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
A video of a Tortie
Cat is Posessed
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1926856
Steeler has the same spot where she just loves to be scratched or brushed and her behavior is similar but different also. Her voice has a hoariness out it.
OK I guess I will write this, and I am not Irish, except today. So HAPPY ST. PADDY’S DAY to all our Irish pets and friends, and even those like me who is not Irish.
And same to you.
Remember – In Scotland and Ireland, a stray tortoiseshell cat settling in one’s home is a good omen.
We all were given The Luck of the Irish when they came into our lives.
I had read that on Google a while back. In many cultures the Tortie is either revered or a sign of bad luck. I take the good luck, for me.
Depends how the Tortie views you.
Your friend Marty sees her as good luck, now Bob on the other hand ……… 🙂
Bob only has the other hand.
It’s good luck if you let the tortie settle in. It’s bad luck if you don’t.
So far we have all had good luck.
And we know the threat of Tortie Wrath is and no one wants that.
This is great to see. The family is back and things are being accepted and stories are flowing. The way the folks on this site, thank you Ingrid, come together and then bear happiness and grief, can only be done when each is giving and caring. If only others could understand the power of laughter and togetherness . Sort of like the Three Muskeeteers, in my age span for those who don’t know, not the candy bar, it was all for one and one for all. I guess we are more than three but I see everyone was here for Piper. Geez if I get a toothache I know who to call. Harry then the vet.
Good morning to all the Tortie families. We have had a lot of sadness this past week. So now I will post a story of Steeler that I held back on because more important matters were in play. So here is her latest incident. On Sunday, my friends, Marty and her husband Bob, stopped by, to check on me, yea, you read right. Well Marty and Steeler have formed a friendship. She is learning Tortie talk so Steeler of course talks up a storm with her. Well Bob has not had an interaction with Steeler, she always left the room when he came. Bob is a Vietnam Vet who lost an arm in action.
So he decided to reach down an, lord help us, pet Steeler. She let out the Tortie snarl, Bob jumped back an said, Oh S—. What the he–is that. That is no sound I ever heard. That’s not a real cat but whatever it is I won’t do that again. I can’t afford to pull back a stump. I already only have one arm. Steeler stood her ground, arched and snarling. Poor Bob. Marty is laughing really hard, and said I told you before we came in don’t touch Steeler. Even Marty has not gained the honor to pet her. She loves Steeler and they chatter back and forth. I don’t see Bob visiting anytime soon. He doesn’t think Steeler is really a cat.
I hope this helps brighten up your day. You all need a smile about now.
We take for granted how our Torties are and to us that seems “normal”
We forget that others are use to cats that are friendly and cuddly.
Always a shock for them to see a small black and gold little gir, reach down and find a panther is waiting to attack.
Can’t say I don’t enjoy that.
Poor Bob though. He has been thru so much. He didn’t need that.
Hope he comes back and realizes that it takes a lot of time to gain a Torties trust.
It is very rewarding when you do.
I don’t think Bob is going to be friends with Steeler in the near future. Steeler’s response even surprised me. But then again, never reach into a cat’s den. They have the wild in them and he’s lucky to have not lost a hand. He still says that is no normal cat. Little does he know.
Steeler probably doesn’t think she’s really a cat, either 🙂 I’m sure in their own minds, our torties are at least the size of a lion, if not bigger! Great story.
Steeler is a miniature leopard. Even I wonder sometimes. But we have had so much sadness within our Tortie community, I held this story back, hopefully Harry, Rachel and Julie are getting back to “normal” for the Shubin family. I can see this may be #7 for the family. They vested their hearts and souls in helping this mommy cat. So maybe Steeler can put a small smile on those big hearts.
By the way your post on your FB was very good today. Hide and seek in a muffin pan and mommy doesn’t bake. Loved it.
And there’s nothing wrong with us for thinking it perfectly normal that one of our housecats would try to bite off the remaining arm of a one-armed man. Nope, perfectly normal…
Sorry haven’t been on much, we’re still all reeling a bit from the combination of the time change, the lost of most of our sleep Sunday night, and the sadness of the whole event. Piper is back with us today, resting as comfortably as possible. She’s pretty worn out herself, but eating well. Perhaps #7, we have a lot of emotion invested in her. But much of it depends on #’s 1-6. We cannot have another cat that has to live in a separate room. This time, I mean it…
Harry congratulations on your new baby. Somehow I felt this little fighter was going to become part of the Shubin family. Her little life would be over if it had not been for you and your family. So you know saving her life is the ultimate, and that would be hard to let this little girl go. She has been through enough changes. Remember 7 is supposed to be a lucky number.
I’m so glad to hear Piper is recovering well. Here’s to hoping #’s 1-6 will accept the newcomer. I’m thinking you may need to reconsider the whole foster thing again…. 🙂
I knew this was a bad idea from the BeiBei Beginning…
Next stop, Hoarders on Animal Planet.
Oh no Harry, I think it is a great thing. It’s the fostering now you guys have to find a way to delegate more of. Your hearts are just to easy for loving these precious little ones who have suffered. I am sure someday in the very very far future, you will be seated at the head of a very large table for all your good deeds you are doing and have been doing.
In the meantime, you may have to get a second job, just to keep up with your growing family.
Recommend pet store where you could get discount on cat supplies. 🙂
I can see how the voting goes with those 6.
Brooke: Well at least she has a pointy face so I say “Yes”
Sabrina” If Brooke says yes then I say NO.
Harry,
Two points to consider:
1. Seven is my tipping point in behavioral issues; it’s fine this time because five are related, but little Kelly is left out (she has no tortitude at all in the aggression department).
2. Seven leaves little room in a good foster home for a kitty who needs a home in an emergency.
3. Piper will be highly adoptable, even as an adult.
I’m not stating my opinion on what you should do, just my experience on what’s happened in my own experience.
She would be hard to give up after all this.
Bernadette that was the best example of attempted diplomacy. Reasons a,b and c. Ending but it would be hard to let her go etc. Love your wording on this one.
Sorry, three points. Someone here reminded me of the third. (Cookie, who was up for adoption along with a calico, and the woman chose the calico. Cookie was meant to be with me.)
That’s ok. I already gave you a, b, and c. So your covered.
All valid points, Bernadette (all, um, 4 of them…)
And, as I’ve said before, wouldn’t be in the rescue business if I listened to my head.
1.3: Six was our tipping point, we’re already over the edge.
2.7: If Piper can exist in the general population, then Rachel’s room remains available for fosters. If she can’t exist out with Brooke and the rest, then she can’t stay.
3.6: I know that as rescuers we’re supposed to keep the three-legged, blind black cats, but sometimes…
4.9: No, wait – you only did have three points. The forth one’s mine. I never really had any say in this one, and it was lost probably before it was begun.
Ladies and guys, I just love to see Harry start with the legalese language when he knows he is in a quandary. He didn’t get the memo going around. Piper’s future was already being set up in his home. He must be in the office.
Much bigger and more ferocious.
They could kick a lion’s butt.
And they KNOW they can kick a lion’s butt. That’s the thing. There’s just something engaging about that, “look, I don’t care if it IS your last arm, you ain’t gonna pet me ’till I say you gonna pet me” ‘tude.
Probably, Steeler figured that Bob wasn’t likeable because some tortie got the other arm.
Well now I see your coffee and IV are working. Your sense of humor is coming back. I have to completely agree with what you have said. Steeler is no pussy cat.
Well, when you figure all they had to face out there in order to survive, you aren’t far from correct.
Bernadette you are right on. This one has the look of innocence, but it is so very deceiving. Poor Bob, he already gave one arm for his country, he did not want to give the other to some thing that he says is not really a cat, or at least not like any cat he ever saw. Great sense of humor, after his color came back to his face.
Harry, judging by Rachel’s most recent blog entry, you’ve lost on point 4. Utterly and completely.
I agree with Ingrid. I read Rachel’s blog. Bei Bei is out of mind. Piper is coming HOME. Point #4 is Rachel side, you lose.
Well, they neither mom or dad can deny how much Piper loves me. She’s truly attached. She puts her paw on my when I’m petting her. I was just standing at my desk with her at my feet and she put a paw on my foot. She gives me “the look” and is just so sweet. I really hope she can get along with the others, then she *should* be as good as ours.
I feel more bonded to her than BeiBei or Gabby since we went through her trauma of the miscarriage together. BeiBei went to an awesome home, as did Gabby. i’m dissapointed we don’t hear more from BeiBei’s owners but I’m glad to get constant updates on Gabby. I hope I can try and drop by sometime soon.
Rachel there is no doubt that Piper is bonded to you in a way others can’t. She came to you in her real time of need. I do believe she knew she was losing her little ones and she wanted your help. You were there. No running away. So she is now looking at you as her best buddy. Now as to her being #7, there are those of us in this Tortie community putting a slight pressure on you Dad in a gentle way, to keep this little one. If it hadn’t been for you and your parents this little girl would not be here today. We all keeping an eye on where she is. My bet is on you.
He really has a sense of humor after his own trauma to be threatened by a “little cat”. They now know for certain they need not fear for your welfare, living alone in an isolated farmhouse. You have a tortie.
Still, the fact that Steeler stayed in the room may mean that she’ll warm up to him in this lifetime.
Steeler stayed in the room this time because Marty was here and she and Marty have this Tortie chat thing going on. However, Marty does not touch Steeler. When she tried before, Steeler ran into another room. Bob has been here with Marty before and Steeler would be a greeter to then leave the room. This time she was in a good mood and wanted to tell Marty something, it is a cute way they interact. No real human words are spoken. Bob wanted in on the chatter and she was not in that kind of mood. But in this lifetime, I don’t know. After that look on Bob’s face it may be in the next lifetime. This silly Tortie pulls some really good ones at times. Sometimes she just amazes me. Correct that, most of the time she amazes me. I still have a large cardboard condo in the middle of my dining room.
This has been a rough time this past few days for all the folks on this blog. Especially Harry, Rachel and Julie. It has been the best and worst for them. But they will pick up and go on, and we will be right along with them.
I will post a story tomorrow to help put a smile back on some faces. I have been holding back on it, there has been more pressing issues for all of us..
Strange, from far and near, we all felt the pain of the loss of the kittens. But that’s the way we are.
By the way, how do I put a picture with my name? I’d love to post a pic of my girls.
We’d love to see a picture – you can post it on The Conscious Cat Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/consciouscat
Sue, since Nikita has been checked by a vet and he/she has ruled out any other health issues, I guess it could possibly be high metabolism. I guess she gets to eat even more!
As for the lap cat question: Allegra was seven months old when I adopted her almost a year ago. She didn’t like to be picked up, and she would rarely come up on my lap (maybe once every other week or so). However, over the past few months (she’s now 18 months old), she’s initiated some lap time every day (much to my delight!). So yes, there is hope, although some cats never become laptaps. I think the fact that she likes to lie down next to you or against you is a wonderful sign that she wants to be close to you. It just sounds like it needs to be on her terms.
Everything is on a Torties Terms 🙂
Oh that’s for sure! They both have the tortitude! Everything is on their terms.
Their mom was feral so I often wonder if that has anything to do with how they are too.
My almost 13 year old son is a bit disappointed because he was hoping they would be cuddle kittens. Lately all they seem to want to do is attack his feet lol. He tries to hold them but they rarely tolorate it. They do love to get in his room and explore though.
I have a question for all you Tortie lovers.
I have 2 torties (sisters) 7 months old. One is a true tortie and one diluted and they are as different as night and day. The true tortie Nikita is so skinny! She has been checked for worms and does eat but never seems to gain weight. Vet says she’d healthy. Could it be high metabolism? She is the most active kitten I have ever seen. Her sister Luna on the other hand is a chunk and is content to watch Nikita spaz out running all over (though she will join in from time to time.) Also neither one are lap cats and don’t like to be picked up and held mutch. Nikita will come lie down next to me or against me on the couch but that’s as close as she gets. The only time she will get in my lap is when she wants something like to play fetch or she walks across me to get somewhere else. At 7 months is there hope that they may ever be lap cats?
Sue, I am no expert – we have Ingrid, Bernadette and Harry for that.
Stirfry, my Tortie loves to sit on my lap but she is years old and only started doing this about 5 years ago. She always sat beside me and it progressed from there.
Pumpkin her son is 8 and he just started 2 months ago. Don’t know why. I think he saw his Mom liked it and wanted attention too.
My brother in laws cats are 8 months old and brother and sister.
She is around 3 lbs and he I guess around 9 lbs.
Each cat is different
If the vet seems happy I would not worry.
As to being a lap cat give them time.
Sue you are asking the best of the best here. I have Steeler, 5 to 7 years depending on the vet. She loves me to pieces on her own terms. I have had her since Oct.20, 2009. She will sleep beside me, follow me around talking all day. Very playful. Will not cuddle or let me hold her. They all all different and all has some of the same personalities. Far be it from me to tell you your kitten will change. I am still in the learning process.
Some good news.
My roof is FINISHED !!!!!!!!!!!
Now Pumpkin can come out to eat instead of hiding in the basement.
Stirfry is slightly upset.
