Tortoiseshell cats are named for their distinctive coloring – a combination of patches of black, brown, amber, red, cinnamon and chocolate. The size of the patches varies from a fine speckled pattern to large areas of color. The term “tortoiseshell” is used for cats with brindled coats that have few or no white markings. Cats of this coloring with larger areas of white fur are called calicos. Sometimes, these colors present in lighter versions such as lilac or cream. Torties with this lighter coloring are called dilute torties. Occasionally, the typical tortoiseshell colors are also seen in a tabby (striped) pattern, and these cats are sometimes referred to as “torbies.”
Tortoiseshell cats are almost exclusively female. Tortoiseshell and calico coats are the result of the interaction between genetic and developmental factors. The occasional and very rare male tortoiseshell cat is the result of a genetic mutation.
In addition to their distinctive coloring, torties also have a reputation for unique personalities, sometimes referred to as “tortitude.” They tend to be strong-willed, a bit hot-tempered, and they can be very possessive of their human. Other words used to describe torties are fiercely independent, feisty and unpredictable. They’re usually very talkative and make their presence and needs known with anything from a hiss to a meow to a strong purr. These traits are stronger in tortoiseshell cats than in calicos – it seems as though these traits are somewhat diluted with the addition of more white to the color scheme.
As of the writing of this post, I share my life with Amber*, and those of you who’ve followed this blog for a while have gotten to know her in her Amber’s Mewsings posts. You will soon be able to read all about Buckley in Buckley’s Story – Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher. The photo above shows Buckley in the front, Amber behind her.
Prior to Amber and Buckley, there was another tortie in my life. Virginia was the first office cat at the animal hospital I managed. She was my introduction to torties, and my love affair with this particular type of cat began with her. She, too, had the “tortitude” I so love about these particular cats.
Do you have a tortie or calico in your life? Does she have “tortitude?”
*Sadly, Amber passed away on May 13, 2010, after a sudden, brief illness. I now share my life with Allegra and Ruby, two tortoiseshell cats who have their own columns here on The Conscious Cat, titled Allegra’s World and Ruby’s Reflections.
Photo ©Ingrid King, all rights reserved
See if this works
http://www.facebook.com/#1 jay.davenport
If it does thank Harry.
If it DOESN’T – well 🙂
For some reason, the whole url isn’t lighting up for me. Try this one, Amber:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=706459001
Sure, blame me. Everyone else does.
I’m off shortly to my regular Friday night adoption event. Special guest tonight – a tortoiseshell RABBIT. It’s a long story, for another day – but I’ll try to get a photo tonight. Except for the ears and twitchy nose, she could be just one of our torties.
Good luck with the adoption tonite.
Love to see the rabbit pic. Are tortie rabbits female and have tortitude ?
If so I would adopt her right away.
Careful on the roads. Calling for storms all this weekend.
I will drive very carefully. The rabbit’s foster just told me she’s not bringing them until after the holidays, so the photo will have to wait -sorry. I promise to get it eventually. This rabbit is a female, but I don’t believe that the colors are sex-linked as they are in cats.
A rabbit with tortitude. I can’t even begin to imagine what that might be like!
Actually, the tortie bunny (her name’s Granola) is not much in the ‘tude department. She’s pretty scared. But she LOOKS like one of us… Two cats adopted tonight, including one with a pretty nasty disposition at adoption events. The adopters saw right through it though, and took a chance on him. Tabby, not tortie. But my own tortie smacked me when I got home, for reeling in late, stinking of other cats.
[email protected] if you want to send any pic.
Love looking at other cat’s owners pics
Well Harry you did a good deed today. Found homes for 2 orphans. Good job. Your Tortie smacked you for me and for smelling like other cats. I knew when I saw your email in my email list with the word NO, I thought well, I know without looking Harry saying that to me. I have not seen Harvey yet, and no, I do not have google him. Jimmy Stewart was a “friend” of mine. (not)
Wow, you guys have been BUSY since the last time I was here! I haven’t been able to get to the library since before thanksgiving. It’ll get better, though. I had my friend build me a new computer, and once I get moved and get it hooked up, you’ll be getting tired of Monkey stories!
Speaking of, no major new Monkey shenanagans. Well, except she nearly knocked me off the couch trying to steal a chesnut, and relentlessly harrassed me until I gave her a bite…..then another. I ended up throwing it out to the squirrels because I was scared it would make her sick or something. I knew better than to just throw it in the garbage…she has no qualms about dumpster-diving.
“I’m now picturing wizards conjuring up torties in dank swamps and then handing them off to slightly demented angels for the finishing touches.”
Hmmmmmm. Yes. I think that’s exactly how it happens lol
Jay, I knew they were mutants, and I always wondered if that had something to do with the whole tortitude thing. Cool.
Bernie, I had been under the impression that male torties or calicos were always sterile.
I think almost all torties are female and that 1% males are AMOST all sterile. But you know how torties are and don’t play by the rules.
So I don’t put anything by them.
Can’t wait to find out what Monkey’s been up to.
lol good point, they REALLY don’t play by the rules.
Lianimal it is good to hear from you. Monkey seems to be up to ornery self. As far as male Torties being sterile, can’t say for sure. But just think, if most males were born sterile, the problem of overpopulation of cats would be controlled. Watch out for Jay, he has some strange sic fy ideas he floats around. Glad you are back.
Good to have you back, Lianimal – we’ve missed you and Monkey.
I can read an animal like a book lol. When I put Stickers outside, even though she has NEVER been outside, I knew she wasn’t going anywhere. She is a giant baby who needs her mommy around, and when I stuck her outside, it gave her such a shock, it’s like she realized her behaviour wasn’t acceptable. I looked you up on fb, but there is about 100 of you. From all over the states. Perhaps you can find me, amber ziganash – Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
I would not try that with Stirfry. Being a Feral cat she still cries to go out and I will take her out every day and hold her.
When she does get put down to graze I have to keep an eye on her.
Tabatha (my calico) can be left out all day and she will stick around and lay in the front yard. Pumpkin will go out (after minutes of coaxing) but run right back inside at the slightest noise.
Definately an indoor cat.
I am going to post a pic (hopefully) on Ingrid’s FB page The Conscious Cat of my latest “outside” cat.
Lil’s biting during cuddles does show she’s a tortie.
Pumpkin – Stirfry’s son is orange and white and has never bitten, hissed been mean in any way. Definately did not get any tortie genes thru mom. His dad must have been a fantastic cat.
