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
Bernie, that explains why Pumpkin would not play with her.
If a couple of adults could not hold her then her reputation has spread.
Pumpkin said “No way am I playing with a Tiger. They play rough !!!! “
Jay I think it was in the horrible snarl that came out of her as soon as she seen Pumpkin, and Steeler had not even been let out of her carrier. That was the end of a playmate that never was.
Pumpkin still is probably hiding.
A Tortie warning is bad enough. Who wants to find out what the consequences are by sticking around.
Pumpkin was a smart Tortie. She knew a swift getaway was in store for her. I did feel a little badly for her. She stayed hidden the entire time we were there. That was about a 1 1/2 Hrs. Talked to my friend yesterday. Strangely enough, Pumpkin was still skittish about the odor Steeler left behind. She said she cleaned the litter box, then scrubbed it with vinegar and baking soda. No I did not as her if Pumpkin found and alternative spot to relieve herself.
Wow you folks have really been busy here today. What better way to start the new year.
Steeler had a bit and I mean a teeny bit of my homemade cheese ball after midnight and she could not see what the big deal was, so off to sleep she went.
I have kept her diet quiet for a while, so now an update. Steeler is now a wet food cat, albeit I still put out 1/4 cup of dry for her. She leaves the dry pretty much alone. The bad news is, wet does not keep her satisfied throughout the night. She wakes me in the very early AM, which is not unusual, however this sort of waking me up includes her down the ramp and squaking out to the kitchen.
That’s wonderful news that Steeler is now a wet food kitty, Bernie – good for you for hanging in there. What time do you usually feed her dinner?
Steeler eats around 9PM. She does however do guard duty during the night. Prowling around the house, then in and out of bed. I guess she is working up an appetite.
How much wet food per day are you feeding? And what is the protein content on the label?
Harry, she is eating the Evo chicken&turkey food with 12% protein. She eats about 1/2 can or 7 to 8 oz a day. Snacks in between.
I have just posted 3 pics on FB of the biggest flop of Tortie playdate in 2010. 2 Steeler l Pumpkin then Pumpkin was gone.
Now I have to go to work at 7 )it’s 6:12 now) and it seems like everyone wants to come out to play.
See ya all at 11:30
Have fun.
Bernadette – I love Cookie’s full name: and your comment: “Semi-Sweet Butterscotch Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. You know how these things develop.”
Our tortie Brooke, whose real name is Esterbrooke, after Esterbrook fountain pens (I’m a collector, and Brooke’s best buddy was a blue tabby the rescue had named Parker, my favorite pen) started to be called Brookie Cookie… and then, because she was a crazy tortie, “Macadamia Nut White Chocolate Chip Cookie.” You know how these things develop 🙂
Harry, Esterbrooke is very distinguished! Of course, so is Brooke. I had a series of black fosters named for my favorite drawing, technical and calligraphy inks, which you may know from fountain pen use: Osmiroid, Pelikan, Higgins, Koh-I-Noor. Cookie has a lot of other derivatives as well, like Cookie-Doo, Cookie Noodle, etc. Seeing the girth of most of our torties, you can see where the “Dough” came from on the end of her name. They do look like various types of cookies, though, don’t they? And the nutty nature–I’m not surprised Brooke picked up a cookie reference similar to Cookie’s. Thanks for reading!
Collar has been picked up, I explained to Kasey to be good and leave the stitches alone, unless she wants to be a “funnel-head” 😉
And how did that go?
Lucky for us cats don’t have a middle finger.
Ha! So true!
“And how did that go?”
Actually, so far, so good.
There has been a fair ammount of grooming but the stitches have been left alone and look good.
I really don’t want to put the collar on her because I think it will traumatze her, given her pre-rescue history. Hopefully, things continue as they have.
I will be glad to get to next Sat., the stitches come out at 9:15 AM Jan. 8th
Sunday morning Kasey update.
No “funnel head”
Stirches are good.
Area is healing well.
6 more days until the stiches come out, but whose counting, not me 😉
Glen – we all are.
Glad to hear thing are going so well.
The funnel might have been a real challenge and really stressed her out.
Don’t need that.
Glen I agree with Jay on the cone for Kasey. At this stage she is alert and you could lose an arm. I am waiting for someone to come over, when I am home, to help me put Steeler’s team toboggan on her so I can get a pic. So far everyone that has visited has failed to hold her still. She fights like a tiger. I would thing at this stage Kasey would fight like 2 tigers, thinking you aren’t going to do any more to me.
Yeah, I thought the same thing about the funnel.
We are going to just keep an eye on her, so far, things have been good.
My buddy that lent me the funnel said they bought it for their cat when she needed surgery but didn’t need to use it, hopefully the same precident is folllowed.
There have not been any signs of her showing interest in the stitches in about 48 hours, now.
As of this morning, Kasey’s stitches are intact and everything looks fine. it gets checked frequently.
She is not fixated on the stiches, the few times she has been at them seemed to be a by-product of grooming
I am going to try to get a collar, perhaps one of my buddies has one from his cats, I will call him a bit later this morning.
We discussed it here and the concern is that she will likely niot take to the collar at all well, given here background and being a tortie.
Nothing is open but my fellow clay target shooting, motorcycle riding buddy, who loves cats, has a collar that he can lend me.
Going over to pick it up 🙂
Glen said: “my fellow clay target shooting, motorcycle riding buddy, who loves cats, has a collar that he can lend me”
And another guys with cats stereotype bites the dust. Love it!
A Tortie will do that to ya.
They show they have no equals.
“I’m the baddest around so get out of my way – OR ELSE” !!!!
How can you not respect that.
Yes, we sort of blow the stereotype away 😉
We both are on the board of our local, small volunter run trapshooting club (clay targets for the general readership).
He runs restored 1960’s Triumphs and Norton’s, as can be seen by one of my earlier posts, I prefer something newer and larger.
Every Sunday aft. at the club, we’re always comparing notes on the “kitties” he has two.
As I type this, Kasey is grooming on the floor, as can be seen in that picture, there’s a lot of surface area to groom. She is being good about the stiches, so far; but I did remind her that she could become a funnel-head.
Happy New Year, everyone!
I love Kasey’s photo in her roaster – she looks so content.
Glen, about the stitches – Bernadette is right, you definitely want to keep a very close eye on things. You can get the soft e-collars at most pet stores, or, if you have a local emergency clinic, they will be open today and they should be able to sell you one as well. Better safe than sorry.
I recently featured the soft e-collars in a post here, there’s a picture of what they look like, too. They’re much more comfortable than the cones: https://ingridking.com/2010/11/29/caring-for-your-cat-after-surgery/
And then the other cats won’t be calling her “conehead”, which would really p— her off and who knows what would happen then. Except for one kitty (who was not a tortie) I’ve never had to leave them on constantly, only when I can’t be in the room, so that eases her discomfort.
Home safely. One cat adopted today, not bad for New Year’s Eve. At our friends’ house, in typical tortie fashion, Molly, who owes her fantastic forever home to me, would have nothing to do with me.
