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
I forgot to attach and now it says awaiting moderation
Feuer Frei
By Rammstein
Here is the song put to a cute video (reminds me of the movie Ice Age)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbyTGlBLSso
but my favorite of them in concert used in the movie XXX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHUsIU161w4
Or
Bodies by Drowning Pool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO_QntXc-c4
Jay I will give a thumbs up on 1 but with the cartoon it was distracting from the music and I found myself smiling at the cartoon and not really listening to the music. 2 It made better and I could live with that. 3 I would, but it would be driving music. Not in home music.
I liked the cartoon, never saw that before. As soon as I watched the movie XXX with Vin Diesel and saw that group Rammstein I had to get their CD’s. Bought on E-bay.
And later found my son was a fan of theirs.
Drowning Pool has a lot of god songs.
Yep watching the cartoon forgot the music. Second without the cartoon ok. Drowning pool is driving music.
Metal of the day
This is a song that sticks with you
The video is a take off of Mad Max
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0teP99JFwjs
Ad this would have been a good one for yesterday
Ace of Base – The Sign
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96jFtzVa80A
Hey now Jay, those are more like it. I can handle those. Actually I kind of liked them. They are not that head crashing sound. Glad I listened to them. Can’t handle Lianimal’s. WOW
Bernie, you like them because they’re not metal. Those are more late 90s or early 2000s pop lol
Lianimal you may be right. I don’t know metal. I know I liked these two. You see how different friends taste in music can be. I enjoy reading your posts, you are so expressive, but I can’t get into your music. Jay probably will wonder how he found something like these two and I would like them. But I know you will keep trying and I will be here watching and looking for you. I can’t let the Wild Child just go by.
By the way, did you get a chance to go to the Conscious Cat FB page and see some of our Torties?
Glad you like it.
I was not a fan of the cookie song. Not the music or singing – that I like but the lyrics did not do anything for me.
Here is something you might like . Bernie give them 10 seconds then decide.
Sorry, forgot to attach links – duh !!!!!!!!!
Feuer Frei
By Rammstein
Here is the song put to a cute video (reminds me of the movie Ice Age)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbyTGlBLSso
but my favorite of them in concert used in the movie XXX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHUsIU161w4
Or
Bodies by Drowning Pool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO_QntXc-c4
Jay there is nothing there.
Spent the day cleaning the garage. At one point, dragged the shop vac to the deck to vacuum there as well. Henry, Vickie, May, Pearl and Piper beat a hasty retreat. Brooke? Check out the photo on the CC Fb page. And yes, the vacuum was ON when I took the photo. Torties. Sheesh.
Well now come on Harry, Brooke is doing what is just normal to a Tortie. I have to put Steeler in the sunroom and close the door to vac. She likes to jump on the head of the sweeper to ride.
Go Brooke. 🙂
Harry, it seems like vacuums don’t bother a lot of Torties.
2 of my cats leave the room as soon as it comes out, but Stirfry doesn’t even move. She just stares at it if it gets close to her.
But Steeler thinks of it as an amusement park ride.
And now Brooke shows it is nothing to be feared.
How about others tell us how their torties act.
Morgan (tuxie cat) scatters, Taz (20 pound orange guy retreats).
Kasey doesn’t react, unless it is a look of mild annoyance if she was trying to sleep.
I think she would eat her food 3 feet away from a running chainsaw.
Likely this is due to both to being a tortie and her past environment.
Glen, I’m starting to wonder if upbring of Kasey at the Gas Plant would be used to loud sounds and Steeler and Stir being outside and brought in so were used to vehicles on roads or just being feerless torties who either kill it or ignore it.
I think Jay may have something here.
“or just being feerless torties who either kill it or ignore it”
I think there’s a lot to that, not all and there are exceptions to it with nurture having some influence; but there does appear to be a common thread in this regard with a lot of these cats.
I was thinking along the same lines this week. We are getting a lot of squirrels at the bird feeders lately. My wife has got Toby, the silky terrier trained now to run them off, on command. It is effective but he is noisy, undignified and would never have a hope of actually catching one. It is funny to watch in a Keystone Cops sort of way.
If I were to let Kasey deal with it (if I let her outside, which I don’t), you wouldn’t hear anything, she would just catch and kill them, she used to catch things of that size at the gas plant and drag them back to the plant. That seems to be a trait common to a lot of torties.
Glen I agree with this. Harry Brooke is among Kasey, Stir, and Steeler. I have already had Steeler bring her mouse play awhile and when it got away kill. Loud sweeper, heck that’s her own version of a ATV. So it looks like these girls have a common thread. Maaaaannnnnyyyy Common thread. Find and destroy. That sums it up pretty. Brooke seems to have conquered it, I think. Or fallen in love with it. Either way, no fear there. None
Of mine, only Mr. Sunshine stands his ground and dares it to come near, but then he’s the one who goes to the door when the garbage truck is out there and dares it to come closer. Cookie looks at it as if it’s just an annoyance and says it had better not touch her. All the others either get up onto something or get at least two floors away from it if possible.
Cookie has ‘tude but has never had to use it very often. She was the baby when she finally came in and was so happy to have a home that she didn’t mind when the older cats played soccer with her. She knew some day she’d work her way up to lead cat, and so she has. But she has also faced down bigger and stronger cats with just a look, and still does with these young jerks, though when a neighbor’s cat dares to step on our property she lets out the Tortie War Cry. She loves everyone.
Kelly has no ‘tude whatsoever, is frightened if I sneeze, freezes in fear then vaporizes when I turn on the sweeper or there is any other loud noise. Kelly actually lived in some pretty fearsome circumstances before she was rescued, living in an abandoned building in Oakland, right in the middle of three universities with all those students and activities and people who were not so nice. She runs when there’s a noise, but she’ll kill anything that moves. But she is also extra sweet and friendly.
That is really something! Ruby is terrified of the vacuum and hides under the bed. So far, it’s the only thing she’s afraid of, though. Oddly, Allegra, who is so afraid of loud noises outside, doesn’t mind the vacuum at all. She watches from a foot or two away when I use it.
Glen, it makes sense that Kasey wouldn’t be afraid of loud machinery after her years at the gas plant, but some of it surely is oem tortitude. We’ve had Brooke since she was 16 weeks old, she lived before that at the rescue’s ranch in the cat house. Until yesterday, I suspect she’d never seen a vacuum, much one as loud as the shop vac – the cats get locked away in the basement when our cleaning service comes so there’s no chance someone might slip out the door. If you look at her body language in the photo, as Kitten pointed out on the facebook page, Brooke just found her soulmate in a loud appliance…
Harry, you threw this out there and being the nice person, that you all know I am, I can’t pass it up.
Brooke will never know to fear, lived in the cat house, well that explains Brooke. Oh wait, you meant cat cat house. Sorry. My imaginations.
She is still a Tortie to be be watchful of. The vac is music to her ears.
Bernie, the next time you visit, I’ll arrange a tour of the Ranch. Then, after you’ve changed a litter box, you can add “worked in a cat house” to your resume.
So there.
Now that would surely get me a high position in upper mgt. Your own. Next time to the cat house. I’ll even buy lunch.
By the way Harry, that’s not to be confused with the Bunny Ranch, right. So there.
Bunny ranch? Same place. Didn’t I tell you about Granola and Cheerio? (Not breakfast cereals… rabbits we rescued last winter.)
And…….since the word didn’t end and all (darn, thought I was SONE with this job!) lol, just kidding, I love it……
Metal of the day.
Peaches (you lightweights know you can trust her) Ride On AC/DC http://youtu.be/wsDpwb3ILxM
Monkey’s choice:This one is hilarious…..who knew cookies could be so brutal? LMAO. LOVE THIS BAND!http://youtu.be/9WMH_-qiTCw
Wild Child what can I say? I really don’t know what to say. One of the few times I am speechless. I just don’t see this so I did try Monkey’s choice, for about 20 seconds. I don’t know what your teaching your little ones, but since you raised them with these sounds that ok with me. But you have a long long long loooooooooooong ways to go to get me into this. Truthfully, I doubt that I’ll be around as long as it would take.
You are truly a Wild Child. May I ask are you from the US? If yes, what State? Just curious. I have a vision of Bayou Lands but I doubt if I am right.
I was born in Alabama, raised mostly in Illinois, I moved back and forth between Illinois farm country and Tuscaloosa Alabama, but I left home at 16 and lived a little bit of everywhere…INCLUDING bayou country lol….New orleans, and Wilmer Louisiana…so pretty good guess. I’m settled (for the last 11 years) in Michigan.
