RAPS is short for Regional Animal Protection Society, a registered charity and operator of a sanctuary which houses and cares for nearly 500 homeless or abandoned cats in Richmond, BC, Canada. The Neko Files is a celebration of the sanctuary and all those who live and work there.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Mocha (Brownie)

It's not hard to take notice of this pretty girl in the front courtyard.


Somewhat harder is getting handle on her official name. Half the people I talked to call her Mocha, half call her Brownie. Both names describe her unique brownish coat, both have a workable cuteness factor. So which is it? I finally asked Lisa and Catherine and it sounds like Brownie was the first name to be attached to her. This is not widely known though, it would seem, as I was introduced to her as Mocha. And Doug, who'd given her the nickname Brownie on his own, was surprised to find out that this was in fact her name all along.


I'm finding more and more cats at the sanctuary whose name has evolved over time, sometimes with one name giving way to another and sometimes with a couple names going on simultaneously. The cats don't seem to mind. This whole naming thing is very human and arbitrary anyway, something cats seem to either humor or ignore as nature or mood dictates.

And so, Mocha/Brownie probably won't like you any less whichever name you choose to think of her by.


She came to RAPS as one of four strays trapped in yard where they'd been hanging out under the porch. Mocha/Brownie was quite shy when she first arrived. She's a lot more friendly and relaxed now, though she can still be slightly skittish on occasion if approached too quickly or with abrupt movements.

2 comments:

  1. There was never any doubt in my mind that this cat was a boy named Mocha.
    Haha, the cats must really get a kick out of us fumbling about. xD

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  2. For the record, Ann swears that back when she met this kitty as a new arrival in the kitten trailer, the sign on the cage door said "Mocha".

    So which name is it? I really don't know. Pick the one you like best - I don't think the cat in question minds.

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