Good job Harry.
One cat will start the new year with the best wish possible.
And even though Molly did not thank you properly I will do it for her.
Thsnk you so much for giving all those cats a second chance to share their love with a new family. A Happy New Year to you.
Thank you, Jay – right back atcha.
Beer is gone, gun is empty and it’s 12:55am
Going to bed now. Got to get up at 6
Happy New Year all.
sleep well Jay. A whole new year awaits you.
Back at you Jay. And to all the present and future Tortie friends, get aboard, this is a great ride. Lots of good people here with great cats.
Happy New Year to all my Tortie friends
I know this year will be teriffic becaue I get to share it with all of you.
Jay did you fire your weapon? Or did you say of he heck with it, I am to tired to get off the chair. I’ll just drink the beer?:)
Yes, went outside as the ball hit midnight.
And not just me.
Sounded lik a war with gunfire and fireworks up and down the valley.
I know we will never be invaded with all this firepower.
And just put a 2011 pic of Stirfry on FB.
Stir looks really good. First time I have seen her without her showing her teeth. Just had a thought, on the staircase, it is an open case, I bet she could jump right down onto you before you could say Hey! If she took a liking to being ornery that is.
The spiral staircase goes from the basement to the 2nd floor.
And the cats do launch themselves from an open step to the floor.
Never had one land on me — yet.
And “If she took a liking to being ornery that is.”
When doesn’t she….
Thanks everyone, unfortunately I won’t be able to get a hold of anyone around here, in this area, on New Years Eve.
The up side of things is she hasn’t shon any more interest in the stitches since earlier this evening.
She did have her pain pill this morning so I don’t want to over dose her.
I have given her a good brushing and lots of attention to keep her distracted, seems to be working.
Glen, she shouldn’t mess with her stitches. It is the action of healing, as the skin pulls and knits together again, and it’s not painful but it’s mighty itchy. I’ve seen girls take their spay stitches out completely, it’s a natural inclination, but it’s too soon after the surgery and will leave the wound open to infection. Try to keep an eye on her, and often pet supply stores sell those cones and soft elizabethan collars so maybe you can see about that tomorrow. Nobody likes them, but an infection is too big a risk and it’s only a few days. For abdominal surgery, you can even use the soft ones like a little tutu, tying it behind their elbows so it’s not flipping up on their face. Now that would be a picture!
Bernadette & Glen: Since this is a holiday weekend, maybe a quick call back to the vet that performed the surgery could get the cone on Kasey before tomorrow. Sometimes it works. The vet probably should have give a cone to Glen after surgery, to use just in case.
Now that might require stitches on Glen’s part.
Trying to put a TuTu on Kasey.
More likely Kasey would have put the tutu on Glen before all was said and done.
Jay you have 52 seconds to 12
Glen, maybe she needs a pain pill. The stitches could be pulling due to the healing process. Maybe that is why she is feeling uncomfortable with them. I would say give her a lot of TLC but then she has so much now she might give the sound to scare off the new year.
I will get some pictures the next time we have a roast in the pan.
Pictures taken and sent.
Kasey’s pic is on the CC FB page
Already checked it out. Kasey is a winner. Now she looks nice and calm, so Jay don’t you mess with her.
I would never
( Don’t go by what Stir says – I bug her all the time to get her riled up Doen’t take much)
Kasey is a beautiful cat.
And a fan base that covers the world.
Finally got home at 11:30 and put my crtters away.
Going to open a beer and wait till midnight.
Will shot off my 45.
Was going to use one of the machine guns but at the cost of ammo I better not.
Glen you were kidding about you lack of skill with the camera. Just checked the picture of Kasey and her heated bed. It looks sooo comfortable. I don’t blame her for getting comfty in there. She is an intelligent cat. Hope she continues her speedy recovery.
Hey I forgot, she is truly beautiful. A little rolly polly and looks like Steeler, and that includes the rolly polly part.
Kasey gave me a bit of cause for concern tonight.
She was grooming her underside, including the stiched area and decided to give the stitches a good pull.
No damage appeared to be done, I was able to distract her and stop it.
Now I am concerned she might do it again, I can’t watch her 24 hours a day and I don’t have one of those cones but suppose one could be improvised. Although that would make her very upset and might not stay on.
This is the first interest she has shown in the stiches, I hope it is an isolated occurance.
Amber needs some cheering up. She’s having a bad day.
Keep her entertained tonight.
Lots of Tortie stories always works for me.
I like the looks of that bike Glen.
Enjoy.
Still too cold to ride in my opinion (but to me low 60’s is too cold)
Glad Kasey is feeling better and we all know how telling a Tortie “No” just pisses them off.
How dare you say NO to me is her attitude.
Jay
They are delivering that mid January, by trailer and picking up my 2003 Yamaha FJR1300 which I traded in, that’s the only way they move in this cliamte at this time of year. Around here, most wait for the April rains to wash away the road salt, before venturing out.
Here’s a tortie story, Kasey is roasting a lot these days.
We have a heated pet bed that is the size and shape os a roasting pan. Consequently, the bed is now refered to as the “roasting pan”.
Kasey is monopoliizing it durring her recovery and one one contests it.
She lies there for hours, when one side gets too warm, she goes over on the other, sometimes all four feet stretch out and hang over the side.
She was almost on her back last night in it and she just about never does that.
That heat must feel REALLY good.
Pictures, Glen, pictures!
Glen – you REALLY have to get a photo of that.
Time to confess, I am completley challenged at posting pictures.
Can you send them thru e-mail, Ingrid, Bernie, myself or others can post them on The CC page.
That is one spiffy bike, Glen…
So glad to hear that Kasey is *roasting* herself back to good health!
Glen I checked out the bike, it is a winner. Now all you need is a Steeler Team emblem hand painted on it. I
I am off to another extra holiday adoption event in a moment, and then after cleaning myself up, out to friends for dinner. The friends adopted Molly, a tortie, 3 years ago from our rescue. It’ll be good to see her again, she had a litter of kittens the first time I met her, and was desperate for rescue – she disengaged from the kittens to come over to me and cry for help. I was delighted that shortly after, these long time friends asked about adopting a cat. I put on my counselling hat and carefully, skillfully, guided them in Molly’s direction: “Here – you’re adopting this one.” Molly is low in the tortitude department, but she’s long haired with white paws – that seems to make a difference.
I know better than to tell you all to behave while I’m off line…
Harry, enjoy your evening. That behaving part, well we may give it a glancing thought, but what they hey, at least we will think of you. Have a Happy and Safe New Year.
Good luck on the adoptions.
Be great to end the year by giving a couple cats a home and family. And I love your counselling
style. “Here’s your cat” Case closed.
I’ll behave – it’s those others on here that get so roudy 🙂
Jay – behaving – is like Stirfry smiling and letting us hold her.
And here I thought adoption counseling requires years of training and skill. I never thought of the “here’s your cat” approach!