Wild Child, I thought there must be some Bourbon Street there. Been there several times. Lot of Heavy metal there.
And, I think I just think the Monkey choice is so funny because he’s screaming about someone eating his cookies. I mean, who knew cookies could be so brutal? lol I like it when he screams “I don’t want you in my house!” and “You don’t have to tell me, the wife’s cookies are out of this world!”
Wow, I was a little typing impaired last night….stupid beer!
Well the Tortie Power overpowered the judgement day prediction. So we can all enjoy our chocolate, drinks and remember not to have overdrawn your bank accounts ( poor choice on the bank overdrawn).
So Ingrid’s post and our Torties and our family will continue on. Now that is what is called the “Power of the Torties”.
I just posted new pics of the girls on my fb page. One of Nikita with her mask showing and 3 of Luna’s new trick. I went to the fridge to get water and guess who was on top staring at me?
Love the pics Sue. Wish mine would get along as well as your two.
Sue those are fun pictures. Flying objects for sure. Anything up there including Luna. Nikita is a beauty. But so is Luna. Very nice.
Allegra loves to get up on top of the fridge – she’s done it from almost the first day she came home with me. Ruby just figured it out the other day.
Maybe they’re dropping hints that a second floor to ceiling cat tree might be a nice Christmas present this year…
Dropping hints and stealing shrimp. I’d say you have lost control. The girls have trained you well already. I bet they get 2 ceiling cat trees. No sibling rivalry, well, not much anyway.
And as I am ready to go to bed, I go intto the kitchen to turn the light off.
On the floor as it goes to the dining room is a dead mouse.
Not sure who did it, but it was chewed on.
Not going to check for mouse breath.
But either Stir or Pumpkin.
This should give pleasant dreams.
lol…can’t really blame you for not checking
Jay are you saying you may have slept with a head of a dead mouse in your bed under the covers. Brave man.
I think in Jersey is a Horses head that means something bad.
A mouse head means you have a happy Tortie.
I have to tell on Bernie–while she’s working on cleaning up Steeler’s teeth she’s eating chocolate to muck up her own! So did Jay and me, all because a glass block window made me think of a chocolate bar and we all had to have chocolate. I hope it lightened up Bernie’s worry about Steeler. An infection is one thing–cardiac issues are quite another! We’ll all be thinking about Monday and Steeler’s surgery.
I’ve been enjoying the metal selections–no TV here, I listen to music all day long from classical to alternative with jazz in between, and my alternative station plays metal–not the headbanger stuff but some of the things you guys mentioned, right alongside vintage folk. Late at night they get into the old stuff, Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, and Hendrix on some good stuff. But because I never see it in print I don’t know the names of half the newer ones so I couldn’t even look them up on YouTube. Give us more!
I haven’t had much time to scroll through FB but I did enjoy Jay’s videos of Stirfy–she is unique!They know who to choose. How many other people would understand Stirfry?!
I’ve had it easy with my sweet tortie girls, but I had a turn first with my dilute tortie, who loved people and hated other cats, and my torbie, who hated everyone and everything but me and let me know about it all the time. Not to mention my loving but unpredictable white cat.
But Bernadette, it is sooo good. LOL
Bernadette I will try but Lianimal is our music expert here. I think she knows all the latest bands
One from around here (York Pa) is Halestorm
Lizzy Hale is the singer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4MOC6aKMkA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZOmtPR_MTU
Those are pretty good….Peaches likes!
Monkey says her favorite metal chick is Alyssa White-Gluz
http://youtu.be/_jud_SnKTlY
I love it. My type of music. (But I think Bernie might give it a thumbs down) 🙂
Keep them coming
Tortie Metal of the day
Is this what Ingrid meant by “regularly scheduled tortie programming “
lol…must be!
And don’t worry, Bernie won’t click it, she knows Monkey’s not to be trusted when it comes to music lol
Monkey thinks this is a HUGE improvement over the original….lol
http://youtu.be/4xwXOj55nIY
Your right no thumbs on that. Ingrid’s programming is probably being taken under panel review. 🙂
But see, that’s the difference between human and feline dental problems: we can eat the chocolate, and then we brush our teeth, and all is well. Most of us (including me) don’t brush our cats’ teeth.
So Bernie can continue to eat her chocolate guilt-free. Besides, we all know chocolate provides stress relief!
Now that is what I call understanding how to handle stress relief. I knew it tasted sssoooo good, now the next time I will really enjoy that chocolate. 🙂
Hi my Tortie friends. I just found the perfect way to find your Tortie when they won’t come when you call them (which is most of the time). It is time for Steeler’s meds and of course I could not find her. She started doing the hiding thing today. Well I just found the perfert solution.
I went to Jay’s FB and played his video of Stirfry’s purring and hissing in delight (for Stir). That brought Steeler flying down the steps from the second floor. Now I have a secret weapon to find her. She is looking for the cat. Not finding it, she is not here, took her Med and is on the pillow purring like crazy. Her voice is coming back and I don’t know if she is happy there is not cat or if she is happy to be safe by me.
Stirfy calling Steeler. I knew that would happen someday,
I know they all talk to each others on our computers. I think Brooke is leading the pack.
The Torties have a plan and it is starting. We always wondered how they knew what is going on.
I need to correct that for you. Stir called Kelly, and Steeler today already.
Glen, you of all people should get on FB. It’s fast, free and easy. If I learned, you should be able to master it. Come on. We will be waiting to see it.
I don’t have the link to the FB page
I hope all of y’all will friend me on petville
Here’s the link to the Conscious Cat Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/consciouscat
A Kasey story from today.
I was at work and my wife sent an email, in it was included the phrase “I hear Kasey giving someone grief out in the kitchen”
Later, I called home and asked about that.
Apparently, she did not have another critter backed into the corner.
She was by herself, “singing”
Usually singing takes place at night, you can tell it is not very melodic if it gets mistaken for a fight. 😉
I love to hear about Kasey’s “singing!”
Kasey’s song has had many descriptions;
Eeps & Squeaks Song
Rusty Swing Set
Tales From The Crypt
Sci-Fi Sound Effects
I think it could be her “lost kitten” noise, like she was a kitten that wandered off and is calling us to come to see or find her. This is odd if the assumption is correct because she knows where we are when this happens.
The night song may be natures way of giving potential prey an edge, an early warning that she is in the area 😉
As the poor quarry quivers in fear, the Tortie pounces.
Fur and flesh are thrown everywhere.
The Tortie then drags the buffalo carcass off to feed her young.
I just can’t get enough of this poem. You’re truly an artist lol
Glen I have read and read this again laughing like crazy. I know how your wife must have felt. The “singing” is not melodic as you know, and I have learned. I would like to have seen your wife sending that e mail before checking. Only to find Kasey entertaining herself, your wife, and the other two furry babes in the house. It is a crazy sound, but I bet in the future you and your wife will just start to laugh and let her go. If you go where she is when she is entertaining herself she will quit. I love this one. The singing Kasey. With the way Ingrid site is going you may have to get Kasey to audition on a tape and recommend it as Trotie heavy metal sound. Love it.
Lianimal
I am a closet metal fan but just 80’s metal and I have a strange love for hair bands too.
My kitties don’t seem to have any interest in music just tv, well….Nikita anyway. Luna could care less.
I’m on facebook under Sue Wickson, if you go to Ingrid’s fb page you should find most all of us. lol
I can’t figure out how to link facebook here. All I do is play petville, farmville, and all that, and of course link metal music lol
Are you on Ingrids FB page
Oh! Btw, Metal of the day…..lol, seems to be a new tradition……
Monkey reccommends http://youtu.be/kbiI5ll20Tc By Slipknot (Not for the faint of heart)
Peaches reccomends http://youtu.be/rPD7wh-6vT8 Also by Slipknot
And don’t worry Bernie, I listen to both types….maybe not equally, because the bands I listen to only tend to have one…maybe two slower songs per album, but Peaches gets her share of love too lol
You are a very consider lady Lianimal. You have the musical interest of both Monkey and Peaches at heart. Crossover of cultures is great. I am still not crossing over there. You aren’t there with me.
But you at least listen. That’s a good start.
Judas Priest is next.
Slipknot – yikes, you are into seriously heavy stuff! That’s a little too heavy even for me.
