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
Tonight before work I put Harley and Nutmeg in the barn.
Buell would not come down as it was icy.
I threw down salt but at 5:30 he was not down and I left for wook. Put some oats up there for him.
When I got home at 11:15 (got out early) he was at the barn door.
Glad for that.
Also my finger hurts. Was cleaning out Stirfry’s ear and got chomped.
http://www.annarbor.com/pets/dusty-the-criminal-klepto-kitty-steals-neighborhood-belongings-and-brings-them-home/
not a tortie but a klepto-kitty
I seen this video already. The first thing I thought was I wonder if Steeler knows her. Steeler steals from my nightstand. That kitty stole everything, the real definition of CAT BURGLAR!!!!!!
I saw this on “Must Love Cats” on Animal Planet and immediately thought of Steeler!
ingrid great minds think alike.
Steeler probably taught her.
Roof update:
Just got home from making a run to Lowes in Lebanon. Bought 6 2×6’s and joining plates.
The roofers took off my old skylight and found the rafters were rotted out. 2 x 6’s were just powder.
Only thing holding up was shingles, spray foam and drywall.
Gonna try to replace 1 piece at a time.
Standding on it 20 feet above my living room.
…And I’ve been standing up there for the last few years and never knew.
Wow, that is scary. Hope you have someone there to give you a hand. Were the roofers able to see any other supports? Hope that is all you have. Well you have a couple of nice work days coming up and they couldn’t come at a better time.
Jay, it’s a good thing it didn’t come down during this year’s or last year’s heavy snows. Stirfry would have tossed you back out the hole. I guess if you had to “discover” it, this was the best way. Don’t your roofers do this sort of thing, or do they just do roofs? Or do you not want them to–I remember you built the thing.
I am glad I have roofers who are experienced. They knew what to do.
I am a total kluth with a hammer.
My job in building is to hold the boards while my brother in law nailed them together.
Measure once – cut twice.
Luckily I had scaffolding for them to work on.
They covered up the hole with waterproof material and some rubber roofing I had.
Going to be cold tonite but at least the heat will stay in.
The roofers found ants (termites ??) with the wood and lots of rot.
Guess we’ll see tomorrow how bad things are when they get to another section.
Glad the weather is gonna be in the 50’s and then 60 on Friday. And no rain till maybe Friday nite.
Sounds like carpenter ants Jay. If that is the case, you have a big problem. Does any of your wood on your home go to the ground. Carpenter and Termites come in from the ground up and then go back into the ground.
I know a little about this.
What’s this about the kitchen? Not the room I had in mind.
Aren’t carpenter ant’s those big ones ?
These are real tiny ones.
I put some in an old film container ( kids today have no idea what that is) and will have them checked out. My sides do exten to the ground but these beams are 35 foot up.
Be glad you got the kitchen and visiting rights to the bathroom.
The bedroom is ok as long as Steeler gets to sleep next to you.
Jay carpenter ants can be big. Termites have small clear wings, very hard to see but check the wood for inside mud tunnels. IF you find a wood tunnel on your beam you have to treat for termites. See they live in the ground, but got up into the wood for their feed, then back down to the dampness of the ground. We had to deal with both of these miserable insects, when we decided to renovate this 200+year old home.
Gee thanks for the bathroom privileges. I guess that would be the one on the 2nd floor?
Stir is just telling you to keep your fingers out of her ears, she will clear them. Rubbing them and massaging is ok. But no cleaning that is her job. (I have already did that)
These ants are real tiny and no wings. Might be tunnels in the wood.
Be glad you have an inside bathroom. Too cold to go outside.
Ok Jay, and all Torties that are still awake, I will have to get to sleep. Have a long day tomorrow in Pgh. Still hoping Bernadette might write and ride shotgun.
Night all
Gnite Bernie, Punky says it’s time too
Stir’s on my lap ands doesn’t want to be disturbed.
Decisions Decisions …..
Bernie, I’d love to be able to get away and socialize with all my new friends and see Ingrid in person again, but there’s no way I can get away in February. Everyone needs to post photos and such!
Bernadette, we will really miss you but understand.
Lots of pictures will be taken.
At least we can all get in a photo where we know our Torties can’t.
I knew you had to keep working, but I would have been more than happy to have you ride shotgun with me. We will take pics. I thinks we are a picture taking group.
Bernie, I miss the chance to wear my cat ears in an understanding public. I’ll be envious when I see the photos.
Bernadette, I don’t really wear cat ears very well. Please don’t encourage this gang. I will definitely be thinking of you, and taking pics.
I have been known on occasion to don cat ears for a good cause. I believe there’s even a photo somewhere on my facebook. I don’t plan on putting them on Monday, however. But there will absolutely be photographs of the event. Bernadette, I so want to meet Cookie and Mewsette and Mimi and the rest… I may just have to find some reason to be in Pgh one of these days.
Bernie, be glad, I might have even decided to wear my tail. I might not get a ride home.
Harry, they will be waiting for you at the door, and will shove each other out of the way to get to you. Perhaps later this year I can arrange with one of our rescue groups or shelters here in Pittsburgh and coax Ingrid a little further north for another book signing. Then we can all party at Bernie’s place and meet Steeler.
Bernadette, I like the way you think. I can see that happening.
Harry, I saw that pic of yours on FB with the cat ears.
If that get even 1 cat a good home then it’s worth it.
I too would like to meet Bernadette’s cats along with Harry’s. Seeing all those cats get along even with Torties would be something I don’t get to see at home. And I know everyone would love to meet Steeler. If she would let us, as we know how those sports team mascots are. Have to make an appointment I guess.
Jay what is in you coffee? You aren’t suggesting putting 1 Tortie with Bernadette’s gentle kits are you? I would have to crate Steeler and she doesn’t like that. Stir, Brooke, Allegra, Steeler, with Bernadette’s mellow babies, except for mice, is Tortie Massacre.
I didn’t mean to meet them all together. That would be insane.
But I know how Harry’s cats deal with Brooke and Bernadette’s Cookie and Kelly seem to get alog with the others. Seems like Steeler, Kasey and Stir want nothing to do with other cats. Stir is stuck with Tabatha as she was my first rescue cat and Punky is her son so he stays.
I would so love to get another but I dare not.
There will definitely be lots of pictures, including a group shot of everyone. Bernie and Jay, I’m so excited that you’re coming. Bernadette, I wish you could join us, it would be so great to see you again, but I completely understand.
“Now some of those I wish she would use the horrible guttural sound she can make when she sees cats”
Yeah, like the noise Kasey made when something unidentified came to the low, front screened window last summer in the early morning.
We heard Kasey make a noise that was “not of this world”………….then she hit the screen trying to get at whatever it was. The unidentified critter took off, never to be seen. (We do keep those windows shut at night, now, in the summer when not using the A/C)
Yes, that time fending for herself + tortitude has resulted in her not liking other animals, she doesn’t seem to show fear, her first reaction is to attack without hesitation. It is odd, but good, that this trait is ballanced by being very social with people and liking attention.
Glen that horrible sound comes with other cats for Steeler. She goes ballistic. I wish she would do that with the other critters. You would think she, like Kasey, had to fend for herself for how long, I don’t know, but that she would have more of a killer instinct.
Strange but as Kasey, Steeler is sociable, to a degree and likes attention. She will even accept a little petting. But for the love of you life, do not try to pick her up. To this day I am still trying to teach her it is alright to be held. Like teaching a wall to walk. No holding her, but sleeping in bed on her side with me, well that is her “right”.
They really can be unpredictable. I don’t think Steeler has left me get an 8 hour sleep, for long time. She found out walking on me, anytime, will wake me, or she will give me a left to the jaw, and she succeeds in getting me to get up and give her water, food or just play time. Go figure.
I guess her next move will be to find a way to call an atty. to have the house transferred to her.
Why call the attorney?
She already has the house plus a servant.
A lawyer would just screw things up and cost way too much money.
Unless you find an honest lawyer.
But my sister says they don’t exist (and she’s a lawyer).
And that left to the jaw means she loves you. Claws aren’t out are they.
Jay the claws no longer come out on me. For a long time my arms looked liked scratching post.
Watch the Atty. Harry is one. He is going to see you next week.
You never know, about Torties power. With the stunts she pulls, I could be replaced as owner and a kindle of Torties could be the new owners. I wonder if they would get tax exempt status?
I know what ya mean Bernie.
I still get scratched and bit *comes with having a Tortie)
As too Harry, I know he’s an Attorney – that’s why I mentioned it 🙂
But so is my sister and I love her. She can’t help the fact than she’s part of an unhonorable profession.
I told he that I tell all my friends that she’s a Hooker.
I’m ashamed to say she’s a Lawyer.
She laughed and agreed with me. Then told all her co-workers. They laughed too.
Tax exempt status for Torties ?
Hmmm . I’m doing my taxes now. I’ll try that.
Ok on Harry. Now you know why Torties could own homes.. Cat exempt shelter??? Your sister must love you a lot. Although, the oldest profession in the world is the hookers. You might have something there.
Back in 96 when we had those bad snow storms I was in Hershey Medical in a coma for 3 weeks and intensive care for 5 My ex and Mom could not visit because the roads were that bad. My sister lived in Harrisburg about 15 minutes away. She came in every day to visit.
Gotta love that.
Cats don’t need attorneys to have the house transferred to them. They know they already own it. We just get to live there, too.
Ok I am out numbered. No attorney. But Geez, I would like to have a room..
You do.The kitchen where you get to open the fridge and pour Steeler her milk.
Don’t mess up or you’ll lose that one 🙂
Well just this moment a possum, really ugly critter, is at the glass at the front door. I awakened Steeler, who, of course was sleeping in her little red kitty bed, and took her to the front door for her to see. Well she sat there about a minute and, well you guessed it, she decided that thing was not worth her time. Back to the kitty bed, muttering. I don’t think she is happy I woke her up.
I am pretty sure Kasey would react in a very hostile manner, likely wanting to get at it throught the glass (not that it would be a good idea).
She is the “guard tortie” of the house.
I am sure possums are on the very long list of critters she doesn’t like 😉
Glen I thought Steeler would give that critter a fit, but nope. She just acted put upon for me waking her to see this critter. Kasey would have gone thru that glass I have no doubt. She spent a lot more time fending for herself than Steeler. A possum would be like killing a mouse for her. Steeler seems to get really upset when cats come around. Territorial I guess. Others dogs, raccoons, rabbits, birds, and groundhogs, she could care less. Now some of those I wish she would use the horrible guttural sound she can make when she sees cats.
A Tortie on Cat of the Day
And from Pittsburgh too
http://catoftheday.com/archive/2011/February/13.html
Jay this is really a good article. The Tortie looks like a cuddler. How does that happen?
Steeler looks like a cuddlier too.