Well put Jay, tearing down the fence is more like. Stickers is 100% tortie, she has just accepted that I will not tolerate her diva behaviour. I am a caring person, and welcome many rescued animals into my home. She was acting particularly bad one day, attacking the kitten very viciously, not hurting her, but I could see her intent. I picked that cat up, and stuck her right outside and closed the door. She sat and I let her meow for about a minute (it was cold outside) and let her back inside. Ever since then she has been on better behaviour. I won’t tolerate her attitude towards the other animals, she has gone out of her way to attack to them, when they don’t even look at her. She’s slowly getting better, she’s also pretty friendly towards humans. lil is 100% tortie as well. She does bite me quite often, the love bites. Her markings, her attitude, is tortie. She is just very loving and cuddly, but at the same time, in the middle of cuddles, she’ll bite you and take off.
The biting during cuddles does seem to be a tortie trait. Allegra still does some of that, although not nearly as much as she did when I first adopted her. I guess she’s maturing at least a little bit at her ripe old age of sixteen months!
The biting thing is more evidence that Sabrina’s a tortie in stealth mode. She snaps at me without warning when cuddling.
Amber –
Raise the bar ? More like torn down the fence.
You sure Lil Raver is a tortie and not a “normal” cat in disguise ???
Not possessive and loves everybody – next thing you will be saying is she doesn’t hiss, spit or swat.
Ingrid has a facebook page and I am on hers.
Also look for Jay Davenport on FB should find me. Located in Stevens Pa.
I have lots of pics of my animals, house and barn on there.
And Plenty of Stirfry….
Love to see yours.
Em: You will definetly have problems. Sorry…can’t beat around the bush LOL. I am still amazed at the uniqueness of the tortie kitty. Just last night, I brought in 2 small rescue dogs I drove 3 hours to get yesterday. Stickers has made a point in claiming me. She sat right on my lap and swatted at them. She wasnt too impressed either with both of them in my bed with me. She hasn’t hurt them, she tolerates them. If they get too close, she flattens her ears and swats at them. Not viciously, just warning them. She is getting much more brave, she’s laying right beside me on the couch, stretched out, happy as a clam. THe more thing you introduce the tortie too, the more they learn to take in. When I first brought Stickers here, she hid under the furniture for 3 or 4 days. Then she would never cross the dog’s path. She is much better off with all this excitement. She is much too possessive and this is teaching her, that sometimes in life, we have to share our home with the less fortunate. She really does understand I think, because the pomeranian was abused before, and Stickers hasn’t been malicious at all to her. She chased the 3 lb daschund around.
And in this mix, my tortie kitten, Jay her name is lil Raver, LOVES the dogs. All 3 of them rip around the house and tear it up, having the best time 3 pint sized critters could have. lil has raised the bar for torties. She is not possessive, she loves everybody who walks in here, she is exceptionally cuddly, she will crawl on you, and turn on her back for belly rubs. Both my torties have unique markings and unique eye colors. The kitten has emerald green ones, with flecks of gold and yellow. Does anyone have facebook? I love exchanging photos.
My PC has been down for 1 week. Now have a NEW Cable Modem and found the Cable Company’s splitter ouside was bad.
Download speed is now 4.62Mb/s vs the 1.2Mb/s I had earlier.
I missed you all on here.
Just read all the posts from the last week.
Bernie – loved all the stories about you and your White Cat.
Poor Steeler watching all the “other” cats. And you trying to give them attention that should be all hers.
Amber – so glad Stickers is starting to like the tortie kitten.
Did you have a name for her yet ?
Jay, I cannot tell you how I find myself laughing at my own stupidity. However, sometimes I do these without thinking. I would make a great politician. They do stupid things then claim it was for the better good. I think I qualify.
Bernie – we all do those stupid things. But we try not to tell others 🙂
To easy to get on funniest home videos for the world to see.
Glad torties can’t operate cameras.
They would sell us out in a heartbeat.
Torties with a camera (guard the fort). To wild to even imagine, but Jay you never disappoint. What an imagination you have. You should start a child’s comic book on cats. If you and Harry joined forces, you two could be the first to give children a new venue for fun and reading.
By the way, I am already on video for my stupidity. It’s called monitored home security. I hope they override that tape or card.
It’s probably a good thing our torties can’t talk….or use computers….
It would be a good idea not to give these fellows/gals any more ideas!
Em, you may have a point. When I (we) came into the house for ID, Steeler came sauntering out and the one ST looked at me and said is that the cat you were looking for? I explained that one!
You are right about Steeler saying “not in my house”. I have to believe the strays were bedded down somewhere and thought “well I am not coming out in the dad”. Well early this AM the yowling started for food. I went to put some in the bowls outside and they were sitting under my vehicle and Steeler is going nuts. Well I decided I was just going back to bed and get some sleep.
My husband used to joke to our friends, “leaving my wife alone is a concern, she finds ways to get in trouble all by alone”. How right he is. You aren’t feeding Edie garlic pizza, are you? What gas. My recommendation, baby wipes. I am not in the pokey (yet).
Oh Bernie…I’ll get it out of my system now…BAHAHAHAHA!!! LOLOLOLOL!!!
You crack me up! So your own surveillance tripped the SP & caught YOU on YOUR OWN property? I love it, seriously. I’m sure husband will get a kick out of it.
My friends have always sd I should be a product tester for companies that claim their prod is unbreakable…I’d find a way to break it for sure.
Or, they said you could lock me in a white room & somehow I’d come out dirty.
I think that’s why I love your story so much…I can totally relate!!!
Are you sure this white cat isn’t a white rabbit? Do you see a Cheshire cat in the tree?
😉
Em, I am happy to see I made you very happy. And to think all it took was a crazy cat lady out in the middle of the night, getting caught with her own system, and SP. At this point in time, I now am not sure of a white cat or maybe a white elephant. I am only sure that Steeler is still an only child and she seems quite pleased with that. Imagine how I felt when I found out I busted myself.
I think as long as Bernie wasn’t insisting that there was a six-foot tall white cat standing next to her that the SP couldn’t see, she’s ok. (You young’uns, google “Harvey the White Rabbit.”)
Thanks for you confidence Harry. I’ll let you all know if Harvey shows up.
I am in hibernation, with this weather now. That is Steeler and I.
Oh Bernie!!! Lolol. That’s a fantastic story, I love it! As soon as I read about the State Police showing up, I thought Steeler was the one who called them. She’s like, I will learn how to call 911-mom is NOT bringing that snowball w/ eyes into MY house!
You’re such a diehard lover. Meanwhile all the strays are bundled up together in a warm spot, watching you & thinking, Now what the devil is nice lady doing out here?! It’s freezing. We may have to rescue her soon!