She was watching at the kitchen window as they put the final piece below it.
What a Supervisor. I think she liked watching them.
Took her out to look and I think she approved (had to tell with her).
Well it’s done. Kitty’s survived. No more wind in the living room. Life is good again. Tortie approved and Pumpkin can eat you out of house and home.
Did she give up on the mice.
Sad news about Sandpiper.
She lost her kittens.
My condolences to Harry, Julie and Rachel.
And saw this:
The National Cherry Blossom Festival predicted the peak blooming period for the 2011 cherry blossoms to be from MARCH 29 – APRIL 3!
Hope I can still see them on the 10th.
I was so sad to hear the news about Sandpiper, too. It feels like like a loss for all of us who were rooting for her, and for Harry’s and family’s first birthing experiencel.
Jay, the blossoms have been known to not always cooperate with the dates for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, so with any luck, they may still be in bloom on the 10th!
Harry what a sad report to come home to. I know you and your family have been giving that little girl all she could possible want to have a safe and caring birthing. I don’t understand the workings or whys of pregnant cats or any animals, but I know you all are feeling her loss deeply. I know she will get a great home because you all will make sure of that.
Thanks for everyone’s condolences about Sandpiper’s kittens, here and on Facebook. I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to reply, but I’ve read everyone’s posts and believe me, it’s all highly comforting and appreciated. Despite being knocked flat by loss of Sunday night’s sleep, and four dead kittens being birthed in various places around Rachel’s room, we’re surviving with relatively few scars. Poor Piper is at the vet right now undergoing an emergency spay. She seemed ok yesterday, but today was bleeding and it turned out that she had a dead kitten still inside her. They think that all will go well, and she’ll come home tomorrow. That’ll give me a night to clean the carpet…
I’m glad to hear you’re all doing okay, and I hope Piper’s surgery is uneventful and she’ll have an easy recovery – she’s already been through so much. How old is this little girl?
I just heard from the vet 5 minutes ago, the spay is done and went well. Piper is recovering nicely and should be able to come home tomorrow. I think that Piper is barely a year, if that. I can’t remember if I already shared this, but here’s a link to Rachel’s blog about her:
http://sandpipercat.blogspot.com/2011/03/day-1-sandpiper-pregnant-arrives.html
Harry, so sad to hear about the 5th kitten.
Glad Piper is going to be ok.
Was her young age the reason she lost the kittens?
I never had cats before but when I took in Stir she had kittens a few months later.
She had 6 but only 3 survived the night. I think she was only about 1 year old and only weighed 3 lbs. Not sure if that was the reason but I am glad I got Pumpkin out of her 1st and last litter.
I am learning a lot thru you, Bernadette and Ingrid.
Rachel has so much knowledge from all she had been thru.
So sad that this was from Amiga and Piper.
@Bernadette: I don’t think you all made bad light. I think bad things just happen. I know we will foster a litter of kittens. You know, the pre-born for your convienience kind? My carpet is just a mess, we haven’t made a super attempt to get the stains out, but we’ve tried and will try agin. The ones in the corner where she had most of the kittens is the worst. But it’s actually easily covered. For now there is just a blanket thrown over it so I don’t have to look at it.
It’s funny, I actually had a ton of stuff in that corner. Heard her rooting around and figured I could just get away with moving it in the morning. I had a big box of magazines, a bag with an old wall phone and some newspapers in a box.
I’m so ready for her to come home. I miss her already. It’s been 7 hours. I really hope we can keep her. I feel more attached to her than I did Gabby – she’s a bit more affectionate and we’ve gone through more together. I do miss Gabby but know she’s in a good home.
And if all goes well with our cats…there really is no reason to not keep Piper. SHe already has a Cape May name!
Harry, I feel bad we all made light of birthing kittens; as we see, it’s not always the picnic we made it out to be. Mimi, though she was outdoors and unspayed, was still fed regularly and could go inside if she wished most of the time. If I had thought of the time of year or asked her age I might have given some cautions. Early kittens usually don’t make it. She was a stray, and with the inclement weather she could have suffered both starvation and hypothermia, and a cat who is still growing herself who conceives but suffers deprivation will usually miscarry. The fifth kitten was the reason I mentioned the vet visit as it’s typical with miscarriages since their body isn’t in true labor.
I enjoyed Rachel’s blog, though I’m sure she’s seen her share of unusual feline messes in her short career as a foster mom, hasn’t she?
I had a feeling Piper might not be a foster for much longer… 🙂
As for the carpet stains – I don’t know what color your carpet is, but if it’s very light colored, try hydrogen peroxide on a hidden area. It should take out the blood stains. However, if your carpet is not light colored, it might bleach it out.
Well, all our carpet upstairs is pink. It’s faded. I don’t know. We might try a different type of chemical cleaner sometime. We’ve been using ChemDry carbonated water stuff. It worked right away on the most current blood stains.
I agree with Ingrid on the hydrogen peroxide. I have used it for years and on all colors including a red sweater after a bleed out from a chemical stress test. It all came out and no fading.
Try oxiclean or lava soap
on blood stains
Knew I should have watched more CSI shows
Awe geez Harry, don’t go all mushy on us.
Harry she was so lucky to have you and your family watching over her. Otherwise the results of the birth alone would have been fatal. Thank God you are such caring folks.
I’ll make sure I mention those to my parents. Who knows when we’ll have time to clean it. I was just bringing in litter jugs in from the garage, thinking about how much litter seven cats use!
@Bernie: So glad that even though I’m a heavy sleeper that I woke up during her digging around in my corner.
Rachel, something in us knows instinctively when something is wrong, that’s why you woke up.
Whatever product you use on the blood will be able to work much better if you wet the carpet and keep a damp towel over it to soften the stain, and even sop some of it up by pressing a towel against it. You’re most of the way there after that. There’s always throw rugs too.
Rachel you are a wonderful young woman who has a heart of gold. I am truly sorry this happened to Piper, but some things can’t be explained, the important thing is, she was surrounded with people who love her. Sounds like she may be #7 at home.
If I ever had to entrust Steeler to anyone, I would certainly give you a call. Now your Dad will jum[ off his chair and say oh no no no. Not that crazy Tortie.
The story of 2 Bernies. Sorry Bernadette I thought Rachel was posting to me. We confuse some folks. But that’s ok. Rachel each time you write to Bernie you are certain to get 1 or/and 2 responses.
Bernie, we were both trying to talk at once! We’ll let Rachel sort us out.
Rachel is going to have fun with this. She will be posting to Bernie and let you and I try to figure out which one she is talking to . Where else could this happen with 2 Bernies except on this blog?
It’s 18 year old, pink carpet, and as ghastly as that sounds. It should have been replaced 10 years ago, but that would force us to come to terms with how much crap is piled up in the house. I guess we really have to do something about it sooner rather than later.
You know, y’ll are an awfully nice bunch of folks.
Jay
For sure that is a Kasey behavior.
Kasey went through a time when they didn’t feed here much at the compressor plant, I am not sure if it is her nature to always want to be fed or a product on not getting enough to eat.
When I come home from work, the food bowl is well stocked but I am “asked” to top it up.
All i have to do is shake the Tupperwear and drop a few bits on top of the already full dish and things are fine.
What we do for those little girls.
They have us well trained.
Glen, I should have read one more post before I posted mine. You already covered the little on the top. Yes it was Kasey and Steeler at the time. Both want a little more on the top. Something like a haircut. Leave a little more on the top. 🙂
The other thing about Kasey is the internal timer.
She gets a bit of canned food around 10:00 each night. Without any prompting, she starts waiting for it around 9:45.
If it isn’t there by about 10:10, she wants to know why.
They do love their little rituals, don’t they? Especially when the ritual involves a well-trained human at their beck and call.
How are they so smart? How did we get trained so easily? Ingrid their rituals are referred to as control over me. I give in to her to easily. But she makes me laugh with her talking and demanding my attention, I can’t help but be mesmerized. Even if I am having a bad day, Steeler does not allow for bad days. She still finds ways to make me laugh. Someone once told me she is going to be more sedate because she is older. That’s my girlfriend Marty, who happens to love Steeler. Well Marty was here again today and she is being taught Tortie talk by Steeler. I think the next visit my her and I will just go about my business and let her and Steeler visit.
A few minutes ago I went into the living room. Stirfry ran to her food dish. It was 99% full. She meowed so I dumped it back into the 5 gal. food bucket and refilled it again from the same bucket. Now she was happy and ate. Steeler did that didn’t she? Or was that Kasey?
Kasey according to Glen does the same thing as Steeler. They can have a full dish, but they want more, so we just add a tablespoon more and all’s fine. Now Harry or Ingrid, maybe Bernadette, said that is probably because while they were scavenging for food, they had to have some more or something to that effect.
Get used to Stir and her little quirks. She is one of the gang. I kind of think it is just another way to get us up and give them more attention. As far as attention, I think all of us on here would like to get the kind of attention we give our little furry ones.
You folks were very busy last evening. You all have picked up so many names from Cape May that there are not many left. But I always think outside the box so I can throw in Atlantic. Strong, forceful, and unmanageable. Tortie definition.
Love that name. When Harry delivers the male tortie to me that will be his name.
Harry what’s the latest on Amiga?
Hopefully on her way to complete recovery.
Great Amiga news:
Kidney values back to normal, so we don’t have to worry about kidney disease. The initial low numbers were probably due to starvation and dehydration. She has a healed jaw fracture which explains the messy way she eats, the broken teeth and the slightly off center look of her face. Still dehydrated and in need of fluids, but things are looking good! 🙂
Bernie – you were right about her being abused. How sad. But all of you were right about her being a strong fighter.
Great news Harry.
I’m leaving for work soon, so it’s nice to know she will be ok.
Can’t see how anyone could abuse an animal.
I’m sure with her will to live, she will find someone to love her and return the affection.
That is great she is doing better.
“Can’t see how anyone could abuse an animal.” ………….and yet they do, weak minds IMHO, doing nasty stuff to critters that are predisposed to be tame and too small to fight back. If they were really tough, maybe they should go into the tiger cage in the local zoo and “go a few rounds” with the big cats.
When Kasey was at the compressor site, her protectors used to say to the abusers; if you don’t like the cat, just leave her alone, she is not doing anything to anybody. But, that sort of mind doesn’t think that way. In 2008 my choice was hurt someone (not good for the career, I want to work at this job until retirement, likely around 2017) or take her home. I made the best choice 😉
I think you guys are right, she will make a great companion, seems like the rescues often do.
And in a few words, Glen eloquently summed up my week. As I’m typing this, Vickie is sitting on the table getting head scratches inbetween typing. As I’ve said before – an abused barn cat who didn’t trust any human when we first took her from LDCRF (and she hid in our basement for months). I do think that what’s wrong with most people is that they don’t have a kitten. Of all our cats, she’s the one who doesn’t want to go out on the porch.
I think we’ve accelerated the arrival of momma calico to tonight. Bernadette has named her “Sandpiper” – thanks, Bernadette, and that’s a Cape May name, for reasons I’ll explain later.
Glen I am not a violent person, however, if an abuser was just put in with the big cats pens, I am sure that is all it would take to see what a coward the abusers really are. The cats wouldn’t even have to be in the cage and they would be begging for help.
Harry that breaks my heart to hear that she really was abused. That poor baby. Abusing children and pets is one of the things that make my blood boil. The abuser, needs to be abused, badly.
But hearing her vitals are all coming along is great news. Find this little one a special home.
I’m so glad she’s rallying. It’s always humbling to me how animals manage to recover from abuse. Unlike humans, they don’t look back, and they don’t feel the need for revenge. With a little love and patience from caring humans, they seem to be able to move on and enjoy life.
Some good news. From our board:
AMIGA is doing okay. Body temp better, appetite still great, awake and alert. I learned today she is ear-tipped so was probably spayed and vaccinated at some point as part of a feral colony. No sign of her being feral, however.
Great news Harry
Knew Torties were fighters.
Tell everyone thank you.
That’s wonderful news. We sure can use some good news today.
That is really the best news I have heard in a while. I really hope she gets well and I know you folks will find her a very loving family.
Bernie went to bed (long day with that VA deal) and I have Pumpkin telling me it’s time also.
CYA late all.
Healing wishes to our little Tortie.
Same here, Jay. Sabrina and Henry are already sound asleep in my spot. Long day tomorrow, so I’m out too.
And some good news to balance out the other story. Gabby is ADOPTED. Our friend and neighbor signed the papers, and has taken her. She’s had two more encounters with the bulldog, and it’s going well. The dog, Lola, has already figured out which smush-face is top smush-face. Gabby loves our friend and her daughter – she didn’t even seem to care that Julie and Rachel stopped in today to check up. So, I’m pretty sure this will turn out ok.
Next – Momma. I hope to get her this weekend. We’re soliciting names. We’re thinking a beach theme, since the kittens and mom will likely come up for adoption around the middle of June. For the kittens, Sandy, Shelly, Taffy and SkeeBall (guess which one will be the tortie). Don’t have anything related for Mom, and could use two more kitten names, just in case.