Wgen she’s sleeping
Even sleeping you better watch out. This cat is not a cuddler. I have tried to pick her up to hold her when she is tired like that, but wow, the strength of her is more than I want to deal with. This girl will only be held if, and when she decides, and not before.
Well folks, went to get into bed last night, and there sat Steeler, proud as could be. She was sitting again where I had pulled back my covers, by the nightstand. Yes, she was looking for my glass of milk, it wasn’t there. I moved her to her side and she came right back over top of me to look again on the night table. I knew either I gave her a little nightcap, or she was not going to let me sleep. Back to the kitchen to her nightcap, she drank it, and we both went to sleep.
They say elephants don’t forget. Someone needs to change that one to Cats Never Forget.
Bernie, sound like your well trained now. Only took a few days. Not bad for over 30 🙂 🙂 🙂
Jay she really pulled that one fast. Careful ole boy about the over thirty- that bandana could be a coverup.
Never forget is better.
Bernadette, this is one Tortie that needs counseling as to who is in charge here. Sitting on my chest to get her way in the early AM is not the way a good kitty should behave. But I guess then, after she won me over and got a forever home she knew she hooked a good one.
She sure did. Smartest move she ever did.
I have no doubt she reviewed several other candidates in your neighborhood and decided you had the credentials to be a good tortie mom, then she set about convincing you. I know that rescue kitties really do choose their household if they have the chance at all, I just think it’s up for speculation just how much they get to know about us as individuals as part of their review. I think it’s quite a bit.
Ok Bernadette, now if I read you correctly, you are saying Kitties and full grown cats have a barometer for deciding whom why wish to live with. If that is the case, then our cats are political, and are possibly a part of the far right conspiracy theory.:)
Bernie, I meant job candidates, not political candidates, but I guess you can read it many ways! I think they’d probably be Independents like we’ve never seen Independents, but their main goal is to ensure they get a home with some poor sucker who will get out of bed and get a glass of milk for a kitty who just has to give her a look!
Well put that way Bernadette, I guess I will acquiesce to your knowledge. The part about a look for a sip of milk, well what can I say. She pleads so innocently or else she smacks.
Wrong.
Torties never forgive !!!!!
Boy is she lucky she found you.
Ah yes. Another human trained by a tortie. Life is good.
Taking over the world, one human at a time.
Right Jay. But watch out for Bernadette. She is on a hunt for mouse recipes for a party. I suggested, to be on the safe side, I would have the party, she could bring her Mulberry+cherry cordial, and I would have the caterers. Lots of land to roam and plenty of free parking.
Tortie family it is time for me to say Goodnight. Like Lianimal said old is over 30. Stay safe.
Lianimal, great to hear from you and find out the latest on Peaches and Monkey.
Glad to hear they play together.
I see on Harry’s site that Gabby is going to an adoption night out. She is a pretty cat, I hope she gets a really god home.
I hope she gets a forever home.
Where she’ll be the only cat and gets the attention she deserves.
Not tonight. She’ll be ours for another week. A black and white 4.5 month old kitten found a home tonight, but not any of the 5 other cats there. We had a beautiful black adult male, a gorgeous grey tuxedo female and two gray striped tabby siblings with wonderful personalities, besides Gabby and the kitten. Rachel’s not very disappointed. When we got home, I set the carrier on the floor, and both Brooke and May approached it, and looked at her for a while. Gabby didn’t hiss, and the other two seemed interested but not hostile. Brooke and May kept looking at eachother as if they were discussing her. I imagine it went like this:
May – what’s that?
Brooke – it looks like a cat. Sort of.
May – what’s wrong with it’s face?
Brooke – maybe it ran into a door.
Harry, even 1 cat getting a home is a success. Congrats.
Gabby just get to confuse Brooke and May for another week.
Harry, another week, move over Rachel, sooner or later Gabby will decide she has had enough of this loneliness and jump on the bed. Hey success comes in small steps. One kitten adopted that is good.
I like the conversation you think May and Brooke had. Probable more like, good grief she’s back again.
hehe!
Meanwhile, Gabby probably wonders what’s with all the pointy faced cats around her.
I’m quite certain Gabby feels sorry for the pointy faced cats – but then we can’t all be princesses. She had a conversation with Brooke and Henry at her door last night – she hissed, Brooke hissed, Henry stretched out his paw through the door. He is such a gentleman (so long as it’s not another male cat).
Henry better be careful. He is only on 3 paws now. Sounds like Gabby needs a home and soon.
The crate is not making her disposition any better.
Henry’s actually almost back to normal – he’s done with the pain killers, and if you didn’t watch him critically, he wouldn’t even seem to be favoring the paw. He does still, a very little bit, but it’s hardly noticeable. And Gabby was in the carrier just for about 15 minutes while they cleaned Rachel’s room – otherwise she’s not crated at home (though she sleeps in the carrier, by choice). She’s only in the carrier to and from events, and then in a wire crate at the events.
Gabby is probably wondering what kind of cat family is this? Odd looking cats. She is kinda prissy looking. But she is pretty. When I look at her I think about how much hair she has. Brushing her would be a full time job.
Good for Henry.
Back to normal and tryng to be the peace maker.
A few minutes ago Pumpkin came in the room carring a mouse. I grabbed the camera, but he ran downstairs. By the time I got to him the mouse was gone.
He’ll probablty bring it up when I’m sleeping.
He still got cat treats and lots of attention.
He was so proud.
Pumpkin will deliver the mouse to you in bed tonight. That way you can have snacks for later.
What wine goes with mouse ? 🙂
Harry – does The Stray Cat Cafe list that one ?
I think the wine should be strong and taken early before snacking. That way you may not know what you snacking on.
Really, I think mouse is more suggestive of an ale, you think? Mouse is a working-class cat’s food, not like some fussy salmon eaters.
Bernadette, I love that.
“Mouse is a working-class cat’s food.”
Pumpkin is sure earning his keep.
Mouse – definitely an ale, and not a light one, either. At least a porter, if not a stout.
Stout is strong and bitter to me. Guess to get that mouse taste out of my mouth.
Must be an aquired taste.
“Must be an aquired taste.”
Mouse? Or stout?
I think both.
But Stout doesn’t come with a tail like a cherry stem in a mixed drink.
Too bad they don’t make Iron City anymore–that would wash the taste of anything out of your mouth. I think a small local brew would work best. I have friends who hunt but they feed their small game to their pets so I’m not sure what they would drink if they did happen to eat squirrel for instance.
Wasn’t Iron City made of local river water ?
But once they cleaned up the river the Brewery went out of business.
Not good for drinking but would take paint off your car fender.
Many years ago (well a couple) my grandfather made his own wine as so many from the “Old Country” did. Now that is what you would have to find to drink with mouse fritters. I guess you could deep fry them and swallow quickly then drink until you fall over to forget what you just did:)
Hey, I make my own wine! Mulberry and wild black cherry from the trees in my yard, though it works better as a cordial than a wine. That might work with mouse fritters, or I could touch up a few of my friends who make their own beer. We could make a real homemade party out of this.
Yes, “Ahrn City” was made out of Monongahela River water just like everything else in Pittsburgh–steel, paint, glass, aluminum–which is what made it all so durable when it was actually made here, all those unknown ingredients. I just don’t think it was meant to be consumed at that time. Now it’s still where we get our drinking water, and you can fish in it–I’ve paddled and swam in it.
Bernadette so you also know about the homemade wine that was passed down. It was really good. Yours sound good also, but if it is more of a cordial, it would not take a lot to forget what was for dinner.
By the way, Bernadette, I think a homemade party is a great idea. I would like that, but I can assure I would not be convinced to eat anything, just to be on the safe side!!!!
That’s okay, I can make up some sort of mouse filet from tofu so we can all eat it or some cute mouse pastry. Mulberry had several folk songs written about it and wild black cherry has medicinal uses, likely to make you forget you’re sick. I think the mice in my yard would be pre-flavored since they eat plenty of mulberries and wild black cherries, so it would work fine.
Still like the medium-bodied ale, though.
Bernadette, your party suggestions are great. Allow me to make an alternative suggestion. I will have the party here. You bring the mulberry+cherry cordial (knockout), and for food, I will hire the caterers. We would have plenty of outdoor area to enjoy and lots of parking.
I agree with Bernie–you apparently enjoyed it so much the last time he did that.
Sure is a fast way to wake up.
Gets your heart rate up.
llI Really think they were having a turf war….Peaches was the only cat, then came Monkey, also an Alpha personality, so Monkey and Peaches were battling for dominance…..We all moved into the new apartmrnt…..it’s an efficiency, super tiny, WAY smaller than what I moved out of, But NOW They play together……most of the time. Peaches, being over 10 years old, understandably still has her crabby moments. But seriously, I sat and watched her and Monkey play a soccer game up and down the hallway for at least 15 minutes. They’ve played “fishing pole” together, which would normally NEVER have happened….It’s kind of like my cats had some kind of……wow, I don’t know! It’s like someone clicked a switch in their brains. Not that I’m complaining, I LOVE that they’re getting along, It’s just wierd after 2 years of fighting!
Lianimal, it’s hardly the solution for everything, but moving everyone and everything into a totally new space kind of evens out the playing field and can right a lot of perceived wrongs among pets. It’s like starting over, and here they are, two lost kities exploring a new world.
That’s great news, Lianimal – it gives me hope for Brooke and Sabrina!
So what does Rachel think about you all moving to a new place?
If I moved her to a one room cardboard box at the beach, she’d be happy.
Harry, you moving Rachel out to the beach to live in a cardboard box? Is there a tax break in that?
I would be happy in a cardboard box at the beach.
A warm beach though.
Anyway, a happy update for Peaches and Monkey. They’ve ALWAYS hated each other, but the day after I dragged them to the new apartment, they were actuially playing! Peaches still gets p’d off sometimes,but she’s old and easily annoyed, anyone over 30 can sympathyse with that lol
Hey Lianimal, what’s this over 30 stuff? It’s really good to have you back. Better yet, Peaches and Monkey being best buds. And people say miracles don’t happen.
Good to hear from you, Lianimal. I’m glad Peaches and Monkey are getting along.
OMG, I’ve been without a computer for three years, and unable to go to the library computer *well, more unwilling, since the weather’s been SO bad here in Michigan….Ya know, 3 feet of snow, -20 wind chill…..kind of inhibits action
Jay you asked back here somewhere how my trip to Pgh. went. The trip was as I expected.
The only problem I had, was I started my car from with the remote so it would be warm when I went out. When I did go out to get into the jeep, the snow that had melted from the car running froze the doors. It was 4 degree out. So then I had to get one door open and crawl to the front seat to go. Not fun. At that temp. the next time I will let one door slightly open. Hope this frigid weather is over.
I’ve had that happen to me also. Frozen door and crawling over a stick shift isn’t fun.
Try silicon spray on the rubber around the doors. Will stop the ice from sticking.