Amber: Keep us updated on the tortie intros bc I’m debating adding a kitten to my mix & foresee similar issues. The ASPCA has great tips on introducing new/existing animals.
Oh, and for those of you on the edge of your seats: Edie’s bumbum is fine, no impacted glands or anything, she’s just a stanky lil girl (regarding my comment about Edie after that sad poem I posted).
No Christmas tree for this house. OMG, I just had a brilliant idea!!! I could put up my 4ft tree & use all the dog & cat toys as ornaments. Lololol…
If you decide to put up the tree with the cat and dog toy ornaments, we want a picture. Especially one of Edie taking all the cat toys OFF the tree…..
Harry, it is 4:28 AM Thursday and I just came in from the freezing cold. My hands and feet feel numb. You laid a guilt trip on me and when I heard the cry of the cats, I bundled up, (around 3AM) and went out to look for the little snowflake. I searched around and checked all the know hiding places around the property and here is the crazy cat lady calling here Kitty over and over.
I could not find her. I stayed out a long time, then I decided I would get back into the house, before I froze. So as I was walking up thru the main yard where the heavy box hedges are, I kept looking under them for her. Well, I was just about done, and then it happened. State Police rolled up in front of my home, got out of the car, and said don’t move. Now I am not going to give my age, but lets just say, i am long retired. But my attire was deceiving because it was dark, and my home is rather large. So after I had the troopers come into the house so I could show my identity, I am sure they are still talking about the crazed woman looking for a stray white cat in the middle of the night. Well, maybe later today, I will try to find her, during the daylight hours. If I do, I will show her on the Facebook. Only Heaven knows what will take place if I find her and bring her in. I and only imagine what Steeler will do. She is still worn out from her running wild yesterday trying to get to the outdoor cats. I really don’t respond well to guilt trips.
Amber, good luck. You are a very adventuresome person to try to all the different pet to your mix. More power to you.
If by chance anyone reads of a mature woman found in the snow, frozen, holding a white cat, it will be me.Maybe I will call the rabbi and get him to come over and give a hand. I know the troopers are not coming back soon if ever again.
Oh, Bernie! I’m sorry! I’m in Connecticut on business or I’d have replied sooner. I really wasn’t trying to lay a guilt trip on you, I am just glad that you were putting out food for Snowflake. If I were trying to guilt you, I’d have suggested that you trap, neuter and release her 🙂 I’m not even laughing, I’m just glad you didn’t freeze to death or get busted!
Harry, your concern and subtlety is well spoken. I know your not smiling, however be careful and don’t fall off that chair! Getting “busted” as in mental evaluation! Well that’s for your support. I think I will try during the daylight hours to catch this white cat.
I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the State Police coming across you looking for the white kitty! Goodness, Bernie. Clearly, Steeler has her work cut out for her trying to keep an eye on you 🙂
Ingrid, I am the one trying to wrap my mind around this. How stupid this was. I found out this evening that, are you ready for this, my own home security/surveillance system call the SP. When I went out I turned off the house (indoor) system to go out. Never gave thought to the camera system. I busted myself. No answer in the house, auto call to police. I still have not found the white cat. Steeler is still going around smelling around the entrance doors. Tonight, I am staying in. By the way, the surveillance system works great.
Well, at least now you know that your system works the way it’s supposed to…. 🙂
I can see I won’t live this one down! (:)
No.
I thought I would give you guys an update. I have been watching my 1.5 year old female tortie’s behaviour over the last couple of days with my now 2 month old tortie female kitten. Whenever the kitten would even get within a meter of her, Stickers would run and hiss at her and the kitten would take off. This went on for about 2 weeks. In the last couple of days, the kitten has started, just rolling over and letting Stickers swat her because it wasnt hard, and never with her claws out. This has gone on for a day and a half. Just now, Stickers has started chasing the kitten. The kitten thinks its a game and loves it, and I think Stickers is starting to see her as a worthy adversary because of her quickness and jumping abilities. She still growls and hisses at her, but never attacks. Right now they are playing cat and mouse on the cat post and trees lol. It’s something to see. I think my very possesive tortie is starting to accept this little kitten. She kind of has to, the kitten follows her EVERYWHERE, and trys to play with her. Once Stickers realized she was here for good, she’s dealing with it in her own way. Lol I wish you all could see a picture of Stickers. She is a tiny, soft, short haired cat, with the most amazing markings. She has blonde and then goldish eyebrows with peircings yellow eyes. Black with splashes and splashes of blonde/orange/gold/other colors. Very intelligent too, I just walked in the door, sat down, and she walked right into my lap and meowed a series of meows, which I completely understood, and I told her my day. I will never have another cat except a tortieshell. (unless it’s a cat in need, in which I have a grey tabby, Stickers LOVES him, go figure) On the 22 a puppy will be added into the mix. I will keep you all updated on that!
Undecorated Christmas Tree + 2 Torties = Hilarity.
We brought in our Christmas tree yesterday to set it up. And since this is Tippers first Christmas we decided to play it safe and leave it up undecorated for a few days to see how she reacts to it. Well as my Dad and Husband were bringing it in, Buttons spazzed and tried to find somewhere to hide, it was funny because as soon as she heard the door open her ears perked her eyes widened and she started to tip-toe across the room. Tipper darted into the living room where we were putting the tree and hid under the TV stand. My dad had to get a saw so he left the tree laying on the floor. As soon as he was gone the kitties started to circle it. My husband would shake a branch and they’d both jump. Buttons ran off and hid under a table. But Tipp decided this needed further investigation. As my dad cut branches off the bottom of the tree, my husband stacked them in a pile out of the way, Tipper used them as a fort, and Buttons continued to hide under the table. They finally got the tree standing, Buttons hasn’t been in the living room all day, Tipper has decided that she really doesn’t like the feeling of the garbage bag under her feet so she’s left it alone for now. We’re taking bets on how long it takes for Tipper to climb to the top of the tree and knock it over. Here’s hoping she doesn’t… Keep your fingers crossed for us.
*I’ve already had to repair the wrapping on three presents thanks to Buttons. One of which she’d ripped the box open too. Thank goodness it was just a generic box, not something that would give away hints to what was inside.*
I have an artificial tree, but interestingly enough, when I had the branches spread all over the living room floor prior to assembling it, Allegra was almost afraid of the branches, too. She got all puffed up, and eventually “attacked” them. Once I put the tree together, she couldn’t have cared less – and so far, she still doesn’t care.
Fingers crossed for you, and for me!
P.S. A Facebook friend who has a tortie and a calico has her tree anchored to the wall with fishing line. So far, her cats haven’t climbed the tree, but she’s prepared!