Sandpiper, Sunny, Seagull (perhaps even Jonathan Livingston, but I date myself there).
Glad to hear about Gabby! A successful adoption is worth everything you put into it.
Great names! Thanks, Bernadette!
Jonathan Livingston Seagull was our yearbook theme
1975
Hated that book.
Great news on Gabby. FOREVER HOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!
SkeeBall sounds like a male name. 🙂
When can I adopt him ??????
If SkeeBall’s a boy, he’s yours. (Notice how I picked unisex names, for the most part? My childhood friend had a boy cat named Brenda. Hard to tell w/kittens….)
That’s wonderful news about Gabby!
How about Bethany for the mom?
Hey you all, you know how it is when you get a delivery and you empty the box and the stuffings. Well my floor looks like a time bomb because of 1 Tortie named Steeler who claims the box as a new toy and the papers used for packing are being pulled throughout the first floor. I will have to wait for her to get bored before I even think of picking it up. This is one nutty cat.
There were 2 deliveries made.
One was for you and the other for Steeler.
I found that the best gift for a 1 year old child is wrapping paper.
For a cat – boxes and papers.
Steeler is in the box right now. I am going to get my camera and post it. Get back to you folks in a bit.
Definately want to see a pic.
I am trying to load them now. there are 2 and she is definitely taken up residence in her cardboard box. Maybe she is in training for sleeping under the bridge with you and Harry. Give me a bit to get those 2 pics loaded.
Why do I always have to get on the floor to get pics of her. Geez.
Pic up on FB. I always have a problem loading pics. It takes a while but eventually I get it done.
Enjoy, I know everyone of you have this same kind of pic in your collection of cats. Now this huge box has to sit on my floor until she gives it up.
If there was ever any doubt about who is in charge in this home, that pic proves this is Steeler’s country. I have to abide by what she pulls. She may be older, but she is by no means laid back. Now you folks know why she is teaching me how to talk Tortie talk. Cause I am nuts.
We all knew who ran the house.
You are only let out to visit her Dad and get more tuna at the store.
Folks I remember the days when I could walk anywhere in my home and not worry about stepping on anything on the floors. Now, my floors look like I have little children with these little toys and strings, precious to Steeler. Now I have a large cardboard box. I guess it will be used under the bridge with Jay and Harry.
I’m so glad that Steeler is selecting boxes for us! I wouldn’t have a box other than a tortie-approved box. Take that, Underwriters Laboratories.
You know, we passed 3000 comments without so much as a balloon or firework.
Well congratulations to Ingrid. We all know this is a safe place to talk and interact. That is great. We will have to celebrate on the 10th. That’s a lot of postings.
I actually noticed that a little while ago, but I was a little preoccupied. They had issued a tornado warning for my area. Allegra and I took cover in the downstairs bathroom for a little while. It’s where she usually goes when something spooks her. She wasn’t at all sure she liked having me with her in her safe space. Red area on the radar is now to the north of us. Whew!
But – I digress. Back to the more than 3000 comments. Wow! Thank you guys, for having made this possible!!! I tell some of my blogging friends that I have a post with more than 3000 comments and they look at me like “yeah, right.”
Easy to do with such a great group.
And all those Torties posting at night while we sleep certainly helped.
Harry your right, only Tortie approved boxes. Always the large ones, not those small ones. Our home never had stuff like this on the floors. This is always a learning curve for me. The teacher of course is Steeler. I am still baffled as to how 1 little cat can control me so easily.
The small ones can be fun, though, especially when someone who does not fit, fits as much of themselves as possible into the box, leaving the remainder to hang over the side.
Glad you and Allegra are safe, Ingrid!
Last summer I had to get all nine of mine into the basement when a tornado was headed right for me. That’s what the training with the bottle of treats is for, in this case, brewer’s yeast tablets. They get distracted and come to get one so I can grab them.
I just posted a photo on my Fb – of a cat one of our board members rescued this afternoon from a discarded couch on a neighbor’s porch. She kept calling the cat “he” but… (if she’s right, I’ll be calling you Jay, but I doubt it).
Harry the pic is black so far. So it may come thru, but right now it just shows ? in a box. Will check it out again later.
It didn’t load the first time – up now.
Still waiting. No pic yet. Just your message about her being at the vet. I’ll check back onto it later. Sounds like Jay may be praying for another male Tortie to be born.
Harry the pic is up now. That poor kitten looks as if she is starved. She is holding that can for all she is worth. I know this little girl will place easily. She is beautiful. Never know about Jay and his critters. He seems to like all of them. When he sees this he may want her.
Already know she’s FeLV/FIV negative. A good start. Now named “Amiga” (after I pointed out that she wasn’t liikely to be a “he”).
That is unusual for sure. I hope she checks out ok on everything. How old do you think she is? 8 to 12 weeks maybe.
Can’t guess age from the photos – I’ll have a full report later.
Oh, Bernie – I do.
Always willing to save a lost animal.
Oh I hope so – the elusive male tortie just showed up !!!!
Jay I think your next project will be or already is to find that elusive male Tortie. It would be an accomplishment.
Sorry Jay – she’s a she. “Amiga” She’s between 1-4 years old, barely 3 pounds, and the few teeth she has left are fractured. Her kidney values are high, which is not good. She’s getting fluids, and we’ll recheck bloodwork in the a.m. I don’t know what her chances are, but at least, if she has to be put down, she won’t be dying alone in the woods. Torties are fighters though – oh, wait, I forgot to whom I was talking. I’ll keep you posted.
I am send healing wishes to her.
Now at least she is getting love and great care.
Like you said – torties are fighters. She will pull thru.
Harry, bless you and the people like you who do these rescues. Just reading the report on this little Tortie makes me want to cry. Sick and fractured teeth. What sick creature would ever hurt these little ones like this. I know I could not do what you and people like you do by rescuing and seeing this side of human nature. I would be far to emotionally connected and not good at all in handling reports like this. This little girl looked like she is a kitten and to hear maybe a year old. To think after someone rescued her, it may be to late. That tears me apart.
Bernie, no one hurt her, most likely. The teeth are probably because she has had poor nutrition and an infection. I’m hoping that she doesn’t have more issues than that. I know it’s devastating – what gets us through is knowing her alternative if we hadn’t found her. We just focus on what we CAN do, and accept what we cannot.
From our board member who found her:
I’m hopeful. The girl has a will to live, as evidenced by her canned food attack. She just needed some friends, thus the name. 🙂 I don’t think she
would have made it through the night because her body temp was pretty low
and even now she has to stay on heat support or it drops again. Whatever happens, we can rest assured she will never again be cold, hungry or alone.
Thank you Harry and thanks to all your friends.
This Tortie group is very proud of you.
I’ve found that the ones who lived to be found nearly always survive. That’s been my experience with the likes of Cookie, Moses and about a dozen others on the brink. Conditions like that would have killed a lesser cat. If they are strong enough to stay alive, they are strong enough to bring themselves back, but it takes a long time with some of them, and not always without other health issues.
Very encouraging words, Bernadette – I will pass that back.
Poor little girl – thank goodness your board member found her. Sending lots of healing energy her way – maybe it wasn’t too late for her. If that photo of her grabbing the can of food is any indication of her will to live, she’ll make it.
Harry, I took your suggestion and bought soy milk for Steeler’s nigthcap. Forget it. She sniffed it and I threw that one out yesterday. So I thought I would let you know, you may have given better advice than you thought.
After that soy she isn’t begging for milk. As soon as I get the carton out and put a little in her bowl last night she again walked away.
I think she is over the nightcap. I do that one more night and when I throw it out tomorrow AM, I think she will be over her desire for milk.
Actually, I share Steeler’s opinion of soy milk. I believe I said, “Lactaid” milk (or the generic equivalent), which has enzymes added to help digest the lactose. Funny, for a long time many of ours begged for milk, and we used the enzyme-added milk in an effort to avoid upsetting their stomachs (no one ever got more than a half teaspoon in a given day). The past year, they’ve totally lost interest – if we give them milk, they walk away. It also seems to have corresponded with the switch to wet food – I wonder if now they’re getting the nutrients they need and the liquid so the milk isn’t attractive anymore.
Cats. I’ll never understand them.
Cats and women, dogs and men…
Bernadette you just wiped out all understanding of humans. Geez lady, what will we do now. We can’t pick on the guys at all. Revise that a little to give we women a little wiggle room. 🙂
Now that’s fascinating to me that your cats stopped being interested in milk after you switched them to wet food! It could be that they’re now getting the nutrients they hadn’t gotten in the dry food previously, or it could be that when they were only/mostly eating dry, the milk was simply more appealing because it was, well, different.
Or else I’m trying to apply human rationing to cats by trying to figure this out, and we all know what a useless exercise that is!
Bernadette said, “cats and women, dogs and men.” Aside from the fact that I disagree with that (there are plenty of we cat guys out there – even now that my father, his grandfather and his uncle are gone… it clearly runs in our family) but I do always wonder why, if there’s the stringy grey-haired unkepmt cat lady (she even has her own doll, and please don’t send me any, I have enough) there’s not a beer-bellied, unshaven, undershirt-wearing dog guy? He does exist, I’ve seen him and I’m sure you have – but even when he has 30 dogs, he doesn’t make the evening news and doesn’t seem to raise the outrage of his neighbors. Why no crazy dog guy?
I was just quoting our favorite sci fi author.
I think Bernadette meant cats and women , men ARE dogs….. 🙂
Now Bernadette would not say that. She is, well hey, maybe she would. But no, maybe not. That is my woman’s opinion. Never able to make up my mind. But I standing up for you Bernadette.
“Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.” Remember, Robert Heinlein?
“I was just quoting our favorite sci fi author.”
Of course. Silly me.
Ingrid, you of all people, applying human rationalizing to a Tortie is like wearing a size 0 again. It’s just not going to happen.
Touche, Bernie!
Now there goes my expert go cat person. I thought you would know all about this. Well I sure don’t understand her. But she seems to know exactly what she wants. I chose soy because it was supposed to be healthy for me. But I agree with Steeler, ugh.
I dunno what soy milk is, but it ain’t milk.
Harry it is called Soy Silk and it is in the organic foods dept in the fridge. It is recommended for many who cannot tolerate milk or for that horrid 4 letter work “diet” pick your mind up.
Oh, I know what it “is”… but it ain’t “milk.” Nuh, uh. Bleah.
Harry you have a fascinating vocabulary.
I have found that if it tastes bad it’s suppose to be good for you.
Anything that tastes good should be bad.
Give me Chocolate, Steak and Beer (or Tequila) any day.
I want to die happy
Well Jay, we now know why Pumpkin is 23 #. Chocolate, steak and a beer or otherwise. She must be helping you eat your diet to help you live longer.
“Cats. I’ll never understand them”
Your just figuring that out now ? 🙂
Hey folks have any of you ever “talked back” to you cats. Steeler started that merowa that what her meow sounds like. So every time she said it, I said it back and repeated it. So I added an extra merowa and by gosh so did she. We talked like this for about 3 minutes, then she grabbed her ducky and well, she just plain tore into that poor little thing. So I don’t have a clue what she was saying, but it was hilarious to hear her come back at me that same way. Who says they can’t talk.
Now I believe they may even work the computer or read the paper (kitty food sale) portion.
Bernie, I think I did see on your facebook page that your other language is “cat”
You are just expanding your vocabulary.
And we know they can work our computers.
I am reading Allegra’s column every month.
Buckley and I used to have lenghty conversations – she was the most talkative cat I’d ever met. Amber wasn’t much of a talker, and Allegra talks some, but usually to herself. When she communicates with me, it’s more with body language than verbally.
We did talk. Cat language or whatever. But when I added extra sounds so did she. So whatever she was telling me was serious stuff. It brings a whole different look at her when she is being so very persistent. I was calling her motormouth because she kept going and going. After the little exercise yesterday with her I know she is actually trying to tell me something. The problem is I don’t really know what. But it is enlightening to know she has her own vocabulary and not only will she lead me to what she wants, but now I know she is telling me. Now I need to study Tortitude Language as new foreign language.
Something new all the time with her. Life with her doesn’t get boring for very long.
Tortitude Language is tough to master.
Not only merowa, but hisses, growls and spitting.
Guess that “tail twitch” showing attitude is down pat though. 🙂
Too cute! Kelly talks to me all the time, and Fawn did too, especially calling me to come and play, but Cookie uses her expressive face, Nikka mumbled, and Peaches never uttered a real meow in the five years she was with me, just little “hmmm” noises and silent meows.
I loved it. It brought a whole new prospective to her and ME! Now I was thinking I could be ornery and change my answering system and add her merow at the end of the message. But I gave that a second though about those who do call me, among them medical personnel, so I ditched that idea. But one day who knows I may add her message to the answering system. I would be just ornery enough to do that. That would drive my family over the edge. But hey, it’s a good idea.