Pumpkin hasn’t given me any more gifts lately.
I threw the mouse h caught last at the feeder
Someone enjoyed it as it was gone the next day.
I don’t enjoy crawling around the seats and console just to drive. Then I thought, what if I have to crawl to get out. Luckily I didn’t. The silicone is a good idea. I will spray some on a cloth and rub in on. I don’t want to spray it on the paint.
Steeler is on guard duty right now, so I have a few minutes before she starts. She has been going back and forth looking for her visitors. No mice!!!
Don’t worry about the paint. Most cars have a coating on the factory paint job that does the same thing (same as a wax). Silicon spray on door hinges prevent squeaks and on a key put into a lock to prevent them from icing up. Also on the door latch where the door closes. Find it in any auto section at most stores. 1 can lasts forever.
I also use it on the snow shovel to prevent the snow from sticking.
I have silicone spray here. I use it on my windowns sides for ease of opening each spring. I have used it on door hinges, but never on my vehicles. I was always afraid it would hurt the paint. But now I will put it on the different areas you mentioned, on both the passenger and driver’s side door. Thanks
7 degrees outside. Hurts to take a breath. Feels like Pittsburgh weather.
But it’s suppose to warm up the next few days.
Bernie, loved the pics of Steeler.
She sure is a cutie.
Jay the weather is unforgiving. Although this AM is the end of the really frigid weather. Warmer weather predicted for the next 10 days. Good news for all that that trying to cope with this winter. I know I am really fed up with it.
Thanks for the kind words on the imp.
The temp went up to 34 degrees. Felt like a spring day. But after 30 minutes outside, cleaning the barn and playing with the critters my hands were frozen. Saw my Black and White cat at the feeding station while I was up on the hill. Gone by the time I got down.
Will put pics on FB of Buell and the icy hill.
And Steeler does look so cute.
I can imagine how cold it still feels. After all everything outside is still frozen. I think the icy hills are really dangerous for the three musketeers.
Had any mice in the bed lately, or has Pumpkin decided to give you a break.
Thanks on the pics.
Posted some pics of Steeler on FB today. Tried to show you all how she sees the outside world. Other pics on camera are on there too, I have to find a way to separate them out. I had switched from Dell to Apple and their system is taking some getting used to. So if you like , there is Steeler world, with a little added benefit. 🙂
Cat of the day has a Tortie on it
http://catoftheday.com/archive/
I seen that. But it is a mixed Tortie. Pretty tho. But I find most, not all, cats are pretty.
Hard to measure up to Steeler isnt it.
No, that is not what I meant. We have these full blown Torties, like when I look at Stir, Kasey Brooke, Allegra, and Steeler, they have a forceful look about them. Something like a warning. This little kitten eyes looks soft and gentle.
I guess that is more what I meant. I could not measure one pet against another. We all have great little one.
I know what ya meant.
“forceful look ” is an understatement.
More like an ” I’ll kick you ass ” look.
Stird eyes never looked gentle. 🙂
How was your trip today ?
Didn’t get to FB yet. Will toorrow.
Going to bed in a minute.
Was drinking a Wild Blue beer and had 2 red beet eggs.
Cats are gonna suffer tonite.
G’nite
FYI
Somebody wrote this on a yahoo page.
I never thought of it but will now.
“A completely unvaccinated cat can be infected at the vet. But, there are diseases you can bring back from the vet and/or kennel and/or shelter. Remember the saga of what happened when I brought Icheb home from the shelter, and I forgot to take off my shoes in the garage? I tracked in bacterial bronchitis which Jadzia, K’Ehleyr and Skraeling caught. This isn’t something you can protect against with a vaccination. Just bad luck on my part and the cats and dog who caught the bug. It’s always a good rule of thumb that whenever you visit the above places, take off your shoes in the garage before entering your house. If you don’t have an attached garage or no garage, just leave shoes by the door. Then bleach the soles of the shoes you wore. This is a method that we use when we have a litter of puppies. And if puppy buyers come by to look, you have them take off their shoes before entering your home.”
There is nothing that is 100% failsafe when it comes to health, whether it’s vaccinating, or being careful about bringing something in from the outside. When I worked in veterinary clinics, I would frequently get out of my scrubs in the laundry room before I even greeted my cats, especially on days when I’d been around cats with possibly contagious conditions. But, as I learned the hard way with Amber, you can’t protect yourself against what you don’t know. Allegra wasn’t sick when I adopted her, but she was still shedding the virus that ultimately took Amber’s life. Both Amber and Allegra were protected against this virus through prior vaccinations.
Indeed–I’ve recently had an experience with a “cold” or a viral infection that began as sneezing with one of the black siblings who’d previously shown symptoms of something by having difficult swallowing, no temperature, no lethargy, back on his paws in about three days, then this about three months later, could be the same thing. Then his brothers and sister started sneezing about a week after he did, fever only in one of them, no lethargy or other symptoms, then Cookie started sneezing and just finished a week of congestion and sneezing. The Big Four have FIP in their heritage, and something like this moving through them could be part of that evidenced in an impaired immune system and nothing more (hopefully), but moving out to Cookie really is a worry; neither their mom Mimi nor Kelly showed any symptoms. I’m still watching and keeping in touch with my vet, and knowing the FIP history we are tracking everything that happens with them. I may have brought this in as I fed the birds from one of the cats who visits my yard, before or after the snow. Cookie could have sniffed up something when we went out on the deck in the morning, which we’ve been doing all her life.
Years ago I rented a house where there were so many stray and feral cats (guess where I started rescuing). I tracked snow in from the yard and garden on my boots, Fawn licked it up and a few days later had a slight fever but was lethargic a few enlarged organs on x-ray. It ran its course with no recurrence and no one else caught it. After that I had taken all my cats out in the yard to bomb the house for fleas (looong story, they were there when I moved in and I never got rid of them, just keeping them under control took incredible measures), and a few days later Moses had a raging fever–up to 107, we don’t know how she lived–but it too ran its course and no recurrence.
Fawn was born in my house to a stray mother but was never outside, Moses had been a feral cat.
I get them the full set of shots for URI and distemper as kittens and young adults, but don’t repeat them yearly. I get rabies because it’s the state law, and I get the three-year vaccine to minimize vaccination incidents.
I’ll be keeping watch for recurrences or repeating illnesses.
The Common Practice That May Be Wrecking Your Cat’s Health (And it’s NOT food)
The veterinary community has long been aware of the problem of vaccination-related sarcomas in cats.
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/02/10/danger-of-pet-cat-vaccinations.aspx
This is a good article. My own vet wrote about this topic for The Conscious Cat a while back, here’s the link: https://ingridking.com/2010/04/19/feline-vaccinations-walking-through-the-minefield/
Thanks Ingrid.
I don’t take mine to the vet much (Tabby gets car sick) but this info helps.
Never thought about these things until somebody mentioned it.
I will read all these articles to be more informed.
Rachel’s a teenager. Isolation is the only option 😉
I do feel as if Gabby’s not getting enough attention, and it confirms my opinion that we could never have another cat, especially one that couldn’t be integrated. Sabrina does get plenty of interaction, my home office is attached to our bedroom, and so between sleeping and working she sees a lot of us. She’s curled up on my lap right now. After she bites me, I’ll get dressed and head for the real office.
Rachel +teenager + Isolation + cats + or – Dad could spell disaster. Watch out Harry.
Why is Rachel in isolation ? Not getting along with the other cats ? 🙂
I can see why Gabby would be upset- given a home then crated not long after.
Hope she does find a good home. Where she can be the only spoiled cat.
And a little growling and hissing but not bites is progress I guess.
I’m going to bed too. Just got that look from Pumpkin.
Nite
Harry, how’s Gabby tonite?
Fitting in better?
She’s still in isolation with Rachel. Haven’t had the chance to work on her some more. She seemed afraid of me tonight – probably because our cleaning service was in today, so she got crated and moved around out of their way. Poor thing 🙁 I’m not sure why we haven’t gotten any inquiries on her, either.
I did work with Sabrina and Brooke tonight – about 30 minutes together. Sabrina started on my lap, then eventually got on the floor, and Brooke and she were fairly close – a little growling and hissing, but nothing major.
Well folks I think Steeler might be able to read. I read Lola’s story on Ingrids blog and it told of the cold she had. So for the past couple of days Steeler has been sneezing. I have thought it must be from the dust she kicks up in the litter box. Maybe she seen how much attention Lola received with her cold and she is mimicking her. I will have to keep an eye on her to see if it is going to turn into a cold. How could she catch cold, when she does not go out? It has to be the dust.
It would be very odd for Steeler to catch a cold – the only possible way it could happen would be if you had been around another cat who was sick and brought the virus home with you.
Ingrid believe me, I think Steeler was reading with me. She has been occasionally sneezing and the only thing I can think of is dust from the basement, or dust from the littler box. She digs into that littler like there is a hidden treasure down there somewhere. Of course the basement is part of her daily guard duties, go down check out the basement, check out the sunporch go upstairs, (the attic is off limits or she would go there). So I’m sure it’s just the dust she kicks up. I will say, that this cat has the most dainty sneeze, then her eyes get a little wider when it happens, it is a little comical.
Wish we could get a picture of that sneeze.
I can picture her eyes getting larger and her expression 🙂
As the litter box goes, Tabby and Punky will use it and cover it up but like Steeler, Stir seems like she’s trying to go thru it to the basement. Goes on for a minute.
Now she doesn’t have front claws but when she did the 1st 2 years I tried one of those plastic bag litter box liners to make things easier.
After the 1st day it was shredded and fell apart when I took it out. Gave the other 11 away.
Jay I tried those plastic liners. Like you, she just kept digging and pulling it. I had more litter kicked out the on sweeper could pick up. From then on, now plastic. But like Stir she digs right down to the bottom of the litter pan. I expect one day to have a hole in the bottom of the pan.
She is not declawed. If she ever figures out the fridge, the comical cartoon will be reality, padlocked.
Try United Ultra Skim Milk, Steeler never went near whole milk, but I switched over to this one a while ago, and lo and behold she stole it. Last night Ingrid was right, she insisted on milk. They sure do learn fast.
Those pics of the mouse in the bed with Pumpkin were hilarious. Pumpkin looks like she was very pleased with himself.
Good to hear the rest of the family is back in their homes.
If I can get a small container of United Ultra Skim Milk I’ll try it. But not for me.
My son is into health food, soy mill and such. He even had me try Almond milk.
Totally hated it.
I like fast food, Chicken, Burgers, Milkshakes, Pizza and such.
Josh is the total opposite. Sushi, Salads, Soyburgers Etc.
Makes going out to eat an event.
Jay I buy that milk at WalMart.
Guess I’l have to stop in there some time 🙂
Tomorrows hours are 6 – 11
I heard they ran out of the cathair cheese. No more ’till next year.
I heard that too.
