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, I’m at the age now where when I was younger would have said OLD.
Now I am luckily in good health, enjoy riding (in warm weather) enjoy living alone (of course with my zoo) and live a day at a time.
Came close to losing a few of my 9 lives and now enjoy life as much as I can.
I know you are a few years older but if a Tortie has said your OK – that’s good enuf for me.
Lost Tortie
I got out of work early and got home at 11:20
So far I’ve had Pumpkin on my lap and cat rubs from Tabatha but have not seen Stirfry yet.
A black cat can be hard to find.
As usual I’ll wake up and she will be on the computer chair or waiting to look outside with me.
But still like to see them all before I go to bed.
It’s not like she did something wrong and is hiding.
With her it’s more like “I did it – so what you gonna do about it”.
Hope she’s turned up, Jay. We got four adopted tonight – very good for a Friday. The best part was the person who decided on the black cat over another one, “because they’re the hardest to place.”
Alright Harry !!!!!!!!!!!
4 save kittens to good homes.
That makes me so happy.
And Stir will show up.
She does this about once a week.
Never mind
Just looked and found her at the food dish.
She talked to me and I even got a nose touch (rare from her).
All is well now.
Harry it is good to hear you got 4 adoptions tonight. Harry the black cat, wasn’t a Tortie was it? If it was did you tell the adopting party, how much fun he was in for? A good day of volunteering for you.
Jay, Stirfry is probably somewhere curled up in the dark and will decide to pop up just about the time you fall asleep and want to be fed. Seems hide and seek is a game to them. Calling them usually falls on deaf ears. So she will show up, but it will be on her own time.
You were right. Turned up at her food dish.
And everything is on THEIR TIME.
I’s 1 am and got to go to bed.
Now that 2 are sleeping on the bed and Stir is somewhere I can sleep easy now.
Nite all
See ya all in 5 hours
I’m glad she turned up! That’s so scary when you can’t find them.
Glen: Today is the day. We have all been waiting to hear how Kasey’s dr.’s visit went. Did the healing go well and all stitches come out? We are all waiting to hear about her update. That little girl has dealt with a lot. She is our Kasey too.
Actually, the vet visit is 9:15 tomorrow (Sat, Jan. 8th).
To my untrained eye, the stiches look good and she has left them alone.
We should be just over 12 hours from getting them out.
She seems fine, she has been intimidating the dog and swating Taz the 20 pound orange guy, tough to keep a tortie down.
Glen: She’sss back. Sounds great. Normal behavior (for a Tortie). I bet you don’t get far away from her when you are home. She is probably at your side more than ever. Hope tomorrow goes well for you. Kasey, well she is going to be better than new.
Impossible to keep a Tortie down.
Glad to hear she’s doing fine.
Tormenting the dog and the orange cat says she’s feeling good and wants everyone to know that she’s the Boss and don’t you forget it.
Glen left a comment a little earlier today, but for some reason, it’s not showing up here. He wrote:
Kasey’s stitches still look good.
We’ll be leaving at 9:00AM, tomorrow to go to the vet, who isn’t very far away.
This will be good to have done.
I have a tortie named July and she is the love of my life!! She is completely my cat and dosnt like most people. She loves me and is an amazing cat. she is perhaps the priciest cat known to man and has MAGER tortitude!!
I love your screenname, Tortie! July sounds like a tortie alright.
Lost Cause Harry
Have a safe trip.
Hope Friday at the store is calm, Jay. Glen, you’re almost there. Glad it went well for our girl. Bernie, I’m delighted that Flake adapted to being in a home, and that the other two went back to where they belong (I hope). I’m headed out. Please try to stay out of trouble, all of you.
Harry get real. Tortie folks staying out of trouble here, is like saying the weather wilt be 85 tomorrow. Have a good day.
Welcome Tortie and Deeba
Glad to see more people that have found Ingrid site.
Funny how you think you have a unique cat and by searching the Internet you find us here.
Tortie , do you have a picture of July?
Love to see it.
Deeba , what is your Torties name.
And did everyone hear – IT’S GOING TO BE 85 TOMORROW !!!!!!!!!!!
Tortie and Deeba: I second Jay’s thoughts. I think you will find we are a little more of the witty bunch, but we love our Torties. Please post pictures on Concious Cat and Deeba, we would like to know your Tortie’s name. Glad to have you aboard. Ingrid runs a great blog here, as you have found.
Welcome
I will be going to work soon.
Hope Glen stops in and gives an update on our Kasey.
9:15 tomorrow is the magic time.
Thanks for the article! I adopted a tortoiseshell cat about a year ago and have gotten several comments about her not being a “typical tortie”. I had no idea there was tortie personality, so this was a good explanation, even though my cat doesn’t fit it at all. She’s very mellow and laid back, never scratches and will even come when called. Maybe it’s because she’s a little older and has mellowed. Interesting.
Deeba, Amber wasn’t a typical tortie, either, as far as personality went. There are definitely exceptions to “tortitude,” but as you may have seen from reading through some of the comments here, the majority of torties does seem to have these rather distinct personality traits.
deeba glad to hear about your Tortie. My Tortie was laid back and older, but things changed once she started talking. Now she is totally in charge. Including deciding when to wake me (at her will). I wish you get to experience the many personalities of our Torties. They are many and amazing. Welcome
Y’all are way ahead of me, and work is too hectic to play today 🙁 (Plus, have to leave by 5 to get to the adoption event.)
Jay – I’ll take two signs. “Beware of Tortie” is my vote – but I think “Beware of” should be black, and “Tortie” day-glo orange. And can you put Stir’s photo (the one one the cake) in the corner?
Heat – we have piped in natural gas, previous owner converted from electric. Problem is, house wasn’t built for gas, so no flue – vents out the back with a fan, so when the power’s out, the heat’s out. Oh, and we’re living in a bomb. But it’s cheap.
That’s the way my old Gas heater and water heater were. Still need electric for the fans and electronic ignition. When powers out your screwed.
Now in my fireplace upstairs (no flue – just for looks) I put in gas logs that have a push button igniter as a gas grill. So even with electric out I will have heat. With propane out I have nice cold logs to look at.
Good luck at the adoption. I will be working till 11:30 tonight so hope you have good news for us. It must be real disappointing to have one where people don’t show up or nobody adopts. I would not be able to do that so I am hoping for the best for them.
And what trouble under that bridge. Who would bother us (or even want to live close to) with 2 wild Torties. I would sleep soundly. Tabatha’s friendly, Pumpkin is a great mouser, and Brooke and Stirfry will take care of any nosey bears.
If no one shows up and no adoptions, at least I get to spread the spay/neuter message and play with kittens (5 tonight).
Oh, and make it three signs for me.
I am thinking if I can get a picture on the sign that Stirfry’s outline shape in black will have the look of any wild Tortie.
And playing with kittens is always fun. I would pay to do that.
I think the picture of Stirfry should definitely go on the sign. Even if people don’t know what a tortie is, one look at that photo, and they’ll be afraid. Very afraid.
Jay I think the sign idea caught on pretty well. Now you have to decide how to design it. Funny how I turned that on you.
By the way, you need to build a chimney for alternate heat source. Wood is down everywhere, I mean trees, not prices.
I have a standby generator so when my power goes out my generator (runs off my propane) automatically kicks on and my home operators as normal. One of the best investments ever made by me. It has paid for itself many times over. So the wood burner boiler and my gas furnace work as usual. If I am in the mood, I will burn logs during the day, and let the propane take over at night.
Let me know how your design work out. (those captivating eyes need to glow).
Now living on a bomb, what a pleasant thought. No doubt, no basement. Wow you do live dangerously, live gas underlayment and Tortie Brooke. Harry, you are on the edge.
The bomb is a lot safer than Brooke.
Jay that is what I was inferring. Beware of Brooke. Now that Sabrina has been outed as the instigator in recent happenings, I would be very cautious. Payback from Brooke might be due. Not that I am encouraging violence, but Brooke was getting a bad rap and it turns out now it’s Sabrina. Harry has several bombs around him.
“I pissed off a Tortie, and lived to tell about it.” Now we’re talking t-shirts, I think. Same photo, though.
Too bad I’m across the state–I’d love that commission. I’m not willing to drive three hours each way like the roof guys though. Might be more from Pittsburgh, but your sign guy might be able to do a bill-board sized banner.
Bernadette I can tell you are from Pgh. Everything in Pgh has to be supersized. I have not seen you here for a couple of days. How are the black and gold toboggans coming along?
Bernadette they a accommodations at the Lewisburg Federal Prison, minimum security, maybe you could stay in a cell and get 3 hots and a cot. Just kidding about staying there.
Taxpayer paid room and food sounds great but the unwanted sex is a turn off.
I’ll stick with just getting by and a few cats on the bed.Or maybe just living under that bridge with the other Derelicts
“Derelict”, singular. There are enough problems under that bridge with the two of us and 9 cats, I’m not running a commune.
I am presently talking to a sign maker that can make up plastic signs similar to the one I just put on the CC FB website.
Cost of 10 or more is $6.75 each.
Would anyone else be interested ?
And if so should the wording be Beware of Tortie, Beware of Attack Tortie or ?
I am going to get one for myself but thought others would be interested.