Who was it that was asking about why Orange cats are always huge? I had two, Ratman and G, who were HUMONGOUS! And my very first torti, Hatchet, who was a feral I tamed and turned out to be pregnant had an orange. My step-sister took him and he turned out to be huge. Good question. Why are Orange cats always huge? lol
The biggest cat I’ve ever seen in my life was this feral grey tabby…..one ear was half gone and he has this really deep musical Kenny Rogers kind of voice….he was a feral tom I managed to tame,when I finally got him tame enough to pick him up (don’t get me wrong, he was still feral with everyone else, I was the only one who could touch him without getting claw-shanked in the jugular!) He wighed about 20 lbs. And he wasn’t fat, just muscular and HUGE!
I miss Major Tom, he was a cool guy
My Taz is a 20 pound orange guy.
He could stand to be a pound or two lighter but he is still just plain large. His feet and head are 1 1/2 times larger than Kasey and Morgan.
He is a gentle giant though, if there is something undignified and immature for an adult cat to do, he’s up for it.
Even with the size, Kasey can back him up any time she wants.
All three of my Orange cats were super sweet and laid back……I madly love the orange attitude lol
Love the name Hatchet. What is the story behind it ?
Flirtin’ with disaster ?
I was the one that asked after Harry mentioned he was in line at the airport behind a huge orange guy.
Stirfry who was 7 lbs. is now 11 and Pumpkin is 23
I have a doctors scale so just weigh the 2 of us. Put him down and then weigh myself.
30 minutes later with my abacus I have the results
And he is muscle wher Tabatha who is 16 feel just fat.
Good thing Punky is so gentle.
lol…She was always flirtin’ with disaster for sure! She was another feral I tamed. After I finally got her to come in, she became my velcro cat….she followed me everywhere, never more than a couple feet away from me, and ruled the house with an iron paw. Not too long after I got her, I was waiting for her to name herself, and a friend came over and made the comment;’ “What a cool looking cat! She looks like someone chopped two cats in half and sewed the wrong halves back together!” See, she had a very distinct line from the back of her head, straight down the middle of her nose, chin, neck and chest. On one side of the line she was orange and cream with a little black, and white whiskers. On the other side she was black with a little orange, and black whiskers. So she became Hatchet.
You and Hatchet, now why am I not surprised by that name. You are so very expressive. Love your story.
Uhhhhh Jay?
You are friends with me on Facebook already. lol
Speaking of ham, my girlies loooooooooove ham. If I’m in the kitchen in the morning making my lunch for work they harrass me until I share some with them. Nikita may be skinny but she out eats Luna any day and is faaaaast grabbing up the goodies. I feel sorry for Luna because she isn’t fast enough to get more away from Nikita.
Last night I gave them some baked chickn and they only ate a little, they don’t seem to be fans.
Sue, you have to cut Jay some slack. He has that sometimers going on.. Sometimes he remembers and sometimes he doesn’t. It is in all of us worldwide. I can’t wait to see how he responds to this one.
Sorry, but memory fails me at times (chip in Bernie – any time).
I like to see others cats and what they are up to. And somehow I want to see Glen’s bike.
Hope you have riding weather by now. Down here it is warm enuf but too damn wet. Maybe tomorrow.
Car show near my brother in laws to hope to see some muscle cars.
Jay, I have your back. Sue I have to help my buddy out he is so popular he forgets sometimes how many people he knows.
Jay, This is Sue Wickson. One of your and my friends on FB
🙂
Bernie ?? Name sounds familar. Let me go talk to some cats.
Stir Says you are Steelers Mom.
Now I remember.
Something about a snowstorm and the cops ? Right ???
Jay, I sent this email for you this morning, w/pic.’s;
Here’s the best I can do for now.
Weather has been beyond poor for getting out. Some anecdotes from nearby places;
Last week Toronto got a total of 9 hours sun, an average for this time of year is 50 hours,
Buffalo NY has reported that this spring has had the highest rainfall total since they started keeping records.
I have sent two pic.’s one of the bike, one of an old, fat man on my bike (I don’t ride in old work clothes and a ball cap). These were taken last month, we have leaves on the trees, now.
Bike is excellent, very smooth for a v-twin, the stock exhaust sounds good but is not noisy.
There’s nothing not to like on it, for me.
Glen
Glen, did not receive the pic’s yet.
Did you send to
[email protected] ?
Same here for weather. Rain the last 5 days. And just talked to brother in law a little while ago. Calling for chance of thunder showers tomorrow. Will be high humidity today (that ground water has to go somewhere). Will ride to the car show around noon.
Glad you like the bike. I’ve seen some in the showroom. Nice
And one had a unique exhaust. Looked like a gatling gun.
Ride Safe
Never mind. The pics just came thru.
Love the fairing. Futuristic
That exhaust tip is a Victory accessory.
We have a set of them that I have to put on my wife’s 2009 Victory Vision Tour.
It is a bit of a job, i am waiting for when i am the right mood, with enough time to get it done in one session.
Lunch today was a choice of Black Forest Ham and Sara Lee Low Sodium Roast Beef for Stirfry.
The ham was the winner.
There are perks to me working at the Walmart Deli.
Seems like Tortie’s prefer ham. After all they are little hams themselves.
Apparently, one of my torties loves shrimp. I had some leftover cooked cold shrimp for lunch yesterday, and Ruby grabbed one right off my plate and started to take off with it. When I took it from her, she growled at me! (I did give her a tiny little piece).
I don’t usually give the girls any human food, so this was a very special treat (and yes, Allegra got a little piece, too).
Ingrid, so Ruby jumped up and grabbed your shrimp. That’s the new baby getting what she wants. I like that she was willing to stand her ground with you when you tried to take it away from her. I know you had to be laughing. Now she knows where to go for the good stuff, big sister Allegra didn’t fill her in on that one. You are most likely going to have a fun time now. Hold the salmon.
Little Ruby is proving to be a true Tortie by demanding the good stuff.
Bernie,
I’m so glad to hear that Steeler is feeling better! She has a lot of the same coloring as Nikita exept in the face. I haven’t seen another tortie like Nikita with what looks like a light colored mask on her face like a reverse racoon. Most that I’ve seen have dark faces. I do suspect some siamese in her though. She’s long and lean but doesn’t have a wedge head.
Luna loves her box actually both she and Nikita play in it, hopping in and out and tearing around the apt.
Also my screen is just a regular screen door with the screen going 3/4 of the way up and just a small amount of aluminum at the bottom. Luna sits up on her hind end unsupported like a meercat with no problem and last night Nikita tried doing it for the 1st time and she fell over, I tried not to laugh but couldn’t help myself. She tried it again and she could do it. I think she doesn’t have enough meat on her hind end to support herself, Luna has plenty of chub to sit on. lol
Luna is beginning to show a bit more affection too. She still wont sit in a lap and won’t sit next to me on the couch like Nikita will but she wants to be where we are and lies under the coffee table or paces by the end of the couch wanting rubs. So maybe there’s hope yet!
Sue there is surely hope for your kits. But Steeler can’t stand up like other cats. She was abused and she can’t even jump on a couch or chair. That is why I tore the door down for her.
Make no mistake Steeler sweet look is very deceiving. She has a Tortie Attitude and just when you think she likes you and reach for her, she will try to tear you apart.
The cardboard condo has been in my dining room now for several months. But after today’s hissy fit, she did a pretty good number on it. I posted pic of it on my FB page. Steeler, Stir and Kasey all have the same sorta of background. They were each rescued from being outside for one reason or another. They each have the Tortie voice. Not a cat, more like a cross between a lion and a tiger, and that is when they are nice. When they are in attack mode it is an unnatural sound. I just say duck and take cover.
You can always check out Stir, on Jay FB or Steeler on my FB. They are also listed on Ingrid’s Conscious Cat FB. Glenn’s Kasey is there also.
Sue, are you on FB ?
Same for Glen, Lianimal, Michael, Sharon and al the others ?
Link us thru Ingrid’s Conscious Cat FB as we would love to see more about our special Torties.
Unfortunately, no FB for me.
That’s one thing I haven’t got into.
I hope Luna takes notes on what Steeler has done in just a few short minutes in her Tortie hissy.
She ripped at the cardboard condo, her kitty bed, and her little soft toys were everywhere. Even the ducky didn’t go without being tossed about.
So Luna have your mommy look at what you could do, if you really want to.