Bernie, my Sophie still answers my phone, even though she’s been gone four years. This started back in the mid-90s when I first got an answering machine. Somebody said to me, “That’s cute with the cat in the background.” I said, “What cat?” I listened to my message and there she was sounding as if she was answering me, and I had never noticed because Sophie always talked to me when I was on the phone–she only heard one side of the conversation and thought I was talking to her–so of course she talked to me when I recorded my message. Every time I re-recorded or upgraded, there she was. She actually had cancer in her throat so her meow is sort of scratchy, but I can’t bear to get rid of it. And I don’t care who might say it sounds unprofessional or it might make people think I really am the crazy cat lady. Sophie has always been a part of my message, literally and figuratively.
I don’t think anyone would be frightened by Steeler’s conversational “merowa”.
Bernadette that’s just wonderful that Sophia left you something to always hear her voice on. I would treasure that also.
I must admit Steelers voice is not of a cat. So I would have to record her first. She never does anything on cue.
Oh, I think that would be so cute to have Steeler’s meowa on your answering machine greeting!
Oops, that would be “merowa” – my apologies to Steeler!
Ingrid, right, pushing Bernie to the looney bin. They are still reeling from the Super Bowl thing with Steeler. Putting her voice to my answering system is something that would be fun.
I may still do it, but it would have to be prerecorded. They never talk when we want them to.
Tell Eric to stop in the next time he’s here – I’ll set him straight 🙂
Harry, I would like to have Eric do that, but he is only in his office in DC 2 days a week. Them to his field office next 3 days. Following week – travel. I was hoping I could get him to the Stray Cat but his work schedule is all screwed up. The strange thing is he said if he were in DC last time he would come, then he was sent east.
I hardly see him. I follow him on FB and he calls if he sees I have not been on FB for l or 2 days. He keeps close tabs on me.
Hey I can’t complain, my family calls every day one or the other. They are all in favor of my taking a road trip. Like they say, if Mom makes up her mind, just sit back, she is going to what she wants anyway.
Anyway Eric is a big dog person.
Definately add her to the answering machine.
Those that know you will approve and those that don’t – who cares !!!!!
Yes those who know me will approve. Those that don’t are mostly medical personnel. I don’t need to be placed in hospital confinement for evaluation just yet.
” I don’t need to be placed in hospital confinement for evaluation just yet.”
I can see the doctors now
She goes out into a snowstorm in her nightclothes calling for a “Snowflake”
She talks to her cat for 3 minutes and thinks she is carrying on a conversation.
Get the padded room ready.
Ok Tortie family Jay is getting in pretty deep here. All of you keep this one in mind, and we will settle him down on the 10th.
Looking forward to the 10th.
A Feral Hiss will settle me down.
Bernie’s honorary traditional name could be “Talks to Torties”.
Bernadette, I have been called a lot of things, but Talks to Torties is new. I will take it.
I can see the new movie now.
Look out Kevin Costner
Dances With Wolves has been overshadowed by “Talks to Torties”.
Jay, Kevin Costner is safe. But on my tombstone, then can add Talks to Torties. I bet I get a special greeting wherever I end up.
Bernie, you will end up with the rest of us. Reunited with all our furry friends.
Now that is Heaven.
That will be fine with me. One question needs to be answered on that topic. What role will we servants get when we get there with all those Torties? Scary thought, but I am making sure Steeler is treated really really well while she is with me, just to be safe.
A Kasey update;
She is happy and doing well, she has her last antibiotic pill on Friday morning.
The bump on her chin looks a bit smaller. It doesn’t bother her and it can be touched without reaction. It is mobile and in the skin, not connected to anything. It is about half the size of the head of one of those pins with the white plastic ends. You have to know it is there and look for it to notice it.
I have done some reading on it. If the antibiotics don’t make it disappear, I tend to believe it is a cyst. The general consensus I have read is to keep an eye on it, if it doesn’t change, leave it along, as soon as you see any change, get it looked at. Indications are that sometimes they just go away, too.
The vet was not keen on surgery and I agree, with her just going under in late Dec.
I will keep a close watch on it and decide if she needs to go in again to have it looked at, I have not ruled out taking her to a specialist, if the vet refers me to one.
In the meantime, it is business as usual;
– Ask to be combed
– Attack the other animals at random
– Lie on her side and try to entice my to reach for that catnip toy she is hanging on to
I’m so glad to hear Kasey is doing well. It sure sounds like a cyst. And since it’s in an area that’s easy to monitor, just keeping an eye on it rather than doing anything drastic about it makes sense.
What Ingrid said. That’s great news Glen – I sure get nervous over lumps and bumps, but it does seem most of the time it’s nothing. Gabby’s lump is practically non-existent now.
Thanks for the comments.
I think this is the right approach.
The decision not to do anything is not financially driven, we are “comfortable” can incur some vet bills, if needed. I would do something if there was a problem and there was an effective treatment that would do some good.
The first on bothered me and the vet said it should go, so it did. We’ll see with this one. On a personal note, a small cyst was discovered on my back in 1981, it was checked out, I was advised to leave it alone, oddly it is almost gone, now.
I check Kasey out every couple days but you have to catch a torie in the right mood to take a close look at the mouth area, it is something like being able to touch the “undercarriage”, as the note on the facebook page says, sometimes you can, sometimes you cannot.
Glen I too am really glad to hear Kasey is ok. But I know you will watch it closely. My only advice is, if you want to look closely, get those really heavy leather gloves on because she may not like being checked out. But this is really good news.
Glen, happy to hear Kasey is back to her old self.
Giving our blood seems to be part tortie play so go for that catnip mouse !!!!
When I play with Stir trying to touch a paw without getting my hand slapped is her playtime (glad she doesn’t have front claws).
Glen, my long-ago dilute tortie Nikka had eczema under her chin when she came to me and we never really cleared it up. She had a few bumpy scars from it and once in a while one of them, or a new crop of bumps, would blister a bit. Also, Kelly has a lump of scar tissue on her neck about the size of a small green olive from an old injury. It always feels frightening, and it has occasionally developed a small pocket filled with fluid, and though it never abcessed I always had it drained. In all these years it’s never amounted to anything. Those outdoor kitties often ended up with injuries that may have healed awkwardly and it makes for some scary lumps and bumps.
Today was the day that Bernie “Talked” to thes Administration Staff at the VA.
I have to watch tonights news to see if there was any violence created by an angry black and gold cat in a federal building. I know Steeler would back up her Mom and Dad.
I am back from the VA. The building is still in tact. Although half way thru my presentation the lights went out, but there were windows, and I said just sit still, I can continue with the natural light. I believe there was a clear understanding of where I stood and what I expected in the future. I did make this a formal complaint. This is not something they seen coming. So in the future no more coverups. I didn’t have to use Steeler. But if necessary I am sure she would have gone with me and taken down a few of the people who hurt her buddy.
When I come home from spending time with my husband, she does keep sniffing and looking around. I really do think she still remembers him.
Glad to hear I don’t have to run into town and bail you out of jail.
They may have known you have a tortie as backup after all those views she got around the Super Bowl.
She does, and she senses the way you feel.
Me to, I did not have your phone number. i hear the accommodations in the city jail leave much to be desired.
I know she does.
Loved ones are always remembered.
I’m sure she remembers your husband.
Don’t think for a minute that the power outage wasn’t caused by a feral tortie tossing a sacrificial squirrel onto a power line. They stick together. Glad you got your voice heard, Bernie. And I join the others – I’m sure Steeler smells your husband when you return, and remembers him.
I never thought about that Harry. A sacrificial squirrel, sounds right. I did accomplish what I set out to do. As for Steeler remember him, I am sure she does. She sniffs when I get home, but his coat and shoes are still where she can sniff. So these Torties are to smart to forget.
Ingrid and Jay, I am sure she knows his scent. It makes me feel good to think that anyway, but somehow I just feel she does remember her fella.
Harry, you had me rolling last night.
Like Bernie said “A sacrificial squirrel, sounds right”
Love the fact that all torties are sticking up for Bernie and Steeler.
They may not get along with other cats (or even their own kind) physically but we all know they are LOYAL.
Mess with 1 Tortie and you mess with a Glaring of them.
P.S.
I found this
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_group_of_cats_called
A group of cats can be called a clowder, clutter or GLARING.
I think that better describes our cats
Maybe that squirrel wasn’t tossed but jumped onto those wires rather than face a feral tortie.
A quicker death.
Either way she was helping out Bernie.
I kind of think the power went out from the force of Bernie keeping her composure.
Either that or it was planned thinking I would stop before I wore someone down. But I like the idea of the squirrel. But I just said I could go on there was enough light and the generator would kick on anyway. I really think some were stunned at that approach. But hey, I said before I started, that I didn’t not want any interruptions or questions until I was done.
I bet the power went out for most of Pittsburgh.
Probably took a lot to stay calm and not unleash Tortie Wrath….
It was a totally eye opener. Just at that precise time and only for maybe 10 seconds. But, hey I just kept going. I had said no interruptions. I guess the Torties wanted to show the panel I meant no interruptions of any king.
Hi folks it is very quiet here today. So let me just bring you up to date on Steeler since we had the picture taking event. As most of you know I was trying to get a really good pic of her for my profile. Well, that meant being on the floor with her, and for quite some time. So today she has been kind of talking at me to get down on the floor. I know this because after listening and trying to understand what was up with her, I knelt down on the floor to talk with her. Don’t you know she ran and got her red cord and ducky and started to play. I finally realized she found me being on the floor with her the other night with the camera was playtime. Now we have a new message from her. Play on the floor. All I had to do was sit there and she performed with her little treasures. She wanted no help. So I just sat there against the cabinet and she was happy to show off. What we do for our cats.
Sounds like she is getting you trained.
Can you use a blender or even a coffee grinder for her food ?
Might be easier and coffee grinder are only $10 and easy to clean.
Good advice, but I have both. She doesn’t want it like a spread. Just very small bits.
As for my wrist, it hurts like heck and it doesn’t help that I sat on the floor to make her be quiet. Using my hand to get up was no fun. But hey, she’s happy.
As long as she’s happy.
Well Tortie family, I have a question for you all. Steeler will not eat food unless it is shaved finely, not pate’. It there are chunks in her food she will eat all the liquid and push the rest aside. Have to use a ricer on her food. Do any of you find this, or is it just that I have been possessed by a really smart Tortie. There is nothing wrong with her dental or orally. It is her way and has been for a long time. I jammed my left wrist yesterday doing this and it hurts like high heaven. I read on here someone else had to use a fork on her cat’s food before she would eat it.
Bernie, cats seem to have different preferences when it comes to textures. There are many brands that are already “pureed,” so you may want to try some of them. What are you feeding her now? Off the top of my head, some grain-free brands that have a mostly smooth texture are Innova EVO and Nature’s Variety Instinct.
Sorry about your wrist! The things we will do for our torties! I can see it now. Doctor to Bernie: “this is a repetitive motion injury. Do you spend a lot of time on the computer?” Bernie to doctor” “No. I got it from mashing my cat’s food.”
I mix Evo with Friskies tuna and egg flakes, or chicken shreds. But the shreds she will not eat. They have to be riced not to the pureed style just enough so they are small bits. Tuna I use a fork because again and chunks she just pushes aside. So the eve give a nice combo for her. But I have found she was not eating it as before, so I started mixing with different Friskies. She will not eat anything that has chunks in it. She will lick the liquid and Evo but if I give her the plain Evo she will not eat it anymore.
As for checking the delete file, that may be a good idea. Allegra has more access to your computer than Steeler gets to mine. But I know the feeling of sleeping restfully only to have the little one wake up in the night and decide it’s play time.
Would it be enough to just mix the tuna juice with the EVO? (You’d be eating a lot of tuna salad that way, though!).
There’s a brand called Tiki Cat that has grain-free flavors, but I don’t know what the texture is. That might work as a mix in if they have smooth flavors.
I have tried that. She will lick the juice and only eat a very small amour of the Evo. I have a new case of Evo, so this little imp is just going to eat it one way or the other.
I have found when I shop for groceries, at least 1/2 of my cost is Steeler. I am not surprised. She expects something to come out of the bag for her.
I am going to cook the tuna down a little with more water and mix it with the Evo. It would be great if they sold tuna sauce.
Allegra decided at 4am this morning that she needed to bring one of her straws up on the bed to play with. She loves those flexible straws, and we have a number of them scattered throughout the house. I didn’t have the heart to stop her game. Thankfully, after a few minutes of pouncing around and crunching on the straw, she settled back down and went back to sleep. What on earth made her wake up at 4am and think “Oooh! I bet Mom would just love it if I went to get a straw!”
Allegra knows you turn the clocks ahead next Sunday and is trying to get you to adjust your sleep pattern.
Cats are so helpful.
Yes, very thoughtful of her. Hmm. Technically, that should mean I get to “sleep in” until 5am after we change the clocks…
Unless she resets her clock again in which case you might be up at 3am tomorrow morning.
Tortie Time.
Torties don’t care about clocks. Day or night. They have a natural built in clock “what can I do new to her now”. That is life with Steeler, just when you think she is settling down, forget it.
So it’s straws with Allegra, power struggle at Jay’s and just plain Steeler being Steeler here. What a wonderful group of pets we have.