Also going to have a metal sign similar to the Mini Horse Crossing sign I have at my barn but will have Stirfry’s pic on it and say Tortie Crossing.
P.S.
Propane was delivered this morning. 150 gal at $4.10 per gallon.
Warm cats for now.
Hahhahhah! Beware of Tortie! Love that. Not to be confused with “Tortise” of course (woe to those who might make THAT mistake…)
Your snow has arrived here in NYC and I must go in to the CAT (and dog) rescue now. Got grants to write. Emma will sleep on the fort whilst I am away.
Purr purr, all.
No way could someone make that mistake.
A Toitoise might take off a finger
A Tortie will take your whole arm.
Take care driving in the snow and have fun at the rescue.
Hope some dogs and CATS find a home today.
I’m sure Emma will guard the house for you. We know they sleep alot but usually with 1 eye opened. Look at that picture of Brooke.
Kitten how much more snow do you want us to send you. We don’t need it.
“Beware of Mutant Ninja Torties”.
Just have a mural of the famous Sitrfry photo painted on the side of your barn, kind of like those big murals of Stalin and Mao Tse Tung that managed to keep the Russians and Chinese under control: “Big Tortie is Watching You”.
That would surely get the neighbors talking.
Would not even need the local cops either.
Guess I can call one of those guys that paint the Mail Pouch advertisements on barns
Jay your age is showing. Mail pouch is no longer painted on barns. Political correctness took that one to. If you could find someone to do Stirfry with that look on her face, it would certainly draw attention.
Bernie, here in Amish Country there are still quite a few barns that have the faded Mail Pouch paint still on them.
And up to 10 years ago there was even the Burma Shave signs along Rt 501 near me.
Damn – I am old. 🙂
Just got a quote from another sign maker
1 sign $27.11 B-PVC KOMATEX 3mm
Customer Provided Lettering printed in black Vinyl and
applied to white 3mm lightweight closed-cell, free foam, rigid
PVC sheet.
Color: Black on White
Text: BEWARE OF TORTIE
10 @ $4.29 = $42.88 (his writing)
20 @ $2.96 = $59.14
-VINYL STANDARD 1 1 3 x 10 $25.80 $25.80
Description: Option B : Quantity (1)
Customer provided lettering printed onto standard vinyl. 3M
cold laminate applied to the surface to protect print from
abrasion.
Color: Black on White
Text: BEWARE OF TORTIE
5 S-VINYL STANDARD 10 1 3 x 10 $3.33 = $33.30
I might go see him tomorrow.
And Kitten can have all my snow too.
I don’t want it.
Jay my post did not go thru as I thought it would. On the sign if you could ask your sign fellow to square it down. BEWARE (top row)
of (second row)
TORTIE (third row)
It would be similar to the security signs such as Guardian, ADT, etc. on properties. Just a thought
I can ask
What size ?
The one I have in my window is 2 lines and the size is 3″ x 11″
I know they can make any size and with plastic the price is cheap.
His questions were :
Jay ,
We are able to make that type of sign for you. I have a couple of questions to ask so that I can give you an accurate quote :
a. What type of material did you want these signs made out of (rigid or flexible)?
b. What are you planning on mounting them too?
c. How were you planning on mounting them ?
d. Will the sign be just text or did you need a graphic on it ?
e. How long were you planning on keeping these signs up and would they be outside?
f. How many colors would you like on the sign ?
g. From how far away do you need these signs to be legible ( what is the viewing distance ) ?
We have multiple means of production for making such signs so the questions above would help me pin point which one would suit your needs best . Thank you
Bernadette, I missed this comment today! Mutant Ninja Torties – I rolled off my chair. That one needs Stirfry holding a sword, I think. No one in my house watches Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles anymore, but I think they’re still on.
Jay I like the Beware of Tortie. Not many other than cat people know what a Tortie is. It would give pause to those who may not be the most desirable at out door. Beats beware of dog. From what I understand, legally, the beware of dog sign, does not protect the owner from the injuries inflicted by the dog. If anything it says I have a nasty dog that will harm you. So I would go for a Beware of Tortie. Then I would like to see how many people really know what it means. I have no solicitations signs up at my entrances and you would be amazed the number of people that ignore them. So sign me up for 2.
Steeler pulled her early AM wake up but now she has been sound asleep since 8 AM. Lucky cat.
Our kids sure have it good.
Up early, wake Mom, eat breakfast and patrol the house then back to sleep.
Bernie – I like your idea about the sign “Beware of Tortie”.
Presently I have a sign in my window that says “Beware of Cat”
I’ll put a picture up of it as soon as it gets light outside.
Woe up this morning at 5:30 to about 1 1/2 ” of fluffy white snow and it’s still coming down.
I talked to my roofers yesterday. They come from Williamsport every day.
That’a 3 hour drive each way. 7 hours on the job and 6 hours of driving. Hope they get paid for that.
Jay I thought about that as I watched Steeler go on the prowl all day yesterday because 2 cats were on the porch. She about drove me up a wall with her muttering and following me around to do something. She awoke me about 5 AM today and there is no real reason for it. There are not cats here today not even a paw print in the snow. So I am assuming they were the barn cats from up over the hill. But she was a persistent cat. I hope they get your roof closed. We had black ice yesterday and probably 2 inches of snow overall. But it is very cold. Beware of Tortie sounds good to me.
Seen your sign on CC. That is what I had in mind. BEWARE
of
TORTIE
Squared for effect. Caps for awareness.
This is bad, if Steeler doesn’t let me get some sleep, no telling what else might pop into my mind.
Read about your propane. I knew you would pay a high price.
Time for a wood burner tied into your heating system. I have a wood burner boiler tied into my propane hot water system. I can burn logs and heat the house or use propane. My son has a wood burner tied into his forced hot air vents off his propane furnace. He uses about 300 gal. propane a year. Burns mostly wood. House so warm they wear shorts year round. Think about it.
I used to have a wood burning stove in the basement when I first built the house in 87.
It was an old lincoln stove and very inefficient.
Later put in a propace gas logs.
Now I am thinking of converting back as a back up. Maybe a pot bellied stove (always liked those) or maybe coal.
Always nice for a back up in case of lack of fuel or electric loss.
Harry your daughter is so right about what you have taught her. This time you are right. As for me, even getting to the Mall of America would be an event of such magnitude that by the time I got there it would be torn down. If you and Jay think I am going to divulge my age well, uh uh not me. Someone would probably say geez, she older than my grandma. We Steeler fans would not take kindly to that. So all is safe. I can just see your daughter’s face at that Mall remark. I have said some off the wall things to my sons and grandchildren that have drawn groans and “there she goes again” or “o god mom”. Isn’t it great.
I still have two visitors, but they continue to play together so I am hoping they will go back to where they came from. Two adult cats being friendly, leads me to believe they are from one of the farms up over the hill. I really hope so.
Steeler, for some reason, has been slightly on the cuddly side this evening. Not cuddle close, just staying very close to me with a lot of purring. I think she is trying to tell me, we don’t need any more cats here. I’m here for you. She has been prowling the house all day looking for those cats. I hope she has tired herself out. I really don’t want to start my day before dawn again today.
Jay you would fit right in at the Strip District and I have a feeling Harry would also. With Harry and his travels, if ever he had business in Pgh. his associates would probably take him to the Strip for a great dinner. Usually associates start with downtown Pgh. to impress, then next night to the Strip for a great evening.
My 17 year old daughter: Who are all these Facebook friends?
Me: Oh, they’re people I’ve met through the Tortie blog.
Daughter: You specifically told me not to friend anyone I didn’t personally know.
Me: They’re safe. Some of these people are grandparents.
Daughter: You don’t really know that for sure, remember? They could be 50 year old men.
Me: It’s ok, I’m not going to meet any of them at the Mall of America for sex.
Daughter: EEwwww…
Harry – loved it
Did you tell her that we’re safe – but our Torties definitely are not?
By the way – I am 54 and I am waiting for Bernie and Bernadette to set me up at that Strip club near our our bridge.
Harry, just a thought, how did it make you feel when your daughter said they could be 50 year old men. Did you think about where she thinks her dad is on that totem pole?
I’m 52, Jay, and she was parroting my own line back at me. My thought being, if she realized someone she was IM’ing was her father’s age, it would really scare her.
Harry and Jay, as for the age thing you guys have going, I am wondering if you are bragging now.
My oldest son is 52 and my youngest is 45. Now have you two kids figured out who might be on the top of the totem pole here. Yes that is the crazy old lady in her pi’s caught by her own security system and SP out in the white snow in the middle of the night looking for a white cat. Even writing this makes me a candidate for further study.
Guys, if I thought I was IM’ing with someone my father’s age, I would be really scared!!!!!
I’m laughing so hard my sides are hurting. Best comment ever! So did Rachel friend me on Facebook to make sure I wasn’t really a 50-year-old man in disguise 🙂 ?
Actually, she’s met you in real life and has an autographed book, so I guess she figured you were safe!
Kasey’s tortitude;
The other night, she was alseep in her heated bed.
Toby, the sliky terrier saw deer in the backyard through the sunroom windows and ran to the wind barking quite loudly.
The other two cats scattered.
Kasey just looked up from the bed, no fear, no concern, just an evil glare, the tone was;
– Who dares to disrupt the evening with that ridiculous and unecessary noise.