That’s a good idea… Maybe I should convince my parents to anchor their tree JIC.
We’ve decorated the tree now, but we’ve left the bottom few branches devoid of decoration. There are a few ornaments that hang down low, and Tipper has been caught a few times trying to get them, but no major fiascos yet, knock on wood… Both girls like to lay under the tree, and they’ve moved the tree skirt away from the tree and half-way across the room. It’s kinda cute to watch. 🙂
Bernie and Amber, how well I know that. Brooke came into a house where Parker and May lived, and accepted them. (She was a kitten, as were they.) She grudgingly accepted recovering barn cat Vickie (they still give eachother a wide berth, but coexist without much hostility). When Parker died, she accepted Henry. She accepted Henry’s friend Pearl, the following year. And when Sabrina came in, 4 years later… she’d finally had enough. We’ve been working and working and working – with the aid of a feline behaviorist – and after nearly a year have reached the point where they can be together – supervised. But last night, even after much progress, Brooke decided to corner Sabrina under the couch. However, she lost her focus and followed the sound of the treat jar – and that’s a huge improvement. But we cannot leave them alone, still. If you want to work it out with your kitten – and I think you can, but it may take months or more – I would read all the information in the internet about introducing a new kitten, and start over.
Bernie – perhaps if you fed Steeler where she can see the other cats, she’ll begin to associate them with something good – dinner – and not be so upset.
Harry, if I were to feed Steeler where she can see the other cats eating, then entering the house would become an impossible course to enter or leave at either door. It would ruin the diet for Steeler. Then again, it really gives Steeler the exercise she needs, and the laughter I get from it (selfish reason). Anyway my Steeler is so laid back with me, most of the time, that she needs an adrenaline flow. Right now, she is lying on the bed, worn out from a hard day’s work guarding her territory. But, hey, daylight will come again, and another day for Steeler to show her Torti behavior. Can’t help but love this cat!
Well Tortie family, today is so very cold, deep snow, and windy. That is my weather. Steeler is going bananas today. I went out and fed a huge orange cat, and though I have never seen this cat up close, he came right up to me for the food. I reached down and petted him on the back and he arched his back and I thought ohoh, but then he relaxed and I stroked him as couple more times and beat my happy feet back in from the cold. Then I went to the front porch and put out food for others. This little beauty of white fluff, came out from under the shuddery and looked like a snowflake, she/he was so white. Up it came and in I went because she was skittish. Well this was more than Steeler was going to put up with. She was watching the white cat and clawing at the sideglass. Then she would run to the sunroom, where she could smell the other cat at the outside door. Folks it became the indy 500 in the house. Steeler was running throughout the downstairs trying to find where these cats were. She was running so hard her feet were actually thumping on the carpet. Needless to say she was truly upset. How dare my mommy feed those strangers.
Amber, I am telling this story, so you might get some idea of the possessiveness of a Tortie. There is no way Steeler would tolerate any cat in her house. She would like to have broken the glass to get to the “intruder”.
The best part of this is, not just feeding these cats, but Steeler is really getting a workout. Between the ramps at the bed and the running around like a cheetah today, she should be able to lose some weight.’
Bernie, I’m laughing at the visual of the Indy 500 at your house. What a great way to get Steeler to exercise!
Amber,
I know lots of Torties are very, very possessive of their humans. My Tortie, Honey, doesn’t like other cats, no matter what breed. When she was in the shelter and I would visit before I adopted her (or she adopted me), she would howl at the other cats and they had to put her in a glass enclosure to keep her away from the other cats.
I’m not sure about dogs, as I’ve never seen Honey with one, but I know I can never bring another cat into the house. Still, in your case, I would give it another month or so. Cats do learn to adjust.
Thanks for the input! My 1.5 year old tortie tolerates the dog. The kitten LOVES him. She insta purrs when she sees him, and rubs all over him. They even sleep together. It’s not his choice though, he looks at me quite often, like, get this thing off of me. Lol, it is something to see.
I always kind of figured that tortieshell kittys had a different personality. Just now I researched it. I have 2, a 1.5 year old tortieshell female, and a 2 month old kitten. I have never had a cat before, and when I got Stickers for free, thats when my love affair started with them. She is unique. She is not a cat to me. More like an active member of the family lol. She talks to you, when your walking out the door she yells, and when you come home she has so much to say. She is very affectionate, but at times she will bite and hiss at me. She loves to lay on top of my blanket and purr. I spent a month looking for a tortieshell kitten, and 2 weeks ago I finally found one. Both these cats are tiny, and very soft short fur. The kitten’s bestfriend is a 110 lb dog. She is also a pirate kitty. She will jump from the floor right to my shoulder. I have since learned to always wear a sweater in the house. From the second I pick her up, she purrs louder then any cat I have ever heard. She’s cuddly, loves to be held like a baby. I think if you are lucky enough to have one of these cats right from a 5 week old kitten, you have a bestfriend for life. I need some suggestions though, the older kitty does not like the kitten. She wants nothing to do with her. If I even pet the kitten and try to pet her, she will attack my hand, ears flattened right out. It’s been 2 weeks, and she still runs hissing and swatting at the kitten whenever she sees her.
Amber, you’re a very brave woman, with two torties 😉 – I know whereof I speak, I used to have two together (Amber and Buckley), and I introduced them to each other when they were both adults (about eight years old).
I think you just need to give it time – 2 weeks is nothing when it comes to introducing a new cat. You may want to think about starting over with very gradual introductions between the older cat and the kitten. They’re close enough in age that eventually, they should work it out.
Harry – so true.
We all have changed the lives of a cat and definately for the better.
Maybe the outside cat is a barn cat or maybe someones pet that is allowed out (why ???) but if feeding him keeps him warm in this weather I am happy. I do feed the occasional skunk, possum and birds when the food is out but that’s ok.
I love to watch the chipmunks, squirrels and rabbits play in my back yard and the deer out back sometimes.
Could not live in the city…
Jay, I live in the suburbs, in a county of several million inhabitants, 20 minutes from the city (at 3 a.m.). Yesterday morning, I saw a buck walking down the street. Two days ago, a red fox crossed the highway near my house, as I was leaving for work. And at the local university campus, about a mile from here, there is a well-organized, active feral cat coalition who manages a stable colony of ferals. Sometimes, I think I do live in the country. (Until I try to commute to the office.) Obligatory tortie mention – they’re completing the electric on the addition, and so I have Brooke and her buddies locked out of the kitchen as part of it involves putting a switch in that room. Everyone else has started their morning nap, but Brooke is pawing the French doors into the kitchen, from which she can see the work going on. I think she wants to supervise placement of the outlets.