And there was a big demand for that cheese with the built in floss.
The shirt is in the dryer as we speak now.
But I did go out to the Mall yesterday an bought a “Terrible Towel” was $9.99 marked down to $2.99
Stir will have that for next year.
Ingird, you folks were right on about the nightcap. I decided not to have anything last eve, I just felt to tired. So I turned my side of the bed down, and took my shower. When I cam back into the bedroom, there was this beautiful Tortie sitting where I had turned down the bed, by my nightstand, giving me her begging sound. She was all perched to steal the mild, but it wasn’t there. After about 15 minutes of her begging, I finally went out and brought her in about 1/4 cup. Then all was well. One night, and she didn’t forget.
Have to look for the lactulose free mild Harry mentioned, if she keeps this up.
Harry the couple that returned the kitten did the kitten a really good favor. They are not fit to have a pet.
A pet rock, maybe.
But she might say is’s too clingy also.
And love the fact that Steeler did her begging sound.
That “I haven’t been fed in days” sound.
Pumpkin does that.
Stirfry would rip open the bag for the dry food and use a claw to open a can if she was that hungry. Usually she just comes into the room and walks out looking over her shoulder at me till I follow. The she leads me to the cat dish that Pumpkin emptied out
Jay this cutie was waiting right on the bed by my night table and was begging. Untold of in her. The was you explains how Stir comes after you to follow her to feed her, Steeler does that everyday.
She talks at me the whole time until she get food in her bowl and water. She does her tightrope walk before this, to make me get up and feed me now.
Can’t help but laugh at them, even if it is 3 or 4 AM. Different clocks.
Now that you mentioned that, Stir did the same thing. Talked the whole way back.
I was eating a block of cheese (Walmart perk – throw away cheese ends) and she ate till she was full. I’ve done this before, but I had a glass of milk and thinking of Steeler offered it to her.
1 stiff and not interested,
Good news – Buell is in his stall.
At 6 I called them all and Buell still stopprf at the back. Only 5 feet between him and me. He went from the other side and back but would not come in. Even took 1 step then backed up.
I went and got a fresh handful of hay and held it out. Finally 1 step for him and 1 back for me. 3 steps later and he realized things were ok.
Relief on my part. Didn’t want to see him spend another night alone.
Jay that is good new. Even tho Buell is a donk he is part of this community of Torties families. We would not like to hear he had fallen and broken a leg on the ice. He is 1 stubborn mule. I am pretty sure Harry will use another term to describe the donk.
Steeler stole the United Ultra Skim Mile, she never had any other milk here. But you offered Stir and she said NO. But would she stealthily steal it like Steeler, if you are out of the room? That is what my little one did, living up to her name in a number of ways. Stealing bracelets, watches, and now milk. Anything on my nightstand that shines, now even milk.
Thanks Bernie, even though Buell, Harley and Nutmeg live out in the barn they are my loved pets and I do worry about them. And I do love all they saying about donkeys. People think I got him for that reason. When it’s raining out I tell people I’m gonna have a wet ass. When they ask if I left my car windows down, I tell them -No my donkeys just out in the pasture. 🙂
Now Tabby, Punky and Stir – They are my kids and like the rest on here do, they are totally spoiled and loved.
I can tell you that Stirfry would not drink the milk even if I wasn’t in there with her.
I know because I had left 2 red beet eggs and a glass of milk on the table when I went out to check on Buell.
Stir will sleep on the arm rest of the couch when I’m there but jump down and sleep on the cushon when I get up.
When I came back Stir was on the cushon and totally ignored the eggs and milk even though they were 1 foot away.
Jay, just a little trivia for you and our Tortie family. Most of you have seen the pic of my son and I at my 50th class reunion. No biggie. What you all may find a little comical is our school teams mascot was a donkey (referred to as the Dunbar Mules.) I would never discount the intelligence of a donkey. It is part of my heritage.
Bernie, I know horses and donkeys can be taught.
Years ago I went to Gettysburg’s Land of Little Horses.
They have all mini’s and they do tricks counting and fetching.
After I got Harley I taught him to shake hands.
Took about a week.
When I got Buell it took 2 days. He is definately smart. That’s why I have to double lock the barn door. After he saw me open it he was trying within an hour. Many a day I come home and find the barn latch pulled back and only that little barrel latch holding things closed.
Last summer I would have Harley and Buell shake hands before they went in the barn. Then I worked on Nutmeg. Within a week she would do it. Food was the big motivator with her. Harley will do it whenever I ask.
So when your school’s mascot was a donkey and named the Dunbar Mules you were really setting the bar high.
We have a team here called the Solanco Golden Mules.
Jay it’s strange how many different schools have the same mascot. I have to admit, we had a great school, albeit small. I still get together once a month with some of the girls/guys from my class. We no longer have our school, as so many small schools it was integrated with a bigger school district. That mascot is a Falcon. We mules have not adapted that one.
Somehow when I go to the lunch with these classmates, I wonder how did they get so old. Not for me. I don’t intend to let that happen to me (I bet they all say the same thing).
Jay, yes, when you get some free time stop in the dairy dept.
I am going to say goodnight. Have to be in Pgh early AM. Freezing out
I was never much for High School ( went to Vo-Tech) my last 3 years so never really hung out with a lot of people.
Only a few people do I even know from there (and that’s thru FB).
I know I must have changed some ( had long shaggy hair back then – WHERE DID THAT GO ???) And I doubt if I would recognize any of my old school mates. Never gone to a reunion so don’t know. Our school class had over 400 in it. Easy to get lost in that crowd.
If you keep giving Steeler her little nightcap, you might want to cut back her other rations just a tad so that she doesn’t gain any weight. And don’t tell her I said that!
Right Ingrid, cut back, on Steeler. You must remember, this girl yaks and yaks constantly. You either give in or get ear plugs. When my girlfriend comes over, she gets Steeler to talking and I just let them so. I really think she comes over more often just to visit Steeler and talk to her.
I do make sure Steeler does not see where I keep the milk. Otherwise she would sit at the fridge and keep yakking for milk. These Torties are not dummies. Persistent they are.
You might have to get a lock for that fridge.
You said Steeler gets up in the middle of the night to patrol. Now she might be trying to get that fridge door open.
Some morning your gonna wake up and find an empty bottle and a glass with a trace of milk in the bottom. And a Tortie with one big satisfied grin on her face.
What a couple of days… last Saturday, someone adopted a young cat, who had come to us with her brother. By Sunday evening, she was calling and emailing me every 10 minutes, demanding that we take the cat back – not only was it too “needy” – it kept sitting on her lap – but she also ran up a $1500 bill at the emergency clinic for what sounded to me for all the world like a hairball. Monday I was able to dispatch a volunteer who took the cat to a foster, and tonight I retrieved the brother from another foster and reunited them. We already have someone interested in the pair, at this coming Friday event. The more I do rescue, the more I like my cats.
That the way I feel.
People are too complicated. Animals are soo much easier.
Just went out and checked on Buell.
He was standing in the pasture looking down on me. Felel bad but I can’t carry him.
The barn door is open a few inches and the light is on.
Probably have mice in there by morning.
Hopefully a stubborn ass.
Going to bed.
Nite
I woke up early this morning and rucshed outside to check on Buell.
Still up in the pasture.
He came down to the barn but I could no coax him to try walking on in.
It was 6 degrees so gave up after 10 minutes.
Came inside and saw the time was 3:02 am
Back to bed – up at 5:50 and put Harley and Nutmeg out. Gave all 3 and ear of corn.
Will get salt later this morning.
Jay, I knew you were worried about Buell. Out at 3AM for an ass. That is running a close second to me out about that time looking for a snowflake. I know it is cold. Going to be even colder tonight. I have to go out tomorrow early, and they now have thrown wind into the factor.
Bertter get Buell in tonight if you can.
I got the salt and threw it around the barn at noon. Checked on all 3 a few minutes ago.
The ice is mostly gone and the ground smells like fresh cat litter. NOT USED CAT LITTER !!!!!!!!!
We’ll see tonight how things go.
Luckily no cops were called last night so I don’t have a record.
But I know what you mean. In the worst weather we think of our furry friends before ourselves.
Well maybe tonight Buell will follow the other two in, if he doesn’t come in sooner than that. He has to be cold. See going out in the really early hours of the AM don’t even enter your mind when you are doing it to help an animal. That puts you in almost the same category. But I truly do hope you can convince Buell to come in. Tonight is supposed to extreme with wind. Nothing should be out in this weather.
Especially the person that is waiting by the door.
I know it will be cold. Warming up on Friday.
But that warm weather melts the snow and then refreeze overnite.
Well, I have 2 more cat litter containers filled with salt. Anout 30 lbs. each.
I’ve heard a lot of strange reasons about cats being returned, but “too needy” is a first. How dare this cat sit on the person’s lap. I mean, really!
I’m glad Henry is doing better. What a smart little boy, knowing his own limitations about walking up the stairs (and getting to manipulate his human in the process) – good going, Henry.
Ingrid, I totally agree.
This poor cat is better off not being with this person.
Hopefully this Friday she and her brother will find a great home.
Hope that person doesn’t have kids.
That was why we worked to get the cat back on a Monday night – normally, we’d have told the adopter to wait until the next event to return. Lost Dog won’t adopt out kittens singly if they’re under 6 months, unless the adopter already has another young cat, and the thought here was, even though these cats were 11 months, they must have been more bonded than we realized and the sister was desperate for human comanionship to replace her brother. Or the adopter was crazy, one or the other.
Jay, I’m glad your ass didn’t freeze.
But isn’t that why you adopt a cat ( or dog) to be their friend and parent. Getting all that attention lets us know they appreciate it and love us.
If that person feels that way I hope she never trys to adopt again.
I hope word gets out that she is not a “pet” person.
Buell is ok but I will try to melt that ice today.
Going to be cold for the next 2 days then warm up on Friday ( so they say)
I agree with you Harry.
Tortie family, I am going to call it a day. I guess I am just feeling really tired today. I will check in tomorrow. Goodnight.
Sorry I missed you Bernie.
I was watching a TV show called Top Shot on the History Channel.
All about shooting (and you know how much I like guns).And they have a local guy from Lancaster on.
After I came back to the bedroom I found Pumpkin had caught that mouse ( the one I missed yesterday) and it was dead on my bed.
I will post pics.
Guess my orange guy is a Tortie in training.
But we all know a Tortie can kill a mere mouse with just a look.
I’m enjoying catching up on all the conversations. Busy day today, haven’t had a lot of chances to check in here.
Jay, I hope Buell is okay.
Bernie, don’t forget to get Steeler’s nightcap ready 🙂
Ingrid, that is a new job for you to look into. Is Ultra Skim milk compatible with grown cats. Whenever I go to the fridge, someone is looking up into it with me. I wonder what she thinks she is going to get. Nightcap, I can see it coming.