– I had better go out an take down whatever it is outside.
– Then when I’m done, I’m coming back in for YOU!
He quitened down, she eventually settled down and all was well again.
Kasey continues to do well as far as healing from her surgery, less than 2 days for the stitches to come out, now.
Glen it is so good to hear Kasey is almost her old self again. The Silky better watch her step. Kasey will eventually give her that snarl that will send her to the other end of the house. Friday is almost here and I know you will be glad to see those stitches come out. Kasey may on the other hand, so darn, and I was getting so much extra attention, soon it will all be the same. But this is real good news. Let us know how Friday goes.
PS: Better put the Silky in another room on Friday PM.
Glen, so glad Kasey is starting to be her old self.
And I think when Toby saw Kasey take down that deer and drag it inside he would think twice about ever barking in the same room with her ever again.
And now less than 2 days for the vet’s A-OK
Kasey’s stitches still look good.
We’ll be leaving at 9:00AM, tomorrow to go to the vet, who isn’t very far away.
This will be good to have done.
Well Tortie friends, today Steeler is in a mood. She is wound up about something. Waking me up very early and then yakking and muttering around for what I could not see. Finally I though ok so let me check out the area and see what has her all wound up. Well I looked out the back window and lo and behold on the backporch was not 1 but 2 cats. A very dark cat with very dark stripes (not a Tortie) and a large orange cat, and strangely enough they were playing on the porch. The dark cat was rolling on its back playfully and the orange cat was watching. Now I know what Steeler was all wound up about. There is food there so I knew they could eat. These were both full grown cats. I keep a carton with a blanket under the swing, out of the weather and wind for the stray cats to sleep in, so I know they are ok.
Steeler is still wound up and it is not almost 5PM. The cats are sleeping in the carton on the blanket. It may be a long night here.
Time to find another home or two… you did pretty well last time! Any updates on Snowflake?
Harry cats are coming faster than I can react. It’s after Christmas and the vet is a family friend (although I don’t use him for Steeler) had earlier said people get rid of their pets around holidays and summer vacation time. He has heard stories of new carpet, no one to care for them while out of town, (don’t want to use kennels) so here we are. I am feeding two adult cats and Steeler is waking me up during “cat” hours.
I speak often to Snowflakes folks. She adapted as tho she had always been there. Sandra said after spending all those hours with me trying to catch her (with no success), she and Dennis have no problems with Flakes (short now for snowflake.) If anyone had to have her beside me, I am glad it was someone I know. Snowflake has a gorgeous new home with all the amenities. She is an inside only cat and was vetted right away including spaying. Now wears a red collar. I have not visited only talked.
I am going to let these two new cats alone for now, they seem to be bonded. Oddly they both appeared today at the same time, so I am assuming they were owned by the same person.
I am hoping they have a home nearby and just wandered away. There are farms nearby and I am hoping these are a couple of their barn cats.
Bernie, I just got home at 11:50 and it was starting to flurry.
Glad Flakes is doing so well. I can’t believe any type of animal lover would drop of there animals on a holiday (or any other day)
Like you I am feeding 2 outside cats. A Black and White one was there at 7 am when I went out to add dry food. He rolled over for a belly rub.
The orange one would shw up between 8:45 and 9:15 every day. But now that the roofers are here at 9 I have not seen him.
But like Steeler. Stirfry said “Don’t you dare”
Jay Stirfry and Steeler could scare even us. I think Tortie owners should make up a sign for the entrance to their homes, instead of saying “Beware of Dog”, it should read “Beware of Tortie”. Only a few people might know what that means others would really think twice.
What say you folks.
I don’t think Steeler wanted to go out and play.
She was being teased and wanted to show what the consequences of that are.
Steeler’s behavior did not project a playful demeanor. When I say wound up, I mean snarling and tail twitching and prowling from one door to another and back at me to try to get me to do something. I hope she sleeps tonight.
They still haven’t delivered my propane yet but I found a way around it.
I had changed from electric to a gas water heater about 6 years ago.
Just changed back to a hybrid GE water heater 2 weeks ago and just turned off the gas line in the utility room.
When the local gas company told me they might not get here today I went to the local Ace store and bought a regulator w hose and an 1/2 compression to 3/8 compression fitting and just hooked up my 20 lb gas grill tank.
I turned off my 500 lb outside tank so the gas will only flow from the 20 lb tank to my gas fireplace.
This should be enough gas for a few days on low.
Got to keep the cats warm or they get upset and I don’t want to see Stir upset.
Jay I hope you get your gas delivery soon. The weather is going to be very cold again. I did log back on last evening. Couldn’t sleep so I decided to see what the Tortie folks had been up to.
I have a 1000 gal cylinder. It will need filled again in Feb., but I have a 100# standby cylinder on hand.
I never reallly ran out before.
I have a few 20 lb tanks but like you, should have a 100 lb backup.
I don’t ouw the big tank so have to get the propane from them instead of shopping around.
My shelter gave me an address to check out available cats
petango.com
They had some articles on cat info
http://community.petango.com/petango74140/blog/2011/01/04/guidelines_for_cats:_part_1
http://community.petango.com/petango74140/blog/2011/01/05/guidelines_for_cats:_part_2
It’s going to be a Three Cat Night.
My propane ran out at 3 pm.
Got 2 ceramic heaters on now.
2 cats in bed now and Stir might join us.
Wow a bad time to run out of propane. I use it also. Cost has skyrocketed. Bring in the other critters to keep you warm.
Hey, thought you went to bed.
The goat would eat the blankets and the horse and donkey would overflow the litterbox.
Stir slept on the computer chair – just so happened that the electric heater was pointed towards it. Tabby and Punky slept with me.
Two Cat Night.
Have fun folks. Time for me to get some rest. It’s been a long day. Goodnight
So, it’s 10 p.m. and I’m finally assembling the last and critical piece of the document which will go to the client, and I see that the translation of their own document in German I requested in December, which arrived yesterday – is a translation of the wrong document. And I could have been playing on here all evening. Oh well.
Brooke and Sabrina… what a day. Brooke’s normal morning routine is to eat, and then, as a lion who has just taken down and consumed a gazelle, sleep it off. This was not to be a normal morning. As I’m finishing my 4th cup of coffee, Brooke strolls into the kitchen, and curls up on my lap, purring and demanding her head be rubbed. Lap is a once a month occurance for her. Then, as the time approaches for Pamela, the behaviorist, she leaves my lap, and sits in the middle of the table, facing the door, expectantly. My wife shook her head and said, “she knows. Somehow, she knows.” Pamela comes in, and Brooke headbutts her, and purrs. I said, “this is a fake job. I bet she’s going to be perfectly well behaved, and I swear this is an act.”
We spent about an hour and a half with Brooke and Sabrina, and I actually learned a great deal, and we have some new things to try. Interestingly, the problem now is not Brooke, it’s Sabrina. You may recall that I said we had reached the point where Brooke largely ignored Sabrina in the same room (until the slashing incident). Brooke did that again today, and Pamela critically watched her body language – ears, tail – and said that Brooke is actually in a friendly posture, but then Sabrina growls at her, and adopts a defensive posture, hunched up, and Brooke then gets agitated and approches her. But even then, ears up, tail up, and her paw raised to deliver a smack is more a warning – don’t mess with me – than it is an attack.
So, what to do – we had been using calming collars (Feliway) but only during meetings – they are now to stay on 24/7. We will do less distraction of Brooke when they’re together (initially our play and distraction was to get them to have periods of time together where each was busy, and no aggression occured – we’ve been able to do that) only interviening if there will be actual physical contact – keeping on top of them with a sprayer. The idea is that we will give them more room to work out Sabrina’s position. When Sabrina growls, she gets a time out in the laundry room – that worked today, when she meowed to come back in , she was no longer growlly. The idea there is she wants to be with us, and she learns that growling gets her removed. We will also begin feeding them together – positive retraining that the othe cat means good things. We had been doing that by feeding over the top treats – tuna flakes – when they were together, and that did help, but now we’re going to make all meals communal. (I don’t think we’ll start that quite yet – we need another week or so to transition Sabrina completely onto the grain-free that the other cats are eating, she was the most resistant and is still getting her food mixed.) Finally, if the growling and hostility continues, Sabrina goes on Buspar, and Brooke on Prozac 😉
Wish us luck…
Harry, if you read back aways I mentioned that Brooke may be the innocent and Sabrina the instigator. Sounds like I just qualified as a Tortie behaviorist. Sadly Brooke has been separated because (as in football, the first blow is usually missed by the official and the retaliation blow is the one getting the penalty). I would be putting a guilt trip on you for blaming Brooke all this time, but, oh well I will anyway, you need to give her an extra lot of TLC. She really isn’t the guilty party , but the victim.
I have a question, knowing Ambrosia is Brooke’s mom, should you have her also. Don’t jump out of your chair, just me thinking out loud.
The website is very well set up. It does lean toward the dogs, but then, they too need help.
Still looking for the bridge for you and Jay. Didn’t decide today which is the best for you guys.
Bernie, I meant to credit you with that observation, but got bogged down in the details. Originally, Brooke *was* the issue, but clearly we were effective in toning her down to the point where this could have worked – if not for Sabrina’s ‘tude. Sometimes it takes someone from the outside to observe what is going on, for you to see it. I think we were too busy just trying to keep the blood off the floor to really read their language.