Sue you sound like you have a storm door similar to what I had with the metal on the bottom. Well Steeler can’t jump and hadn’t been able to see outside since 10/09. So just recently after being notified a full glass door had been placed on back order, I tore the Storm door apart. It was three sections. 2 glass and the bottom metal. If you look on my FB page you will find pics of what I did. Steeler now can lay on the floor and watch out the door and she is delighted.
It took drilling a few screw holes, but it was worth it. If Steeler gets to feeling like she wants to go thru it, I have the child grill guard to put back on it. I had removed it to let the glass clear. But I can put it back on if I have to, to protect her. Love to hear about Luna and Nikita.
Steeler update from Bernie: it’s all very good news. They did bloodwork (and Steeler showed her true tortie colors – as Bernie put it, “the real Steeler showed up!”), and they did a cardiac ultrasound, which didn’t show any problems. Her heart rate has decreased and is in the high normal range now. The surgery is scheduled for Monday at 9am. They will do another cardiac ultrasound prior to the surgery just to be sure.
I know Monday will be a very long day for Bernie – she won’t be able to pick Steeler up until 5pm. But Steeler is going to feel so much better once that nasty tooth is out!
And of course, we’re all keeping Steeler and Bernie in our thoughts through the weekend, but especially on Monday.
We all knew Steeler would be ok. Nothing keeps a Tortie down.
Her voice is back and now the Vets know how a well Tortie should act.
Her heart rate is down but I bet theirs went up.
Steeler was taking no prisoners today. She has had enough. One needle was one to many. We all had our heart rates racing. Gald I wasn’t holding her. She got me at home. She literally threw a hissy fit and started a demolition of her condo and kitty bed. With little toys everywhere. She is resting now in the sunroom. Mom of course had a sweeper to run.
I saw your facebook page of the Steeler damage.
That football team better make her their mascot as she is showing how damaging she can be.
Better off letting off steam on her cardboard condo than you (even though you got collateral damage)
And I know you would replace it it the damage is to great.
And sounds like Steeler was talking to Luna and the advantages of a cat condo.
OUTSTANDING news 🙂
I know Monday will be a long day, from experience with Kasey’s surgery last winter. It was tough on me, but she came through just fine.
It will be much better for her, once the surgery is over and she doesn’t have the dental problem any more.
Glen you have been there. After everything is done and she is ok, I think we should all have a discussion on how dangerous a dental infections can become. Even though Steeler has been to the Vet just 6 months ago, this popped up, and I had no incite until she lost her voice. Then I panicked. So after Monday, I will be relived, but I doubt that the worry will leave until she shows her wrath of the Tortie after the surgery. She did some of that today if you want to see what she did when she got home. Jay says it looked like a Tortie bomb went off. She says, she has had enough, did not like needles. Neither do I.
Sending positive, healing thought for Steeler and Bernie.
Good morning all!
Luna and Nikita had it out with Big Orange last night and Jay, I have no idea why those orange tabbies are so huge but they are monsterous compaired to my girls. He came right up to the screen last night and looked over and said “meow” like “hello I’m here”! Well at the time Luna and Nikita were below the metal part of the screen and he couldn’t see then but Luna’s ears were pulled back and she did NOT look inviting. lol Nikita was curious more than anything, she sniffed at him while Luna was growling and hissing. Brian got up and closed the door, he was afraid Luna would climb the screen again trying to get to Marley. Closed the door on the fun. I was enjoying Luna getting tough!
On a lighter note, their new favorite toy is the box my new microwave came in. Luna sits in it and will also try to knock it over so she can sit on top. I can hear them playing with it at night in the kitchen. Boxes and bags the cheapest cat toys ever!
Sounds like Luna is following Steeler’s lead and is building a fort!
Steeler is at the Vet’s today
Sending healthy thoughts to her.
And to my friend Bernie so she will not worry.
Hi everybody! I love all the chatter on here lately, very entertaining! I have never been owned by a tortie before Luna and Nikita. John & I picked them from a litter on Craigs List. They picked us, tried to climb out of the box to us. Lol its been love ever since. 🙂
Sue, funny how they know who they want and will pester until they get it. Steeler did that and never gave up. Bernie did.
Luna and Nikita knew who they should live with as soon as they saw you.
And because of them , you and John got to Ingrids blog and discovered how lucky you are.
Sue it’s god to hear from you. You have been absent for a while. It sounds like Nikita and Luna have found a great place to be. They stole John and your heart in a heartbeat. Good for you. They are entertaining and very loyal. If you have been reading the posts here you know we have been enjoying ourselves. Come on and join us more often.
Home. Not sure if it’s 3 a.m. and I’ve been up since 6 a.m., or it’s 9 p.m. and I’ve been up since midnight last night. I got a very lukewarm welcome from the crew – Sabrina even seemed scared of me. (She’s over it now.) Brooke actually sat in my lap, but then I realized that all she wanted was my salmon. Coming through security in Frankfurt, I was in line behind a very large orange tabby cat named Oscar. Neither of us appreciated the pat down, but I knew better than to hiss.
It is good to have you home. This CC has been on the wild side for a while. But fun. I know you were reading it when you could. Some of us are still recovering from it. Heavy Metal, Soft Metal.
And so much more. Oh yes, some about out Torties. Welcome back we missed you.
Welcome home, Harry. Nothing like being put in your place by not getting an overwhelming welcome from the cats!
Glad to hear you back safe Harry. A Tortie Hiss would have kept you over there for a while.
Smart move go quietly.
And why do all the orange tabbies seem to be on the large size ?
Welcome back!
It’s so funny how when you first see their little tortie faces (for me, at least) they’re kind of homely. Their coats are beautiful, but they just don’t tend to have the greatest first impression faces……but after you get to know and love them, their faces are so expressive and special. Mokey has this little monkey face, like a wizened old man, she tried to get siamese points, but the tortie gene overruled…..She has more dark where siamese do, and she has more light where siamese do, and she DID manage to get the slightly crossed eyes, little triangle head and dainty, mostly dark paws, but everything else (colorwise) is just all mixed up and crazy (much like her personality lol) I MUST get a digital camera so I can post her in all her rocker chick glory lol
Lianimal, I know we would all love to see Monkey and Peaches. We have heard so much about them. I hope tonight you are giving Monkey a little soft rock to tone her down a little. You of course can wear a headset and hear you heavy metal. 🙂
I used to feel the same way about tortie faces until I had torties. I think part of it is that it’s a little bit harder for most people to “read”the facial expressions on dark colored cats in general.
I fell in love with Stir as soon as I saw her. Look at the pic of her and Nutmeg. She was such a small kitten and seemed so helpless (now I know better that she outclassed all those other cats). But her eyes are what drew me in.
And she was so eager to have someone love her. Every morning and evening when I came home she was rubbing against me. She just seemed so happy that she was being fed and taken care of. Like Ingrid said in her book on Buckley. I think her dream was of a forever home.
Well, she got it.
And now that I see everyone elses Torties I can see how beautiful they are. Steelers soulful expression is so touching.
Steeler’s beautiful eyes pulled my heart until she won. I think all along she knew her plan and she got her forever and ever home. But then I look at the Torties and those beautiful eyes can’t help but love them. Other cats eyes have the same effect. They have their soul right their in the eyes looking into yours. The thing that came as a surprise to me after I decided Steeler was going to belong in my home forever, was, while not immediately shown, was the Tortitude. She was so friendly and followed me everywhere out there. A few months in the house and I realized I had just turned over ownership to her. That is when I started to find out what she was and lo and behold I found this Conscious Cat posting, by goggling Torti cats. Then I have learned how I was taken. Who would have know. It’s been fun here ever since.
Funny Bernie, but Stir was the same way. No tortitude at all outside except she smacked Nutmeg when her space was invaded. But never one time did she strike me or hiss. And outside then she did purr. But as soon as she came inside it became her home, Tabatha was just an obstruction.
She has been the Boss ever since.
I am telling you folks Torties have a master plan that none can see until you are head over heels in love with the little furry ones.
“And she was so eager to have someone love her. Every morning and evening when I came home she was rubbing against me. She just seemed so happy that she was being fed and taken care of. Like Ingrid said in her book on Buckley. I think her dream was of a forever home.”
That’s Kasey, too.
One of many reasons why I brought her home from the gas plant in May 2008 was that trait.
In spite of not always being treated well (and mistreated), or being cared for very well, she gave the impression of just wanting to be a pet cat.
She got her wish and has lived up to that impression, I can tell by her demeanour that she is quite happy in the role of a house cat, even with her semi-wild tortie background. She has rewarded me many times over with her affectionate (to people) nature.