Bernie, generally, milk is not good for cats. Since it sounds like Steeler didn’t have any problems from guzzling the whole glass last night, a little nightly treat probably won’t hurt her, but I’d limit it to a very small amount – a tablespoon full, rather than a whole glass 🙂
Ingrid, if you had seen her last evening, she did not even raise her head up out of the glass. She was very pleased with herself. I will try a very small amount if she, correct that, when she comes after me for mine to see how that goes. I know I will not set my glass on the nightstand and leave it. That’s over. She really does support her name.
When they insisted on having milk, we used to keep a quart of Lactaid milk in the fridge, in the hope that the added enzyme that enables lactose-intolerant humans to drink the milk would work to the same end in the cats. Recently, they’ve all lost interest in milk, for some reason.
Harry, for dinner I had cereal with milk. Offered it to Pumpkin.
He took a couple sniffs and wallked away.
What’s the latest on Gabby ?
And poor Henry….
Jay, Gabby’s doing well. Rachel’s disappointed that she won’t sleep on the bed, but she’s very affectionate. She met Vickie for a moment this morning, but there was no mayhem. I want her to meet Pearl (whom we call “Switzerland” for her refusal to take sides in any of the warring in the house) but we haven’t had a chance.
Henry’s doing much better – still limping a little, but not as much. We let him out of our room for a while tonight, and he seemed to be glad. Then, when he decided to climb the steps back to the bedroom, he took a few steps and looked back at me and asked me to carry him up (which I did).
Guess steps are rough on that sore leg. But he knew you would help him out.
That’s love…
As much as Tabby and Stir rub against me neither will sleep with me.
Tabatha will sleep on the bed sometimes but usually leave after I get in. Pumpkin is there every night.
So tell Rachel don’t feel so bad. Good things take time.
I hope there won’t BE time… don’t want to get attached to this one. Two cats that don’t get along is enough. Rachel is jealous, because Henry sleeps on my head every night. He’s waiting for me now… so I’m following Bernie’s example and going to bed.
Just checked on Gabby, and Brooke is sitting outside Rachel’s door. Took her how many days to figure this one out?
Bernie,I will try to look at Stirfry when her teeth aren’t showing. And that doesn’t happen very often. I put a picture on my FB page of the mouse in the sock.
At first I thought the mouse was dead, but when it bit and held onto the sock I thought otherwise. Dead mice don’t bite – do they? 🙂
It got tossed outside and ran off.
Tonite was a scary nite.
At 6 I went to put my guys into the barn.
The goat came down and went into her stall. Then a minute later so did Harley.
Buell never came down.
I went out back and saw him standing there but he would not move. Seemed to be walking funny.
I went to check his legs but he kept backing up.
Pulling him did not work. I am 145 and he is 350 lbs. Finally figured that the path from the back to the side of the barn is thick ice. Slippery, as I tried to show him how to come down and I fell on my ass. I threw down a whole 20 lb. container of kitty litter (unused) for better traction but he still would not come down. Went inside and now at 7:30 heard him braying.
Went out and still could not get him to come in.
Donkeys are smarter than horses where if they don’t feel something is safe they will not move. That’s why the Grand Canyon has donkey rides down the trails but not horse on the most dangerous trails. A horse will fall over the edge with the rider as a donkey goes “hell with that – your on your own” and back up.
Jay I had already checked out the mouse in your sock. I missed the part that it bit. It was probably in shock and you were outwitted by it, and the sock must have tasted worse than Pumpkin catching her. So you throw out a live mouse, that is going to be dumb enough to come back in and try again.YOI
Buell is still out there. You are going to have to find a way to get him to come back to the barn. The temps are falling fast and the ice is going to stay. I would not like to hear you found him down. I can’t help you with that, but maybe finding a different path in the deep snow? I don’t know. By the way, who told you, you could stay on your feet on slippery ice trying to pull a 350# donkey, that didn’t want to move?
So your saying my feet stink ???? 🙂
I went out at 8 and Buell still has not come in. I left the barn door open an inch and the light on. He can open the door so that’s not a problem.
I am not worried about him freezing.
Those polydome are nice and warm inside. Remember calves live in them over the winter and Nutmeg spent 6 years outback living in one.
I put grain and hay up there so he has food.
will check again every hour until I go to bed.
Jay, you better read Bernadette’s post. I think she agrees with me.
He’s obviously smarter than his human 😉
Does’t tke much with this human.
Remember, I did say I had a “Smart Ass”
The temp at 11:20 on the way home said 37 degrees. It must have rained while I was working
Maybe that groundhog was right.
We’ll see. If he was, he gets to live. If wrong – Tortie playdate time.
P.S.
I’m gonna wash that shirt now.
No more cat hair cheese.
Jay wash the shirt. It’s rained here now there is that strange white stuff coming down. Travel with caution issued for the early AM. I don’t trust that rodent. Even the SB used a stupid possum, but hey that darn possum did pick the Packers. So we will replace Phil with a dumb possum.
Got up and put the critters out. Cold and windy out now.
Maybe I’ll send Pumpkin out to hunt that rodent.
But the way he is, he’ll make friends with it and take it home.
Waiting for coffee to brew.
Good Morning all !!!!!!!!!!
Well, a few minutes ago, Pumpkin walked in the room holding another mouse.
He dropped it in front of me and ran. Tortie quick he caught it again.
Took my sock off to get it from him but he ran down to the basement with it.
When he dropped it again I went to grab it and missed.
Cat 1
Mouse 1
Slow human 0
Still gave him some treats for being a good mouser.
Cookie was always the brave basement mouse hunter, and she didn’t fool around, she just killed them right away–good girl! Then Kelly discovered the indoor hunting ground and would spend most of the day on the basement steps or the washer just waiting for a mouse to come in (they did, sometimes daily). Lucy caught a few in her short time, including the one she ate on my bed. Now the Big Four team up and play keep-away with whatever comes in.
A baby squirrel was in my upstairs one morning years ago and I was awakened by pummeling paws racing across me on the bed. But guess who eventually caught the little thing and shooed it out the bathroom window onto the deck roof! Moi. I didn’t even get any applause because breakfast was late.
Bernadette, I can’t imagine what a poor mouse thinks when he sees 4 cats waiting for him.
Heart attack right away.
And the cats probably looked at their job description and saw Squirrel not listed and said “Mom’s job”. Hurry up so we can eat.
I always say that any mouse unwise enough to enter a house where there are usually as many as nine cats is a mouse who deserves to be taken out of the gene pool. Perhaps we’ll call them “feeder mice”.
After considering the morning, I think they were actually chasing the squirrel onto me on the bed so they could watch my hunting technique.
And they were probably upset that you didn’t eat it but instead let it go.
“Humans can’t be taught anything” they thought.
But it sure is a way to wake up fast isn’t it. 🙂
Who would have though it, Bernadette and Jay, the two Mouseketeers. Good job Bernadette. Jay, I guess you are still in training. Chasing a mouse with a sock, that’s a new one.
We have only had Steeler catch one mouse and bring it up from the basement live. I didn’t move for fear she would let it go. So she played with it, it got away, about 10′ from her, she pounced with all fours on that tiny mouse and kept it up for a minute or so, end result dead mouse. Made a mitt with her paw and pitched the dead mouse in my direction, and walked into the hallway twitching her tail. I got rid of the mouse.
Bernie, I learned a sock is the best way to catch a live mouse. I had one a few months ago bite the sock. Since I had one handy.
I love the fact that Steeler tossed the mouse at you.
Never heard a Tortie laugh but I bet she did.
Jay, I have looked at the mouth on Steele many times. If you look closely the Torties, at least mine, has she shape of a long smile. I do think when she pulls stunts on me and walks away twitching that tail she is really laughing at me, somewhere like “got her”. A sock and a mouse to me is not a good fit. A trap in the basement and Keep Steeler out of the basement works for me.
Bernie, that performance was to strike fear in your heart so that you would know what you were dealing with, as in The Cat’s Diary (wasn’t that posted here somewhere?).
Bernadette I only wish you could have been here the evening she did that to me. I am not afraid of mice, but having a dead mouse pitched in your direction, as if it is a normal act, I think I must have almost knocked the dining table over to get out of the way. That image of her walking down the hall twitching that tip of her tail, will stay with me always. I had to deal with her dead mouse.
DAY 765 – Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was… Hmmm. Not working according to plan
See – Steeler can read !!!!!!!
Watch out Bernie. 🙂
If Steeler reads I am a dead fish. She is a tough little cookie without knowing what is being written about her.
In the past, our well-fed raised-in-home-from-kittens cats would play with a mouse until it was no longer interesting (read, dead from shaken-mouse syndrome) and leave it for us. Crispy, whole mouse. But now… we have Vickie, the recovering barn cat. Last time a mouse got in, she said, hey, I remember these – that’s lunch. All we found was skinless, boneless, filet of mouse, left-overs being saved for dinner. And an ear, in another room.
I got home at 11:30 and found Pumpkin had eaten all the food in the dish.
Stirfry pointed it out to me.
Then when I go back to the bedroom I find a dead mouse in the bed right beside Pumpkin.
Told him he was a great mouser and gave him some treats.
He might not be the brightest cat ( smacked Stirfry as she walked by earlier) but he does earn his keep.
Jay, Pumpkin put the mouse on your bed. Surely you know she was saving it for later for her snack. Smacking Stir is dangerous. There must be something in her water, eating all the food, smacking Stir, and then a dead mouse in your bed. You are in for a long winter. But hey, it could be worse, there could be live mice in your bed.
The dead mouse I can deal with.
That time he woke me up by dropping a live mouse really got my heart going.
Didn’t expext to feell something run over my hand then get pounced on when it got on my chest.
Normally he never kills them but since I got home late at night = dead mouse.
I’ve got to go to bed. Twice Pumpkin came up to me and stared at me.
Dad – it’s bed time.
Sleep with the cat !!!!!!!!!
Gnite
Nothing says “I care” like a mouse left in the human’s bed. I think that’s from Cats’ Rules to Live By 101.
Or are they saying, “Poor uninformed human, thank you for trying, but this is what I eat.”
One of these days, I am going to take time to see just what I have written before I hit send. That above is EVERYONE.
Well just when, I thought I have Steeler’s behavior down pat, she pulls another surprise on me.
I poured a small cocktail size glass of Ultra Skim Milk to go with a piece of cake. Now I drink this at least once a day, it made by United and taste like whole mile. Well to make this story short I came into the bedroom, where I usually have an evening snack and sat it down on the nightstand.
Well tonight I went back into the kitchen to turn off the lights, and when I came back into the bedroom, guess who was enjoying a nice cold glass of skim milk. You got it, Steeler. She didn’t even look up at me, just kept drinking. So I asked if she wanted the cake too. Of course not. Just the cold milk. I have never given her milk, because someone told me when I first decided to keep her, not to give her milk, she would get the diarrhea. Well I guess I will see.