Harry, watch Brooke. She will probably try to talk them into putting a heated bed and automatic cat food feeder into her room. Then tell them all to take a cat nap.
TORTERS:
Disclaimer: I’m so sorry, I don’t mean to depress or bring tears to your eyes, but someone posted this in the Mpls/St. Paul Craigslist Pet Sale section today. It was in response to somone trying to “rehome” a kitten that has already had 2 of it’s own litters…
Miracle of life
“Come quick, come quick”, their mother said. “The time is getting near.” She feels that when the kittens come the children should be here.
She told them that a big orange Tom took “Kitty” as his wife. “It’s wonderful, a gift from God, the miracle of life.”
At half a year young “kitty” feels too painful and too scared, to appreciate six miracles, blind-eyed and yellow haired.
But she knows these lives depend on her and nature tells her how – and as she cleans them, children ask, “Mom, can we go now?”
But now and then for six more weeks the children visit her to play with six new magic toys made of life and fur.
The six weeks pass, the newness gone and new homes yet unfound, Mom bundles up six miracles and takes them to the pound.
Where lovingly, with gentle hands and no tears left to cry, the shelter workers kiss them once and take them off to die.
And “Momma Kitty” now she’s called, mourns her loss and then, she’s put outside, and of course, she’s pregnant once again.
Dad tells “Kitty” STOP THIS NOW or you won’t live here long! but deep inside of Momma Cat, this time something’s wrong.
Too young, too small, too often bred – now nature’s gone awry, Momma Kitty feels it too and she crawls off to die.
She too, is freed from this world, and from her time of strife. How harsh the truth, how high the price … this “Miracle of Life?”
By Barry Taylor, DVM
Ugg, again, I’m sorry! I can’t read this w/out tearing up myself.
Ok, on a lighter note…Edie’s butt stinks, bad.
Em, the hour is late and I think you and I may be the last of the mohicans, so to speak. That is quite a Miracle of Life eye opener. The real problem is that is more truth than fiction. Our church blesses the animals once a year. I took Steeler this last year, and while not to diminish the meaning of the Miracle of Life, I ended up getting Blessed by the Priest after he tried to touch Steelers forehead. He thought she was a really pretty cat. He now knows what a Tortie is. Thought I would share this with all of you. Tortie’s are Tortie’s even in church.
It’s sad to think how often this “miracle of life” is repeated. I think we all feel that we would love to save every last one of them, but unfortunately, nobody can. We can only do so much, but the important thing is, we’re all doing something. Whether it’s rescue work like Harry, or feeding the outside strays like Bernie and Jay, or educating others about how important it is to spay and neuter, every little bit helps.
And I don’t know about the rest of you, but after reading something like this, I always have to hug Allegra extra hard. If not for the lucky circumstances of being dropped off at a high kill shelter, then pulled by a private rescue group, similar to what Harry’s organization does, and subsequently fostered by two different wonderful women, Allegra’s might not have survived her time at the high kill shelter.
I think that’s right, Ingrid. There’s a famous quote, whose source I can’t remember before another couple of cups of coffee, which quote I corrupt occasionally to “You can’t change the world of stray and abandoned cats, but one cat at a time, you can change the world for that cat.”
I can’t finish reading that.
And I have not lived a sheltered life. I am a big, old guy who has worked 34 years in the petroleum business (someties thought of as a macho industry), I used to hunt and I know the ways iof nature; maybe thats why it bothers me all the more.
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but after reading something like this, I always have to hug Allegra extra hard.”
Yep, I feel that way too.
You can’t rescue them all, unfortuneately. Perhaps thats why bringing Kasey home in May of 2008 was so important to me, I think she represents, in some way, all the cats I wish I could have helped. In her case, I had the opportunity to say, “thats enough, you can come home with me”.
Then there’s Taz, basically thrown away at 12 weeks of age in 1998, he is curled up in a heated bed behind my chair as I type this.
Morgan, our tuxi girl was thrown from a car when she was quite small, she is an active ten year old, now.
Yes, they’ll get some extra attention, this evening.
http://www.mvhspets.org/node/5910
Ok, if I did it correctly, above is the link to see Kitty the dilute tortie & the unfort closing of my local humane society.
Em, I went right to the site. It is heartbreaking to see it closing. I refuse to blame the economy or politics. I say these poor pets are the result of some really irresponsible people.
There is a Vet here, who is a friend of my husband’s, who would often speak of people who would bring in a pet to have it put down because they got new carpet or they were going away on vacations. He would be so angry about it. The one thing he did mention was it seems to be a seasonal thing.
Well I guess I will just keep feeding and hoping the cats will soon go into the fields and find a farm over the hills where they are welcome to live in the barns. I know some of the farmers keep more cats than livestock.
Hi Bernie,
Anyone who posts such loving comments, stories, input & anicdotes about their beloved zoo crew would never be accused of being irresponsible!!! No need to explain yourself. I can tell from here that Steeler is well cared for. Besides, I can darn well guarantee/picture him stalking you down if he thought otherwise!
Not to get too personal, but I sense how hard your visits can be, at the VA. My father’s at the VA right now & it’s such a fantastic faciility. I don’t mean to sound trite, but from my experience, he knows you’re there.
I peruse Craigslist quite a bit & the excuses on the Pet Sale section floor me! I even wrote a comment in my local newspaper about the MVHS closing & how lame ppls surrender excuses are:
I’m moving to a new state–Oh, which states don’t accept animals? I wasn’t aware such a state existed…
My cat needs more attn–How much attn does a cat need?! Litter & food are pretty easy & YOU’RE on the cats time, not vice versa
I recently was diagnosed w/ allergies–Oh, like your stupidity diagnosis too? Ok, not to open a can of worms about newly found allergies, but I’m very suspicious, critical of such claims (I am an allergy sufferer too, it’s called antihistamines ppl).
Oh my, how’d I get up on this stool? I’ll get down now…phew. Thanks for bearing w/ me torters, had to vent. What’s great is that the same city the MVHS is in, just got a $20mill performing arts center that is empty. The local grocery store just got a liquor license too. Some how the funds that were intended for the MVHS’s new home have been misappropriated…I digress…ahem.
My, my, Edie…come calm mama down!
*Sorry, I know Steelers a she…NOT a he.
Em, thanks for the kind words. I hope you are right and he knows I’m there. As for Steeler, she went right to him, while I was able to keep him home and would lie beside his wheelchair for hours. I think she is afraid if I leave, I won’t come back, like him. She is a lot of company and a lot of Torti with a whole lot of Attitude.