That’s an interesting thought on the addition of white perhaps modifying the tortitude. I’ve sometimes heard the opposite. I wonder whether anyone has done any studies on that.
Ingrid, it does appear we come out at night. Perhaps there is a little vampire in those of us that find devilment in the night. We have to protect Jay from himself and Harry says he can’t let us along for long, because we get into mischief. Just between you and me and all other Tortie lovers, Harry I think likes to instigate things, just a mite. Bernadette and I did carry on early AM. You did miss a busy, yet fun evening. Look out if they start explaining chromosomes again. My eyes and head were spinning.
Ingrid, have a Happy and Safe New Year. Those in Tortie land, I wish you all a Happy, safe New Year.
Maybe someday a meeting of this Tortie group could happen. Imagine all the characters, including myself, that might show up.
Wow – I missed all the fun last night! This is what I get for being an “early to bed early to rise” kind of person. Am I going to have to rename this thread to TA now? We have almost 1000 comments on this post now – that’s positively amazing. Thanks for making this such a great community. I know most of us are scattered far and wide, but how cool would it be if we could someday all meet in person. One thing is for sure: we’d never run out of things to talk about.
Thanks for a great year of sharing our love for our torties, supporting each other, and having fun. May the New Year bring health and happiness to you and your torties, as well as your other furry and human family members!
Hi Ingrid, you did miss all the fun last night. I went to bed around 1:30 and left Bernie and Bernadette to carry on without me. Good to see Harry and Obsidian Kitten on here.
I would love to meet all those on here sometime and really love to meet all the Torties but we know that can’t happen. A room full of them would be a disaster. As Bernie found out they are not social animals.
Since I will be working tonight till 11:30 a Very Happy New Year to you and Allegra and all the rest of you great people out there. I never knew Stirfry would help me meet so many interesting people and good friends.
See ya all tonight.
A room full of all our torties could be the makings of a very scary horror movie…. or a hilarious comedy, depending on how you look at it.
I’m pretty sure “horror movie”.
With really scary sounds.
Horror movie for sure. Kasey can do a horror movie sound track by herself 😉
As whatever it was that came to the screen window at around 5:00 AM, last summer, found out.
She is doing well and we were able to get out of the house for part of the day, she slept most of the time anyway. My wife’s friend stayed wth her, all was well except she got a little hiss when she did not allow Kasey to go down the basement stairs (we want her a little farther along in healing before that happens). Kasey quickly forgave her, though.
O/T; I wanted to go out yesterday to take advantge of the last day of year end dealer incentives to purchase a new “ride”
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2010models/2010-Victory-Vision8Ball.htm
I think that “room full of torties” is called “The Apocalypse.”
With, as Jay points out, really scary sounds.
They would make The Four Horseman look like Three (teensy eeensy and quite harmless) Blind Mice.
Happy New Year, torters! Y’all really had me laughing today.
Agreed Kitten,
The 4 horsemen would hang their heads in shame.
And thanks for keeping me laughing.
obsidian kitten: If we had a roomful of Torties that would be a lot like a Freddie Kruger, Friday the 13th movie, (which is more than I can watch). Then you add 3 blind mice in a room full of Torties, well so much for the mice. Happy New Year.
Jay, Bernadette and I did out best to carry on early into the morning, but we both ended up calling it a day. See you here tonight. Happy New Year
Well Tortie friends, I am going to call it a day. Talk tomorrow. Harry, don’t leave this group of us alone to long. No telling what mischief we will get into.
Ingrid, stop laughing. Your sides are going to hurt. Thanks for the site.
I have to say I think I have the world’s nicest tortie girls–Cookie crawled into my crochet bag and is sleeping on the yarn and Kelly is sleeping curled on the floor hugging a very potent catnip candy cane that was a gift. Kelly is a timid tortie and catnip gives her the strength to get up and do what needs to be done, like put a family of upstart black cats in their respective places. I did have a torbie who loved no one but me and tried to take off more than one veterinarian’s face, but other nutcases were other colors.
Nice to read everyone’s comments–everyone is much more active at night, what does that say about us?
Bernie, if you head up to Pittsburgh on I-79, give a wave at Carnegie as you go past on 79 or on the Parkway, I live near both exits. I’m not sure if you go up to Pittsburgh or just to the general area, but travel safely nonetheless, Steeler needs you, despite what she leads you to think.
Bernadette, it appears, we are nightowls on here and the fun begins after sundown. I come into Pgh very often. By way of the parkway from the east. One of these days, you will have to come to the Shadyside area and meet me. We could do lunch and get acquainted. I am sure we have a lot to talk about. But, hey, no chromosomes. You had my eyes spinning around all that. We have to protect Jay from himself on here. Harry, I think, wittingly implies devilment and gets things started.
So he is responsible for the fun we have here. And with the newcomers, they will soon learn, we are really a lot of good people who have a lot in common for our furry friends and we come from all walks of like. Check out my Facebook page. It is basically just for fun.
Bernie, I guess that would be an easier route for you–some friends in Uniontown take 40 to 70 to 79, others take 70 to Turnpike to Parkway East depending what side of U they live on. I was just in Squirrel Hill and Shadyside today–but see, I work at home with all the kitties, and a visit is so easy.
Give me the link to your FB page. I can’t remember your last name and I know you’re not allowed to name pages after pets anymore–besides that, the NFL would come after you if you tried to name your FB page “Steeler”.
Bernadette: I take 30 to the turnpike to Monroville to the parkway (376). If you thow out your last name I will invite you as a friend. No, I could never call my Facebook Steeler. But I can talk about her.
Bernadette, my FB is http://www.facebook.com/BernieSherwoodTracy I hope this work for you.
Found this
http://www.helium.com/items/1368198-tortoiseshell-cats
Tortoiseshell cats have very particular personality traits that many describe as “Tortitude.” While all cats are different, Torties tend to share in common the fact that they are very impish and curious. These cats are often also playful and entertaining,though they tend to not only be very naughty, but perfectly aware of when they’re bending the rules.
Also, Tortoiseshell cats can be very vocal, particularly when they are spoiled and when they receive attention upon meowing in the middle of the night or the early morning.
And we do know they are spoiled……
Amen to that. All of us could have written that one. Send that to Harry.
Great link, Jay! I like this part: “While the Celts, Irish and Scottish thought that Tortoiseshell cats brought luck to a home, those living in Normandy said that seeing a Tortoiseshell cat was a sure sign that one was about to die in an accident.” — Do they mean an accident caused by a Tortie?
Bernie — Obsidian Kitten is the name I use on my blog. My given name is Shannah (rhymes with Donna). O’Kitten is also good, or even OK.
Emma is sleeping on spouse’s computer chair. (She likes to be present when I visit this forum.) All in all, she’s really a very mellow tortie and doesn’t get into too much trouble. This year, for example, she ignored the Christmas tree and gifts entirely.
Unfortunately, she’s taken to sleeping on the cable box again. This wouldn’t be a problem except that she threw up in the last one. I had to have it replaced and was terrified that the poor cable guy was going to ask me why it smelled so strongly of tuna…
Bernie – Steeler is just letting you know who the boss is, in case you woke up and thought it was you.