First Cesar The Dog Whisperer nor Bernie Tortie Whisperer.
Jay, I couldn’t fall asleep so I came back online to see what you folks are up to. I kinda like the title Bernie Tortie Whisperer, beats the crazy old lady in her pj’s out in the middle of the night looking for a white cat in the whit snow.
I thing raising 3 boys taught me that the one that was blamed was usually the one that got the best of the one that started the ruckus. Just applied it to Sabrina and Brooke.
You tho, are a care all by yourself. Although, taking care of 3 cats and other critters gives you a real human touch. So when you and Harry take up residence under the bridge we will be sure to send you guys cat food and Wild Turkey for Harry, and Cabo Wabo for you. I may even try to influence the freight trains not to run from 11 to 8, just for you guys.
Sabrina on Buxpar, Brooke on Prozac and Harry on Jack Daniels.
Wild Turkey, the 101 proof stuff. Jack is for folks who live under a railroad tressle.
Harry, Turkey ok. But don’t tell GW Bush, Jack Daniels is for folks who live under a railroad tressle.
I am not be political here, just remember the quote from his wife’s book on an ultimatum. However, aren’t you and Jay going to live under a bridge in the near future?
Make that Tequila for me. Cabo Wabo to be exact.
Keeps those train noises from waking me.
I’m going to be really intersted to hear about the Feliway collars. Some of my clients have had great results with the plug ins, but have not heard much about the collars.
I hope it doesn’t come to drugs for the kitties, but it’s a logical next step after everything else you’re trying, and the results can be pretty amazing. My cat vet prefers Valium to Prozac for these types of situations, she’s had more success with that. In the almost thirty years she’s practiced, she’s only had one situation where cats just couldn’t get along after behavior and/or drug therapy, and the culprit was, surprisingly, not a tortie, but, maybe not so surprisingly, a calico.
I thought the collars were smoke and mirrors, but was desperate enough to try them. I absolutely noticed a difference in behavior when the cats had them on, though, and I don’t think it was me projecting. We had only been putting them on when the cats were together, though, as a lot of the comments I read complained about skin reactions. Pamela wanted us to keep them on So, we’ll monitor necks. Brooke, of course, has already pulled hers off, and runs whenever she sees me coming… As for medication, it wouldn’t be permanent, most likely, and at this point, I’m game for most anything. We’d initially tried Atavan on Brooke, but it made her loopy. Still aggressive, but loopy. The thought on Prozac for her was that it would make her less anxious, and Buspar for Sabrina, less fearful. Pamela thought our biggest problem was Sabrina’s fear, manifested by defensive posture and growling, which prompted Brooke to want to be aggressive.
Full report on Brooke, Sabrina and the Behaviorist to follow this evening. Right now, a client has a bug about something that absolutely, positively has to be done today. Pesky day job.
Re the website – the rescue is heavy on the dogs, and I try to do my part to keep the cats in fair representation. I’m sure the board is very tired of me always chirping, “and the cats! The cats!” I just registered a complaint that they forgot in the changeover to keep the url http://www.lostdogANDCATrescue.org active…
Makes me wonder if behaviorists need special “tortie” training. Something makes me think our torties will defy whatever anyone thinks they know about cat behavior.
And that sounds like me at the rescue, chirping, “and the cats! The cats!” =)
When I worked with a behaviorist for Allegra earlier this year, as soon as I described her to her on the phone as an “8-month-old tortie” she said, with a knowing tone in her voice: “ah, a tortie!” I also thought I detected a certain level of trepidation….. 🙂 I think feline behaviorists are well aware that their job just got more challenging when they take on a client with a tortie.
They do have a reputation. The first time several years ago I had the senior girls’ exams all at the same time, it was Cookie and Kelly, torties, and Peaches, dilute calico, the infamous Tri-color Trio. My veterinarian and her assistant said, “Oh, no, tri-colors,” and got out these huge leather gloves, I mean, they were bigger than Peaches. They’d never done this since my white cat, Sally, about ten years previous. I laughed because Kelly gave them frightened looks, Cookie glared at them and Peaches wiggled to get away, but not a tooth or claw was bared. I guess it’s best to be safe.
I think Brooke or Steeler would have shredded those gloves in an instant.
Then went out for breakfast.
I don’t usually get to see much of Brooke interacting with the vet. Generally, we say hello, they try to take her temperature, and the rest of the exam goes on in “the back.” I don’t know what happpens in “the back” but Brooke usually comes out with her nails clipped, shots administered, and everyone breathing fairly rapidly. And I don’t mean Brooke.
My bad tri-color in this was Fawn, the torbie who, as we reviewed her discharge papers when she was spayed, had “CRFL” at the top of her chart, really big and circled in red. I asked what that meant and the vet and techs looked embarrassed–“oops, you weren’t supposed to see that.” I figured out what it meant, though Fawn was purring around and rubbing on me and acting generally sweet, but I guess she tried to rip the arms off anyone who walked past her cage. She only loved me in the whole world and was generally disagreeable to anyone else. She was the daughter of a wanton momcat who was lucky I took her in, the last one born, the “runt”, and born into a house that already had five cats. Fawn emerged and said, “You can get rid of all these others now, you have me.”
CRFL = Count Really good Fingers and Legs when done.
Behaviorists know a lot about “normal” cats.
As Ingrid said – Torties are anything but normal.
Jay, Brooke, Steeler and Stirfry would have ignored the gloves, they are to smart for that. They would have just gone for the jugular. They don’t mess around.
The Behaviorist working with Torties needs special training. Normal behavior is not in Tortie definitions. There are many definitions I could use for Steeler and nowhere would normal be one of them.
How about changing it from Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation to Lost Cat & Dog Rescue Foundation at http://www.lostcatanddogrescue.org
Then we would have more cat pics.
Harry, by the way as I was looking at the site,I noticed Clarice. The vet staff referred to her a cuddly. She looks like a cat someone would really want. Who bobbed her tail? Do you know or was it abuse that caused it to be bobbed off. Just looking at her body structure, she has that Tortie muscle build. I hope someone takes her.
No idea about the bobtail, nothing in her record. We see a fair number of bobs – some due to old injuries, others birth defects. There is a lot of abuse out there. One of my favorite torties from last year had to have surgery to get pellets removed from under her skin. Clarice will find a home – they all do, eventually. And our Coordinator for the adoption center where she is is a huge tortie fan – she has THREE.
Have to ask if Brooke woke up grumpy – or if she let Harry sleep in 🙂
I too want to know how things went in the behaviorist session.
Progress I hope.
Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation just completed a major overhaul of our website:
http://lostdogrescue.org/
On the homepage, there are some scrolling photos – the one of the beautiful longhaired tortie is Ambrosia, a semi feral who has lived in our cat house at the LDCRF ranch for the last 6 years. She’s much friendlier than she used to be, and could probably even be adoptable at this point, but they love her at the ranch a bit too much to let her go.
Ambrosia – is Brooke’s mother.
Harry, – love the web site
Had to stop at Ambrosia’s picture.
Brooke looks a lot like her.
Is Brooke a short hair or long hair like her mom?
Jay, Brooke is a short hair, so was her sister. Only mom is long. But they have the same face.
Wow – nice design! Much nicer than the old version – visually beautiful, and easier to navigate. And Ambrosia is stunning – that’s a fantastic photo.
How did it go with the behaviorist this morning, Harry?
The website is very nice–a little heavy on the dogs, not that they’re not beautiful too, but Ambrosia really brightens things up. I think your designer learned the lesson about building a site that suits the customer instead of one that’s really cool and has lots of doo-dads.
Ambrosia is gorgeous! Wow…those green eyes are amazing.
Interesting what Bernadette said about dog-heavy…the rescue I work for adopts out more cats than dogs but it always seems we have far more photos on FB, videos, etc of the dogs than the cats. Not sure why. I always (as a lover of all animals but with strong cat preferences) suspect some sort of speciesism going on! It may just be that the dogs are out and about more…they get taken on hikes and stuff — good photo ops. I’m sure the cats would like to go on hikes in the woods, too, but that’s just not how things get done…
Originally, it was Lost Dog Rescue. We often call it “Lost Dog & Cats as an Afterthought Rescue Foundation.” I love dogs, grew up with them, and someday when I don’t have six cats, I’d like to have a dog again. If they allow one in the nursing home. I think that the rescue views it as Cats: 10% of the adoptions, 90% of the headache. I guess I’m just glad they humor us. I should have Brooke speak to them…
One “word” from Brooke would make them change their mind.
Panther snarl anyone….
Hey you guys keep the fort running tonight. I am a little under the weather and have to be in Pgh early AM. Will check to see what mischief you all get into when I get home tomorrow. Goodnight folks.
G’nite Bernie
Get plenty of rest
I hear the flu/cold/winter blahs is running around
I don’t think you need me here tonight – I’d say you’re all doing quite fine on your own :0
As for the fleas, my secretary, reading the earlier exchange (she fosters for the rescue, too) said she’d drop by once a month with Frontline. I was unclear whether that was for Brooke and Stirfry, or Jay and me. Maybe all of us.