Em, it sounds as if you’ve been reading our intake requests. “We found Fluffy in an alley 15 years ago, and bottle fed him. But now we’re having a baby, so of course Fluffy needs a new home.” I’m not making that up. PS – the place you move to where you can’t take your cat is called “NoCatalonia.”
Bernie –
Steeler wants you all to herself and will not share.
I also am feeding another stray. Orange with a white strip on his tail. Giving him dry food and enjoy watching him. Stirfry saw him and hissed. He perked up and ran off for awile. Back this evening. Pumpkin loves watching him (could be a relative – too young to be his father but maybe nephew) I feel sorry for any cat in this cold weather.
Lost my job earlier ths year and food is tight but I always make sure my animals are fed and that includes any visitor.
Jay, you’re a good man.
Bernie, over 2000… that’s disheartening. And tragic. Lost Dog & Cat pulls cats and dogs from high kill shelters in rural areas of the state, and brings them here where adoption rates are (normally) better. We’re a big rescue, and partially funded by two restaurants our founder owns. But in a good year – which this is not – we adopt out perhaps 500 cats. It’s as if we can’t even make a dent. One of our board members lives with three torties, and we seem to have a high percentage of torties come into the rescue… coincidental, I’m sure.
And as for the white cat on the steps, Bernie, well, I’d be the male equivalent of the crazy cat lady if I didn’t have a wife and kids to keep me honest. Well, and a tortie who clearly said, 5 was ok, 6 – too many.
Harry, I know how you feel about bringing the cat into the house. If I could, I would. But my situation has me leaving Steeler alone sometimes for 2 nights and days. So I cannot see my way to take care of another cat. Steeler, I know is going to be ok when I am not here. She can’t jump on furniture, and I leave plenty of water and food until I get back. Adding another, active cat to this way of life, would be dangerous to the other cat. Seeing how Steeler behaved today, convinced me of that. We don’t have adequate shelters for animals here. Most places will not take older cats, and if they do, they tell you outright, the cat will probably be put down, because adoption of older cats is almost nonexistent. So I am the “Crazy Old Lady” feeding those cats. By the way, I have a couple of pictures of one of those “cats” on my back porch eating the cat food on evening. Here in the country we call them “city kitties.” City folks call them “skunks”. So I have to be careful before I open a door and make sure it is a true cat. I wish more could be done, but until people learn to take responsibility for themselves, I don’t see any change in how they would take responsibility for innocent animals.
Guys before you all get excited, I don’t leave Steeler alone out of being irresponsible. I will visit my husband at the VA center and stay overnight at a hotel so I can spend another day with him. I do this often, even though he has no memory of me. So, please don’t think Steeler is neglected in any way. Enough said on my life.
Bernie, I know you’re right about change. But we just have to keep trying. On nights when we don’t have any adoptions, I still claim success if I’ve had a conversation with shoppers in PetSmart about spay/neuter, or declawing, or not giving up on a problem cat. PS – I knew why you would be away overnight even without you saying, and *never* thought you were being bad to Steeler! And don’t worry about being the “crazy cat lady.” If that means you have empathy for animals who are hungry through no fault of their own, then so be it. You’re in good company.
Kasey is having her 3rd Christmas.
Even though she is about 10 years old, she didn’t get any of the experience a home raised pet cat would get, before I took her home.
She is intersted in the artificial tree and loves to lay underneath it, perhaps an instintive effort to shelter in a hidden place. In true tortie fashion, she can’t share this place with Taz or morgan, they just leave when they see her coming.
She even has a go at the lower oraments, occassionally. We have a couple practices in regards to christmas trees and the cats; no tinsle, breakables go 2 feet + above the floor and there is a bell in the lower branches (early warning system).
I love the idea of the early warning system on your tree – what a great idea.
It does work……..as long as you’re around, to hear it and deal with the “situation”.
Off the tortie topic, the worst Christmas tree offender is Taz, the 12 year old, 20 pound orange guy. At 20 pounds, he’s not really fat, just about the size of a Maine Coon.
He was “thrown away” at about 12 weeks of age, he has been here ever since, a big, happy indoor cat. For all his size, he will back down from Kasey; a combination of tortitude and “school of hard knocks” in her upbringing.
If there is something immature and undignified for an adult cat to do, Taz is ready, willing and able to step up to the plate and get it done. This includes the odd assault on the Christmas tree.
Harry, it is so unnerving to see all the cats, large and small, including the same for dogs, that are tossed away here in the country. I think people think they can just throw these innocent pets away and forget them. They have no conscious. An article just ran in our paper today, about the overcrowding of cats at the humane shelter. The article state 2,089 cats and kittens. This is so sad. We can’t save them all, but yes, I do put food out especially now that the bitter cold and snow is here. There is an area of shelter here at my home where they seem to stay, and it is enclosed and protected. So, I guess for a while I will be buying more cat food than people food.
Ingrid, reverse psychology will not work. I already tried that with the different dry food (indoors). This smarty just flipped it all over the floor and started kicking it around. Now it is outdoors and she is beside herself.
The card of Allegra is great. I would have to sedate Steeler to put a hat on her, or to get her to stay still, upright, for even a second. Nice calendar for the fridge. Thanks.
You’re welcome, Bernie! That’s why Allegra and I are grateful for Photoshop – that hat wouldn’t have lasted even one second 🙂
Obsidian kitten – spitting image is so true. Stirfry spits and hisses instead of purring.
She purred when she was a feral and would follow me around outside so I know she can. That was 8 years ago and she has never purred since she was taken inside.
She will growl and hiss when petted and arch her back, but when I stop she head butts my hand to continue. Her picture was taken 4 years ago but the attitude and expression is the same now. Her one ear got infected and droops now. Her son Pumpkin had the same problem years ago with one ear puffing up then collapsing. The vet was not worried. 2 years later the other ear. Now he is mistaken for a Scottish Fold.
Glen – “All of this supports my theory that they are conjured up fully grown, at midnight, during a thunder storm, in an eerie & foreboding swamp, by medieval wizards”
That explains alot. Always wondered if Stir was a wandering barn cat, dropped off by someone as an unwanted cat or kicked out of a Feral colony by the other cats as being to unsociable but now I know where she came from.
Harry – love the webpage for LDCRF and the article on Torties. Thank you for the Stirfry mention. I was touched by it and Stirfry gave me a look that said “of course he would mention me, who wouldn’t”
Bernie – congrats to you and Steeler on the win. Would have mentioned it yesterday but was tearing into a PC’s guts. Imaged my Hard Drive onto a bigger one (old one was 30 GB and filled up).