No, you’ll get to sleep until 4 still – it’s just that the clock will say 5…
Well, at least it’ll feel like sleeping in… Tortie time is right.
This sounds like Steeler called Allegra and let her know how to get early AM attention real fast. I’ll check outgoing calls and see if Steeler made and to VA. 🙂
Steeler probably called collect.
Ingrid better check her phone bill. 🙂
These black and gold cats can’t be trusted when you leave the house.
If I were Ingrid I would be checking to see if one of these characters did the corresponding. Steeler has been pulling this stunt for a long time now.
Allegra already has full access to the computer…I better check the deleted items folder!
Just got my laugh for the morning.
I was watching TV in the bedroom and saw Stirfry walk out of the kitchen towards me. 2 steps towards me and orange bunny jumped out onto her. Pumpkin chased her into the bedroom and onto the bed. I laughed and think I hurt her feelings. She turned around and looked at Pumpking then 10 seconds lattter jumped down and had a staredown with him then chased him into the living room. 1 minute later she came walking towards me and doesn’t that 23 lb cat rush out and knock her down. Lots of growling and hissing were heard as her knocked her into the bathroom. A minute later he calmly walked out into the living room. Haven’t seen Stir at all.
Right now he is getting kitty scratches from me
No idea where Stirfry is.
It’s going to be an interesting day.
Wow! Is it possible? Pumpkin won a battle with Stirfry?
Nobody wins a battle with a Tortie.
No sure if it’s because he’s her son, or just bigger Ibut Tabatha looks as big) but she tolerates him and will even sniff he if she walks by and he doesn’t see her.
But I have seen her get in that crazy mood and he will run out of the room rather than face her.
I just look at it as he was in a playful mood and she was not in a killer mood.
But like most of us, trying to figure out a cat is impossible sometimes.
I’ll leave that to you, Harry and Bernadette who are more experienced that I.
Bernie and I are amateurs.
Maybe it’s all that ice cream (sugar high) Pump is on. He has been giving Stir the power swat for a while now. I seriously think you have and Alpha male thing going on here.
I think he heard I might be getting a Male Tortie and he’s trying to be the Alpha male.
Like Stirfry would ever let that happen in this house.
What’s up with Pumpkin. Has he been pumping iron or something.. Can’t believe Stir could be beaten like that. Something is haywire there. Did pump get into the pepsi or something?
When you weigh 23 lbs and it’s all muscle you don’t have to.
Pumpkin is shy and not the brightest cat.
Doesn’t know who he’s messing with.
His idea of fun is to pounce on Stirfry when she doesn’t expect it.
He has learned that fun can be painful sometimes.
Pumpkin weighs 23 lbs.
Had to find out as he was sitting on my lap and crushing me.
Took him downstairs to the doctors scale. Weighed us both and then just myself.
Only got scratched once from a back claw – I expected worse.
No wonder he can sit on Stir and she doesn’t fight back. She can’t breathe.
You folks are to far above my grade level on photography. You are on your own. I use a Sony Cyber shot it also does videos. So far only used video, in error. I just want to point and shoot.
Jay at 23 #on top of a Stir, no wonder Stir doesn’t want anything to do with her. That is probably twice Stirs weight and then some. Imagine her jumping off a dresser onto you or the bed, like Allegra does to Ingrid. Broken ribcage and squashed stomach. She must be eating a lot more than you know.
On feline photos, Bernie, et. al., here’s a tip. You know how our felines enjoy helping us with our work, and they will generally sit in the exact geographic center of anything you set down, at least for a short while.
Find a good spot, set up your camera on a tripod or just have it near. Choose a complementary light color so there is reflectance, and even with white cats, white still works well. Find anything in that solid color from a large piece of paper or posterboard–even newspaper since the pattern is tiny–to a folded sheet or blanket and put it where you’d like them to be. Get ready! Chances are they will at least go to investigate it if not settle down and bathe or have a nap on the thing just to prove they own everything in your home.
It won’t always work, but it’s what I do when I’m photographing a feline subject for reference photo for a portrait, and I’ve done it with my own numerous times.
Mine don’t count, they consider themselves to be professional models and are considering organizing so they can bargain for better pay and benefits.
That is new to me. So I will give it a try. She has such a beautiful coat and eyes that catching that in a photo from the floor is hard. But your solution would work. We will work on that. New round of pics will show some backdrop to project how pretty these cars really are. My antique white sofa would be ideal, but that is not an option for her. No heights. But she is one happy and very spoiled cat. As you can tell from some of the pics she was not very co-operative with many of the shots. She just did her thing. I was just a bother to her.
Bernadette, I’m curious whether you have any experience with a flipcam. Quite a few people are telling me that that’s how they’ve gotten some really great still photos of their cats, because you can edit the video you take with it and just cut out the stills?
Ingrid, my small point and shoot digital takes video, but that’s my only experience with video aside from assisting others. I’m looking for a decent video camera and also looking at another small digital that doubles as a video camera. I have only so much room for gear so I try to be careful.
I do know the technology on better flip-cams and such supports this, and now the images are either in higher-resolution already or they can be saved as such while you edit. It used to be that the images were okay to look at, but you couldn’t edit or enlarge them because the resolution was low. That’s one of the things I’m researching now, and checking to see if the technology is still changing a lot. I usually wait until it reaches a plateau of sorts.
Because the video takes multiple frames per second, you have a better chance of at least one frame being what you want. I often use my digital SLR because it has more options including changing lenses, though it’s ten times as big and heavy, but I can set it to either take three sequential shots any time I hit the camera or I can set the shutter for multiple exposures without the camera saving and refocusing between each one.
If you find anything out, let us know!
A cardboard box always works for me.
1 empty box, leave the room for 1 minute = instant cat in box.
I went thru Bernies pics of Steeler on her FB page.
So many good ones to chose from. Hard to pick the best.
Steeler is a very photogenic cat.
I crawled on that dining room floor and played with her for the longest time trying to get a pose from her. Did you see the carpet shot. No cat. She was there, before I knew it she was gone. Nice carpet shot. After all the playing she then sat there as if to say take the darn pics and be done with it. Thanks for the compliments Jay. Bernadette I will keep that in mind. It is those gold eyes that I want to sparkle with that coat of hers. She is not exactly into the prissy stage more the pissed off stage.
Those were great shots. Which one to pick as her profile shot is going to be tough.
The carpet shot shows how well she can blend into the background. Great for waiting till you get the milk out thinking she won’t know.
The carpet shot is considered the perfect shot. Needs no cropping or enlarging.
Just lots of Imagination 🙂
We are still on the no milk yet. Not to say she is not still being persistent. So I try to substitute with something else. I don’t know if it will work long term. May end up getting the lactose free like Harry mentioned.
Harry, I have come in a bit late on the information about your Dad.
These losses are never easy, as I know through experience; he sure had quite a life and career.
“Never underestimate all you are achieving, and you still have years to go”
Yes, IHMO, everyone has their own different role to play.
How long does the introduction adoption go on? Actually, if I had a bulldog, let me correct that, I would not want a bulldog either. Maybe Gabby is just saying what is this slobbering animal doing coming near me. I think this match could be “Beauty and the Beast”. Lots of luck.
Someday, I’d like to have a dog. Not a bulldog, either. The introduction could take several weeks.
PS – thanks, everyone, for your kind comments about my father. He was truly a remarkable man, yet extremely modest – and never once complained about having a son who will never accomplish 1/10 of what he did. He adored black cats, too.
Harry what your father achieved has helped tens of thousands of people, to help keep them from harm.
You are a man of a different side. You decided on law (ugh) but you excelled there. Your compassion for fellow men and women is a part of your father’s teachings. Your determination to save discarded and unwanted precious animals from a death worse then we could imagine, is right up there with helping mankind. Don’t underestimate the value you bring to the table. I see where you get the black cat thing.
I, too, thought about getting a large dog, a couple of years ago. Then I thought, well no, they have to be leashed and walked and I decided that was not to smart.
If you go to my FB there is a video of a black /white cat versus a large dog. I think you will see the intelligence of the cat versus the dog.
Never underestimate all you are achieving, and you still have years to go.
Harry, never doubt that the results of our actions spread like ripples on water so that we never know the lives we touch, and if anyone is keeping score I’ve never seen a scoreboard, at least not in this life.
I agree about the black cats; I was smitten even before this family of five.
Every few years I vow to foster or adopt one of the greyhounds from the local greyhound rescue. Cats can put up with me, dogs would be packing their bags.
Harry, youare as much admired as your Father.
In both case you save lives and I am sure he was as proud of you as you are of him.
You both can never be thanked as much as we would like to.
Hey, you got the Gravatar thing set up, Jay and Bernie! I love it!
I had a lovely rainy Sunday afternoon with Allegra camped out on my lap while I was reading Robert Heinlein’s Door into Summer. I think someone on here recommended it a while back, it was either Harry or Bernadette. I loved it on so many levels (and I’m not usually a sci-fi fan). And boy, does Heinlein “get” cats!
I know I endorsed the book, though I may not have been the first to mention it. Rachel’s reading it right now, in fact. Heinlein always had cats, so I’m sure he understood them (to the extent anyone does).
Gabby met the bulldog today – it didn’t go as well as I’d hoped – she seemed fairly scared of 70 pounds of snuffling, snorting, jumping creature. The dog’s agenda was clearly to lick her all over. We eventually separated them with glass doors, and the dog calmed – a little, and Gabby emerged and relaxed. They’ve decided to adopt her, and try a staged introduction. I hope it’ll work, I have reservations, but I know if anyone can get it to work, they can. Gabby is usually very relaxed around dogs, if they’re relaxed around her. They just have to get past the point where the novelty wears off on the bulldog.
I hope they can work it out. On some level, it’s the perfect match: smush-faced dog and smush-faced cat….
Oh man, that book. I’m an avid reader and it took me a week to get through that book. I just didn’t find it interesting enough to hold my intrigue. Plus the cat is only at the beginning and end. Of course, my dad would suggest a book that has a patent lawyer. Only had minimal issues understanding that.
At least it wasn’t the worst book I’ve read! We all have different tastes.
Ingrid I did take your link and put got it going. I would like to have a profile pic of Steeler up close and personal. But every time I get really close with the camera, she gets personal. End of shot. Most of her shots are not close ups. I need to have her on a lighter background, to get her to show up better, but that’s like whistling in the wind. No co-operation.
Go figure, a Tortie not co-operating.
Never heard of such a thing.
You will have to have the camera ready at all times.
Eventually you will get a good close up.
I have plenty of Stir. Mostly all I see is teeth.
I finally have some pretty good ones tonight. I crawled around the floor with her until I shot a few. About 40 before I quit. Now I am trying to find a way to change this one to a close up. I am in so far over my head on this changing over pic stuff. One day I will figure it out. Although there are some nice new pics of her on my FB. She really is not a co-operative Tortie. Steeler holds her own. My knees are carpet burned.
Bernie, welcome to the frustrating but rewarding world of photographing cats! Patience is the key. I do plenty of stake-outs, just waiting for a good view, then hope the light and angle are good for the photo. I have plenty I just delete.
If you want a close-up from one of your photos, send it to me and tell me what you have in mind. I’ll crop it for you in PhotoShop.
Bernadette the problem is when shooting Steeler, I have to pretty much get down to her level. She can’t jump up on the couch (I do have a nice white brocade antique one) which would give me great contrast. She can’t jump onto anything. So I am always trying for a floor shot.
Ingrid, I was the first to mention it, though I barely remembered it was a novel (thought it was a short story), and Harry set me straight, Jay also added a few comments about Heinlein, it was quite the interesting discussion about yet another topic several of us have in common. I’m glad to have brought the subject up and that you’re enjoying it. I’m going to have to look it up again.
I set mine up before I left for work at 3:30
Just looked and I see Stirfry.
Thank you so much.
I guess rain is better than snow, although I heard Pittsburgh got that hated white stuff.
And I just saw Bernie has a cat on hers.
Wonder who that is 🙂
Hi Steeler !
Hope the dog settles down around Gabby. I know how they get around a newcomer to the house.
Cats don’t understand friendly dogs at 1st but I think it will work out.
It did for mine. At first I saw her chasing the kitten but within 6 months I saw a cat chasing the dog. Then both would just lay down,
have a cat, but have spent the last hour trying to put a better pic on. I am getting nowhere fast.
I would not bet the farm on Gabby and the Bulldog. She may be to reluctant to share with a dog. She may have gotten to attached to Harry’s group.
So you think she wants to go back to see Brooke and Sabrina.
I think she was beginning to make herself at home there. No big drooling bulldog. I could make that choice without thinking. I would be saying move over Rachel. 🙂
I know I will get a dog. Not sure what type but t will be a big dog,
It has to be abl;e to stand up to a mini horse and mini donk and have a slight chance against a Tortie.
I’m sure Rachel will make room on her bed for Gabby
I am not surprised you will be getting a dog. Just know he will end up in the barn (maybe) if the three musketeers will put up with him. Stir and the others, well if he is kept inside it might work. As long as he knows who the boss is. I can see it now. Getting a pup and Stir and Pump slapping him across his nose. Dog Therapist on speed dial.