I also have to head to the sack – the behaviorist comes by early tomorrow, and I need to squeeze in a couple of cups of that coffee before she arrives – bad enough Brooke and Sabrina will be grumpy, I don’t need to add to it.
I just posted photos of Brooke, Sabrina and May (our torbie) on the Conscious Cat’s Facebook page. Just so you can put faces to the names.
Frontline you me and you Harry.Don’t think a flea would stand a chance with Brooke and Stir. Die of fright.
Glad ya stopped by and I’m going to the CC page now to see those pics.
Nite
Probably going to watch Jay Leno monologue then hit the sack myself.
Jay no self respecting flea would get on Brooke or Stirfry. But you and Harry would need the Frontline after a night out under the bridge with the local clients.
Hey, guys, if Bernie’s going to find you a bridge when she comes to Pittsburgh tomorrow, she has 143 to choose from–you can have your own, and maybe we’ll have “Roberto Clemente Bridge”, “Andy Warhol Bridge”, “Rachel Carson Bridge”, “Brooke and Stirfry Bridge”–of course, that one’s a railroad overpass, but that shouldn’t scare any torties, and it’s right by the Convention Center, convenient for leftovers.
Brooke and Stirfry Bridge” I like the sound of that.
No separate bridges – I’ll stick with Harry.
The railroad bridge work scare the torties.
I had people on the roof (and with a dme it’s all roof) hammering.
Tabby and Pumpkin disappeared but Stir stayed on my lap.
Bernadett back from Pgh tonight. There is a nice railroad tressel overhead bridge just south of the strip district on Penn. Clean, dry and well lit. Good cover and close to the happening in the strip.
Next time in Pgh will check it out a little closer.
I read Jay says he got us mixed up and referred to you as me. That’s ok. I give Jay a wide berth, he’s a good guy, and don’t forget he has Stirfry by his side.
That’s the one! I think there’s enough room to allow a wide berth for the girls and still have some living space.
I don’t mind the mixup. I’ve done much worse in the name of stray cats than sneak around my own backyard in my jammies.
Way to go. We just found Jay and Harry a good second home.
HEY !!!!!!!!!!
WHO BROUGHT FLEAS ?????????
Yes, they will connect her to the wandering-around-in-the-middle-of-the-night-alarm-searching-for-Snowflake incident, no doubt.
I think you could use Stirfry as a weapon to scare money and food out of people. (As you said, that left hook is a mean one.) Leave Brooke and Harry to guard the bridge.
We are not responsible for the fleas. Emma is impeccably clean.
“Brooke Harry w 5 cats / Me with 2 cats Stirfry” …showed up in my email as a diagram so I get exactly what you meant. Glad coffee didn’t shoot out my nose.
Jay, your roommates will accommodate you with that one. I will be in Pgh tomorrow. If you want I will try to find you accommodations close to the strip district. They would probably make donations to you and Harry just to get you to take the pretty Torties to another part of town.
The”Strip” district sounds like my part of town….
I thnk if they saw Brooke and Stirfry the donations would really pile up.
We could threaten to leave to leave them there for a few minutes. That would really empty their pockets.
Makes ya wonder what part of town Torties would be accepted.
Talk about “the other side of the tracks”.
One bad ass neighborhood.
Jay, the strip district is the happening part of town. Especially on weekends. The Torties would fit right in and you two. Stirfry and Brooke would stop the shots, and you could do target practice while Harry went for cover.
Sure, then you can join me when I’m at the Artisan Market in the Strip along with several other artists who also make cat-, pet- and animal-themed stuff–there are more of us all the time, sharing stories, and it’s a crowd who’d hardly fear a tortie though if the two of you derelicts appeared with your girls you’d be sure to get love donations for them.
And Emma does come 1st
Can never trust someone else to feed the kids right.
Thanks Bernie
The cops won’t keep you as your record on file will have them scared to arrest you.
Your right about that. They would just say oh this is the mental case. We better find a way home for her!!
As far as I know it is a no-kill shelter. They also work with PAWS.
I love looking at all those cats and it breaks my heart to have to walk away. The kittens and cats that run to the front but worse are the ones that look up then look away like the have lost all hope. 🙁
If I hit that lottery tonight I’ll be making sure that they would all be paid for so an adoption would just require love.
Stopped tonite at locaal shelter.
Donated 1 big bag of cat food, a pillow, an assortment bag of 8 cat toys and a dog bone.
I looked at all those cats, fell in love numerous times but had to walk away.
And Amber – I did ask about a male tortie – none there today.
I cannot go into the shelters. Any business I have to transact there is done in the parking lot or the lobby. You’re a strong man, Jay – I have to work with a no-kill rescue, because otherwise I’d be the crazy cat man. I’m six cats on the way, as it is.
Yeaaaaaah!!!!!!!
Long time no tort, Torters!
Ok, as my absence would suggst, I adopted a new 4-legged child!
No Name Mabaline joined the petting zoo on Dec. 14th. She was roughly 3 mo old & returned to the shelter bc the prev owner was allergic.
She is GORGEOUS!
She is tabby, striped black and grey & I SAY/SEE/THINK calcico or dilute tortie. Ok, yes, maybe I’m trying to see somthing that’s not there, but I SWEAR I see some orange, def white blotches. The vet sees part bengal too. Again, she’s buuu tiful. If I was tech savvy, I’d post a pic or link, but I’m not…
Edie Kidie…Edie is a champ,she really is. She has taken her lil sis in stride. I’m truly proud of her bc she was throwing right hooks, left jabs & spitting hissy fits quite a bit & now they’re romping around like old pals. I really feared it’d be civil rights protests each min but the dogs like/are intrigued by Nona, & Edie no longer is in my face 24/7. She howls/sings & Nona will go running to her. They hang off the cat tree together, Edie eats kitten’s food, & they tear thru the house at warp speed, knocking over mom’s nice things. I could careless about the wreckage! I’m ecstatic they’re playing!!! My master plan has come to fruitiion…muhahahah.
I digress. Although I havent posted, I’ve kept up (for the most part) on Ingrid’s Blog of Torty Tort Torters (read: us). Missed y’all and glad to read all the Stirfrys, Steelers, and alike are keeping you in check.
Em
ps. Last night I was working on a scrapbook for Nona. Edie planted her fat furry bum on top of each page & let me know even though she likes new playmate, she does NOT condone new kittens now or in the future. Point taken Edie, yeesh!
Hiya Em – missed you, love the name Nona and the fact that Edie Kidie has taken to her so quickly.
You have to write more often and hope ya get someone to help you post pics.
Really love to see those 2 cats.
I am starting a folder with name of the cats and the people they own on my PC.
I have Bernie and Steeler, Glen and Kasey, Amber and Stickers, Harry and Brooke, Ingrid and Allegra, Norka and Kisinja, Shannah and Emma and Rob and Jessie. And am going thru FB and CC to get more. It helps to put a face to the cats I hear so much about.
Jay, I love it – a spreadsheet to keep all the torties straight!
Ingrid, I thought maybe you had that. Trying to keep the names of the torties and their Moms and Dads straight must be really tough for you.
But with your FB page I now get to put a picture to all those names.
And I did not know how alike all those Torties look.
In a room Stirfry, Steeler, Nugget,Kisina and Allegra look so much alike I would get confused.
And that would probably be an action filled room.
That’s awesome, Jay! I, too, will send donuts and cat food to you under the bridge from myself and Emma (mutant among mutants, ha!) …
obsidian kitten when you send the donuts and cat food, don’t forget Harry will be with Jay, and they will need coffee. That is my offer also. They missed the key word, we both said we would SEND no bring to them under the bridge. That would be one to see.
Yes…I’m *sending* not *bringing*. I can’t afford to get arrested for delivering coffee and kitty treats to derelicts, er, I mean, gentlemen with their cats living under some underpass. Who would wait on Emma while I was in the pokey? My spouse doesn’t know how to clean out her bowl properly, and never mashes up the canned food with a fork the way she likes it.
You see it my way. Prioritize first Emma needs you at home and I don’t want to get fleas under the bridge, either.
Congratulations on your new baby, Em! I love that she and Edie are already playing.
Kitten, I laughed so hard I scared Stirfry off my lap…
Derelicts is right 🙂
And we will need lots of catfood.
It will have to be a big bridge.
Brooke Harry w 5 cats / Me with 2 cats Stirfry
Got to keep those Torties separated.
Jay doesn’t ask for much. He and Harry would end up with the local inhabitants and get donations from the homeless. They would have the ability to do that. Of course once the other inhabitants of the underpass seen Stirfry and Brooke, they would pay Jay and Harry to find another underpass.
So your saying Harry and I are being supported by Brooke and Stirfry.
That will go to their heads.
Don’t think we would have to worry about being hassled. 2 guard Torties will scare anyone.
goodnight all. Bernie’s tired. Talk tomorrow.
G’nite
tightrope time 🙂
Bernie, thank you.
The Donuts are a nice touch but the coffee and cat food is a must.
If moneys tght just bring the cat food.
For the record I have enough guns and ammo to fight a war (that includes machine guns, silencers and explosive) that I know I won’t starve and no one will mess with me – now you know where Stirfry gets that ATTITUDE from.
Jay GOOD ONE! Let me know what bridge.