My only regret is that I waited until 2008 to bring her home.
Glen you did great by her. We all know that. Kasey is everyone’s Tortie here. Like every other rescued Tortie they needed a forever home. You and Jay are two very caring guys. Harry you, of course without saying, top the charts with 7 fosters/failed/now forever home cats. We all know where to go to learn about successful fostering. We will all meet at Harry’s.
I am sharing this with the group Bernie
I had written to Bernie asbout Stir and my feelings on her
They were discarded and unwanted.
No one saw what they could give but us.
And we are the lucky ones. We get to see how special they are.
That is how I see it. Steeler has given me more comfort than people can know. Same with you and Stir. Same with Kasey. They opened up a whole new world for the three of us and opened up by chance friendships that would never have happened without them. Try to figure that one out. This is a mystery for the ages. 3 Torties miles apart causing friendships never known
It is ok Jay. I never expected to see that on CC but it is ok. I wrote how I felt.
Now all I can say, “How can I keep my PA Gangster Tag” when you have shown my softer side. 🙂
It’s OK Bernie, everyone knows Gangster’s have a soft spot for cute cats.
But don’t get on their bad side.
It’s funny; when we adopted Brooke, we had no intention to adopt another kitten. We went to petsmart to look at adult cats, as we had just adopted two kittens from our rescue. We saw cute little tortie Deanna (our Brooke) curled up with her sister Destiny.
Mom and I cuddled Brooke the whole event, and decided that we would take her home. I don’t know how we split her up from her sister, we had thought about taking two (could you imagine, two torties! – well Ingrid can!).
We brought Brooke home and the sweet little kitten who had been curled up the whole event in our arms, took off at 90 miles per hour running ALL around the house. We thought we made a mistake in adopting a crazy kitten, maybe we did. But she was a good mistake!
She had her plan and you and your Mom were a part of it. See how easy she got a forever home. She knew good people when she seen them. 🙂
We all know it was not a mistake.
A forever home NEVER is.
Oh my! Brooke sure hit her tortitude well until after she had charmed you and your mom! And thank goodness she did!
” she tried to get siamese points, but the tortie gene overruled…..She has more dark where siamese do, and she has more light where siamese do”
Kasey has that pointed look too, dark face, dark legs and tail, I can tell their’s no Siamese in her and the markings resemblance to them is just coincidental and I think a bit common to dark colored torties.
Its a neat look, though.
That’s really interesting. When I first adopted Allegra she was at that gangly kitten stage, and her face was very narrow and long. A lot of people were wondering whether she had some Siamese in her when they first met her. I don’t think so, or, if she does, it’s a very very minute portion, but it’s interesting that it’s come up for other torties as well.
I guess there must be something to the thought. I always wondered if Brooke had a little Siamese as she had the lean body and wedge-like head. Now she’s not as svelte as she used to be and considerably rounder, and it’s not as noticeable.
Monkey isn’t really that dark, though, only on her “points”. The rest of her has as much as or more orange and cream as black. And her head looks rounder most of the time because she’s a little fluffernut, but when you smooth the fur down, she definitely has the little wedge head. The crossed eyes are impossible to miss or dispute, and the teeny paws….when she launches off me they actually leave bruises lol…I have tiny bruises all over my left hip and thigh because I sleep on my right side, she sleeps on the dip between my top and bottom, and at least once every night she launches for some reason or other…….anyway, I got sidetracked. What I meant to say is that even though she’s a chubber, she still has that wedge head and teeny dainty feet. When I get a camera so I can show you guys what I’m talking about, you’ll probably agree she has a little siamese blood.
Better attitude, though, I’ve had three different Siamese cats in all my years of pet servitude, and they were the crankiest, most posessive, diva-ish and problematic cats I ever had. Beyond beautiful, but I’ll take my torti thank you very much! lol
Ok here is a part of Steeler’s behavior. Steeler still has a way to go, so let me stay on line with her playful side for now. Ingrid can handle the medical side.
Many of you have seen Steeler with her yellow ducky. It was the first toy I ever bought her when I rescued her In October 1009. She has that duck so yucky, but it is her favorite. Well I do have a new once put back for her, but she wanted nothing to do with the new one. She always went back to the old one. For now she is trying hard. I would expect nothing else from my little girl. She was always very determined as all our Torties are.
If those of you wonder what ducky, you can see her on my FB. There are many pictures of her over this period since she came into my life. She has her ducky in many of them.
Thanks for all the well wishes.
I am still recovering myself from the other night on here. Heavy metal and metal ballads still don’t know what programming Ingrid had in mind, but I am sure we all did not disappoint her. Maybe surprised her a bit, but definitely not a disappointment to her.
Talk to you folks later.
Woot! Go Steeler!
To make her feel even better, Monkey suggests http://youtu.be/5BAiDKOqfvc
And Peaches suggests, by the same band, http://youtu.be/oBMT3OMEPwk
Amazing, huh, that the same band can do a hard metal song and a nice ballad. Despite what non-metal people think, there are actually VERY talented musicians that choose to do metal lol
I’m working on you Bernie…you’ll eventually join the dark side lol
And, on the disney quiz question, I was “Animal”..but didn’t we all already know that was going to happen? lol
Lianimal as to the quiz. Never had a doubt where the Wild Child would fall. I am Kermit. So we will balance each other out , at least a little.
Hey Wild Child No to the first url. Yes to the second. Poor Monkey has to listen to the first song.
Peaches and I will listen to the second.
Lianimal. like Bernie sad, I had no doubt as to how you would be.
Bernie is starting to appreciate some of our music
Five Finger Death Punch is a great band. The Bleeding is my favorite, but with my poor hearing I get into the loud music with lots of percussion.
I had thought of a lot of groups for Bernie to enjoy – Kansas, Boston, Fleetwood Mac came to mind. Rock but not Metal.
Guess you can put me in with Monket’s group.
Excuse the mistake Monkey
typing with 1 finger means I make mistakes
Lianimal and Jay, the two of you have come up with some “Music” that could conquer foreign countries. It is going to be a very long road to get me into that. But hey, you guys keep trying, there is a saying you can’t fail if you never try.
I’m almost entirely deaf in one ear and only have about 50% in the other….wonder if that’s why I love the hard stuff so much?
Hmm, nah, because the very first album I ever bought with my own hard-earned money was Kiss’ Rock and Roll Over…..I worked for my neigborhood cat lady hand nursing a litter of kittens whos mother had died every day before and after school until they were old enough to wean. She gave me a kitten and $20….I think I was 10. So yeah, I’ve kind of always been a metal chick lol….AND an animal lover
Lianimal you are a trip. $20 + a kitten. Now that is payment in kind. So you buy a Kiss album. There must be something that drove you to the “heavy metal” sounds. It nice to hear that you helped to feed little kittens to keep them alive. Do you have a Facebook page? If you do it would be nice to see. You can always go to mine, or Jays and see out little ones. Hope you have a quiet evening. But stay here and talk a while, folks like to hear what you have to say.
Bernie, what beats all is that the other kids in the neigborhood thought she was a witch and were TERRIFIED of her, but I was a cat lover and worked up my courage to go talk to her……and got a job! lol
I’m not really sure where my taste for the hard stuff started though. My mom always said she had concernes when at 5 I knew all the words to Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and Tammy Wynette’s “Your good girl’s gona go bad” But I grew up on country, no idea why metal took over around 10-ish lol
Lianimal you are a delight to have on here. Love your stories. Now I am going to give you a web site address where you can see most of our Torties. Ingrid has this site as well and Jay, Glen and I have our Torties pictures. Harry has his and geez I will get into so much trouble if I try to name everyone that I will stop there and tell you go to this site. You will see our Torties and others there. Let us know what you think of them
http://www.consciouscat.com I know you will really enjoy looking at the photos. Just go down to photos and click on that then clicks on all photos on that page. You will see beautiful little ones.
Here’s the latest Steeler update from Bernie: Bernie now has a little tortie mark on her hand from when Steeler fought her when she gave the medication (but she did take it).! She stopped pulling at her fur, and last night she even had her little ducky between her paws. This morning was the first time since she got sick that she woke Bernie up and demanded to be fed. These are all great signs that she’s feeling better!
Knew it.
Nothing can keep a Tortie down for long.
Way to go Steeler !!!!!!!!!!
Get your servant trained again.
And a Tortie Tattoo also to show who’s boss.
Which Muppet are you?
http://disney.go.com/games/play3/?content=184201#/games/play3/&content=184201
For me? Animal, Obviously lol
Kermit for me.