A gentle reminder might be forgotten but a left paw will not be.
Jay she is not giving gentle reminders! She is demanding her way or else.
“or else” is not an option with Steeler.
Got to get me one of those letters.
Nobody would believe it, but it would be nice to frame on the wall.
Jay that was a statement made by many employees during my many years of tenure with the company. That remark followed me around the Country to different locations. The corporate management even had the copy of the letter and they also wanted a letter. I was among them.However, within a couple of months this employee’s letter was revoked when he appeared in the lunchroom, during the lunch hour (100 or more having their lunch), he was naked as a jaybird.
Full time disability followed.
“Full time disability followed”.
Sounds like Klinger on MASH.
Work the system and get paid for it.
Good news – We can blame it all on Harry.
Lack of Supervision. (like I haven’t heard that a lot in my past)
And who needs a friend when ya have a Tortie.
People want to stay on our good side in case we let them run wild.
A Tortie takeover would make the news.
National Guard would be called out – and find they have met their match.
Jay, you have plenty of friends. What you lack is *normal* ones. You’re stuck with us.
I’ll take that Harry.
Read this once
That is what is meant by “an insane asylum run by the inmates. … Why, that’s NORMAL, if you’re completely out of your mind. …
So I fit in well here.
Jay, gosh this is hard to say, but Harry is right about you having plenty of friends. Just that all your friends don’t know *normal*, so it’s us. But hey, look at the bright side. There is no real definitive explanation of *normal* for humans. During my working career, I had suspended an employee for stripping naked and laying down on the plant roadway. He was admitted to the
mental hospital, after treatment released. When he returned to work, I had a meeting with him and his union steward, whereas he presented me with a copy of a letter written by his pysch doctor, declaring him sane, at which time he asked “Do you have a letter like this?” So nope, we are not *normal* & we don’t have that letter. 🙂
Jay, good one. BLAME STIRFRY!!!!! 😉
Anyone seeing her pic would know she’s guilty.
Have you ever looked at Charles Manson and said “He looks like a guy I wouldn’t mind living next to”
And Sign me up for TA.
It’s going to be a crowded room but the refreshments should be good.
Catnip cookies anyone ?
Jay, then if you disappear, and Stirfry clears out all other creatures from her home, then we will know it was her and not just you blaming her for bad deeds.:)
Stirfry would prefer that everyone else leave.
She has smacked Buell (my 350 lb mini donk) and the only reason she keeps me around is the fact that I keep her food dish filled.
But when I come home and she’s waiting for me and talking non stop. I know she loves me.
Same for when I’m at the computer and she lays on my lap.
No purrs but a soft growl.
Jay, so you buried the bodies of evidence!
Harry’s back. Geez Harry, we can get into trouble in no time, just like out Torties.
Harry you had me up thru the point of “no particular reason.” After that uh uh. Steeler, Stirfry and especially Brooke, make us react to their emotions. Not the other way around. I’ll try to explain that one to Steeler when she walks up my body to sit on my chest at 4AM and stares down at me until I awaken or until she gives me a left to the jaw. I don’t think she is reacting to my mood, but you can bet the farm I react to her mood, and fast.:)
Bernie, I just got home (9pm) and saw all the posts on CC.
Had to read them all.
I too laughed at what you and Glen wrote about the Tortie warning sound.
Such small cats but an attitude of a Lion.
I was expecting much more (blood, hair gouges in the doors) but suprrised to find not.
I know how Steeler reacts to outside cats so knew she would be Top Cat.
And Glen – that warning sound is scary enuf that you know the follow thru would be a call to the vet and emergency room.
And Harry – are you saying that Stirfry’s attitude is a reflection on me ?
If so – I’m going in for therapy tomorrow because apparentyly I need it bad. No wonder I have no friends !!!!!!
And I am so happy to hear how our Kasey is doing. As well as we all hoped.
obsidian kitten – “you make stuff up” – no way !!!
Helen – hope you are learning a lot on here and as Ingrid said – glad you adopted an elder cat. They appreciate it even more.
Now I can go get supper and watch TV with Stir. She has never sung before but I never asked.
Later all.
Jay you covered a lot of topics in that post. I was with you on expectations of injury. I am really glad it did not happen.
Harry, can’t really mean that about our attitudes relayed to our cats, or he would have to admit Brooke is an extension of his personality and I don’t believe that for a minute.
Helen, I too, and glad to hear you adopted an older cat. I rescued mine and she is great company not to mention full of devilment. Older cats need to be adopted more often. I think they have a great deal of love left in them. Harry can tell you the importance of adoption, he and his wife works tirelessly at rescuing and caring for feral cats, both young and old. Welcome to Tortie country.
So Brooke is an extension of Harry’s personality.
Better have CSI check him out.
Harry, listen up, you opened the door.
More like knocked the wall down.
No way am I going down for what Stirfry has done.
Bodies are buried and evidence destroyed.
Geez, I can’t leave you all unsupervised for even a minute.
Brooke is clearly an extension of my personality – there are plenty of people into whom I’d like to sink a claw, for no particular reason. But what I meant was, they’re sensitive to our moods. If you’re afraid, they’re afraid. If you’re confident that all will go well, then they are calm. If you’re sure that they’re going to tear a lung out of another cat, well… I just didn’t want to prime Bernie to fear bloodshed. Seems she got off easy. (“Friends? We don’ need no stinkin’ friends!)
Helen – welcome. Some of us are as crazy as our cats.
Hi, I’m Harry, and I have a tortie problem…
Jay it may be possible to have that arranged. Possibly HS would be more inclined to look at him since he is so “out of this world”.
When Emma “sings” into her water bowl it is an extraordinary sound. Not exactly like a rusty swing set, but operatic and haunting, that’s for sure. It drives my husband out of his mind. I wonder if the people in the next apartment can hear it. (I hope not!)
I was thinking we’ve got a sort of support group for people owned by torties on here, like a Torties Anonymous. “Hi, my name is Shannah and I’m a torter. I’m powerless over my tortie and she’s making my life unmanageable…” That sort of thing. In that case, welcome to TA!
See, Jay, I *never* make stuff up.
OBSIDIAN KITTEN HEY HI; Emma sings in her water bowl! That must be exciting in the late PM hours. If the neighbors hear it, I would think they are wondering what are you up to not what is Emma doing. You are right about the support group here. It is also our bragging forum about our Torties and others. We really do learn quirks and surprises about these unpredictable little creatures. By the way, is there a first name or nickname you would like to be addressed as? Just wondering.
Check out Jay’s cat Stirfry on Conscious Cat. You will see why we keep Jay in a good mood.:)
“Steeler must have made a sound similar to what Kasey did to your Terrier. I never heard anything quite like it.”
Yes, it was not a sound that I would have expected from a domestic, small cat, that’s for sure.
Funny thing is, she can make that noise at something, and few minutes later, be bumping into your ankles, asking to be pet.