Headline in this morning’s Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Crazy Lady in Housecoat Arrested Delivering Coffee and Cat Food to Homeless Men and Torties Under West St. Bridge.
Harry, It was because I forgot the donuts!!!!
Jay, actually I was thinking, about now I know where you got your attitude from, STIRFRY, the boss.
Your right.
We compliment each other but – yes she is the boss.
As I write this Pumpkin is on my lap. Stirfry sleeping behind my chair on the floor and less than 3 feet away Tabatha is beside me on the floor.
Going to bed soon. Got to get up early tomorrow.
Bernie – I hope he made her work off that $100 and being an RN now I hope she has learned responsibility. I would think the fact that she has those 2 now that she has.
And I can see why he wants Steeler. She is such a Regal cat with personality to match.
Now my son Josh does not like Stirfry but he has only seen her at her worst about 8 years ago.
But he has her daughter ( a Calico) and him and my Ex love her so that’s all that matters.
Jay I think she taught him a lesson. He cried when he was driving to the Shelter afraid they would hurt the cats. He was quite the disciplinarian, especially with daddy’s only little girl. She called his bluff, as he taught her, I just watched and listened. I just posted a pic of Steeler on my FB page. I was able to set her hat on her, then she split.
I would thin your son, now that he is older, would really like Stirfry. He would no longer be little boy. My bet would be he would now want her. Children change. Boys especially. They grow into their own fast. I am sure he would love her (after a few scratches and bites that is.)
Bernie, it was not Stirfry that someone said I should give away but Tabatha.
But she was my first cat (adopted from Humane League) and she is the friendliest people cat.
And everyone does say a Tortie is a “Man’s cat” because of the attitude. She totally turned around my brother in law on cats.
But as I have found on here that independence and proud nature appeals to all. As we get to know them and submit to them they love us more than any other cat could. Stir is totally my favorite and she knows it.
And Steelers Wake up punch is a way of showing her love for you.
I would hate to be an intruder when those claws came out. Plastic surgery for sure.
Jay you really said that right. “As we get to know them and submit to them they love us more”. They have our number. I am sorry I read that post wrong. Just the thought of giving up Stirfry got my dander up (so to speak). A man’s cat, that is how my eldest son referred to Steeler. He is a cat lover. He has said he would take Steeler, I firmly advised him to try the humane shelters. Maybe he could find one there. I can surely see how cats like Steeler, Stirfry, Brooke, and Kasey could be thought of as a man’s cat, but then as men, women can tame them also. (Guys send ALL E-Mails to JAY).
Bernie, send your son this way – I’ll fix him up with a cat that’ll keep him in the basement cowering. We have a couple that are too mean to go on the website…
Harry, he and his wife have 3 cats now. It’s Steeler he wants. His wife not so much. A short tale of this son: He & wife work. Teenage daughter 2 cats. Dad raises cane over&over about litter box to daughter. His daughter finally has had it with all the heck she keeps getting and temperment overtook her and she took both cats to humane shelter. Dad & Mom come home from work. Where’s the cats? She told him. In the truck to the Shelter, paid to get them back, and then raised heck with her to never do that again. That is my eldest son who is a plant manager. Tough guy!!
Bernie – my heart sank when you said she took them to the shelter.
So glad then to read he then got them back.
I could never do that to any of my animals.
Find a good home if anything got that drastic but I can see myself living under a bridge with them before I had to give them up.
Jay that is a true story. He was so upset about her taking the 2 cats to the shelter, he wanted them back very badly. He paid $50/cat. He never wanted her to do that, just wanted her to take some responsibility for her cats. Today she is a RN and still has the 2 cats. Dad is still in love with the cats. I was trying to point out that even when someone acts tough against their cats, bottom line is, there was no way he was going let them go. He loves those cats.
Harry – you shouldn’t have said that. Now I want another cat.
Th meaner the cat the more they will love you when you befriend them and give them a reason to trust. I can put up with the bites and scratches.
But like Bernie I know that’s not a possibilty.
that’s me, Jay – in the homeless shelter with 6 cats. Or, if my daughter took them to the shelter, in jail on death row for murder, with 6 cats.
Harry and Jay, I can almost visualize two grown, tough men grabbing their cats and running like a thief in the night under a bridge in a cardboard carton. If ever you two pull that one, I will have coffee, donuts, and cat food delivered.
LSHACFOMY – laughing so hard a cat fell off my lap.
I’d rather have the e-mails from the girls. 🙂
Bernie – that would be great if your son adopted a shelter cat – if Tortie great but any cat to give a home to.
Let us know if he does.
Jay read previous post to Harry. Hold onto the cat. You never know what I might say.
I just did. It came thru as I was writing.
I can only type with 1 finger so am not too fast.
Hi Jen! So great that your girls get along so well. I love when cats hide and forget that their tail is sticking out. Cracks me up every time.
Jay…I’m really amazed that Stirfry sits on your lap. Then again, it’s perhaps a better position from which to abuse you. She’s quite a dominatrix, that one.
And Glen I’m so glad Kasey is doing so well! It must be that roasting pan you keep her in. =)
I finally got my photos organized so I posted a couple more pics of Emma on the Conscious Cat FB page. Don’t worry, I’m pretty much out of pictures of her now so no more kitteh spam in your near future.
But I like the kitteh spam.
And love those pictures of Emma. The fact that her colors are the opposite of most Torties mean she a mutant of mutants. Really unique.
And figured that bow would be toast in a few seconds.
Right now I have Stirfry on my lap and she sounds like a steam train ready to leave the station with all her hissing. Got smacked on the nose too.
That right paw is fast.
Jay, Steeler is under my chair right now, no holding for this girl, but her purr is so loud you can’t believe it is coming from her. When the purr stops, she seems to fall into a very deep sleep. Following you folks on here today as been fun. You and Glen and Jen have been very busy. Keep up the good work. Harry will be here before long. We seem to navigate to the site as soon as our days are over or nights as in your case.
Bernie, I’m always here, just often too busy to participate 😉
I’m trying to finish up a few things in the office and get home with enough time to give Sabrina and Brooke some together time. If you don’t hear from me again, you’ll know that the tortie and the stealth tortie did me in. Our behaviorist comes for a home visit on Wednesday and I’m hopeful she’ll have some suggestions that will promote some more progress – since Brooke slashed Sabrina a couple of weeks ago they have been together only once briefly, but have played on opposite sides of the french doors. I would settle for them ignoring each other like Steeler and Pumpkin.
Harry somehow I knew you were there. Like me I was watching these folks having a really nice afternoon. Have you had any personal sessions with a therapist yet? By the sounds of it Brooke is not in any hurry to change, not as long as she can rule the roost, so to speak. Separation is a really good idea. I feel for Sabrina, she sounds like one of the cats that is a lap cat up against a cheetah, a carnivorous cat who will have Sabrina for dinner or even you.
Sadly, the separation has been going on for a year. We had one several hour home visit from the behaviorist last spring, and constant email follow ups since. We thought we had made considerable progress, until the slashing incident. Part of the problem is, although Sabrina is all black, somewhere there is one orange hair. Sabrina’s unadulterated tortie, through and through. She will be on your lap and bite you w/no warning, she walks around chirping, and my wife describes her as a “brat.” We have two torties who alternate between trying to kill each other.. and being frightened of one another.
Harry, have you considered a nanny camera for the cats. Maybe Sabrina is an instigator. Your wife may be on to something by calling Sabrina a brat. She may be the sibling that starts the trouble and then everyone else gets the blame. Brooke may be giving payback, who knows. I will say one thing, Brooke is one of a kind. She seems to say “lock me out here, I don’t care, I will get to her and soon”. The therapist on Wednesday, tylenol on Wed. eve for you.
Steeler and Pumpkin were NOT ignoring each other.
Pumpkin knew were Steeler was at all times and made sure she was not there also.
And I too feel sorry for Sabrina.
I have the same problem with Tabatha and try to give attention to her even though Stirfry demands that all my praise should go to her. And I could never get rid of any of them.
And don’t know why she is such a lap cat. Had Pumpkin on my lap 30 minutes ago while she was sleeping in a kitchen chair but he left and within 5 minutes she was up here.
Jay you are a really good guy with your pets. Why would you even mention getting rid of the worlds’ most feared cat “Stirfry”. She is a one of a kind. I don’t know what a lapcat would be like. I call Steeler a 10 hold. That’s it. That is until bedtime then, she is right on her pillow next to me for the night. Even though she wakes me in many ways during the night and early AM. She has become the tightrope walking cat and I am the tightrope. When she decides she wants me to awaken she starts at my ankles and walks up to my head. Then I either waken or she gives me a left to the jaw. She is not making a habit of this. It is really sweet the gentle way she walks on me and when she gives me a left to the jaw, she does not extend her claws (which suits me just fine.)
As I mentioned before, my eldest son seems to be taken in by her. He thinks she should be a man’s cat. uhuh, when pigs fly.
Oh no, it sounded like things were going so well, Harry. Let us know what your behaviorists suggests.
Will do. They were able to warily occupy the same room when supervised, but we let our guard down, and either Sabrina ran toward Brooke, or Brooke attacked her – we didn’t see what happened – and Sabrina got her eye slashed. Fortunately, Brooke missed the cornea, just tore the skin around the edge, but there was blood and panic and a midnight call to my favorite foster who also does medical for us to find out what to do.