I’m a Kermit, too.
Today’s Steeler update from Bernie: Steeler is being her lovable self, although still not very active. Bernie has to wrap her in a towel so she’ll take her meds, as Bernie put it, “the tortie fight is there, but not real strong.” Steeler’s voice disappeared again today, so as a result, Bernie once again didn’t get much rest because she keeps getting up to check on her since she can’t hear her!
Awww, poor Bernie. I say that because I know Steeler’s going to be okay, Bernies the one worried and sad….Steeler is probably playing her for sympathy, that’s what Monkey would do, probably….torties aren’t dumb, even though some people seem to take their subtle manipulativeness and inherent craziness as being “not too bright”
Lianimal, Torties are brilliant both in color and intelligence. They have us all trained quite well, so that says something and they ever convinced Ingrid to start this blog for them. uuumm
Happy Birthday Ingrid 🙂
Thanks, Jay!
Wow – you guys were busy last night! This was fun to wake up to! Hmm, am I going to have to rename this thread to heavy metal kits? I promise I’ll catch up and respond in more detail, but it may take me a day or two.
I might be a little busy celebrating today 🙂 I think the girls might have a surprise or two planned for me. Allegra already started the day off right by sleeping curled up in my arms for a while last night, and Ruby has now taken over by sitting in my lap purring away. I can already tell it’s going to be a great day.
Is it really your birthday?! See how much the girls have figured out about you already? What a lovely gift. Hope you have a wonderful day!
Yes, it really is my birthday – and I got a wonderful gift from Allegra and Ruby this afternoon. For a couple of minutes, both girls were on my lap together. I was reading and Ruby was sleeping on my lap. Allegra came to join us, sat right next to Ruby, the two of them were actually touching. Ruby barely opened her eyes. Allegra licked one of Ruby’s paws once, then proceeded to groom herself. Unfortunately, just as she was getting ready to settle down for a nap of her own, something outside distracted her and she had to go check it out. It was a moment of pure magic.
Hope you have had your Birthday Wishes all come true. Happy Birthday Ingrid.
Happy B’day Ingrid! I want to thanks you SO much for giving us this site to share our babies
Thanks, Lianimal. And it’s all of you I need to thank for making this site such a wonderful community!
Hey guys and gals, when Ingrid gets up early tomorrow, and she is one of the very early birds, so as not to compare her to those of us that are not morning folks, she is going to have to wonder what path this blog took. Imagine all the paths we took this evening.
I would think she will try to wrap it up in one post. Although with all the different areas she will have a time wrapping her head around this. She did say, “back to our regular programming” without giving us a script.
So now, to salvage part of my night, I am signing off. You folks have fun. I have. Thanks
Good nite Bernie, take care of Steeler with plenty of scratches and tummy rubs from our group to her.
So…clandestine whisper…..do y’all think I’m doing okay luring Bernie to the dark (metal) side? lol
She is starting to see the light (Dark ?).
I can’t see her going out tomorrow and buying a bunch of CD’s for her Jeep, but open her eyes you have.
Like Steeler showed her how you can love a kitty so much, she has given her this group, thru Ingrid, to expand her horizons.
Psst: My Wild Child it is going to take a while longer. But keep up your good efforts. I love the way you put you little ones in with your love of metal groups and they help you out.
Well, even this old cat learned something tonight (this morning, here, I guess). One of my favorite songs is actually a power ballad. As Lianimal said, I didn’t even know it was metal. I have always liked this Scorpions song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev1BISBD4HA
Good Morning Harry: I liked that one after hearing it tonight. There appears to be a move to move me to metal music. You have a lot of reading on here to catch up with all that went on. Hope you have a great day over there.
Heheh…it’s a conspiracy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb-UxzgkTds
That’s definitely a good one Harry!
Lianimal, the Wild Child, I have been reading your post tonight and you do not disappoint. So I did something I would not otherwise do and took the quiz. Just for you. I am more a Kermit. So I wonder, how did you do.
Still singing and dancing hard metal with Monkey, now remember Peaches is the gentle soul, so soft metal for her.
Kasey had her annual vet visit yesterday.
She did not like the ride over but behaved quite well.
Everything was fine but she is a bit tired today from her vaccinations but she does bound back quite well from them.
She was meowing in her carrier at the vet, someone said “it sounds like kitty is losing her voice”, I said “no, that’s her normal voice, she’ll never land a spot on a cat food commercial”.
Glen It is great to hear Kasey got a clean bill of health. I still think the Torties descend from the line of big cats. Leopards and tigers combined most likely. No normal kitty meow in my girl or Jay’s as you can hear on his FB. They sound like they are angry.
Yeah, Kasey even does a cougar snarl, no other critter in the house wants to deal with that. Especially since the sound isn’t just for show.
She is like a big cat in the behaviour.
That’s our girls. Nothing common about them. 🙂
Maybe not on a cat food commercial but a spot on Animal Planet’s Deadliest Animals.
Glad Kasey passed her exam and didn’t shed any blood.
Even though she was a bit fatigued from the vaccinations, I was told sometime this aft. while I was at work, she found the energy to go swat our 20 pound orange guy, Taz.
Glen do you think Kasey and Steeler have a thing about orange cats. It was an orange that brought Steeler to her feet? Good girls. 🙂
As Pumpkin walks away offended
Could be an orang cat thing.
However, in this house, Taz is the perfect target.
Morgan, our 12 year old, 9 pound tuxie girl is still very svelte, quick and active. At the first sign of trouble, she scoots, or goes vertical, escaping with a 3 or 4 ft. jump to the back of the couch or my chair etc. I think Kasey just wonders where she went 😉
At 20 pounds and just big, Taz, like Kasey is a “ground dwelling” cat that stays in Kasey’s area of activity. he is good natured, a real nice cat, and puts up with a lot, so he is a natural target.
Fortunately, the attacks are not full time.
Even when tired a Tortie has her (and 1 him) reputation to uphold.
“I am the BOSS and don’t you forget it.”
Hi folks. I am reading your posts and could not be happier today that I shared Steeler’s first antic since she has been under the weather. If this continues and I know it will we will all have something to celebrate. I most definitely will.
My wild child, Lianimal, you are a young woman all by yourself. Good to hear about Peaches. Sweetie, Jay, is not my hubby. We are just very good friends. Jay is in Southeastern PA with Stirfry, and I am in Southwestern PA with Steeler. You go girl.
” But Steeler was arched. Well there was a body thump on the door and Steeler strutted her stuff into the dining room and crawled back into her cardboard condo to rest. then eat ham.”
Sounds like a typical tortie; that’s what Kasey would do.
That behaviour and fighting taking med.’s do sound like good signs, wishing all the best that things will continue to improve.
To all the Tortie family. I am not going to address Steeler illnesses here but I am going to relay an antic today. The first in several days. Steeler has for the first time ventured out into the sunroom to look out her door. It is pouring down rain outside and I just let her sit and look. Then I went out to see how she was doing. Well it was NASA we have a problem. A large orange cat had ventured and Steeler was in attack mode. I decided to let it play out. It was good to get Steeler’s adrenaline flowing. You see the door had a reflective coating where Steeler can see out but no on can see in. uh uh the orange cat could not see Steeler. But Steeler was arched. Well there was a body thump on the door and Steeler strutted her stuff into the dining room and crawled back into her cardboard condo to rest. then eat ham. This is the first sign of her being her own devilish self.
On the medical front, Ingrid is still going to fill you in. Just wanted you to know I am sure you guys and your good thoughts are helping.
That’s the best news I’ve heard all day! She’s baaack!
You go, girlfriend!
As Harry said before, Torties are not “normal cats” and nothing keeps them down.
Steeler is back and defending the house. Lucky for the orange cat that she is just recovering so the door stayed intact. A full throated roar will be heard next week.
Yaaaay – so glad to hear that Steeler’s feeling better!
WOOT! Go Steeler!
Steeler update:
From Bernie:
“Steeler is now clawing and wanting her Isalys chopped ham. This is really a good sign”
Sounds like our little girl is improving. Meds must be working.
I wish Steeler were here, she’d be eating well. Some pork schnitzel and a currywurst. That’ll cure what ails ya.
And with her – a few Berliner Pilsner’s to wash it down. Torties are tough.
I don’t know about Steeler, but it sure sounds good to me. But no German dark ale. I think Steeler could handle that one.
Can you imagine a bar fight with a Tortie.