Glen I can say with certainty that I have never heard any sound such as Steeler did yesterday. I am only glad she was still in her carrier. By the way, I hope not to have her repeat that sound, especially if she is running around the house. To hear you say Kasey can make this sound whenever and at will has me thinking. If Steeler would make the strange sound at will, I would need the therapist Harry uses for his cats, but only for myself.
Hi all. I am sure some of you are wondering what it is like for 2 Torties, Steeler and Pumpkin (the flying saucer) to meet for the first time for a play date.
Well we did that yesterday. Took pics. Nothing of interest tho. I carried Steeler into the house in her carrier and sat it down on the floor at the entrance. Pumpkin was standing in the middle of the living room floor, just looking. Even before I left Steeler out of her carrier, she spotted Pumpkin and this really strange guttural noise came from deep within her and Pumpkin disappeared faster than a streak of lightning. Steeler stepped out of her carrier and strutted right thru the house thru the living room, kitchen and dining room. Used the litter box, checked out the other rooms, Pumpkin was under the bed and Steeler just looked under there turned and walked away.
No good pics. No playing. Only seen Pumpkin make and appearance twice and run back so fast it was difficult to get a pic. I will post a rare pic of her and of course Steeler was in control.
No playing and after the warning sound from Steeler, no Pumpkin.
Home early.
No future dates planned.
I’m laughing so hard my sides hurt, Bernie. Once again, Steeler lives up to her reputation 🙂 To be honest, I didn’t expect anything other than something like this. At least no blood was shed, feline or human!
Ingrid I am not really sort of laughing. I had thought this was going to be really interesting. It has to have been the most uneventful event ever. One guttural sound from Steeler, still in her carrier, was all the action. No blood spilled. Steeler, being Steeler, just strutted around my friends home as if she owned it. Took me by total surprise. So much for play dates.
Next time I get a hairbrained idea like this, remind me of this event.:)
I held my tongue and didn’t want to say anything, because sometimes (oft times? all the time?) I think that our own attitudes and body language affect our own cats’ moods and actions – they’re very sensitive to our demeanor. But I feared bodily mayhem 🙂
(Remember – I’m the guy working with a pet behavioral therapist, with the single goal of being able to allow a tortie and one of four other cats simply to be in the same room at the same time without mopping up blood…
Harry I feared mayhem also. It ended up being a one cat show. Steeler taking over. Oh well, maybe we should put Brooke and Steeler together. Maybe the behavioral analyst could tell which one of us is bonkers!:)
“One guttural sound from Steeler, still in her carrier, was all the action.”
They can make some “nice” and unusual sounds.
I think I reported previously that our little Silky Terrier was heading over to try to eat Kasey’s food, while we were having dinner, while Kasey sat about 4 feet away.
I was getting ready to admonish him but before I could, Kasey made a noise like a cougar snarl.
He did a VERY abrupt 180 degree turn and vacated the area, immediately.
Kasey continues to do well after her surgery to remove a cyst, last night, we were treated to a “melodious” song at night, she often feels the need to sing at night for no particular reason; sounds sort of like a rusty playground swing set.
I love it when they caterwaul, and the rusty playground swingset is a perfect description!
I am so delighted to hear about Kasey’s contined recovery. Are we nuts or do our Torties think they can really carry a tune. Steeler’s walks around “talking” or maybe it’s a melody. Strange sounds.
Steeler must have made a sound similar to what Kasey did to your Terrier. I never heard anything quite like it. It did however end a play date before it began.
Still the best news is Kasey’s recovery. She is making up for lost time on her vocal training. Oh, but what a great sound it must be to hear again!!
I have just joined a very exclusive group – human who are guardians to torties. Adopted a geriatric tortie girl with beautiful big blue eyes after saying to a friend that if I got another cat (already had 3), it had to match my furniture-lol! The tortie fit the bill. I notice that a lot of torties have a split right down the middle of their face with one colour on one side and one on the other. I do understand the genetics of the tortie colouring, but don’t understand why it often manifests in this “harlequin” look. Any ideas?
Welcome Helen.
What is her name and do you have any pics.
Never saw a blue eyed tortie before.
Hi Helen! Welcome to you and your furbabies! Emma’s eyes are slightly different, one is yellow-green and one is more orange-yellow. But I’ve never seen a blue-eyed tortie, either. I bet she is beautiful.
I don’t know why the “harlequin” coloration happens but the way I understood color migration in the cat embryo works (and I may be fictionalizing this) is that certain pigment cells form along the backbone/spine and then migrate downward, which could cause a sort of harlequin pattern if they divided across the face (or top of the skull). This is the link someone had posted awhile back on coloration: http://www.messybeast.com/tricolours.htm
But I make stuff up so you might not want to trust me on this.
Welcome to our tortie community, Helen, and bless your heart for adopting a senior cat. We’d love to see a photo – unfortunately, you can’t post pictures here, but you can post it on the Conscious Cat Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/consciouscat.
As for the harlequin look, I don’t know the scientific answer, but you’re right, a lot of torties do have those markings.
In my head – a scary place, I know… I’m asking about random bred, wholly orange with no white. White and orange females I see on a regular basis, but an all orange tabby female only once in a while. So, it can’t be 99.9% male, and my unscientific survey is that it’s not as high as 40% either – but probably is, once you figure in the bred cats. Still waiting for Amber to find her male tortie!
Thanks, Bernadette! That makes more sense. The question that remains in my mind then is, so, what’s the percentage of female orange tabbies?
Depends if you’re counting the ones that are all orange or multi-colored! I’ve never seen an accurate figure–I’ve seen the 80%, I’ve also seen 40%, but no data to back up either one, even on Cat Fanciers and TICA sites where they’d be most likely to track this data for breed records. The 99.99% figure is out there, but I’m not sure where that comes from because I’ve never actually seen the data to back that up either, but I think it’s easier to determine because of the number of conditions to be met in order for a male cat to be tri-color. I think it depends on how many orange cats are swimming in the breeding pool and how many genes are tossed in with them–random-bred orange girls would probably less frequent, but full-bred where both parents are orange would likely produce nearly the same number.
Glad to hear Kasey’s on the mend!
This is kind of lengthy, but here is a section of an article I wrote for a customer about feline coat color and genetics–in brief, black and orange are linked to the X chromosome, so mom’s color is a greater influence in males who only have one X, but females have two X chromosomes and therefore two chances at coat color, which can be mixed to make a tortie or calico.
Never Ask About a Lady’s Hair Color…You’ll Get a Lecture on Genetics
Are all calico and tortoiseshell cats female? Are 80% of orange cats male? Neither one! But the myths have a basis in fact and you’ve got to learn some complicated genetics to understand why it seems that way.
Some coat colors are linked to X and Y chromosomes and some are just out there. Some actually cause a coat to be a certain color while others just influence the possibilities. Let’s take X and Y and male and female and black fur and orange fur and white fur, toss all the possibilities in the air and see what falls out.