Ingrid – got your card today and loved it. Thank you.
How you are able to get Allegra to wear a hat and stay still amazes me. She is adorable, but I know she already knows that.
Thanks, Jay! I can just imagine Stir’s expression of distain. I’m sure her next comment was, “why did you use the version of that picture on the cake, when the original is more dignified and ferocious?”
Bernie – the url is the same as the link on Ingrid’s Facebook page, so if you’ve seen the email there, you’ve seen everything.
I’m glad you like the card, Jay. Allegra says thank you for the compliment – and for the miracle of Photoshop…. 🙂
Aww, sad! Stirfry hasn’t purred in years?! That’s sort of like Edie Kidie…she’s kissed me maybe 3 times in one year, that’s it. When she met my mom & sis, she kissed them right away, sort of odd. So I treasure the few kisses I do get from her!
Harry, I checked out Ingrid’s facebook. She has a way with words and well done for you. You did a really great job on that email. I can not open your url. I keep getting error on the page. So I will keep trying.
Harry I will check it out.
I have a story to tell on Steeler today. As you all have heard by now, she is a gentle lion!!!! Well we are still working on the food changeover. There is a dry food that I put down for her, knowing she would not touch it to try to get her to change over to wet food faster. Well she dumped it over. So today I put some of it in a small pager bowl, and place the bowl outside the front entrance, in front of the glass that is on the sides of the entrance door. Well Steeler watched this with quite a bit of interest. After I locked the door, she sat at the glass and kept pawing at it as if to get her dry food back. Then she kept going all around the first floor looking for God know’s what and then back to the glass and trying to reach thru it for her food. Then a small white cat showed up and gingerly started to eat the cat food (another throwaway). Well Steeler took a fit. She ran and talked and kept running trying to find a way to get that cat. She is still doing guard duty. This behavior has proven one thing to me. Steeler will not allow another pet in her house. She doesn’t even want to share food with outsiders. Strange cats.
Ha! If I can’t have it, then I want it after all… I think torties don’t have a lock on that behavior, though. As for being an only cat, well… that’s why we’re still working on Brooke and Sabrina. (Of course, the rescuer in me immediately felt a pang when you said “a small white cat showed up and gingerly started to eat the cat food (another throwaway).” Good thing I live too far away to come grab her.)
Harry, I think you would take the little white snowflake. Maybe I will just be ornery enough to have my son bring her/him to you. He’s 2 days in DC then 3 days field office.
Bernie, maybe if you put the canned food on the outside of the glass, Steeler will think twice about rejecting it again the next time you offer it to her! Reverse psychology and all that. It would be interesting to see if that concept even works on torties. My guess is it won’t – they probably use it on us all the time…
Ingrid, Steeler is very tired this evening. Long evening of talking back to the tv during the game.
Harry, looking forward to seeing your email on facebook. will keep looking for update. Better check on Glen, to see if he conjured up some sort of sci fi thingy on facebook. He has some strange ideas.
Jay, it sounds like Murphys Law is really rolling down your back. Maybe Stirfy put the voodoo on you for something you did.
Bernadette good to see you are watching over all of us. Miss hearing from you.
Obsidian kitten, demented angels. Add that to Jay’s Stirfy and that could explain all of Jay’s appliances going haywire, with a little of Harry thrown in.
Bernie, Ingrid posted the email on the Conscious Cat Facebook page. I found the right knobs to turn, and the Facebook link is active now, so you can share it on your page, if you’re so inclined. You can also go directly to the email by clicking here:
http://tinyurl.com/2af6sht
but you’ll miss Ingrid’s comment 🙂
Em – I wish I’d had your comment “crazy relative that is nice to be around once they take their Xanax” when I did the email!!
Hi Harry,
Kudos to you on the editorial! That’s fantastic work. I really appreciate how the site shares recent adoptions too, that’s a neat tid bit. I’m going to try & post the link to the local shelter that is closing here in MN…I’ll try to show you Kitty, the dilute kitty that stole my heart. I addmitedly went back today bc I conviently found more items to donate. She was still there, but I have a feeling someone took her home tonight-hooray!
My PC has been down due to a hard drive crash.
Just got back online now.
Busy now with a water heater that died and now my stove top that I used to heat water on died 30 minutes ago.
Just turned on my PC and have 463 E-mails to go thru.
Ingrid, whatever it is you’ve been testing, I’m getting the test messages!
Sorry about that, Bernadette – I’ve been testing the threaded comments. Glad to hear it’s working 🙂
It’s okay–I just wanted to let you know in case you needed feedback. Thanks for setting up the threaded comments and for archiving the older comments. It makes page loading much more efficient.
Hi fellow tortie subjects 😉
Every week I write an email to the 200+ cat volunteers at Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation, in an effort to keep them interested and encourage them to come out to help at our weekly events. This weekend’s email was about… US! You can see it here:
http://tinyurl.com/2af6sht
(You’ll have to cut and paste the line above into your browser’s address line if it doesn’t light up for you.) I think you’ll see a few names you recognize. I’ve included a Facebook link so that you can share it. Thanks, everyone – you all are great 🙂
-Harry
It turns out that the Facebook link won’t work yet – I have to twist a couple of things to make it active… I’ll do that later tonight, sorry.
Hey, tortie lovers: I asked my webmaster to set up threaded comments for the site, so in addition to leaving new comments, you’ll now be able to reply directly to individual comments. I’m hoping that this will make our discussion even more fun, and sometimes, probably a little less confusing.
Well, basically “spitting image” was the joke! hehheh
I’m now picturing wizards conjuring up torties in dank swamps and then handing them off to slightly demented angels for the finishing touches.
Em put it really well when she said they’re like the “crazy relative that is nice to be around once they take their Xanax”! I love that.
Fortunately our Emma has really mellowed out a great deal with age although she only allows herself to be picked up and held in one very particular way. She does love sleeping right next to me, though. And if I roll over with my back to her before she falls asleep, she taps me on the shoulder as if it’s a bit of an affront and I have to turn back over and give her a bit more attention until she is sound asleep (she’s deaf, so once she’s asleep she’s really out).
Ah, torties!
I’m still laughing at the visual of the demented angels!
I love how Emma wants you to turn toward her before she falls asleep – that’s so sweet.
Hey Tortituders,
The local humane society is closing their doors at the end of this month (it’s sad, I know). Tonight I dropped off some donations so that meant I HAD to take a gander at the kitties.