Right now my little thief is stretched out as if she just had a tall cool one. Just when I felt it was safe to leave my drink on my nightstand. Oh well, back to the kitchen and another glass for me.
Sounds like Steeler thought you brought that drink in for her.
And who’s gonna argue with a Tortie.
Easier to finish what she doesn’t want or get another glass and join her.
Like it was said earlier.
Cat’s have Staff.
We’ll Bernie – get your servant outfit on.
Well she got away with it. Drank every bit. I even held the glass after I seen her for fear she would upset it. She cared less. What an attitude. Your right about the servant part. I did have to get myself another. Since she finished the milk, she went out to her little red bed and is sleeping soundly. I know she will come in here when she wakes squawking at me after I’m asleep.
Got to love these guys. Watch out for those mice in the covers.
I think Steeler thinks since we don’t have fur, we already have our servant outfit on.
I can’t wait for the litter box report…..but knowing Steeler, she’s probably got a cast iron stomach!
Ingrid, your are right. Steeler had no problem with the milk. Might have guessed. Maybe because it is Ultra Skim and not whole milk. But she could have shown a little guilt about stealing it. But now I had to assist. It really takes a long time for a fast cat to drink 6 oz. glass of milk. Now I will probably have to provide her with a little milk at bedtime, since the smarty pants found out she likes it.
Taz, what were you thinking????
(Well, he’s a 20 pound, orange, indoor cat, dignity and good judgement are not his every day companions)
A couple weeks ago, I was in my big recliner, Kasey was on my lap, all settled in.
Kasey owns me and doesn’t share very well.
Taz jumped up on the arm of the chair and settled down.
Kasey became a bit owly but I settled her down and all was good, except her tail was in constant motion, like it has a life of its own.
The tail kept catching Tax around the face.
After a while, he very slowly and lazily nipped her tail, not mean or hard, just a light nip.
My olf tortie swung around and cuffed him once beofre I stepped in.
He should have known better, especially with the tortie, but inside that 12 year old, 20 pounder is a small kitten.
Glen sounds like Taz was testing Kasey and failed. When I see steeler’s tail swishing, I know something more is to come. So Kaz, is going to have read sign language. Kasey is in charge, especially where you are concerned, no sharing.
How well I know the tail, Glen. Sabrina doesn’t purr, but she smacks her tail when she’s happy. Or agitated. Or about to bite – you, some other cat, the dust floating in the air. That tail has gotten my stealth tortie into a lot of trouble.
With Kasey, except when she is fast asleep, the tail is constantly in motion, like an octopus tentacle with a life of its own.
She gets “wiggle tail” when puzzled, excited or when I stop her from doing something she shouldn’t. I understand that Egyptian Mau’s do that (even though she isn’t one), sort of the same motion as when a tom sprays, only she doesn’t spray, fortuneatley.
Glen that continual tail motion, to me, says these girls are always planning their next move!!!
I love the term “wiggle tail,” Glen. I call it “twitchy tail” – Amber did that all the time when she got excited about something (usually, it was about the prospect of food or treats).
“(usually, it was about the prospect of food or treats)”
Oh yeah, that will do it, for sure!
My Kelly does that too when she’s excited, she even stomps her little paws but she’s never sprayed anything either.
Stirfry’s tail never stops either.
Like you said about Kasey, right now Stirfry is sleeping on my lap and her tail has not stopped moving around.
Here I thought that was unique to her.
Now I find that too must be a Tortie trait.
Orange boys are special. That’s not to say they’re bright.
Every owning an orange boy, send all emails to Bernadette.
I have Pumpkin get in touch with her.
(but I have to agree with her. He’s no rocket scientist)
“Orange boys are special. That’s not to say they’re bright.”
Taz is bright in some ways, but not so in others.
He is smart enough to learn to open a door, the type with the lever handles.
However, other performances are not so inspiring. He does npt display the comprehension of words, like Kasey does, but Kasey is probably the better at that then any other cat i have encountered.
If there is anything strange, immature and undignified for a cat to do, he is ready, willing and able to step up to the plate and get it done 😉
He is a friendly, happy guy, though.
Glen, great description of orange cats. Pumpkin is the gentlest of my cats. Never hissed or growled and only recently started to meow. Unlike his mom who never shuts up (typical tortie).
But he does seem to be clumsy. Fell off the back of the couch and did not land on his feet.
He will stare death in the face.-Has attacked Stirfry numerous times and will swat her if she walks by. Death wish I guess.
But every night he sleeps with me and if I’m up to late keeps walking over and staring at me.
Glen, sounds like Taz is just a happy go lucky guy. I think he is doing what cats are supposed to do.
Kasey has been around the block so to say. She just watches and wonders when will he learn. It’s not worth the effort.
“But he does seem to be clumsy. Fell off the back of the couch and did not land on his feet.”
Yep, that would be Taz.
Of course, he only has a about 4 inches of tail, the rest was amputaed at about 12 weeks of age, due to a pre-rescue injury. He has the short tail and ear tufts. Looks a bit like a lynx or bobcat.
At 20 pounds (big, more than fat) and clumsy, he is a “ground dweling” cat. He will climb a climber i made for them in the basement but it is not a graceful sight.
He is friendly and announces himself by rubbing into your ankle, it is more of a punch with his head, the strength of the hit surprises visitors.
He does defer to Kasey; tortidue and hard life experiences see to that.
Glen a 29# cat, TAZ doesn’t know his own strength. The ankle bumping would get your attention quickly. I cannot imagine what a cat that size would do to a sleeping human if he decided to jump off that headboard. Cracked ribs for sure.
On the topic of Kasey, is she going to be ok. Does she have to undergo anymore surgeries? She is still considered our Kasey. We were all following her and an update is anxiously waited for.
Glen did it again. I meant a 20 # cat, not 29. ugh
Bernie, I think that in Kasey’s case – being a cat that hunted for food and not to play around with it. She doesn’t think Taz would make it in the real world.
I think Steeler and Brooke would be the same way. Born Killers.
Pumpkin goes nuts over a lazer but Stir does not even give it a second look.
Guess if you can’t kill and eat it. Why bother.
Jay you are more right than wrong. If seems the throw aways are not so easily amused and therefore let the other guy do it. They know when they want a meal and where to get it. As for those laser lights, I have a couple, Steeler just looked at it and walked away to another way. I even have the feathers on the thin rod for her to play with. Well forget it. She still just wants her little catnip duck, rat and mouse. Other than that, I have spent a lot on cat toys, only to have her act like I am nuts or worse yet, she thinks they are for me.
My Allegro was a big, rangy guy, really quiet but he’d greet people at the door and if they didn’t pay attention he’d gently tap them or get his paw in a beltloop or pocket and give a gentle tug. He liked to hear his name, and if I said it every five minutes he’d look at me like, “You mean me? You’re calling me?” For amusement, and also to keep him off my artwork, I’d draw a line on a piece of paper about a half inch long and he’d take a half hour and a lot of effort trying to pull the line off the paper. He was clumsy too, I think it’s a trademark of orange boys.
“On the topic of Kasey, is she going to be ok. Does she have to undergo anymore surgeries?”
Kasey seems to be doing just fine and no further surgeries are anticipated.
Her fur is growing back very nicely, that’s the only give- away that she had anything done. From her behavior, you would never know anything had any surgery.
I think she might actually be feelingave felt better for having her teeth cleaned while she was “out”. I wasn’t having her go under anaesthetic just for a cleaning but she was going under anyway so I had the cleaning done, too.
Basically, she looks good and is active (for her).
Bernadette that is ingenious. A line on paper. I don’t think that would work here. But let a ribbon or cord hang down, and it’s gone forever. Steeler loves to “steal” ribbon or heavy cord and plays with them, as a matter of fact she still plays with them.
Glen, that is the good news we are waiting to hear. So now our girl is back to herself and no more surgery, how much better an outcome could we have wanted. Our Torties are a tough lot.
Glen thanks for the good news on Kasey.
And the fact that she was out and got her teeth checked and cleaned was a big plus.
And even though Torties are tough and resilient we all were worried.
“Bernie, I think that in Kasey’s case – being a cat that hunted for food and not to play around with it. She doesn’t think Taz would make it in the real world.”
Right on both counts.
The facility where Kasey lived is a gas compression and processing plant located in a rural setting, surrounded by farm fields and bush.
Before her injury to her back legs a year or so before I brought her home, she used to go outside the plant fence and hunt, sometimes dragging back stuff that was pretty large. There’s coyotes and farm dogs in the area too, she is a pretty tough and cagey gat to have survived 8 years of that.
I almost think that she might not even consider the small rodents honorable opponents.
Taz is another story. House raised from 12 weeks of age.
The house has an attched garage and the cats are allowed out when I work on the motorcycls, as long as the outside doors are shut. The odd time we have mice get in the garage and leave their “sign” in the corner. When the female cats discover that, they are very focused and intense on the hunt and not easily distracted.
Taz checks it out, looks around for about 15 seconds, then comes back to rub around my ankles.
Glen, I agree with you on the hunt for survival. Kasey was out a lot longer than Steeler so they probably look at a mouse in a different aspect. Fun to catch but not worth eating. Steeler only ever caught the one mouse in the basement. But after that she goes on what I call guard duty. Every day I have to open the basement door, turn on the light and down she goes. Then the same thing for the sunporch (she never caught a mouse there). She then prowls each room in the house. It’s a ritual with her. Trust me, when she wants that basement door opened, it is now not later or my chair legs will be toothpicks.
Cinnamon Toast was a handful. i found her in my barn 12 years ago, as a 6 week or so old baby, hiding amongst the hay bales in my barn. I tried to catch her but she ate me up. Even as a tiny kitten, she had nails and teeth! I kept trying until one day she was trapped in an empty water bucket in one of our horse’s stalls and couldn’t jump out. I donned a pair of heavy gloves and scooped her up and brought her inside. After hiding under the bed she eventually emerged to check out the other kitties and to do something about the hunger and thirst that set in! Gradually she became domesticated and has been a special kitty, but a typical tortie, after I found out that they were a unique kind of cat. CT talks ALL the time, follows me around chatting incessantly. She came to us about the the same time another stray showed up, an orange tabby we named Marmalade. Cinnamon Toast was a natural name for our tortie after that one! Not to mention that she looked like burned toast! We have had her for 12 years now, and just recently we lost her best friends, Rusty, an orange and white tabby boy, and Toby, a Maine Coon kitty little man, within 7 months of each other. They are all about the same age, 12, within a few months of one another. We just seemed to be winding up with strays and dumped kitties 12 years ago, one after another. CT is just so sad now but she is getting more Mommy time from me and is slowly coming around. These feline friends sure do leave paw prints on our hearts, and our families. Torties are really special little kitties.