Cats basically have three coat colors, black, white and orange, or red as it’s known to breeders. They also have patterns, and some breeds have specific dilutions or combinations of these colors that may seem like brown or blue or even purple, but they are actually variations on these shades. We’re just talking about the distribution of the big three colors.
Let’s leave white out of the mix for another day; technically it’s more often a coat pattern called bi-color where another gene masks a portion of the cat’s genetic fur color, or in the case of solid white cats all their fur, but the cat is not truly white.
Coat colors orange and black are carried on the X chromosome. Because males are XY, only getting one X from their mom, they tend to be whatever color that X carries, orange or black, nice and simple, coat pattern not included.
But females are XX and actually inherit, not only two options for coat color, but two actual coat colors. If her X chromosomes are black OR orange, she is either black or orange, but if one is black AND one is orange, she is BOTH, forming patches because each skin cell has a tendency for one color or the other, known as calico or tortoiseshell. (Which of these she turns out to be depends on the white gene mentioned above.)
So to answer, first, the “80% of orange cats are male” theory, male cats have one chance at color because of their one X chromosome, while females get TWO chromosomes. BOTH have to be orange for her to be orange because if only one is orange she is calico, so it simply reduces the chances of her being all orange.
Now for the theory that “all calico or tortoiseshell cats are female”, it’s close to true but it’s not a hard and fast rule. For a cat to have two coat colors it needs to have two X chromosomes; males normally only have one, but they can, like humans, have the Klinefelter’s XXY and therefore have two coat colors, though they are usually sterile and may or may not have related health problems.
All cats, males and females alike, can also have a “chimeric” coloration wherein two embryos of different coat color develop pressed together in the womb and impress their colors on each other, and also orange cats will sometimes develop a black spot as humans develop birthmarks, thereby appearing to have three coat colors. These two “tri-color” male types are as fertile as any other, so don’t assume they don’t need to be neutered! Neither is common but can be found, and contrary to popular opinion, they are no more valuable than any other mixed-breed cat, but just as loving and worthy of a good home.
Kasey has foriven the no feeding and wants to be around me most of the time. I am coming down with a cold and I haven’t gone out at all today.
I have not been on line as much because my computer is in the basement, kasey is on the main floor, she came to the top of the stairs to call me about an hour ago.
I think she will be able to handle the stairs soon though, she is getting around well but I thought she had better not try it today.
On another subject; “Victoria, our “recovering barn cat” (a rare orange tabby girl, that’s another discussion group”
Our big orange guy, Taz, is 20 pounds, like a Maine Coon, even though he isn’t one. He is 12 years old now, we have had him since someone threw him away when he was about 12 weeks old.
I am no expert on orange cats and their gender, I used to think they were like the oposite of torties, almost all male but I read that the ratio of males is approximately 2 out of 3.
I’m no expert, either… but below is what I have socked away on my computer (source long lost). It is related to tortitude, as it turns out. The figure I recall, can’t find that source either, is about 80% male, 20% female orange tabbies (called “red” below):
Red in cats is a sex-linked color, carried on the X gene. Therefore, a male cat whose X carries red will be a red tabby. A female cat who carries one red and one non-red X will be a patched tabby, a tortoiseshell, or a calico (if she also has the dominant gene for white markings). A female cat who is homozygous for red (has it on both X genes) will be a red tabby. This is why you see more male red tabbies than females. This is also why male calicos are so rare: you have to have two X genes to be a calico. Male calicos have genetic aberrations of various sorts, of which XXY is most common. While they are most commonly sterile, there *are* documented cases of fertile male calicos. However, the generalization that “all calicos/torties are female” is true 99.999 percent of the time.
I just posted two photos of female orange tabby Victoria on the Conscious Cat’s facebook.
I’m so happy to hear Kasey is recovering so well – and the bonus cheese treats should go a long way toward forgiving you for not feeding her breakfast yesterday!
Ingrid, thanks, actually they did a biopsy before the procedure, a week or so ago. It was not cancerous but we thought it should go, anyway. I asked the vet the basic question, ïf it was your cat, what would you do?”
While we’re not wealthy, we are in a fortunate position where the cost of the procedure is not a factor, I am glad we had it done.
This morning, she was playing with a toy, by herself on the floor, like a kitten.
Her stiches look good. She got a pain pill today, with 3 mopre days of those to go, she is getting antibiotics twice a day for the next week, she got the first one this morning.
Pilling her is not an issue (not bad for a tortie) but I cheat, the only time she gets “people food”is when she gets a pill, wrapped in a very small bit of cheese. All shen knows is she hit the bonus round, cheese twice a day. 😉
Glen, glad to know she is up and playing.
What a relief after the last 2 days. Now we all can relaxe.
“All she knows is she hit the bonus round, cheese twice a day.” Wow…sounds like the bonus round to me, too! Glad to hear she’s playing already. Yay! Happy New Year from me and Emma to all our fellow torters!
Glen I am curious. Kasey, a Tortie, on pain pills! Since our girls are already ready to take on the world, how does Kasey react on pain meds? I am sure she will feel better very soon. Then back to what is normal for her.
Glen, I’m glad to know Kasey is doing well and that she needed “less” than she potentially did. Now you can just help her heal. I’m sure it’s a great relief just to look at her!
Just got home at 10:45
Could not wai to hear about Kasey.
Glad things are going so well.
Like Bernie said “She is our Kasey too”
Now you both can get some well deserved rest tonight.
Kasey is home now, I am a bit late in posting this due to settling her in and having dinner.
She is a bit wobbly right now, understandably.
She ate some food, I was careful that she didn’t get too much, too fast.
She has pain pills and anitbiotics but she will like this, it means a pill, wrapped in cheese, 3 times/day for then ext week.
Her teeth are fine, no extractions. Stitches come out on Jan. 8th.
I swill be arround tomorrow, not going too far, to make sure things are going OK.
I couldn’t get home fast enough to see how Kasey did. What wonderful news. All of her family here is breathing a deep sigh because she is our Kasey too. Now, Glen, take 2 aspirin and call your doctor in the AM. The little one is on her way to being ok.
Excellent news, Glen! I just walked in and breathed a sigh of relief. Will they do pathology on the cyst, or do they not need to after the biopsy?
I was antiquing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland today, with my family. Our last stop was an antique store just over the border into Delaware, where Diode, a 15 year old black (and now gray!) cat holds court in a basket on the counter. He has a fan club from all over the country – some people just stop in to bring him treats. He has a great life and knows it – he has a purr that vibrates the desk. Our own cats were annoyed that dinner was an hour late…
I love hearing stories about store cats – there’s just something about a cat in a store that makes it so special. Hopefully, your cats willl have forgiven you for the delayed dinner by now.
Thanks for the comments.
They didn’t do a pathology on the cyst due to the prior work that was done. Those results indicated it was not cancerous. I think it wil be best to have it gone, though.
She is in the heated cat bed and is quite relaxed, now; probably the best thing for her.
That is funny about the cat in the antique store.