A dilute tortie named Kitty immediately caught my eye. I went into her habitat area & she walked right up to my face, sniffed my nose & crawled onto my shoulders! Her calico counterpart came back into the habitat & slapped Kitty across the face!
I was like, oh dang, here I am, in the middle of crossfire! But Kitty kept her cool; she growled, but didn’t react back at calico.
We went into a seperate room so I could observe her. She’s def a tortie at heart, dilute or not, a torties a tortie!
As fantastic as she was, I’m not sure she’s the right counterpart for Edie so I left her w/ kisses & bid adieu. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be…
As soon as I came home, Edie was sniffing me w/ great interest. I saw a flicker of her X chromosome come out but w/in secs, she was purring & nuzzling. She’s like your crazy relative that is nice to be around once they take their Xanax. Lolol.
Tort ya later, torters.
Em, you’ll know when the right companion for Edie comes along. You’re absolutely right, dilute or not, tortitude is still present. In fact, some people say that dilute torties actually have more of it.
Glen, been to England and across Europe, I did not find the imagination you have, except for the recent Potter writer. I enjoy your sci fi ideas.
Well my friends, Steeler and I are going to be unavailable for the next several hours. We have our snacks ready and are planning on a long evening of Steeler football. So all you Torties lovers have fun this evening and remember, Steeler is busy.
PS Try not to let Glen to carried away!!!
Congratulations on your Steelers win, Bernie! I’m sure you and Steeler were celebrating.
I don’t read a lot, now; I never seem to have my reading glasses when I need them.
I was an olny child with too much time on my hands when I was younger.
We did live in England for 2 years in the mid-1960’s, they had a lot of interesting stuff there and a different way of looking at things, as compared to early 60’s, suburban North America; perhaps some of that stayed with me.
Glen, you have the most vivid imagination. What kind of books do you read? Kasey must wonder what kind of human you are. Love your sic fi thoughts.
Hmmm……..
Can’t be cloned.
Unpredictable to produce on purpose by breeding.
All of this supports my theory that they are conjured up fully grown, at midnight, during a thunder storm, in an eerie & foreboding swamp, by medieval wizards.
At least that would explain some of the behaviour 😉
Obsidian kitten, I love the idea of the angels painting our torties’ coats. And Emma is right – why on earth would we think mere humans could clone these amazing cats?!
Obisidian kitten, we teach each other odd things at times, and it is fun to do it. Don’t hesitate to make a “spitting image” joke. I would like to hear it. Jay’s Stirfy has a picture on the consicous cat facebook. Believe me Stirfy’s picture looks exactly like the cake.. Leave it to Jay to be “out of this world”. He is a lot of fun and would probably like a joke. I like the angels painting the coat remark. I still wonder how they each developed their tudes.
Emma patiently sat on my lap while I read all about her compatriots at http://www.messybeast.com/tricolours.htm
So fascinating that you can’t clone a tortie (Emma says we should know better than to try anyway). I always say it took the angels several days to paint her coat so it’s no surprise that you’d never be able to reproduce it.
I love the Stirfry cake — priceless! I really want to make a “spitting image” joke…
Hi all my Torties friends. I just turned my computer on and my email exploded with all the Conscious cat notices. I wondered what in the world happened. So here I sit, reading all these posts. It is hilarioius how a scientific article has aroused so much discussion and laughter. Mutants, umm, yes. Totally different, umm yes. Beautiful, oh yes.
I am laughing at some of the interrupations. Great discussion. As for temperment + color, well I don’t know. All I know is I have a Tortie, who runs the show. I would not even attempt to bring another dear pet into the same building with her. I have more claw marks than a cat in a cat fight. If Steeler could jump, I would think of declawing her. My doctor says, I look like a human scratching post on my arms. Trust me, he is right. I would like to find scientific research on how to tame a lion Tortie cat from grabbing me with her claws to get her way. Trust me, when she grabs me, she does get her way. Angel one minute, raving lion the next.
I would normally refer to each of you by name, however, there are so many in this discussion, I decided to say Hi to all my Tortie friends, so as not to miss anyone. Have fun.
I wonder whether anyone has done any studies on whether a higher percentage of torties prefer to be only cats as opposed to other cat colors. I do remember my vet telling me that with all the hundreds of clients she’s counseled through helping their cat adjust to another cat, there was only one time when the cat just wouldn’t accept a companion – and that cat was a calico. Not quite a tortie, but close.
Bernadette, mutant is probably as good an explanation as any!
Of all the torties I’ve had, Allegra, so far, is displaying more tortitude than the other three combined. I’m guessing some of it may be her young age, but she definitely read the book on how to be a tortie!
Oh, I should have said…Honey can be VERY mean around other cats. She just hates them. When she was at the shelter, they had to wall her off from the others. She just wouldn’t socialize. One of the reasons I have her is that I don’t have any other cats. She just won’t stand for it.
Harry – still ok.Stirfry wants all the exposure she can get
As you know Torties are very Proud and expect to be treated as being special.
And unlike Brooke or Honey Stirfry does turn mean when that switch clicks. Heaven help the cat who get in her way when she jumps off my lap. Tabatha runs and Pumpkin will even back off. I gets scratched or bitten if I don;t let her go.
Minutes later she is back wanting cat rubs and acting like nothing happened.
I just accept her as what she is and love her even more.
Of all my animals (goat, mini horse, mini donkey and 2 “normal” cat) Stirfry is the most asked about.
She simply suddenly discovered she was in the wrong room.
Jay – That’s what I mean! Honey’s never mean, but she does get the wild eyes and does the sprints when I least expect it! Usually when I’m trying to get to sleep!
Thanks, Jay – actually, she’ll be in an email going to about 225 people who volunteer with the rescue. Tell her it’s more exposure than on a cake 😉 I know what you mean about the switch – at least Brooke doesn’t turn mean, it’s just “I love you, I love you, I love you… and I’m gone off your lap in and the next room before you can say ‘what just happened?'”
Harry – you sure can. Stirfry would be proud (or as she thinks expected) to be on another cake.
Thank you for thinking of her.
Michael – the switch inside our torties heads seems to be the fastest I’ve seen. From cute, cuddly and affectionate to a cornered wild cat in microseconds and then back.
The gene pool is definitely a good explanation for some of Honey’s behavior. I’ve never seen a cat do the things she does — and with such regularity. She seems to have a switch inside her head that says, “Okay, now it’s time to be crazy and get Dad’s attention.”
Jay, you’re writing my weekly rescue volunteer email for me. It just so happens this is the weekend I planned out in September to be about torties. May I use the photo of Stirfry on the cake? I will try to find a way to link the email to Facebook so that you all can see it.