Tabby would get along as she loves everyone.
Pumpkin would be scared but as he loved Samatha, my Bichon, but he would come around. Strfry would look at it as 3 on 1 and think the odds were bad.
3 against a Tortie is not an even match. They better get more if they want to stand a chance.
Well of course we did. I told you we would try to hold it off from your side of the state so you could get your roof done. All white here.
So sorry you got stuck with it.
Calling for wind tomorrow but the big sheets are all done with just flashing and lower overhangs to do.
Hope they finish soon.
They have spent over $1100 in gas driving down and back.
This snow won’t last. The temps are going to melt it away quickly,I hope. But we have been wrong about the weather before. This kind of snow doesn’t keep anyone in, at least not around here. I don’t think you are going to have it. The rain may even be gone.
Roofers will not be up today.
High winds will stop that.
There is metal siding left on my garage roof up in the hill behind the house.
Winds have to be around 30-40 mph.
And I woke up to see the ground coated in white.
I call that a powdered-sugar snow, it looks lovely and doesn’t cause too much trouble–and great photos in the woods yesterday, though a little dark! We didn’t have the winds though.
Jay, you’ll have to have a celebration when your roof is finally done!
Jay I hope that siding didn’t come off the roof. We didn’t get those high winds and like Bernadette said this is nothing here. We can basically just ignore this stuff this time. Sorry you are getting blasted. I know you are anxious to get your home done. I think Bernadette is right. There should be some kind of celebration when that roof is finished.
We can a celibrate at the book signing next month. It should be done by then (I hope).
It is still windy out now.
I saw State College got 9″ and Selinsgrove got 10″
Guess we were lucky.
My roofers come don from that area so even without the wind they would not attempt the trip. And I would not want them to.
I bought a ceiling fan last week so today will be a good day to install it.
Today is a day off from Walmart.
Well Tortie family, today, Steeler is back to her own fussing self. I forgot she was in the sunroom and I closed the door. She was not a happy Tortie. I think she is asking herself, what is my mom thinking. She is back under my chair right now, purring like an engine. Tummy full and content to have finished guard duty, with only a slight setback. She is so quiet I never heard her come into the sunroom with me. So naturally she spent more time than she had planned. But all is good right now. She is probably going to come up with something later for me.
Yup, she’s planning something. Don’t let that innocent purring fool you :-)!
Ingrid you are oh so right!! 🙂 She started later this evening with the persistent squawking and her own individual style of meowing (which is nowhere near a true meow). I tried talking to her, but she had a burr under her saddle and just was being unreasonable, imagine that, an unreasonable Tortie. 🙂 Well now I back in my den and the TV is going and so is Steeler. She is just stalking around now. I know she is looking to get milk. But, I am trying very hard to ignore her. She got addicted to milk faster than lightning and now she is being weaned. Life is hard, for me, from her. We will get thru another night or so without the milk so hopefully I can change that chapter back to the no milk days. I will however left her have a sniff or taste of what I may be snacking on. Usually it strawberry jam/peanut butter or whipped cream cheese on cracker. Picking little girl only eats the soft jam/peanut butter and cheese off the tip of my finger. So this is not a regular routine with us. I do miss the milk at night. Maybe I will have to find a room, she won’t go to and have milk. Something like kids do when they are trying to pull one over on adults. I can’t believe it has come to this. One cat. Geez 🙂
You wouldn’t be the first to hide from your cat so you can enjoy your treat, Bernie. Feebee, my first cat, was the most food motivated cat I ever had. He would snatch anything off my plate that he could get his paws on, including mustard coated lettuce scraps off of a sandwich (he wasn’t picky!). Some days, I’d have to lock him up in a separate room just so I could finish my lunch!
Can’t wait to hear the next chapter in Steeler vs. Bernie…
Made it thru the night without giving into her for milk. She did her tightrope walk around 3AM but I just would not get up for her. After a few trips up and down on my side she quit and went out of the room. I fed her around 6AM and she is content for now and sleeping. Hope we can do another night. They just don’t forget anything. She has her way and she is vocal and persistent. It is hard to ignore she wants the milk, but like you said, it is not good for her. Her bowels while not loose were to soft and to frequent. Heaven help me if she sees that milk carton come out of the fridge. I was thinking of putting the milk in a different container so she won’t recognize it.
See, I knew she could read.
I can now see you drinking out of a paper bag and all your friends saying “that crazy cat lady is headed for skid row” 🙂
Steeler vs. Bernie
Steeler 1
Bernie 0
You may be right, but Steeler will be coming to Skid Row with me. 🙂
Harry and I will get another burn barrel and make room under that bridge.
Tortie Overpass will be the sign on that bridge.
Won’t have to be worried about any riffraff bothering us.
Guard Torties will take care of them.
Guess instead of hanging out in front of the liquor stores they will find us at the local supermarket in the milk isle.
As a matter of fact, they are tearing down some old buildings on the Strip District. That will give a panoramic view of all the action on the strip. You and Harry should have the best spot in town.
Harry, your dad sounds like he led a fascinating and wonderful life. I’m so sorry about your loss – it’s still so recent. It must be comforting that he left such an incredible legacy.
Bernadette, Cookie is such a lady, drinking tea with milk and honey! I keep looking at that wonderful photo of her resting her head on your arm – it’s just so special. I hope you had a wonderful birthday yesterday.
Bernie, I’m laughing at Steeler’s demands! Between the Walmart run, followed by a proper interval of shunning you, and bringing you the bowl, she’s got Manipulation 101 mastered.
An ultrasound would not show coloring of the kittens, it would only show how many there are. And no matter how much pull Harry has with his resuce group, I think they’d probably boot him out if he demanded an ultrasound of the mom just to satisfy the curiosity of a bunch of tortie lovers :-)!
As for cats remembering their offspring, or knowing there’s a connection – I don’t know for sure. I don’t think there’s any scientific proof that they do, but I believe that on some level, they know. Maybe not that they’re mother and offspring, but that there’s a connection. I lost track of all of Amber’s kittens except one, and she was adopted by the woman who later rescued Buckley (how’s that for a wild connection!). When Patches came to the clinic one time when Amber was there, too, I showed Patches to Amber, but there was no sign of any kind of recognition. It was uncanny, though, how much their faces and eyes looked alike – same shape, same color – even though Patches is a calico.
I think there’s definitely some recognition, but at what level I don’t know. We adopted May when she was 12 weeks old, in a July, and then the following October adopted her mother, Vickie. Vickie smelled all the cats, but repeatedly smelled May, and for much longer at a time. However, she’s extremely mean to May – goes out of her way to swat her, and at feeding time, if May gets near her, she drives her away with yowls and smacks. I theorize that May reminds her of hungry times in the barn, competing for food. We learned, after we adopted Vickie, that at one point she had escaped from her foster home out a 3rd floor window, and took 4 of her 5 kittens – the 4 orange tabby boys. She left May, the grey tabby girl. So, maybe she never liked the different kitten. At any rate – there’s some different relationship there.
I have always heard the opposite, and that has also been my experience. Someone told me once long ago that if they were apart even as little as two weeks when they were young, they have no recollection–two weeks is a long time in the growth period of a kitten.
If they stay together they develop the normal relationships they would have as a group of cats. My little family of black cats here still surprises me because they all get along as they did when they were kittens, and their mom plays with them as if she was a kitten with them. In some cases, their relationships are much more varied and there’s often one who is aggressive and/or one who is the punching bag. For instance, the woman who adopted the two brothers from a former litter, Angus and Donal, reports they are as close as they were when kittens. Two decades before she adopted a mom cat and two kittens and they all remained close. Others have told me that one seemed to turn on the other, but it was a normal cat thing.
I kept one kitten from that long ago litter, a torbie Fawn, and my brother and his girlfriend adopted another, a dilute tortie Nikka. I took Nikka back when she was seven, and if there was any recognition it was that she hated her sister, but Nikka could be a bully and I’m not sure there was anything familial to it.
Maybe I’ll have to have Angus and Donal come for a visit and see if Mimi has any recollection.
P.S. That long-ago catmom was a full mackeral tabby with lovely narrow stripes. She had four kittens, one black with a tiny white spot, one gray with a tiny white spot, a torbie and a dilute tortie. It was like a lesson on feline genetics. I knew the one father was a HUGE gray tomcat with yellow eyes who looked like a small grizzly bear, but there were too many other cats around to guess the rest. But her warm tabby colors would indicate the red influence and his gray would indicate underlying black plus the masking tendency of the gray.
Ok guy, now I am in denial of which is which. Some do, some don’t. I guess no real maternal instinct survives much after separation. Not like in the wild where the large cats always, know their offspring. That is interesting.
Ingrid, that photo of Cookie is one of many, and she always has a drink of whatever I’m drinking as if she wants to be like me. I could never have any doubt that I am completely loved. Birthday continues today!
Ingrid I am becoming less and less in charge here. Steeler is mastering far to many specialties.
Last night she was worn out from her fussing at me, and went to sleep without a nightcap. She will probably not get one tonight. I think it’s time to cut that one out. It a ritual with her and if I’m not here one night no telling how she will react.
I never in my wildest dreams knew a black and gold cat could have so much control over a person. Boy am I getting lessons from her.
Yea, but wouldn’t it be nice to see the look on a vet’s face when Harry wanted an ultrasound to look for a Tortie!!!! He would probably be sent to a facility where he could get some rest.
I can’t wait to hear how “operation no nightcap” goes over with Steeler…
Last evening was no problem. I will have to see how tonight goes. Maybe with a little luck she will get over it. I have even stopped bringing mild to the nightstand. I now bring water or diet gingerale. She doesn’t want either of those. I can’t go near the fridge that she comes from nowhere to see what’s up. It’s uncanny how she just pops up from out of nowhere.
I can guess.
1 night of constant squawking and she will get her milk.
Steeler knows who the Boss is in that house. 🙂
So far today, she is being well mannered. No squawking about anything. However I will see tonight what she pulls. A once in a while milk is ok, but, she decided immediately it was a nightly thing. Ingrid had said not to much or she might get diarrhea, well I noticed this past week, while she did not have diarrhea, she had much softer stools and more frequently. So I decided no milk if I can break her. If I can then no more milk at all even as a treat. Good grief she passes enough gas. 🙂
No one realizes how many we have. Vickie and Brooke battle for top cat sometimes, but generally they all have their spaces and places and go about their business, each appearing for scratches or a lap at their appointed time. Brooke is not nearly as high on the tortitude scale as Steeler or Stir, or maybe it gets repressed because of the take no prisoners barn cat Vickie.
I have one seriously possessive Tortie. She will keep after me to sit in my chair at the dining table when I am busy. She has this thing that if I am supposed to sit there and play with her while she goes between the chair legs and then lies down under my chair. As soon as I move she starts all over again.
Hey is Gabby still there? How is the new to be Mom doing? Any ultrasounds to see if she has a Tortie in there?
An ultrasounds to see if she has a Tortie in there.
I can imagine how a Vet would react to that. Jump back 10 feet and call for an exorcism is my guess.
Hey Jay, Harry has connections. He could get a lead suit on and do that.
I don’t have a lead suit – but do have a bullet proof vest. Don’t ask why.
With a Tortie mine seems like a better idea though.
Wonder how a Tortie shows up in the pictures.
Well get with Harry. Maybe the two of you could exchange suits and Harry could arrange it to see if he will have a Tortie, well not Harry, but the momma cat. I wonder if they could tell? Maybe Ingrid could find out. She and Harry together know the vets.
Momcat has actually had one x-ray, and will have another in a week and a half. We know there’s two kittens, maybe four. My foster mentor wanted me to know how many to count when they come out, so I know when we’re done – a gift for a first time kitten midwife. Can’t tell what they are – actually, even, sometimes after they’re born, for a while.
As for bullet proof vests – I have the original bullet proof (actually, “resistant” is the correct term) Kevlar lined suit jacket. Here’s the reason why:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09332/1016944-122.stm (Bernie – you must have missed this one in the Pgh PG!)
and
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/us/03shubin.html
Wow, Harry, what a wonderful story! I would guess just from the details of this that your father was probably a very interesting person to know, one of those questing minds that always had ideas. And your loss is recent, you must still feel it. Thanks for sharing it!
Harry, I loved the story about your Dad. He saved many lives and is a Hero to us all.
Nothing is bullet proof ( well – except Superman) but anything that give you an edge is helpful.
I know thse vests stop bullets but not knives. Not sure about Tortie claws or teeth.
Harry, I am going to pass this onto my son. Your father saved many lives. My son’s and his wife, both former Air Force Intelligent both wore armored vest. Your father had a role in keeping my family safe and thousands of others. I am very proud to know the son and the story of the man who protected so many of our men and women in our military. If he were alive, I would send a special Thank you. But I will say a special thank you to him in my own way. How proud and honored you must be to know, your father played a most important role in our lives. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Harry I looked for dinner tonight and in my freezer I have stirfry (shrimp). I just laughed out loud and let it there. I had mentioned the other night that I would eat stirfry with shrimp and veggies/noodles, but the thought of you and Brooke, then thinking Jay’s Stirfry was to much. I decided today would be italian.