Tonight, they were on opposite sides of the French door, and I eventually opened it, but Brooke is afraid of her (and vice versa). Brooke wouldn’t come in the room. At least, no bloodshed.
Your right. As soon as I get home from work I check in to see what the latest news is.
This week off Mon – Tues – Wed and the work the next 4 days till 11:30
Hi Jen, nice to see that you have 2 torties and they get along so well after a few days of hissing.Were they adopted or rescued as ferals ? Do you have pictures ???
Cat’s always forget that tail is a giveaway.
I think Glen’s Kasey, Bernie’s Steeler and my Stirfry would never get along with each other as they the dominant can with no backdown in them. Small killing machines that have the attitude of a 150lb cat. Stir has been with Tabatha for 9 years and any closer that 5 feet guarantees a show of teeth on both sides. I don’t ever see them as being friends.
Glen, glad Kasey is doing so well. Can’t wait till those stitches are out and the Vet gives her a clean bill of health.
“I think Glen’s Kasey, Bernie’s Steeler and my Stirfry would never get along with each other as they the dominant can with no backdown in them. Small killing machines that have the attitude of a 150lb cat.”
A very accurate assumption, I think.
In regards to the tail, Kasey’s is rarely still. At least she is very friendly with people.
I have been following you Tortie friends here today. Jay let me help you a little on this one. I you put Glen’s Kasey, Harry’s Brooke, Jay’s Stirfry and Bernie’s Steeler in the same room, all dominate Torties, it would probably resemble something like an atomic explosion.
As for the tail, if Steeler’s is straight up and twitching on the tip, it is time to look out or it can be I already did it. Either way she has been into something.
Jen it is good to see you one here. I haven’t seen you before so HI.
Glen it is such a good report on Kasey. She has been a real trooper. How about you? Are you walking aroung talking to yourself yet? The nighttime serenades from Torties seem to be protocol. But I can talk back to Steeler by saying uuummm and she talks back, sometimes she uuummm’s back at me and other times it sounds like she is in a tunnel. But it is fun.
Well, I am back to work tomorrow, that will have me talking to myself for sure, things will get hectic, getting into the new year.
It will make the time until Sat. stitches removal seem to go faster.
If she continues to leave things alone, she’s in the home stretch, now. She is negotiating the stairs quite well, she likes to checkthe basement out.
Soon it will just be a matter of her growing the fur back where it was sheared off.
I totally forgot about Brooke.
Going by memory is not a good idea when ya get old.
Hope the neighbors don’t see you talking to Steeler. Those cops will back back along ith a new jacket for you.
A while ago Pumpkin jumped up like a kangaroo and landed on Stirfry.
She hissed and backed off 3 feet. Then she started grooming herself while he just looked around like nothing happened.
On a sad note I was driving to my Son’s earlier today. Had seen a dead skunk along the road (knew it by smell a week ago) but there was another black and white shape 60 feet down the road.
On the way back I stopped and saw a black cat with white chest was dead.
Not stiff but within a few hours.I moved him off the road so he would not get run over.What a shame.
I know probably a barn cat ( 3 Amish farms along that road) but still sad. I am so glad mine and those on here keep their friends inside.
I helped you out there buddy with Brooke. I know how sometimers can be. You are probably right about talking to Steeler, even my family are scratching their heads. You see this is new to them also, Mom never had a cat. Now I have one that talks, but they have each come around to respect. My one son told me this was a man’s cat bacause of the attitude. I just looked at him and he continued and said if she is to much for you, I will take her. You know my answer to that. Well I guess I will just have to try to play it safe with the odd behavior so I don’t receive any more visits from the State Police in the middle of the night.
Lucy and Lily were adopted from a shelter that was closing.
Good for you. Taking 2 is a huge responsibility. You must have a heart full of love.
Thank you for adopting those 2 kitties.
You have given them a wonderful home
Nor as loudly
Also on the talkative note Lily my more vocal girl is always purring. Lucy my other tortie purrs to but not nearly as much as Liliy.
I have read about tortie’s being vocal and that fits my two girls (Lucy and Lily) perfectly one especially named Lily she’s almost a year old and she is very vocal unless she is hiding I spent forever looking for her yesterday and finally found her on the kitchen chair which was pushed under the table and she was hiden by the table cloth it would have taken longer except that I saw her little tail hanging out from under the table.
Kasey’s will “sing” at night, sort of sounds like a rusty playground swing set.
It usually occurs between midnight and 6:00 AM
The odd time I have been awake and got up to see what is going on and she looks at me as if to say “what”. I am not sure what the signifignce of the behaviour is; she isn’t in distress, has food and water available, she knows where we are.
Maybe it’s a mating call. Can’t wait to see what show’s up at your back door. 🙂
I would hate to see what would have the courage to answer it.
It is definitely the Call Of The Wild.
Allegra wasn’t much of a talker until recently. Now she “chirps” and “sings” – they’re all happy sounds. I love it when she does it!
What’s the day without a Kasey update 😉
This is my last vacation day, back to work tomorrow.
Kasey is still doing well and the stitches are good, the area is healing well.
At least when I am back to work, someone will be home so she won’t be on her own.
The appointment to take the stiches out is 9:15, Sat. Jan. 8th…………………..not that I am counting the days, or anything.
Funny thing about Kasey’s form of tortitude, if she still went outside she would be pure poison to the local fauna, she is a guard cat with anything outside, she is the dominant cat and the other cats and the little terrier do not cross her, but, she likes people, I can do almost anything with her and actually behaves quite well at the vet (fortunately).
Checked out you pics. Nice gentle looking cat, but that is very deceiving. Emma is adorable.
Oh, nice paws!
Glen you aren’t hovering are you? Kasey is really going to miss you when you go to work. You will have to call her on the phone and have someone lay it down so she can hear you. Your devotion to her is nothing less than wonderful. You are definitely one of the good guy. So are you guys, Harry and Jay. Can’t show any preferences here. All of you good guys.
Of course, we gals, already know, as the Torties, that we are really good gals. We can even mimic the Torties at times, if necessary.
I’m so glad Kasey is doing well. Saturday will be here before you know it.
I’m never worried about either of my torties lashing out or becoming unpredictable as I have seen many other cats do. My two sweeties are very good tempered and not at all like the stereotypical torties with”tortitude”. They are two of the sweetest cats I have ever known.
Jen, your two definitely sound like the exception rather than the rule when it comes to torties. Amber and Buckley were like that, too. Everyone told me I was crazy to try and introduce two adult torties to each other, but it eventually worked out great.
My tortie was hissy towards my other tortie when we first got them. But it took only a couple of days and they got over it. Now they are so sweet playing together and chasing each other around.
Bernie, the drop dwn ear on both Stirfry and Pumpkin was caused by an ear infection.
When it first appeared in 2008 Punky’s ear swelled up like a cheese puff. I was super worried and took him to the Vet. He said it was a minor ear infection and he could surgically work on it and it would take a few weeks to heal and cost $$$ or I could give antibiotics and ear cream and the swelling would go down by itself. So within a week his ear deflated and drooped down. A year later His other ear did the same thing. Then it happed to Stir’s 1 ear.
Each time afterwards the ear stayed collapsed.
Now Punky is mistaken for a Scottish Fold (his price just went up) instead of being a son of a wild feral cat.
And even with Stirfry nature she will sometime just sniff Pumpkin instead of swatting and ever her hiss will be met with a turned back and a yawn from Pumpkin. But there must be a difference because with a hiss he will back off and run. Tabatha and Stirfry are oil and water. A hissing match and Tabby getting the hell out of her way.
Like your friend’s Tortie Pumpkin knew – you don’t mess with a wild Tortie. Just hide and hope she goes away.
Here I thought she had her ear down as a threat.
Just posted a few pics of Emma on my FB page. I’m Shannah Clarke on FB if you want to look us up!
In the cake photo (green catnip in the background) both ears were normal but both pulled back as she snarled.
When the tail lashes back and forth, ears goe back and the eyes narrow it’s a sign that she’s had enough so watch out. Even I won’t mess with her then.
By the way…here’s The Interwebz Tortie of the Day:
http://icanhascheezburger.com/2011/01/02/funny-pictures-cat-reading-paper/
I loved it
So I have another tortie coloration question/comment. If the orange/black is turned on and off randomly, you’d expect an overall distribution of these colors. But some cats, like Allegra and Stirfry, seem to have a lot more black than orange, while other torties, like Emma, are predominantly orange than black. So it’s obviously not a 50-50 random distribution. Plus, there are some areas that will be *entirely* one or the other color. Also, Emma’s orange areas are noticeably orange tabby (maybe for the same reason that other cats with tabby patches have areas that show tabby coloration?). So…I wonder what predisposes the tortie to be more black or more orange? And do your torties also show tabby in their orange areas?
Interestingly, Emma had one sister that was a light orange tabby girl, much like Harry’s Vicki (posted on FB).
Obsidian you are asking a question, way above my pay grade. Bernadette is the one who has the stats and the last time she went into them I walked around talking to myself. Steeler is predominatly black with a small blends of ginger /gold, hence her name after the pittsburgh Steelers football team ( my team). Harry also may be able to help.
