical treatment and adjusting to indoor life, and another three in foster care, during which time he's made great progress toward.
And now, in the opinion of his rescuers, he's ready for adoption.
As the organization explained in a social media update this week, after things fell through with two different promising candidates, "to be fair to Cheddar, we've decided to re-open his application so we can get him permanently homed sooner rather than keep him waiting."
New Cat City describes Cheddar as a surprisingly "neat and clean cat" given that he's spent almost his entire life on the streets, and says he enjoys sleeping peacefully and deeply in the sun by day, and exploring at night.
"He's developed a routine of activities which is quite similar to his previous lifestyle, just now with the safety and comfort of a heated indoor space," a representative tells us.
They add that his rescue at the ripe old age of 14 years old is a drastic change of scenery for him, "so to see him contently eating, sleeping, and using his litter box indoors is very rewarding in itself."
"This is meant to be his golden years where he can relax and do whatever he feels like, while under the protection of his indoor forever guardian," they say, hopeful that they will be able to find the perfect household to give him just that.
Anyone hoping to adopt Cheddar should be aware that he "may quite possibly never be a lapcat," but that doesn't mean he won't grow more comfortable with his future protectors over time as he settles into a more permanent situation.
He is best suited to a home where he will be the only pet, and one without young children, as he is still learning to socialize and accept human affection. His dream space would also include "a window where he can sleep in the sunlight, feeling uninhibited and safe."
If you're ready to give a retired street cat the love and peace he deserves, and think your home would be a fit for him, you can fill out an application to adopt Cheddar online.
