Former Parliament Hill cat hanging on at age 17
Feline from parliamentary grounds now being treated for heart condition
Two of the last surviving cats from the dozens that once walked by themselves on Parliament Hill are living an indoor retirement on Ogilvie Road today. One of them isn’t doing so well.
The younger cat, Coal, 11, is in fine shape. He visits residents of the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre once a week as a therapy cat — not exactly exuding affection, but tolerating the people there.
Meanwhile his buddy Spot, another male, is now 17 and has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. The animal cardiologist has him on pills (crushed with his food) and has drained fluid from his chest, which has relieved symptoms.
But, with no actual cure in sight, the best the little guy can hope for is to manage this condition and live, with luck, a few more years.
Spot and Coal are aging movie stars, literally: Film crews from Japan, Russia and California all came to see the cat sanctuary on Parliament Hill until it was broken up to make way for construction in 2013.
Since then the cats have lived with Danny Taurozzi, who spent years as a volunteer at the Hill’s sanctuary. In those years, he brought the semi-feral cats food and water (water being tricky in the winter, when it had to be brought in warm and replaced often).
He cleaned out the “cat condos” — insulated shelters lined with straw for cold weather — and he answered a lot of questions from tourists.
On Friday, Taurozzi was answering more questions, this time about his GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Spot’s ongoing cardiology care. It’s at gofundme.com/f/saving-little-spot-parliament-hill-cat.
In the heyday of the cat sanctuary, “there were in the vicinity of 20 cats there at a given time. Maybe 25,” Taurozzi said.
“At the very end, we had seven cats left, all spayed and neutered, and they were getting older.”
These cats all went to various private homes and several have since died. Life in retirement has worked well, even though the Hill cats had lived outdoors for all or most of their lives. “It took a few days, but they adapted very well,” he said.
“They did have access to veterinary care as well,” with vaccinations given on the Hill, but trips to the Alta Vista Animal Hospital when needed.
Spot is still feeling reasonably good and is moving around well despite heart troubles.
“He’s in a good mood. He’s a lovely little guy. He walks around; you wouldn’t know he was sick,” Taurozzi said.
Spot is getting a drug that is also given to humans, which the pharmacy sends as a special order of tiny, cat-sized doses. He is due back to see the cardiologist in early 2020.
Taurozzi says cats have a unique attraction.
“There’s something mysterious about them and they’re quite affectionate. If you’re not feeling well, they will be right beside you.” tspears@postmedia.com twitter.com/TomSpears1