Bad enough that the “American Tourist” gets a bad rap but then there would be “those damn Black and Gold American Cats” beating up on our german kitties.
Jay I can’t help but laugh at this one. You are going to give the Black and Gold a reputation, added to the one they already have.
I heard from Bernie this morning. Steeler has eaten, and her meow is still very low and hoarse sounding, but at least there’s some sound coming out of her. She’s still very tired, but Bernie had to wrap her in a towel this morning to give her her antibiotics because Steeler was fighting her. As we all know, that’s definitely a good sign.
Bernie, we’re all keeping you and Steeler in our thoughts and prayers!
Bernie, I have been reading about teeth problems in cats and happily found that it is very treatable as in humans. The prognosis of a speedy recover is usually just a day or 2.
I also read on Ingrids site and others how cats will not show the pain (unlike people).
Now after hearing about our Steeler, I will take mine to the Vet for a dental checkup.
But after all the reading I know Steeler will be OK. She has you taking good care of her plus all us sending healing tortie thoughts to her.
All of our Torties and families, I have read each and everyone of you good wishes for Steeler and I. I hold those dear to my heart. I would respond to each of you, but each of you is as important as the other to me. So please know in my heart I know and hold dear your words. Steeler is strong, and no matter what, she will be ok. My heart tells me that and my friends here tell me that. And so it will be.
I will not go into all her details until I am sure she is going to be ok. I will get work to you thru CC.
Just know no one here is unimportant to Steeler and I.
Lianimal, I have to respond to you, our heavy metal child. Jay found the ballad Every rose has it’s thorn by Poison. I had never heard it, but peaches is right, we like the ballads. Thank you. Poor Monkey hears heavy metal.
Thank you all.
Bernie, I’m sorry you had to search for it, I was trying to link it, but it kept linking this REALLY hard metal song I had linked earlier…in fact, it was the one underneath the story about the death-metal drummer who feeds feral cats that Ingrid linked…lol…I KNEW you didn’t want to hear that! It was bed-time and I finally just gave up. I’m glad you, hubby and Steeler liked it…there are a LOT of great metal ballads out there…….maybe I’ll manage to ease you gently into metal love lol
I’m SO glad to hear Steeler’s doing better! Maybe the peppy music helped.
Monkey sends (DO NOT search for this, although it has a GREAT message, you’ll HATE it! But that’s just how monkey rolls) Buisiness Suits and Combat Boots, The Agonist
Peaches sends (you know you can trust Peaches) The Unforgiven, Metallica
In fact, I just pulled it up because I hadn’t heard it in a while, started singing along, ad Peaches came up and started head-butting me for attention lol
OMG, how wierd is this? When the song quit she left, and when I hit play again she came back, head-butting and purring! Peaches has NEVER been a friendly cat, even when she was young,
these days she’s VERY grumpy and opinionated normally…she’s old, you know…..she apparently LOVES that song! You guys have patience with me, I’m going to try it one more time to see if she comes over. Seriously, she’s never been a touchy-feely cat, this is wierd.
Okay, it happened again, she left the area when the song ended, came back as soon as it started again, head-butting and purring. Peaches is a metal chick too, she just prefers power ballads lol….See even old cats can learn to like new things….Making a mental note…..Play more power ballads for Peaches
Lianimal you are having a great time tonight with Peaches. Good for you. Maybe she will teach you to like the Ballads even more. I do believe you are our wild child here at CC.
Power metal ballads don’t even sound like metal to the uninitiated. I get teased a lot for the fact that I love power metal – people just immediately picture headbanging wall of noise kind of music and have a hard time associating that with me. When I play them some of my favorite ballads, they can’t believe that that’s considered “metal.” Edguy’s “Land of the Miracle,” “The Scarlet Rose has Died,” and a lof of the Avantasia tracks take my breath away.
And now we return to our regularly scheduled tortie programming 🙂
Ingrid, nothing is “Regular” with Torties
Ingrid, you encouraged we Torties servants to go where none has gone before. I didn’t know we had regular programming.
You into metal. Wow.
Lianimal so entertaining with her Monkey with hard metal and Peaches the older torte with metal ballads, I think that is what it is called. I can only see you as everyone’s Wild Child. Truly enjoy your stories. So expressive. “See even old cats learn to like new things”, well maybe that will apply to me.
Bernie, you are anything but old.
With shooting, riding ATV’s with the kids, off roading and such you do more than kids I know. All they do is play video games.
And Steeler will definately keep you young.
Building onto her kitty condo and replacing door panels with windows.
Whoa partner, there was a “maybe” in that post. I have no intention of “getting old”. I will be target practicing, ATVing and trail riding thru Eric’s wood in the very near future. I will also be joining my sons and grandson fishing when school is over. “Old” uh uh not in my future.
Love you guys and gals.
Jay somewhere on here you said “Bernie you are on your own” jokingly of course. However, as long as we have CC we as one and all will never be on our own. Gotcha 🙂
lol..for the fourth time I started The Uforgiven, started belting it out, and Peaches came running. Monkey was no-where in sight…….but when I Put Soilwork on, Monkey came out. This is so wierd to discover my cats both have different tastes in metal music loll
Bernie, I thought that was our secret ….
🙂
Lianimal , I was the one that found Poison’s song for her.
She is already happily married and her husband would kill me (if her son Eric did not)
She lives near Pittsburgh where I live near Harrisburg. Poison is a local band (Mechanicsburg Pa) and I have seen them in concert a few times. I was a big fan of the Hair Bands of the 80’s along with Metal of 70-80’s.
Ozzy and Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Motorhead, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Slayer and all those I grew up with. Bernie is into more mellow music (although Torties should be Metal Cats) so I looked it up for her and sent her the link.
That was a good choice.
Another would be
Metallica – Nothing Else Matters
Speaking of heavy metal, I am showing my age a bit, I wasn’t even a “kid” and was already about 5 years into my career, when this came out;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI-jwziyhqo
I don’t have a Corvette (as named in the song) but I consider this the unofficial theme song of my “ride”
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2010models/2010-Victory-Vision8Ballc.jp
Now if the rain would just stop here long enough………..
Glen, I listened to that this morning then had to look up the lyrics. Totally forgot about that song.
Back in my days of street racing when Foreigner came out with this LP, I had to buy the 8 track and play it in my 70 Mach 1 as me and friends rode the streets of Lancaster on weekend nights. Wow, last night realy brought back memories. Thanks everyone.
Foreigner – Rev on the red line
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3_gbj2KjKk
Thanks Jay for ” almost ” in a way. You cleared that up. Was at the ready to call in the forces that be.
Jay folks is a good friend. He loves to agitate and tease, but he is to be trusted, if not, he will be dealt with. We need Harry back to keep him in line. 🙂
Harry is furring Europe one country at a time.
Probably asleep now or just waking up.
You are on your own (but Steeler is by your side)
I’ve been busy listening to songs
YouTube is so addicting.
Jay was on his best behavior in a hotel room with the two of us, Bernie. Maybe that was the bronchitis. Or the threat I’d dust off my women’s self defense and flip him out the window if he tried anything.
Or did I sleep through something? 🙂
Just teasing.
Bernadette you go girlfriend. There goes Jay’s reputation. By the way, did I sleep thru something. I was first to bed and last to awaken. hum Your a good friend.
Ingrid what programming did you have in mind for tonight?
Just trying to give Jay as bad a reputation as his mini-horse Harley who ran off to meet the local mares a few weeks ago.
Oh well.
Thanks Bernadette, I need all the help I can get 🙂
And Harley still has that smile on his face.
Bernadette you are doing a great job on Jay’s reputation. Just think of all the kidding he is going to get now. You and I are clear on this one. But we can all enjoy a good laugh once in a while. Wait until Ingrid reads all these post tomorrow, she will wonder whose blog we are on. 🙂
Is this what Ingrid meant when she said “regularly scheduled tortie programming” ?
If any cat was going to be a metal chick it would be a torti! Thanks for sending the link! What do you think of the new one I sent? The Unfogiven, to me, is the best ballad EVER! Next I’m sending the Scorpions’ “Still Loving you”
(which Peaches also loves, BTW…..non hardcore metal people can always trust Peaches….lol)
How about……http://youtu.be/Pep6nREBpS8
Still Lovin’ you….Scorpions
Peaches likes this too
Lianimal allow me to break in slowing to metal music. It is a whole new realm of music to me. One at a time. You are so into it, the songs roll out like water over the dam. But keep going, I do enjoy all that expression you put into your posts. I think most if not all of us do. You are the Wild Child to me.:)
Scorpions is another group people don’t think of as other than as a Heavy Metal group.