I love the name Cinnamon Toast, Jacki – what a perfect name for a tortie! I’m sorry about your Rusty and Toby – that’s a lot of loss so close together. I’m glad CT is starting to recover from missing her friends. If you’d like, you can post a photo of CT on The Conscious Cat Facebook page, we’d love to see her!
Jacki welcome. I was not surprised you had a time catching her as a kitten. You really did stay persistent to catch her and I can read that you would have had it no other way. It is really sad that you lost your other 2 after having them for so long, and so close together. That would be very hard to accept. Cinnamon Toast is a great name for a Tortie. Yes, the do talk, all the time and as you well know they are always close by. 12 years with a Tortie, qualifies you to be a Tortie interpreter for the rest of us. Mine talks constantly. Not to mention she is always doing something to get my attention. Please post pics of your little furry ones. We would like to see them. It does’t matter to us if only CT is still with you. We understand the others are still on your mind at times. Take care of yourself and CT.
Welcome Jacki, as usual I get here late at night so missed all the fun.
Welcome to our Tortie family.
Ingrid is Mom who tries to keep the kids in line (and fails)
Like Ingrid and Bernie mentioned, please post a pic of CT.
We all know how even asd a kitten, Torties put up a fight.
Glad that feed bucket wasn’t a water bucket.
I’ve found mice and 1 squirrel that got in my horses bucket and could not get out.
Sorry about the loss of your other 2 friends.
The Rainbow Bridge is filled with our loved ones.
Hope you join in a lot.
Jay
Well Tortie family, this day is over for me. My good buddy, has just moved down off her pillow and out to the other parts of the house. However, she had snacks this eve., and she left a powerful odor behind. Smart cat. I think my next purchase will be a kitty gas mask detector.
Goodnight all, thanks for a great day.
Allow me to amend the previous post. I think my next purchase/patent will be a kitty gas early alert system. Once detected it’s to late.
I’ve read all the comments and will watch the SB tomorrow (I taped it)
Would love to have been hre in real time, but reading all these posts was better than the game.
Many friendships were formed because of these great cats. I consider that a Great Victory.
G’nite
It seems you are all worn out and gone to bed. It’s been a tough day on you all. Jay will have some catching up to do when he gets home. Just before he asks, yes, I was not on good behavior.
No I did not break anything.
However, I hope I don’t need any repairs to my laptop. Everytime I use it I have to brush cat hair off it. I probably have cat hair down in under the keyboard. While the game was on I had laid the laptop on the bed, and left the room. When I came back someone was sortof – kind of – on it, a furry little friend. Now what do you think she wanted to say to you all. I know. Thanks
Bernie, laptops are warm and kitties find them irresistible. I think they can communicate through them just by lying on them via kitty mind link, though.
Bernadette, this is the first time I have ever seen her on it. I think, but I don’t know, that she sees me working my fingers on it, that it may be a toy. But cat hair is new to this, at least as far as I know. If they do communicate via kitty mind they better keep it clean.
Last laptop was returned to me from repair shop with a ziplock full of cat fur, and a note – motherboard melted. This was in your fan. (Couldn’t tell whose fur.)
Harry I won’t have that problem. Only 1 furry buddy here. Hadn’t even given a though to the fan. Help: There is no way for us to vacuum that out. I guess there will be a first for everything. I should have known she’s up to something. After all, I have to run the sweeper mostly because of 1 little girl called Steeler. Kitty litter and hair.
I watched my first superbowl in about 30 years, and I have a group of friends that I never would have had if not for Steeler and the Steelers. No regrets.
Beautifully put, Harry.
And for my first game in probably about ten years, this wasn’t a bad one to watch. Although I don’t know how you football fans do this Sunday after Sunday. I don’t think my heart could take the excitement!
As for the torties, I still think they all deserve a little cheese treat this evening….
Ingrid, I don’t know about cheese treats for Steeler, she already has had cake with strawberry jam on it and reeses little peanut butter bites. She didn’t get any cheese. It is made with hot cheese and we all know where that goes with her. She just reached over and pulled my blouse as if to say are we done?
Harry, I am happy to know you “relaxed” and watched your first SB in 30 years. We have come to share a great deal through our little furry friends. Our only real problem is we humans could get together and mingle and laugh, but, not in a million years could we bring all these Torties in one place at the same time. That could be called the War of the Torties.
Tortie Bowl. Animal Planet has no idea what they’re missing.
Your right about that. However, I don’t want to be in the middle of that program.
Those Torties are together in Spirit.
The most we can hope for.
Same here Harry.
No regrets at all.
No regrets and we had a party and did not even need a designated driver. How’s that for friendships.
Oh Bernie, I wish the game had ended differently, but it sure was a great game. If it wasn’t for all the torties cheering their black and gold team, it would have been over after the first quarter. Loved your Facebook photos of Steeler watching the game. Allegra did her best to help cheer the Steelers, but she got a little scared when I started yelling at the tv. Not something she’s ever heard me do before. I think my blood pressure is slowly returning to normal.
Ingrid, I had my nitro tables at the ready. I have been thru this before. Steeler really does watch TV. Not just the SB. She will lie in her red bed and watch the TV from there to the cartoon channels. Something about the vocal sounds. Yelling at the TV is a normal reaction. Throwing pillows is also acceptable. But we move on to next year.
Ingrid, I can picture Allegra saying “Mom never watches football, why is she so excited now?”
Thank you for believing in the new Tortie tean of The Steelers.
That team does not know (yet) how many new fan were created because of you.
Jay they are so dense they don’t even know the Torties are the team mascots.
Tortie family and Steeler supporters, the TORTIES ROARED, but darn, no on told us the Packers were deaf. Well we have fun and now we move on to other things. Bernadette even dressed in black and gold. So we have accomplished a lot, and friendships are the most treasured events that have come from all this. So I am ok with this, uh uh, well not so much, but hey, we survive and dig in for another day. I hope you all have as much fun as I have with this game.
Brooke guarded the TV so Harry could not change channels, and Steeler ended up at the foot of the bed watching the game.
Sure wish I could have shared this with you tonite.
And you’re right. Friendships have been strengthened because of Steeler.
Jay, friendships were caused by a blog started by Ingrid, letting us go onto any topic we wanted. It just so happened a cat named Steeler came on. Since I knew nothing about cats, our friendships started for me, from that. You all taught me a little each time about Torties. I am still learning and still she owns me. I will say this is quite an exceptional gang of personalities we have each brought to the blog.
OK Tortie Family Steelers are coming onto the field. Got to go. GO STEELERS
Jay, I had it rough enough when Steeler was ill and I had to try to give her drops. That is the time you Tortie folks on her said put it on her food or in her water. To think nose drops!! I don’t have enough leather covering for that.
Steeler is currently watching the gray cat eating his snack before he heads back up the hill to his home. That is the red glass by along the side of the door. I wonder what color it looks like to Steeler, looking thru red at a gray cat. Maybe that’s why she likes to watch out there.
Probably looks like blood.
Good thing there is glass there or it wouldn’t be glass color your seeing.
Kevlar is stronger than leather. Would probably give you those 10 extra seconds to get out of the room.
Leaviing now for work.
Going to miss the excitement.
Ingrid and Harry will have to cheer for me.
Maybe Glen, Kitten and other of our pack if watching will too.
Don’t have to ask you.
I know the answer.
Have fun tonight.
Tortie family alert. I just checked Bernadette’s FB. You all have to see the pics she posted. Then keep going until you read, she dressed in black slacks, gold socks, and top with her dark red hair and went to the store. I want to see her dressed like that for prosperity. So let’s all get her to post her on pic looking like that. Wouldn’t you all like to see her? I know I would.
That photo of the grocery store Bernadette posted is amazing.
She also posted this on her Creative Cat blog: http://portraitsofanimals.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/black-and-gold-kitties/
It’s almost time, folks. Bernie, I’m assuming you and Steeler are in position. The torties are ready to cheer for their team. And I think it would be poetic justice if they got some cheese as a reward after the Steelers win….
Ingrid I check out the gold kitties. She does amazing work. I love the little toboggan she makes.
She has some great pics.
Of course, we are all set. However, Steeler decided to use the ladies room, for her, pre game prep I am sure. I will have to go clean it out. I will have to talk to her about that.
I can’t photograph myself! Kitties don’t have thumbs to work either of my cameras. I forgot to mention the gold suede Keds boots.
Bernadette, I know my camera has a delay, so if I want I can get into the photo. Do you have a delay for getting into the pics? Your teasing us. God suede Keds boots, now that is over and above the bar.
Jay, sorry you will miss the game. But I know you have worked hard for the Tortie Roar. Maybe you can get a sneak peak during breaktime. We will be hoping so( in between long commercials.)
I didn’t get tose the game but heard at 8 m we were slightly behind. When I came home I saw Harry’s Pst ” Put the torties in” and ” should have played the cat”
I laughed so loud at that one I thought I wok the neighbors.
Heard at 10:30 that we didn’t win.
Doesn’t matter
A win would have been great but you and Steeler have brought a lot on non football fans (me included) together. I thank you for that.
Your right Next year we will win but this year THE TORTIES DID WIN….
The torties swept to a victory! They don’t have to do anything to win, just be.
We humans won big time thru our Torties. We still keep going and don’t have to wait for summer training camps. We are 1 big training camp. Ingrid, Harry, Harry’s wife Julie, Bernadette, and you when you could, now that was a superbowl party, with Allegra, Brooke, Mewsette, Stirfry, and Steeler, what else could we ask for? Whoops, I think Glen and Kasey were with us also. If not they were rooting for us.
Can you believe more snow/rain Monday. I really would like to talk to Al Gore about Global Warming. I not getting it here. Looks like no one else is either. New Mexico ran out of natural gas in their lines and just now are getting people back on.
Well, we had a good day today. Good friends, good snacks, well behaved furry friends, I think, and we all survived to laugh another day.
Bernie, don’t forget Cookie and Kelly!
My deepest apologizes to Cookie and Kelly, also forgot Harry’s Vicki, May, Pearl, Henry, newbe Gabby, and Jay’s Pumpkin and Tabby. I enjoyed every minute of our party this evening. I do hope I have remembered everyone. Please Jay, don’t ask me to add the three musketeers.
Tomorrow we will have a test to have each of us name all the little ones. I just failed. So the rest of you better study up.
Bernadette you are the greatest!!!
Hey, did you folks know there’s some sort of a sports even today?
Oh, well, I didn’t see anything about Steeler in the media this morning–and I really thought with all these suggestions from us they’d do SOMETHING. I know a number of reporters in local media through what I do, and write and distribute publicity for several of my customers, so they are accustomed to getting information from me. I sent it when I had written a blog post giving them an idea of the local connection and also sent Ingrid’s from Pet Connection thinking that might look like it wasn’t just little ol’ nutty me with a bright idea. The woman who writes the pet column in the Post Gazette and who I know personally had the gall to do a story about DOGS that are black and gold. They don’t know what they are missing!