Sounds like Kasey did great, and she’s already eating – that’s a very good sign. Good idea to stay close to home to make sure everything is okay, but she’s made it through the worst of it! When will you get biopsy results?
I called at 2:00, she is doing well and I am to go get her at 4:30
Now you can exhale!
That’s wonderful news!
Yes, I “spring” her in about 2 hours.
When she feels like eating, she can have a good serving of her favorite canned food, Weruva Paw Lickin’Chicken 🙂
Yay! Been thinking about you all day. Emma is now on my lap and says she toasts Kasey toward a speedy full recovery with her Weruva BFF Tuna! =)
Excellent news
The waiting is hard.
And I agree with Harry – follow their recommendations when it comes to extracting teeth. Cats are pretty unique when it comes to dental problems, and a lot is not even visible to the naked eye until they’re sedated and the vet can look at what’s really going on inside a mouth. Gingivitis can lead to serious health problems and needs to be addressed.
Bernadette mentioned that Kasey might be in some pain later on. Hopefully, if the vet does things right, she shouldn’t be. Pain control should be part of any surgical and dental procedure. They will probably have given her some injectable pain medication as part of the procedure, and they may be sending you home with some additional oral medication.
Pretty soon the wait will be over and you can call to find out how she’s doing, and before you know it, she’ll be back home with you.
Its 12:10 here and no call, I am assuming from what they told me, that this means they did the procedures and that her teeth were good enough thaty no extractions were required.
Now I have the wait til 2:00 PM, the time they suggested I call them.
Fortuneatly, pilling is easy with her, if required; I realize this sounds like a fantasy that it would be so for a tortie. 😉
Oral medication for a Tortie.
I tried that once.
Glen better ask the Vet for pain medication for himself while he in there.
Remember that comment I made about a blender ?
Found out I will be helping a friend move at 3:30 so will miss the homecoming.
Kisses and scratches for Kasey from me.
And a not unfriendly hiss from Stir.
Glen, I can’t add anything to what everyone has already said – tell Kasey she has a world-wide fan club pulling for her. I’ll be off line until much later tonight, but checking for updates will be the first thing I do when I get back.
Thanks, everyone.
She’s been there an hour now, blood work will (or was) done first, I think no call from them means everything is going ahead.
Next call would be if they have to extract teeth, since we are having her teath cleaned while she’s “out”. I asked them to call if that was needed, though I am sure I’d just go ahead, if they theought it was best for her.
I am supposed to phone them at 2:00 PM (Ontario time, same time as Buffalo, NY), to get an idea as to when she can come home, likely between 4:00 and 5:00, from what they said.
Glen, I would certainly do what they recommend with her teeth. Victoria, our “recovering barn cat” (a rare orange tabby girl, that’s another discussion group 😉 is somewhere between 7 and 12 (we’ll never know exactly) and had bad gum disease when we got her 5 years ago, probably from years of scrounging and multiple litters of kittens. We ended up having almost all of her teeth pulled, including some of her canines. She’s happy, healthy, and has no problem eating crunchy treats. The teeth, it turns out, are non-essential when they’re not living off the land. Everything I read suggests that years are added to our cats’ lives by eliminating infections from gum disease, by regular cleaning and removal of diseased teeth. She also is panicked when she has to be fasted for proceedures, but quickly forgives us each time.
Glen, Kasey will have special treats I am sure after she recovers from surgery a little. I know you are more concerned than ever, but We a all praying that Kasey recovers quickly and you also. It is 8:40AM here and I will be hoping to hear good new later today after I get back from Pittsburgh.
Thinking of you both.
Glen, how are you doing tonight? I’m sure Kasey is not a happy camper by now since she can’t have her dinner. I’ll be sending lots of good thoughts and healing energy her way tomorrow. Keep us posted on how she’s doing as soon as you can – you know we’ll all be waiting anxiously to hear the good news.
Thanks for the comments.
The vet said she could eat up to 9:00 but I will give her a small helping of her favorite wet food at 8:00, just to be an hour early. Ususally Morgaqn, out tuxie and Kasey get their wet food at 10:00 or so, Taz doesn’t care for any wet food.
No water after 12:00, so that will get picked up, too before everyone “shuts down” for the night.
Taz and Morgan go in the basement (they like it there, beds, food, toys etc.) for the night due to too much nocternal activity 😉
Since they are shut down there and Kasey stays upstairs, they can have the food down, down there, business as usual.
Kasey is supposed to be in the vets office at 8:30 but they said I can bring her in early, which I will do to get things going ASAP. I am an early riser anyway..
I won’t be going out of the house, tomorrow, I am on vacation and have some hobby stuff to occupy my mind with while I wait. However, I expect that she will be there most of the day, hopefully, she can be picked up by 5:00 PM.
I took another look at the cyst today, it is no smaller and may have grown by 5% or 10%; consequently, as much as I hate the whole process, I am quite keen to get it done.
My plan is to stick close to home on Wed. and see how she does, before I make plans about going anywhere later in the week.
Thinking of you and Kasey tonight, Glen! Emma was about 8 years old when she had to be under anaesthesia for some dental work; they wound up pulling 10 teeth and cleaning the rest. I’m so glad now that we had it done. We’ll be thinking of you tomorrow and I’m sure Kasey will be glad to be rid of the cyst as well as have nice, clean teeth when she’s home again all safe and sound.
Glen, Kasey and you have a whole lot of support for tomorrow. She will come thru this like a trooper. After you get her home, you of course, will need a nerve pill. Prayers and good wishes.
Glen, I am off tomorrow and will be waiting by my computer to hear the updates on Kasey.
Will be saying prayers for a speedy recovery.
Its about 7:15 AM here as I type this.
We’ll leave in about an hour. I wish she could understand why I am not feeding her. There was a time, a few years before I broght her home, that she didn’t get enough to eat for a while and by her behaviour and responser, I beleive for her, especially, feeding means love and attention.
Somehow, this makes it worse for me not being able to feed her than if it was one of our other two, who have always been well fed.
However, it could be worse, I am happy that we have the opportunity and resources so that getting her treated is not a problem.
Not being able to feed the morning of a procedure was always the worst part of the whole experience for me, too, and I agree that it’s especially hard with cats who have a history like Kasey. I always felt like my cats would look at me like I was a moron on those mornings: “aren’t you forgetting something, Mom?” “How could you forget to feed us? What is wrong with you???”
But just think how much Kasey will enjoy her dinner tonight!
Thinking of you and Kasey all day today, and waiting for news.
Glen, I know what ya mean about food. Guess to a Feral that food = security = love.
As part of the Kasey Fan Club I will be waiting for an update.
Glen, for me the all-day wait was always the hardest part because there is nothing more vivid than my own imagination, so while Kasey is in prep and you are home alone with nothing better to do than worry, I’ll be thinking about you. Kasey is in good hands even though she may be a little frightened and confused and later she’ll be in some pain. Just enjoy your hobby stuff, that’s what I do, something creative, especially one of my crafts–I’ve crocheted many an item in human and animal hospital waiting rooms and at home.