Great song.
Between listening to music and trying to keep up with all these post tonight it’s gonna be fun. Glad this is my day off.
Peaches just came and head-butted me for Obituary, she must have heard about the drummer’s love for feral cats
Hey Wild Child you should be sleeping. Peaches thinks she is at a heavy metal concert and she is the “star”
Monkey and Peaches would like to send Steeler a free power ballad as a get well gift…….Every rose has it’s thorn
Hi my wonderful Tortie family. I first want to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I am not really ready to say how Steeler will be, I know you will all understand if Ingrid keeps you posted and up to date. Just know I know you are all out there and pulling for out little Steeler.
So if you don’t hear from me, please know that if any news should be told, I will pass it on to Ingrid so you can pull it all together for you. Blessings to you all.
Bernie, you know I don’t have to say anything. You know how I feel.
Like everyone here we will wait for updates and send prayers your way.
Your friend in Eastern Pa 🙂
Bernie, you know there are people pulling for you and our little Steeler, even from this side of the world. Our torties are tough.
Ingrid wrote; ” We all know how upsetting it is when our babies get sick”
Yes, that sure is true, not an easy experience at all.
I am hoping for the best, that the med.’s will work quickly and that the other things can be taken care of.
Positive thoughts lead to positive results…..sendind ALL positive thoughts to Steeler right now
Hey everyone, I thought I’d update you on Steeler. I’m sure Bernie will check in when she feels up to it.
Steeler is dealing with multiple issues. She is congested, and her heart rate was much higher than even the stress of a vet visit would warrant. She also has an abscessed tooth, and most likely, the pain from the tooth has been causing her to rip out her fur. The increased heart rate is a big concern, and while the tooth should ideally be removed right away, Steeler’s vets want her on antibiotics for a few days before rechecking her on Friday. If by then, her infection is under control and her congestion has improved, they will run a complete blood panel and a heart scan to make sure she’s safe to undergo anesthesia to remove the bad tooth on Monday.
Please send prayers and healing thoughts to Steeler, and to Bernie. We all know how upsetting it is when our babies get sick, and this is new territory for Bernie. Steeler is at home with Bernie. Bernie picked up some chopped ham for her (one of Steeler’s favorite treats) on the way home to hopefully entice Steeler to eat.
Bernie, we’re all here for you and Steeler!
Sending love their way!
Me and the kits are all sending healing thoughts and prayers.
After reading your book and others it seems like teeth problems cause all sorts of problems. But luckily this condition can be taken care of. I know Steeler is getting all sorts of love and attention at home.
Bernie, when you are up to it let us know how she is.
Love from Me, Monkey and Peaches, feel better Steeler! And Bernie, stay strong
Any word about Steeler? I’ve been thinking about her and Nikita, Luna and I have been sending up kitty prayers.
Hope she is doing better and sitting and enjoying her new view.
Everyone, please keep Steeler and Bernie in your thoughts tonight. Steeler is a little under the weather, and Bernie is very worried about her.
Bernie – you’re both in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you Ingrid and all my Tortie friends. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers. I will let you know what is wrong when I am sure she is going to be alright.
Best wishes for Steeler from Glen and Kasey.
So sorry to hear that Steeler’s not feeling well. Callie & Allie & Minnie & Dood all add their best wishes that she gets a good night’s rest and wakes up feeling much better tomorrow.
Dinner in Berlin tonight – Berliner Pilsner, three kinds of wurst, sauerkraut, potatoes and another beer. After the 21 hour trip to get here, I earned it. Didn’t see any cats, but on a walk to the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate, I picked enough of Pearl’s fur off of my sweater to make a whole cat. She got into my suitcase while I was packing, but I thought I’d roller taped her all out – clearly not.
Tomorrow – back to the real world of work.
I once heard it said; cat fur is attracted to, and adheres to, everything, except the cat.
Glen is Kasey shedding her fur heavily now at this time of year. She has the type of fur as Steeler. A little on the longer side versus short. I know Steeler is shedding quite a bit. Your right on everything but her. My carpet is showing some shades of lighter colors here and there daily.
Kasey is a fur factory 😉
This is the cat the had bald spots when she came here, likely due to poor food and stress. Some people at the site where she lived were lobbying the foreman to have her put down, saying the fur loss proved she was sick.
Anyway, in a good home, on quality food, she grows fur thick and fast, and, sheds it; and yes, it can be found in many places.
She loves being combed and I pretty much have to make sure that is done at least every other day. I get a good handful of “wool” when I comb her and there’s no thin spots, bald spots etc. and there’s lots more to comb a day or two later.
They somehow must have come from the same lines somewhere. I have to brush Steeler daily and sometimes twice. But she has that fur factory going also. Was wonder how Kasey was with her fur. So they sound alike. If we save the fur maybe someone could weave a furry kitten with it.
Surely Harry, you didn’t think you could leave home with one of them. Have a Berliner Pilsner for me. But folks here need to know that Berliner Pilsner will knock a bud drinker on their butts with just one. Same Pearls fur and spread it around Berlin. She can always say she was there. Have a productive and safe trip.
Have a bratwurst for me, Harry – whenever I’m in Germany (or at a German restaurant!), I take a break from my vegetarian lifestyle.
I bet Pearl’s fur shows up nicely on business suits…
Cat hair is the cat’s way of ensuring a sort of immortality.
Pearl knew you would be worries on your long flight so, knowing she could not go with you in bdy, she could be with you in spirit (along with some fur).
A video clip
Kitten vs A Scary Thing
http://www.lifewithcats.tv/2011/05/13/kitten-vs-a-scary-thing-the-video-sensation
Now that is one funny video. Never having been around a kitten I have not seen how they behave . This one is funny. She entertains herself.
Remember a while back when we were talking about cats and heavy metal? I just remembered another example. Whenever I put on this song by Austrian Death Machine called Cookie Monster, I always get right in Monkey’s face and do my very best death growl; “WHO TOLD YOU….YOU COULD EAT….MY COOKIES?! PUT THOSE COOKIES DOWN NOW!”
She seems to like it…she purrs and rubbs my face with hers lol
So yeah, Monkey is a metal chick….I guess there are no options our torties won’t explore…..
I only thought of it because I was just singing (screaming?) it to her a few minutes ago. Peaches isn’t quite as hip, BTW, she only likes power ballads…when I’m listening to the hard stuff she sits at the end of the hall and stares at me distainfully
.
Lianimal, while I love your enthusiasms for “Heavy Metal”, I guess I just don’t get it. I am with Peaches, play something nice and easy. Monkey must be one crazy cat. Love hearing about them.
I am with Monkey – Heavy Metal suits a Tortie.
Well, if ANY cat would be a metal chick, it would have to be a tortie, right?
This is true. But it is different to me.
Lianimal, did you see the post about the drummer from Obituary who feeds feral cats in his hometown? Here’s the link: http://www.lifewithcats.tv/2011/05/13/death-metal-drummer-feeds-feral-cats/
OMG! That’s awesome! I usually prefer a band with at least SOME clean vocals, but they’re pretty good. And just for the drummer, I’m buying the CD!
And you and Jay are right, if any cat’s going to be a metal chick, I guess it would have to be a tortie lol
No, no, I am still sticking with Peaches. Easy Ballad for Tortie. Monkey is just a has a different taste for music. Soft and easy is the way for us.
I thought you’d like that 🙂
Hi Tortie family. Well an update on Steeler and her newfound freedom to see outside. Today Steeler appears to be under the weather a little, but it is not keeping her from staying at the back door. Right now there are redbirds on the floor of the outside porch. She is just watching each one. She seems content to watch, so far not scratching at the door to get them. I have not seen a cat or squirrel or any other country critter come around. Have to admit, she is spending a lot of time in the sunroom during the daylight hours. She is truly happy to look out. But when it is time to close up and lock up the doors, she does not seem to understand why. She sits in the sunroom as if I am going to go open up the door for her to look out some more. We will have to work on that. For now she is sitting there at this moment enjoying all that she has been missing and she does not show any desire to follow me out the door when I have to go out. She just backs up and stays. Will keep you posted if she pulls any antics.
Saying prayers that Steeler gets better soon.
Thanks Jay. I appreciate that.
We are sending you healing thoughts tonight!
Perhaps she’s just worn out with watching out the door.