Got to go to bed but that comment about stirfry had me rolling Bernie.
Way to end my night.
G’nite all (or really I should say good morning as it’s almost 1am.
CYA tomorrow.
Did yougive her pizza ????
No pizza. But whatever it was in that tuna it is a real yuk. Of course, like all torties, she decided it was natural, and looked in here walking away as if to say take that. She is still miffed. First no tuna, then when I leave her and come back home she shuns me. Can’t win. Steeler is just being a brat at this point. She will want her little nightcap later. I have started giving her less and less hoping she will let it go. But Now, the strength of the Tortie, carries her little bowl around at bedtime to me. Now that is what I call demanding.
You HAVE to get a pic of her carrying that bowl !!!!!!!
And I don’t think you will give up on her milk.
She knows she is loved and you will give in to her.
Torties aren’t dumb. They know they have power over us.
No they are not dumb. Remember Brooke kicked over Harry’s dinner for eating Stirfry. First chance I can get her on camera I will post. She has now entered the room and took up her favorite spot. I really don’t know how you, Bernadette and Harry go it with more than 1 cat. I have one, and she is a little dictator.
Bernie, one cat can be a terror, but the more cats, the less chance any one individual has of ruling your life. Usually there’s just one who’s the boss of everything, everybody else just minds their own business.
I can’t talk for Bernadette or Harry but you woulf never know I have 3 cats. Tabatha is so quiet and will occasionally come over for scratches. Pumpkin can be more demanding with a quiet meow. Stirfry is the one that rules the house and makes her presence known.
Jay I know you said they all go their own way, with a slap here or there. Well I look at Steeler and I think she would do more than slap or growl at this point. I have seen her in action at the door.
She is dead serious about keeping this a one cat home.
In my case Stir came into a house with a dog and a cat already in it. She learned to not tolerate either. It was way worse at first. Pumpkin was her kitten and don’t know how her feelings are to him but he just ignores her or play attacks her. Kinda like a kid playiing with a grenade and not knowing how much damage it could inflict. Almost seems like Stir can’t understand this. “He should be cowering in fear but isn’t. Doesn’t he know how dangerous I am?”
Jay do you think Pump knows Stir is her momma? Maybe that is why Stir tolerates her little swats.
You know moms put up with a lot before they get angry.
Not sure how they look at each other
Occasionally I will see Stir smelling Punky.
When he was a little kitten she caried him everywhere.
At about 6 weeks she was leaving them alone and just going bacck to feed or check on them.
Punky hangs out with Tabby mostly (probablt sees her more as his mom. She almost never raised a paw to him.
Ok then here’s the question for our cat experts. Do the offspring of Torties and their Tortie momma cats, remember each other? Do any offsprings of momma cats know there is a connection?
She carries her bowl around? I think I’ve missed a few things! Any cat who brings her bowl to you deserves something!
Right now Cookie is lapping up my tea with milk and honey, then she’ll dip her paw in as well, and after that saunter over to walk on the mousepads on my keyboard shelf, getting tea-stain pawprints on it, and get in my way while having a really good bath. Kelly is sitting on my lap contemplating which direction to start turning first in her process for settling down for a nap; I have to completely stop working while she turns three times clockwise, four times counter-clockwise, etc. The black cats are all sleeping in a large dark mass on the floor.
The bowl is a little child’s teaser bowl. So it is really easy for her to pick up. Bernadette, just reading your posts and seeing the pic of you with Cookie, I think she is your most loved cat. Drinking tea with mild and honey, then her paw to lick it off, now that love. I bet those are some paw printed sticky mousepads. If Kelly gets settled will Cookie come over to claim you for her own? You are the one that would know about more than one. But no more than one for me.
This is one tough cat.
I’m still thinking about Cookie drinking tea!!! Now that is spoiled!!!
Got home early from work. Was out by 10:30 instead of 11.
Normally only 2 people on to 11 but they had girl to 10 and 2 other guys till 11 along with me,
All hard workers.
Wish everyday was like that.
Another plus on Walmart is free coffee and free donuts on Friday and Sat night.
Doesn’t make up for low wages but ya take what ya can.
Not watching TV with Stir on my lap.
And Bernie HAD to make a run to Walmart for Steeler Tuna.
One very spoiled tortie…..
Yes I did. In the words Jay has used, not me :), I had one pissed off Tortie. She was out of tuna and I can only tell you she would not let me alone. She just kept following me around and squawking and squawking, I finally went to Walmart to get her tuna. You really do not want to make this Tortie angry.
How is Steeler now?
Sleeping like the Queen she is?
Right at this moment in time she is in her litter box. Kicking litter and just plain making a mess. Also living up to her reputation. Smog alert!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday Bernadette.
Purrs from everyone.
Wow – what a busy night! I really need to stop going to bed so early! Rather than trying to respond to individual posts, I’ll just respond here.
Bernie, I’m so sorry about your husband. As Harry’s experience with his father illustrates, these things happen far too often. I’m glad your husband is okay beyond the bruises. You’re smart to respond when the emotions have had a chance to subside. As if what you’re dealing with wasn’t already difficult enough, now this on top of everything else. My heart goes out to you, and I’m humbled by how well you’re coping with all of it.
Nan, it’s great to see you back here – congrats on your tortie puppy! I used to call brindle dogs torties all the time when I worked in vet clinics, it got to the point where staff would alert me when one came in. And even though I knew that the proper term was brindle, when I saw my first tortie dachshund, I had no idea that they’re called dapple. Dog owners make things far too complicated :-)!
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat stirfry again without laughing…
Night Jay. Night John Boy and all others.
Good morning Ingrid. 🙂
This was a very quiet evening on here tonight, then bam, the whole bunch of us exploded on the scene. This was great.
And I’m going to bed, or I’ll never make it back to the salt mine tomorrow
Ingrid is going to wake today and wonder what the heck happened in the late to early hours of these posts. She is going to have a lot of catching up to do. Night Harry.
Same here Harry.
Gnite all.
See ya tomorrow
Same Cat Time, Same Cat Channel 🙂
Funny story…
My husband and I got a puppy last month. She’s a brindle bull mix… Cute little thing. With her we decided to switch vets because we were unhappy with the cost of our previous vet and heard rave reviews about our current one from a friend who has like 9 cats. Well, my husband was there with the puppy setting up accounts for our two cats. The receptionist at the vet’s office asked him about our first cat, Buttons, when she asked him color, he replied Tortie. She gave him an “seriously?” look. Then she started to ask about our kitten, Tipper, who will be a year old this month, color came around again, and he told her that Tipp was a dilute tortie. The girl looked at the dog, looked at him, and then just started to laugh.
I told him he should have told her that we collect Torties 😉
I like to get “dog people” a little upset by calling their brindle a tortie.
I bet they think you might be making fun of them but you’re really giving them a compliment.
I tell my husband all the time that his brindle dog is a tortie, and he then feels the need to tell me that “Brindle and Tortie are not the same.”
But since I’m a cat lover, it’ll always be Tortie to me. 😉
Nan, if would have been really funny if you were able to get him to name his dog, Tortie. I bet he would think twice before he answered that one. But what a great chance to us the name.
Nan, I love this story. Funny how vets look at us when we say Tortie. How is the dog getting along with the Torties?
Well, at four months she’s bigger than both my Tortie-babies. However, she recognizes the older one, Buttons, as the Alpha. It’s so funny to watch the puppy basically bow down to Buttons… And the puppy, who is named Lola, will play with Tipper by chasing her all over the house, then they’ll turn around and Tipp will be chasing Lola…
Now if only I can get Lola to stop eating the kitty toys, it’d be a perfect relationship. It makes Tipp sad to see her toys demolished by big puppy mouth.
What kind of dog did you get? You know cats don’t forget. Payback can be, well you know the saying.
Cats don’t forget.
Torties don’t forgive. – said by anyone who is owned by a Tortie
I knew comparatively little about dogs when we first started rescue. I remember the first time I was at an event and saw a brindle dog – a big pit bull – I ran all over the store telling people I knew that there was a tortie dog there. I got a few looks from the dog people. If ever we do have a dog, it would have to be a brindle. I saw a brindle doxie last week – I think that’s relatively uncommon.
She’s a pit bull-boxer. I have fear that she’ll be huge when she’s done growing. But that will just make my hubby happier.
The brindle thing was actually one of my requirements for getting a dog too… My sister in law has a Brindle English Mastiff, I call it a mini-horse, which is where I discovered that dogs come in Tortie… 🙂
Nan –
“Brindle English Mastiff, I call it a mini-horse”
Now you got me interested.
I am considering getting another dog.
And I love mini’s.
Sounds like I gotta check this out.
Well Nan, sounds like not only is Jay considering adding a new kitten to his family, he now has a new thought of a:
“Brindle English Mastiff, I call a mini-horse”.
I think Jay needs to go back to college to study to be a Vet. He would make a good one.
Bernie, I could never be a vet.
Needles scare the hell out of me.
Cannot even watch a TV show where they show that.
Many a bad experience with shots and the taking of blood.
Tattoo’s no problem but a vaccination would freak me out.
But I highly look up to Vets and Rescue volunteers.
They are the hero’s
I thought you would have made a good vet, but then again, ok, I would feel the same way. But rescuing and vetting, those folks are angels of the pets. There is no other words for them. I never even gave pet rescues a thought until, Steeler, and then finding this site. I have learned so much and at times think, for supposedly being intelligent, I have been rather stupid about pet rescues.
We have learned so much.
From our Torties and in thanks to Ingrid, this blog.
And made many good friends.
Nan, no matter how big Lola gets, she will never be able to compete with Tortie attitude.
The cats might be small in size but have the mindset of a Panther.
Glad Tipper gets along so well.
My Bichon and Calico would do that. Chase each other. Fun to watch.
Sure quiet here today. I’m slammed at work, shouldn’t be here, either.
Bernie – I hope your husband is improving.
Jay – I hope your roof is whole, before the weekend rains come.
I had stirfry (with a small “s”) for dinner last night. Brooke apparently didn’t approve, she knocked my glass over and spilled club soda all over the table, chair and floor. I managed to escape the deluge; she then sat on the table and faced away from me. We all know what that means.
Harry, I am leaving for work now.
The roofers were here from 11 to 2:30
Almost finished. Don’t kmnow why they were late coming down.
Someone threw up in the living. Gotta go
You didn’t let Stirfry read Harry post about his dinner last night, did you? That little gift on the floor may be the form of protest.
Do you think maybe Brooke knows Stirfry is another Tortie and she didn’t like the idea that maybe you folks were eating the kitty in the stirfry? You can never be sure if cats communicate when we are not around. Did you feel a little guilty eating a stirfry dish?:)
I just came back from Pgh. My husband is sore, but overall he is as before. Thanks for asking.
The kitty thumb video is just to much. Yes I did think of you and the gang when I seen it. I also noticed the tortie. You should keep that one.
Bernie. I was going to reply about Brooke knocking over the milk when she heard “Stirfry” and “dinner” in the same sentence but then I ewad your post. We do think alike. 🙂
I do think our little ones communicate when we aren’t around.
As to who got sick I don’t know.
I gave a 1/3 can of tuna to each of them this morning.
Stir and Punky ate theirs but Tabby did not touch hers. I think Punky did.
But what I found on the carpet was dry food so I think Tabby.
She is older and quite picky.
Still saying prayers for you husband. Hope they are giving him pain meds.
I hesitated on saying that to Harry, but then I just had to say it. Stirfry for dinner, yes we do think alike on this. I don’t know if Harry will be able to eat stirfry without thinking of Stirfry. His appetite could be affected.
My husband is hurting, but doing as well as can be, under the circumstances. The pain meds still are not adjusted to the comfort level he needs. I am working on that. Will talk with his dr. again tomorrow.
Brooke does have a Fb page, so one can only guess how much she knows.
What happens the next time you eat or try to eat stirfry? No appetite. Will you keep thinking Jay’s Stirfry? Brooke may end up having Harriefries for her dinner next time.
Hey, broccoli with garlic sauce stir fry, nothing to worry about, all vegetables!
Harry, I would say that Brooke shunned you like the Amish ring the bell then turn their backs on you forever, or perhaps like being excommunicated from the Catholic church where all the bishops extinguish their candles by turning them upside down and pounding them on the floor, then also turning their backs. Sounds like Brooke has a pretty good education. What’s she been watching while you’re at work? Perhaps she’s trying out a few new faith practices.
You know Bernie, now that I think about it, I have not eaten stirfry ever since I was adopted by this crazy cat.
Never gave it a thought and always smiled when I saw it on the menu.
Now I do eat at McDonalds a lot and have a horse.
Guess that doesn’t bother me as much 🙂
Bernadette on a scale of 1 to 10 you just went off the scale with that one. 🙂 You better listen up Harry.
Jay, the next time I have stirfry, I will have an image of Harry, jumping away from his dinner and club soda and Brooke giving him her backside. My stirfry will be with shrimp, veggies and noodles.
I think your safe at MickyD’s
“Brooke giving him her backside. ”
And a flick of the tail too.