Looks like I’ll have some free time this evening! I know no one will call me during the game, except maybe halftime (some customers do call on the weekend), but I don’t watch the game–I don’t even have a television. If I’m near my computer I check the Post-Gazette website or Steelers.com if I’m curious, but everyone else enjoy the show!
Cookie has a little cold–the four siblings had passed one around last week, something that’s never happened here, then Cookie started sneezing. Her little nose is stuffy but she’s a trouper and even though she’s miserable she’s still eating and drinking, and of course gets lots of special care and attention, as if she could get any more than she already does. This morning when I cleaned off her nose and gave her some nose drops she actually hissed at me! That’s common conversation for many torties, but not Cookie. It’s about time to go steam up the bathroom and put her in it.
Happy Game Day!
Poor Cookie.
I’ve never had any of mine get colds but if cats feel like we do with a cold I’d forgive her for hissing.
I heard there was a game today. The News mentioned it a few times.
I’m sending Stirfry out there to talk to a few dogs.
The’ll be black and blue then.
How dare them give air time to dogs when Torties carry their colors proudly.
Jay, there is just no accounting for taste. But we all know the beauty of our little friends, oops, owners. Don’t want to get in trouble with my Steeler. She still very talkative today. Maybe I will give her some cake, to sweeten her up, but maybe not.
OK folks, arrived home a little bit ago. I saw that deal on the black and gold dogs dressed up. They were, n’t black and gold they had on jerseys. Brain dead using that. Buy it’s. We Tortie folks have the real black and gold and it is natures paintings. But now you all do know there is a game today. OK.
Bernadette, I am sorry to hear about Cookie and her cold, I can’t imagine how the little girl feels. Then again, I can’t wrap my head around having to give nose drops to here. I think I would be injured, badly, if I tried that with Steeler.
Now I know you folks are going to try to see some of the game and good for us.
I just want to let you know what those folks did on Fox this afternoon. We all know about Punksutawney Phil. Well ESPN used a possum ,ugh, you all heard me a possum, down there to go for a bowl of food for either the Steelers or Packers to predict. The blind possum went for the Packers. I looked and thought, are they nuts, anyone who knows about possums, knows they are almost blind in the daylight. Just a little trivia.
Steeler and I are ready for some football, then the very loud TORTIE ROAR!!!!!
I KNOW you would be injured if you tried that with Steeler.
I tried 1 time to give Stir antibiotics when her ear puffed up.
Got bitten and scratched.
Didn’t see her for a few days.
Luckily I never tried again
Sure sounds to me like Steeler knows that today is a big day!
I can hear all the Torties yowling this evening.
Then a loud ROAR by game end.
Victory for them all.
Seems like everyone is on FB.
I worked 2 1/2 hours today and went to Harbor Freight.
Got more scaffolding and found it must have been made in China.
The holes for attaching the second set don’t line up.
Getting the hammer out now.
Cya later.
OK I am now here. Steeler and I have made it this far. Tortie family tomorrow will be the championship of the Torties. And, heaven forbid, my team doesn’t win, our furry Tortie family will still be champions. All the support given to Steeler, and those who will watch the game because our Torties wear the colors of the Steelers, a coat of true beauty given to them by nature. Hard to believe that our Torties are so exceptional in so many and intriguing ways. This has been a lot of enjoyment sharing my enthusiasm with all of you here. I believe I may have found the most devoted and friendly group of Torties and humans on any http://www.site.
Ingrid created it and through her eyes we flourished. OK all, get those snacks ready for tomorrow.
I know where I will be and Steeler will be right there beside me, until I yell at the TV, then it is see you later, crazy lady.
Harry and Rachel now have Gabby safely at his home to be cared for. He will be honored by all the cats in Kitty Heaven one day.
Now your gonna make Ingrid blush.
And Harry is honored now by his kitten kindle.
(Kindle – A group of kittens)
And I know that when I pass on there better be animals there – cats dogs, horses etc. or I ain’t going.
And Bernie – you and Steeler have converted a lot of us into Steeler fans.
Thank you.
Jay now you are going to make me blush. OK I didn’t know a group of kittens are called a kindle. Remember this is the first cat I have ever had (owned by). I know there will be all kind of critters to keep you happy, or your right, don’t go. Anyway don’t go to soon. We like you right here.
Harry is exceptional, I could not do what he does. My home would be overcome with all sorts of kittens.
You’re so sweet, Bernie. When I started this site, I never imagined that it would create such a wonderful community of tortie lovers, and I certainly never expected the friendships that have formed as a result of it.
And I can’t believe I’m going to be watching the Super Bowl tomorrow … 🙂 Steeler has turned quite a few people who couldn’t care less about football into Steeler fans!
Ingrid, when I first came to this site, I never imagined I would have found the moments of joy of being able to talk to these great folks and get to know everyone. It is as though I could walk up to anyone on here and just say hi, like old friends do.
Your site is going to keep going stronger than ever. We have all had fun with the Steeler and football. I smile when I think of how some of you are going to watch the game, I imagine a lot of you will be thinking about a little Tortie that brought us into this game, no matter the outcome.
Has long as you are here, I think I can feel I can safely say, we are here to. Hopefully more and more Tortie folks will come here and talk with you and the rest of us.
I know, part of my day is to check this site to see what you are up to, each one of you. I have LOL so many times just reading some of the posts, and if this site can put a smile on someone, even for an instant, you have achieved what many will never know.
So after football, lookout, we all share a lot more than that. It was just that this happened at the right place and at the right time with everyone’s support.
This will come back threefold. I hope this site doesn’t crash. You may be invited to predict the next SB winner, (2012).
Bernie, same here.
1st thing I check in the morning and after work.
And I have laughed many a time and scared Stirfry out of the room with all these story’s and comments ( yours included).
Who would have known that having cats like Steeler, Stirfry, Kasey and others coming into our lives as feral or working cats would have connected us together.
By trying to find out more about them we came to Ingrids blog and learned so much.
Bernadette, Ingrid and Harry have really enlightened me about cat knowledge, rescue groups and health facts. I know now I will always have a Tortie. Hopefully my next will be a long way off. Don’t think I could get 2 if Stirfry was one. Same with you. Steeler would not have it.
Jay you know exactly what I meant. For whatever reason, we have a family here. Of course Ingrid gets to edit if we misbehave. But that ok. I am still learning about cats. Tonight Steeler has been squawking all evening. I have no clue what burr is under her saddle. She wants my complete attention and if not given immediately she goes to start shredding my chair legs. One of these days I am going to sit down, and find my chair legs are toothpicks. She all worked up. Do you think she know what tomorrow brings? huuummm
This is the only blog I write on except the fb. I feel really lucking to have found this. I have scared Steeler off the bed, sometimes when I just break out laughing. She thinks I must be nuts, (or maybe she knows) since she pulled off the stunt of getting a home then taking possession of it.
You and Stir, Pumpkin, Tabby and the three Musketeers are fun to look at. But I would not want to get up early every AM to go out in the cold, it takes real dedication to do that.
Bernadette showed us all that endurance of private issues, shared with friends, binds us closer. She really is to be admired for her poise and dignity through a very trying time in her life.
Bernie – you wrote:
Bernadette showed us all that endurance of private issues, shared with friends, binds us closer. She really is to be admired for her poise and dignity through a very trying time in her life.
You too have shown us what love is thru what you endure.
Jay, I see you have been busy. We are either going to get Ingrid’s writing about Steeler told, or we are going to get arrested for harassment. Either way, we can make bail, unless the judge is a Packers fan.
I sent the site info for the Conscious Cat and others to everyone in my email list. Even every company on my email list. Some company’s automatically reject the email, but hey, for every rejection, someone else will go to her site, I hope.
Tortie family, I was just on the google search for Steeler by Ingrid. I scrolled down a little and found a really nice thing. The Cincinnati SPCA is showing a cat named Steeler. Yes, folks she is a Torti and she is really beautiful. I hope the folks in Cinnci (as we call it) know what a special kind of cat the Tortie is and she is adopted quickly.
Harry, any news on the adoption event tonite?
Did you make some kitties happy with a new home ?
Jay I am waiting to hear from Harry about the adoption also. I am wondering if Gabby is going to come home with him.
Guess we have to wait till tomorrow,
Scratch that – it is tomorrow now.
Got to go to bed – Pumpkin keep bumping my hand.
G’nite
Two nights in a row up at 1:30 – I’m too old for this party life. Took a while to get unpacked from the event and get Gabby set up. She’s here, settled in, Henry’s resting now the the meds are adjusted right. We did minus one adoption – a return from a guy whose girlfriend didn’t like the cat he adopted two weeks ago. Grrr… I would suggest returning the GF instead, but that would get me in trouble with management. One photo of Gabby on my facebook, more photos and more of her story, tomorrow.
Harry, to old, I should be so lucky. It is good to hear that Henry’s meeds are working better. I think you better get some rest. I agree, you don’t take a pet, and return it, because a GF or BF doesn’t like it. I would be thinking twice about that friendship.
Going now to check out Gabby.
Jay corrections: KDKA not KDAA gremlins really got into that post. I would blame Steeler but she might be able to read, like Harry said, and the consequences could be awful.
I found this web site
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2010/11/04/news-tips/
and also
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/station/kdka-tv/#bio
I sent it to every reporter that had an e-mail address and also all the contact for news story addresses.
Hope someone follows thru
Ingrid, this was for you. I just got off the phone after reading the Conscious Cat (412-244-4444) news room. I actually talked to a live human, and suggested they google search, Steeler the cat. Explained it was written by Ingrid King, an established writer and author, about a local cat and how it came to be Steeler. They did say they would look at it, and send it over to the programmer to see if it could be used. Whether or not they use it, is not important to me. But getting your name out in our area, if I can will be good.
Aww, thanks, Bernie. Let me know if anything comes of it. But even if it doesn’t, I loved writing about Steeler, and I’m actually getting excited about Sunday’s game!
Ingrid, no thanks needed among friends. I also contacted KDKA and they pulled up the story you wrote, and are going to let me know if it will be broadcast. If, so, I hope your site goes wild.
ALRIGHT BERNIE !!!!!!!!
Hope they can use it in a story.
Would it help if we called or sent them an e-mail or should we wait and see?
Jay I called them. They each pulled up Ingrid’s google/pet connection story. I hope they use it and give Ingrid credit for writing the story. I don’t have their email address only phone #. You can go to WTAE.com and KDKA.com to see if you and our friends find an email address for either of them. This is the email to WTAE [email protected] (412-244-4444). KDAA I don’t’ have an email only the phone 412-575-2245. Now we are in the weekend I don’t know ha
many are on staff. I you can find their email or how to post the story on their site by all means got for it. Get Ingrid’s name out there.