Harry, I have put the Have-A-Heart trap away this PM. I found myself looking out the window this AM and actually felt ok to go out and put it away.
I know now why you have so many cats. When those little eyes look at you and you see the way they slowly close to sleep in your arms feeling safe and warm, I would end up like you and others and have to build another house for cats. So no, I applaud folks like you and others who do rescues on a regular basis. I am not in your category.
If Steeler hadn’t come into my life, by being persistent, I don’t know if I would feel such compassion for the throwaways as I do now.
So I give the credit to this crazy Tortie, for teaching me about throwaways. I look at them in a whole new light.
If I ever catch someone throwing a pet out on my land, Heaven help them. This grandmother will give them the whopping of their lives.
Jay it is good to hear you arrived home ok. The weather is only going to get worse overnight. Tomorrow evening should be better.
I am glad they kept the name Snowflake. My heart said keep her, my Tortie said I’ll main her if she comes in here.
I haven’t did anything special here. Most of all of you rescue animals or work to help rescue them.
I just seen another throwaway here on my land and she stayed (hidden most of the time) and I just had to catch her. Sure I will miss checking the have-a-heart trap 3 or 4 times a day for her, but now I know she is probably curled up on a nice warm bed with a couple that spent almost 4 hours one evening trying to help me catch her. That was when they decided she was theirs if I caught her.
So to all of you that rescue animals and try to place them in caring homes, my hat is off to you all. I could not do what you do. When Snowflake was carried out to the car today, I felt like I wanted to go after them and bring her back. Then reality set in and I turned and there at the french door was Steeler, and I knew where my place was. Steeler is running the show.
Jay be careful tomorrow on the roads. We need you on this site. Actually we need Stirfry 😉
Luckily I am off today and tomorrow. Way too windy to go out.
And Stirfry need me to wait on her hand and paw at all times.
As much as I’d want to I would not be able to work at a rescue shelter also.
I would want to keep each cat and like Steeler, Stirfry would not accept another cat.
She thinks we have 2 too many now.
Jay sometimes I wonder just what Steeler would allow in our home. Wednesday I am taking Steeler to meet Pumpkin (the flying saucer I had mentioned a while back). It will be the first play date or battle of the Torties she will have had. I am curious how she will react with another Tortie. If it goes bad, it is already understood, I will bring Steeler back home and quickly. This is a test run. I really don’t like leaving her alone to much. I would not put Steeler and Stirfry in the same building let alone the same room. One human would not survive trying to separate them.
I can’t wait to hear how this goes.
Always wondered how 2 torties meeting would go.
Figured WW III but with more action.
Get someone to take pictures (not you cause you will have to referee).
Stir & Steeler would be a real match – maybe a stare down or maybe they will see each other as equals and suprise us by just laying down. Probably not though. I have a bullet proof vest in my gun safe (don’t ask why). It might last long enough to protect me. Maybe that chain mail shark suit. Got to study this… Be back soon.
There will be pics on this one. I too am curious. Two torties in the same room/house. I wonder if anyone has ever had this. Will keep you posted. Stirfry would win hands down. Because I would be the one to run.
A tortie play date? I can’t wait to hear how this goes!
Ingrid, I am an optimist. However, ???????? Pics will show up. Playdate is Wed.
1. “I haven’t done anything special here.”
2. “I could not do what you do.”
Wrong, on both counts.
(1) What you’ve done – for the second time – is made a miracle happen. No, you didn’t change the world of throwaway cats… but you changed two throwaway cats’ worlds. For each cat, it was a miracle. If what you did wasn’t so special, then everyone would do it and there would be far fewer homeless cats.
(2) But you did what we do! You took the very difficult and gut-wrenching step of opening up your heart to two cats… and then, you did something even harder – you let one go to another home, because you knew it was the best thing, the right thing, to do. I wish I’d been strong enough to do that a year ago, when a little black kitten nuzzled me and held onto my shoulder for all she was worth. The hardest thing to do is to recognize the reality of how much better it is to let them go, and then go on to save another. And you did that. Steeler helped, of course. But it was you that listened to her.
Bernie, there is a certain club of people that have a Have-A-Heart trap in their garage. Others don’t understand. You became “one of us” a while ago.
So happy to come home and read about Snowflake. Was wondering if they would keep the name. Glad they are. It is so fitting to that little cat. And knowing that she is going to ave a loving home should make up for you not having her. I know it hurts to give her up but it would hurt Steeler more. Torties are very independant and don’t like to share. I can see that at my house. And you can always visit and give us updates on her progress.
Still snowing and going to work was worse than coming home. When I left the roads were just covered by blowing snow. Did a 180 when I turned onto a road Turned around and continued. Slid thru the next stop sign. Finally got to the main road and was at work in 15 minutes. Coming home the snow was deeper 2 – 3 inches but drifts at some places 1 foot.
Got home safe, put my animals in the barn and went inside. Kissed all my cats and just finished dinner. Now ready for bed,
Can’t wait to hear more later today.
Bernie, there is nothing–NOTHING–like physically rescuing a cat from an unsafe situation, especially if they want to be rescued, like Snowflake. Her behavior showed she was wary, but wanted to be caught, and get this, too: she knew whose house to go to! Snowflake chose you, you made it possible for her to come in, and on top of it you found her a loving home.
I’ve been in this situation many times through the years, Bernie, and you’ve just experienced one of the most exhilarating moments in feline relationships you will know, even considering your relationship with Steeler. I remember each of my rescues, even though most of them have gone off to adoptive homes–and that’s the next point. You never realize how emotionally invested you are in a cat you’ve either been concerned about or actively trying to catch until they are in your arms, so you’ve just experienced a loss. It’s not selfish in the least, it all happened so fast, go ahead and be sad. You called them and she’s fine, but go and visit her, look at her, even hold her one more time and I assure you it will ease your heart.
You done good for a rookie! Congratulations!
I’ve been reading messages but really busy with the last holiday work, but rest assured my two tortie girls are living the life! All the black cats are very envious!
Bernadette
Bernadette I really am a rookie on rescuing a cat. The look in Snowflake’s eyes when I held her in a blanket until she calmed down and laid down in my arm was enough to make me cry. I had not realized that I had really become so entwined with this little cat. Watching her go away was hard.
But I know she is going to be one pampered baby. I am glad to hear from you. They is one spoiled Tortie who was overly excited to see the pretty intruder leave. It was as if she was saying Not in My House.
Bernie, that’s the reason chez Harry we no longer foster, and it’s why we have six cats. But if you don’t get emotionally involved with each one, you wouldn’t be rescuing at all. I couldn’t possibly have said it better than Bernadette. Do go visit, and take a couple of photos, for you – and for us.
Jay, I didn’t even think about pics. I was so happy to hold her and know she was safe, all I could do was get her new parents on the phone so she could have a safe and happy life. When I mentioned Steeler, I meant she went bonkers, like in let me at her and I will get rid of her. I stayed on the sunporch with the french door closed to keep Steeler at bay.