It was a wonder that on New Year’s Day we didn’t crash Ingrid’s site. Or at least have a fireworks display !!!!!
First wandering the neighborhood in PJ’s and now walking around talking to yourself.
Definately gets the neighbors talking.
They will say Steeler takes after you now.
I think it’s more like I take after Steeler. I never did those things until Steeler came here. Something like Stirfry raring up her attitude really quick with you. The night of PJ prowl is now an incident with the State Police. So you got me there. Padded room, reservation.
I don’t know the answer to what causes the darker or more orange coloration. Genetics always makes my head spin! I do know that the darker torties are also called chocolate torties. That coloring is supposed to be more common in pedigreed cats. I don’t know about Stirfry, but Allegra is most definitely not a pedigree cat!
I can’t shed much light beyond personal observation. Cat genetics makes my head spin as well, and I’m supposed to be a scientist of sorts. Somewhere I recall reading that the orange in torties is always orange tabby – but I suppose you have to have a big enough patch of it to see the stripes. Brooke has a large patch of OT on her chest, with noticeable stripes. We had a tortie in the house for a short time many years ago, before she went to a permanent home, who was practically a black cat, with one quarter sized patch of orange flecks. Tortie temprement, though. Whenever we have a tortie mom in the rescue, the kittens typically are torties, orange tabbies, and black cats.
Stir was a feral so who knows her background.
That’s how I found this group by looking up her color thinking it was only common to one breed. Now I find any breed could have Torties and for the most part they are psycho.
And I love her even more because she is.
I actually can give an answer that may make sense–it’s in part the reason we have calico cats with clear patches of orange and black and white and torties where they are mixed and some ranges in between.
It has to do with the white markings, and the fact that the white is–get this–not really white, but a genetic mask that suppresses the color genetically assigned to those skin cells. You’ve seen cats of all colors who have the bi-color white that are often called tuxedo or snowshoe or they’re just all mixed up, but it’s always in a sort of pattern beginning on the belly and working its way up the sides and chest and down the legs, but you’ll also see cats who just have “lockets”, little white spots on their belly or chest or chin. If the tri-color cat gets the more dominant bi-color gene that gives it large areas of white, it usually has larger areas of orange and black also, an effect where the white maske influences the distribution of skin cells in groups. Most torties, though, only have small areas of white, often even hard to find, so the bi-color effect is less dominant and has less influence on the distribution. My former next door neighbor cat, though, had clear patches and speckles plus large white areas.
You’ll always see stripes in the orange areas, even in the little specks and sometimes in the contiguous black areas, because the red/orange coat is always tabby in this case. There are red cats who don’t have stripes such as Abyssinians and other breeds who have what’s called an “agouti” pattern, but that red is not the same red that is part of the tri-color distribution.
I’ve probably just confused everyone, but I didn’t want to just say it has to do with the white!
Ah! That makes more sense. The orange areas are definitely orange tabby. Very interesting! Emma doesn’t have any white at all although she is sort of sandy-coloured on her belly. Aside from a couple little black patches she mostly looks like someone sprayed a bit of black speckly stuff over a ginger tabby cat and then dipped its tail in the inkwell.
So it sounds like (if I understand right) that the colour still develops in patches as it would in a bi-colored cat, with patches of orange tabby, black, or cream/white. Just in some areas the “patches” may only be a hair or two, given the tortie its “cookie dough” look. Is that about right? Thanks so much for splaining me, Bernadette!
Btw, Emma was a rescue, orphaned and living under a dumpster with a ginger tabby sister (I know, unusual), a solid grey brother and an all-black brother. Fortunately all went to nice, warm indoor homes!
Oh, by the way I now get the idea of white as a masking agent. I didn’t really understand that before although I read it at the messybeast link. You explained very well!
Is the cream/sand colour on the tortie a part of the orange tabby (the lighter shade of the orange in the tabby) or is it a third colour? I was thinking it was their version of the white but now that I re-read your post I see that cream would definitely *not* be the absence of a colour.
I don’t know why this should interest me so much! I guess I’ve just always wondered why nature would come up with something like a tortie.
It’s funny, I had written the article for my customer because I had initially looked up the calico/tortie/orange/male/female issue out of interest and discovered that if you wanted to learn about one part of feline genetics, you had to learn all of it, so I did my best and I’m glad I still remember it after how hard it was to get it all straight!
There are so many things that influence the shades of fur with masking white being one of them and creating what looks like real colors, then all the tabby patterns it’s mind-boggling. That cream could be a masked red, or it could be a red tabby coat that has narrow or diffuse stripes because the color between the stripes is generally a creamy color.
Torties are mutants. Really–it’s a mutation that you get three genes for anything, so I tell my girls they are mutants. They ignore me.
Yes, the more white, the bigger the patches, the less white the more speckles, though Emma sounds opposite the usual, orange with black specks instead of the other way around. And an interchangeable tail. That’s what I’ve always said about my cats who had either ears or a tail that was solidly different from the rest of them, that they had another set somewhere else for when they wanted a change.
Orange girls aren’t as rare as they may seem. I took in a solid dark tabby mama kitty years ago, not a speck of white on her, all nice neat mackerel stripes breaking into spots on the belly as they should, and she gave birth in order to a solid black boy, a solid gray boy, a torbie girl and a dilute tortie girl. There was what appeared to be a partially developed kitten before the two girls, it certainly wasn’t anywhere near being developed but resembled the shape of a fetal kitten, and I always wondered if that had been a male tri-color as the genetics that produce them is often fatal in utero. Not a nice thought, but genetically interesting!
Interesting.
When Stirfry had kittens there were six.
Only 3 survived the night.
One was a Calico, the other a cute furry gray and the third an orange & white male (my Pumpkin)
Don’t remember the colors of the other 3 but I buried them up back under a tree.
wonder if one could have been a male tortie.
Am I mistaken or not. Doesn’t Pumpkin inherit the same looped down ear as Stirfry? But as you tell us Pumpking is the gentle one and Stir even will slap at her even tho it is her baby. They really do have an attitude.
I have so many claw marks on my arms, from Steeler pulling my sleeves when she doesn’t get instanteous attention that I look like a scratching post. Have to find a cream to heal the marks before they scar. But I still don’t want to declaw her. I have watched her use those claws to make a mitt and throw her duck and rats around. Not to mention the dead mouse she threw backward at me.
Bernie, yes, I did notice we reached 1000 comments on New Year’s. How cool is that! I think this might be a record for comments on one post in the blogosphere.
Hey Hey Power to the Torties!!!!
I know…that’s *crazy*! I keep thinking we’re going to break Ingrid’s lovely blog.
I’m hoping Ingrid will chime in here, as she knows far more about nutrition than I do. The Wellness Core we feed is 5.5 oz and 10% protein, and says that a 6-8 pound cat should eat a can a day. So that sounds like about the right amount for her, if she’s getting 7-8 ozs a day, if she’s 10 pounds or so. But my feeling generally is, if she’s waking up in the middle of the night hungry, she’s not getting enough protein.
Harry she is losing weight. She is more slender now, the bulging sides seem to be disappearing. She was on 9.9 lbs. at the vet. She was 2# overweight. Remember my stupid remark to the vet about “well gee 2# is not all that bad”). Of course then she put it in perspective and said that is 20% overweight. That sticks with me to this day. So I think we are there or close to it.
The EVO is one of the highest protein foods out there, and 7-8 ounces a day is more than enough for a 10 pound cat. The amounts to feed on the cans are usually higher than what a cat really needs – remember, they’re trying to sell cat food….
Bernie, you seem to be a night owl and don’t seem to go to bed until very late, based on the times that you post here sometimes. You might want to think about splitting Steeler’s dinner portion in half and giving her half at 9pm and the other half just before you go to bed. That might buy you some extra sleep in the morning.
I’ve found what often happens with these former strays (and Harry, you may have seen this, too) is that even once they get regular meals, they’ll still always act like they’re hungry, even when they’re physiologically not hungry. It’s almost like their systems don’t quite trust that their days of starvation or lack of regular food are over.
See, I told you Ingrid knew more about nutrition than I did. That is my experience, Ingrid – some former strays are never quite convinced that next meal will be there. And I think the key is that she’s losing weight, as she should – but that probably triggers the hording reflex. You’re absolutely right about splitting her meals – I should have thought of that. We tend to feed twice a day and pick up the bowls, based on advice that it’s healther for them not to graze, but when we had one who woke us up at night, we did split the nighttime feeding into two – I’d forgotten.
Definitely no grazing. I did the third, late night meal with Allegra when she first came to live with me and insisted that 4am was wake up and playtime. It worked like a charm. I was able to discontinue it after a couple of months, and now we’re down to two meals a day, and she lets me “sleep in” until about 5:30….
Ingrid you are right about my being a nightowl hence Steeler follows suit.
I will try the split meals and see how she reacts. Picking up her food is not problelem.
She only has the dry left down and she doesn’t really eat it. It can sit there for
a couple of days and she may eat a teaspoon or so.
Harry thanks for your advice, you were right on also. I think Steeler is like the
strays. She wakes me to eat because she’s afraid no food will be coming.
Ingrid, did you notice that this blog passed the 1000 posts mark on the 1st of the new Year.
My two torties act like they are starving but there is still food in their bowl.