Cats don’t have middle fingers but they can express it just the same.
Jay I think Harry knows that is what Brooke was telling him. She was standing up for a Tortie called Stirfry. Harry has to live with that one. Oh to have film at 11 on that one.:)
Bernadette, I’ve been shunned by plenty of religions before. No biggie. I don’t think they have torties in heaven, anyway – so why go there?
If there’s no Torties then IT ISN’T HEAVEN.
Won’t find me there.
Look for open fields, warm temps and loads of animals.
I’ll be there in the middle.
Harry don’t plan on going anywhere for a long time. But wherever you go, I know you will be surrounded by lots of pets of all kinds. There will be a special place for folks like you.
Bernie – our Torties stick together.
Won’t find them together in person (WWIII) but in spirit.
Well I don’t want anyone going anywhere. But when we all do, I hope we will end up in the same place, with our Torties, dogs, birds and all. But no snakes.
For some reason, the thought of a super busy attorney taking a moment to check the latest on the tortitude thread puts a big smile on my face 🙂
I’m paying for it now – still in the office. I usually get the biggest scolding from Pearl when I get home – Brooke just ignores me if I’m late.
Ingrid, looking thru your site probably has calming effect on Harry during a stressful day.
Just reading about Torties and their antics always brings a smile to my face. Many a time almost falling of my computer chair and scaring Stirfry reading what Steeler, Brooke, Allegra and Kasey have been up to.
Bernie, what did I miss about your husband? Did he fall or have surgery? I’m sure he’s in good hands.
He was being wheeled by an aide on Monday, both his feet are bandaged, for some unexcused lax in care, the legs of the wheelchair were not on. His feet planted on the floor and the aide just pushed the chair hard enough to topple him and the chair over onto the floor. He had no way to protect himself from the fall. He was then transported to the VA at Aspinwall for complete body exam + full body ex-rays and head cat scan. This was done to see if any fractures or hairline fractures were present, since he is unable to explain where he hurts. He is in a childlike state. He is back at Highlands, but he is sore and bruised but no broken bones or head trauma. I have some issues to discuss with the administration. We have a meeting scheduled for March 9. They have to get their house in order. Thanks for asking.
That deserves a formal complaint. Even if he had his feet planted on the floor, which they will do even with the legs on the chair, they should not have been pushing him hard enough to push him over. If the wheels had been free they would have been moving much to fast.
Your words echo some of my remarks to the doctor. However, I am writing my complaint and will make it formal. I am one of those people that will not go off when emotions are in play. I will do this without my emotions, so that I cover and communicate everything the way they should be. I except no excuses for this, because, there is nothing to excuse this action.
Ugh, I’m so sorry, Bernie. My father spent a great deal of time in hospitals, rehab centers, and nursing homes the last 5 years of his life. He was a strong fighter, and managed to get out every time, and the last day of his life was spent driving my mother around on errands in his hand controlled car that we all said he’d never be well enough to learn how to drive. But even in the good hospitals (and he was in some great ones, and some run by Franz Kafka) the care was always frighteningly poor at times. Dispensing of pain meds was always an issue, too. Sometimes, I wondered if the staff was trying to save them for themselves.
So true Harry.
At a hospital near me there was a scandle where an aid was storing the meds in the ceiling and giving placebo’s because the patients could not complain.
He was caught by accident when an electrician went to change a light bulb and saw them.
Too bad others take advantage of the helpless.
Strange you should mention why the pain meds are not dispensed to comfort level. I am sorry your father had to endure this also, but I know it is very painful for us (family) to have to fight for them, when we keep running into the silence of cover. This is not an incident that I will turn my attention away from. Raising heck is not an answer, as you well know, that only shuts everyone down, so when I present this on March 9, I can assure you, I will have the Admin. attention, and will not permit them to interrupt me. You know what I mean.
I think sometimes, doctors get in the mode of saving everyone, and they forget that, for all of us, it’s a one-way ride, and for some of us, a shorter trip than for others. You can go in a limo, or you can bounce along in the back of a van, but you have to take the trip. Yes, making my father comfortable might have shortened his life (it didn’t – they fretted over kidney failure from diabetes, they fretted over pneumonia when he was on the ventilator… but he died of a heart attack, after driving my mother home from the store) but when he was very sick I’m quite sure he’d have traded some time for comfort. Funny, after I bluntly asked the doc if they were saving his meds to take home, he suddenly got more.
Came home and greeted everyone. Turned the outside light on and checked the cat feeding station.
1 black cat was in there.
It had a white racing stripe.
It left when the door opened. I called to it but decided not to pursue.
Well gee, where was Stir, if she is like Steeler, you would have had a perfumed field. Watch those stripes and the direction the tail is pointed. Dead ringer for perfume odorizer.
Stir was sleeping in the kitchen chair.
She only came in the bedroom 15 minutes ago.
Sleeping on m lap now.
And NO WAY WAS I GOING TO LET HER LOOK OUTSIDE !!!!!!!!
My roofers would not come back for a month.
Well you take away all the fun for her. I can tell you from experience now that the racer knows where the food is, she will return. I believe this is their mating season. I often see the mother walking up along the field line with her little ones. About 150 feet from the porch. I had to quit putting food on the front porch because of that visitor we had. No more for my inquisitive little Steeler.
I threw out cheese a few days ago. I expected possum, skunk and mice. I can live with them.
And years ago old popcorn attracted a mom skunk and about 7 little ones.
Really cute.
But mom really hissed at them if they tried to take her food.
Sharp teeth.
Glen, nice to see you on here. My hours don’t let interact much.
How’s Kasey doing ?
Kasey is generally doing quite well, looking good, eating, playing and asking for attention.
I have some concern in that on Monday, Feb. 18th, we found a small bump on her chin that looks a bit like a blister, it is not very big.
I took her to the vet late in the aft of March 1 to be checked.
Like the last time, they don’t know what it is. The lanced it with a syringe, there was not much fluid and it looked a bit different than from the one we had removed. It is somewhat similar to the other one, yet also different.
They gave me antibiotics in the hope that it is a infection that the pills will deal with. We are going to keep a close eye on it, the antibiotic treatment will be done on March 11.
Depending on our observations, she may; not need any treatment or we may take her to a specialist. They said there is a possibility it will not even be an issue, even if it does not go away but stays the size it is.
It is not causing her any apparent concern, it is not discernible to anything but close observation and she is happy and doing normal “Kasey” things.
Glen, the calmness of your post belies your concern, I’m sure. I’ll handle being very worried, for you. Keep us posted.
“Glen, the calmness of your post belies your concern”
Yep.
I brought her home in May 2008, saying “I don’t know how long she has, but at least the last few years of her life will be better than the first. That’s easy to acknowledge intellectually but it has been almost three years and emotionally, it feels hard to accept that she may have a problem. I knew this when I decided to take an older cat in but it is still tough.
However, then again, she may not have any real issue going on with this. The vet said it may not grow and even if it turned cancerous, it would take so long that the unfortunate reality is something else would happen to her first, not something I like to say but it is a reality.
And, it could go away, or be treated by the specialist.
There are too many possibilities at this point to say, I don’t like the situation at all but I have resolved to take each day as it comes and do the best i can.
She is 10 or 11 years old, I don’t really know her true age. She could be around for another 3 to 6 years. I plan to make the time the best for her that i can.
Glen, in the rescue business, we have a word for people who adopt older cats: “Saints.” All the more so, when they know what they’re getting into. I wouldn’t be surprised, with your concern and the good care and attention you’re providing Kasey, she’ll live to 30.
Glen your love and devotion to Kasey is something to carry you and her through anything. Just keep in mind, that so many of us feel that Kasey is our Tortie too and we all care about both of you. I will keep you both in my thoughts as the days go by but I agree with Harry. Your calmness indicates your real concern. Please post frequently and let us know how you and Kasey are getting on. She is the Tortie that pulled us all together in a way that has grown. It doesn’t matter how old or young she is. What matters is she has found you and you are giving her your all to keep her happy.. Will be waiting for hear more and know it will be good news.
Glen, I know you’re worried, but it’s a good thing you had it checked as soon as you discovered it. Hopefully, it will turn out to be nothing, and you’re absolutely right to just take it one day at a time. It sure sounds like Kasey is not worried about it! Keep us posted – you know Kasey is part of our family, and we’re worrying right along with you.
Thanks, everyone.
Tonight, she wanted me to feed her. even though the dish was 1/2 full; that’s a typical Kasey thing.
Then I sat on the living room floor and she came to be combed. Then played with a catnip toy.
In regards to the quote from the FB tortie picture “The undercarriage of a tortie, sometimes you can tough it, sometimes, you can not”……………………………after the catnip toy, you definitely CAN NOT!
Glen, I cannot say anything that has not already been said.
Kasey is not worried and she has your love.
That will pulled her thru anything.
We all send healing thoughts to her.
Seems like wanting food even though the dish has food in it, is a common trait among our rescue “wild” cats. Security that we love them and will always supply them a full stomach.
And I know some cats get mellow with catnip.
With Tortie’s it releases their inner demon.
You never know, Allegra might be ready for a little sister, so she might want first refusal on any female kittens…. Not that I’m feeling played or anything, Harry 🙂
Would I do that? :0
Well Harry you have everyone riled up on this one. No, not Bernie, I have am a single mom, my kid is a wild child, who would not allow any other in here.
But Jay and now Ingrid? poor pregnant mommy kitty, she has a huge burden on her back to produce.
Alright!!!!!!!!!
Allegra’s getting a sister – (guess it has to be a Tortie though)
I said maybe… 🙂 And it wouldn’t necessarily have to be a tortie.
That’s like me saying “I might get that gun”
Within 6 months I did get it.
So maybe means “yes”
Ask any kid…. 🙂
Guess we have to have Harry talk to mom cat.
Orders are being placed.
I would like a long hair Tortie, blue eyes, pointy nose and gentle disposition.
If your gonna dream, dream big.
Oh poor mommy kitty. Harry what have you started. Has it ever occurred to you Gabby may or may not leave and not at the eom your family will increase and people (Jay) is putting in preference request. Strange thing about it is, he might just have fallen into another Tortie. He and Ingrid may be co-authoring a new book and how not to fall in love blindly. Your family could increase.
Reading all the postings here today and last night, it seems you folks have been busy. Harry is playing us along. Teasing and not saying anything other than a Calico and kittens by eom. I would like to see him on Jerry Springer, I don’t watch Springer, I would if Harry go on there.
How do you cross kitty tails?
Looks like one of our good friends is going to adopt Gabby. She was charmed today by an hour of Gabby fetching a mouse for her. It depends on how her old bulldog reacts to Gabby – I’ll bring Gabs by on Sunday for a visit. Fingers crossed – this would be a great home if the dog is ok with it.
Gabby owes her new home to Rachel.
Learning to fetch that mouse did the trick.
Looking cute I’m sure helped.
Fingers and toes crossed.
hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right. I don’t think Lola the 8 year old English bulldog will be an issue – she’s pretty sweet, and Gabby seems great with dogs. Tails crossed, too.
Sure sounds promising
Can’t wait to here how it goes
At least they will have a family resemblance. Pug noses.
Fingers crossed bigtime! It would make saying good-bye to Gabby easier for Rachel, too.
If good friends adopt Gabby then Rachel will have visitation rights.
That sure would make the transition easier – but giving up a foster never is easy. As for photos of the next one, once we get her there will be plenty. She can stay where she is a little bit longer – I’m trying not to have them both at the same time – it just becomes too hard.
Kinda why I am uncertain about being a foster. Stirfry is the major obstacle but having to give up a cat that I became attached to would be rough.
I am a hoarder ( you should see al the camera equipment I have) and I know I would do that with cats.
Stir is a good preventer of that.
She thinks we have 2 cats too many now.
I think Jay would take a male Tortie in a heartbeat. Then talk to Stir.
I would buy for a minute that Stir would stand in the way. Jay has a way
with animals. He would find a solution to keep them all happy. Don’t let him
kid you Harry. I can see it now. Harry beats all the odds and gets a male
Tortie and the rest of us, including Jay, would be envious, but happy.
In the astronomically unlikely event there’s a male tortie – you all can have right of first refusal. I know Jay, Bernie (and Ingrid or Bernadette, who are wisely keeping silent) would be great homes.
Playing you along? Me??
Don’t forget Glen.
He would make a great father for that Tortie (convincing Kasey would be the
same as Steeler or Stirfry) Major Problem of sharing.
But if we are wishing for a male Tortie we might as well wish for 2.
That Foster Mom has a lot of expectation to live up to.
“Don’t forget Glen.
He would make a great father for that Tortie (convincing Kasey would be the
same as Steeler or Stirfry) Major Problem of sharing.”
That would be a big problem, observers of her behavior tell me that Kasey does not share me very well.
Glen don’t count me in on that one. I am a single mom of a wild child called Steeler
there is no room for any other pets here. Steeler would hurt them. This is Harry, Ingrid, and Jay. Poor Momma cat is getting recommendations for what type of kitten she might have.
I’m with you on the no more cats here.