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
Hi to all,
I just found this site in my search for “tortie behavior” and I am SO glad I did. Been bookmarked and liked 🙂 Please exccuse me if you don’t like long tedious messages.
I have had two torties in my adult life. The first one, Magenta my ex-husband and I adopted after we had been married for a week. My husband knew how much I missed not having any kitties so he handed me some money and told me to head out to the Humane Society and pick out any kitty I wanted. At that time our local Humane Society had a “cat room” where all the kitties could run around and play in all day and people could go in and get acquainted. I was like a kid in a candy store because of course I wanted all of them. So I sat down to look around and to see if any would choose me. A beautiful little tortie came wandering up to me and looked at me with her beautiful big yellow eyes and in her own way introduced herself to me. She rubbed around my legs, talked to me a little, then laid down by my feet. That was it, I had been chosen! Despite being small she was a year old, spayed and declawed. I was so happy, I had my baby. I took her home and as soon as I put her down, she walked straight into the livingroom, jumped up on a cushy ottoman, stretched and laid down. She knew she was home. My husband who had never really been a big cat person immediately fell in love with her and she with him. She bonded with my husband instead of me, but I was ok with that because I was always a daddys girl myself. She became his shadow, she still loved mommy but loved and adorded her daddy a little more. She brought us so much joy with her funny quirks, her unique personality, and the way she played. Nine years later, my husband and I got divorced and despite how much I loved my Magenta I knew I could never take her away from her daddy. So I left her with my ex-husband when I moved out to my own place.
I cried for weeks as I missed her so much, yet I swore I was never going to get another kitty because it was just too painful and I had a small apartment. My ex-husband and I remained friends and I had visitation, but was always so sad to come back to my empty apartment.
A while after I had moved out my ex-husband had taken a friend of ours to visit some relatives of hers about a hundred miles away. They called me on their way back to ask if they could stop by. I let them in and walked into my kitchen to get them some coffee. When I came back to the livingroom I looked down and there stood the most adorable, tiny, tortie kitten. I didn’t ask questions, I just walked over to her, picked her up and starting crying and giving her lovies. Apparently our friends relatives cat had a litter of kittens that they were just going drop off a shelter (don’t even get me started on spaying and neutering!) and in the litter was one little tortie. My ex-husband knew despite the fact I had said many times, never again that I needed her in my life. So I had a new baby that I named Columbia. She is as beautiful now as she was then, 9 years ago.
I took her to a vet right after I got her as she was so tiny and her hair was sparse. Turned out she had hookworms and wighed a little less than 1/2 pound. So the doctor gave her medicine and also told me that since she was a tortie, if I wanted to get her a playmate I had to do it soon. He told me that once they’re a little older a tortie will not accept another kitty in the family. He also told me to notify her previous owners about the hookworms as more than likely the rest of the kittens had them too (which I did). He had said to wait a week or two to adopt another kitty to make sure her hookworms were gone. So two weeks later I adopted a sister for her. A beautiful shiny black kitten that became Janet. They bonded right away and were inseperable. A few months later a friend and her bf had been at a park and heard some tires squeal only to see that a car had hit a cat. Apparently the poor cat had two kittens who had ran over by my firends car, two frisghtened little babies that had just lost their mommy. So she took one of them and I took the other. A big fluffy black ball of kitten fur that became Brad. Columbia was a few months old by now and not real pleased to have a new brother, but slowly accepted him, as much as she was capable of. The three of them would curl up in my computer chair when I wasn’t using it and sleep together. A few more months went by and my friend stopped by with a little black and white tuxedo kitty in her arms. She said that she took him away from some guy that was a “druggie” living in his car. She said she had him at her place but he wasn’t happy but was going to try to get him used to it. A while after she came in, she put him on the floor in my apartment and he immediately ran across the room and jumped into my arms. He was home. This adorable little guy became Rocky and this woman who was never going to get another cat, had four of them!
Again not happy about a new family memeber, Columbia finally after a few months stopped hissing at Rocky and stopped slapping him whenever he passed by. Being a little older than Rocky, my Brad sort of adopted him as his. He would bathe Rocky, play with him, wrestle with him and he always let Rocky win despite being twice Rockys size.
So here it is nine years later and myself and my furry babies are still a happy family. Last October I got married again to a wonderful man who happened to own a Lhasa Apso named Lucy, she is ten now. Before we got married, we lived together for a few years so we’ve had a combined family for a while now. Lucy has never had a problem with kitties and gets along great with all of them, except my tortie Columbia. Well it’s not so much that she doesn’t get along with Columbia, it’s more like Columbia doesn’t get along with her. She still hisses, growls and ruffs up when she thinks Lucy is too close to her, and has been known to slap Lucy in the face when the mood strikes, much to the dismay of my husband.
Several months ago, Columbia decided that Rocky was now her enemy. She torments him despite the fact he is much bigger than she is. Why after 8 years of them living together she has started this I have no clue. We have taken her to the doctor and he said she is fine. The only room that is “his” turf is the kitchen. Sometimes when she is in the kitchen with him, he will slap her. Every other room of the house, except for my husbands computer room is “her” turf. She really does stalk the poor boy. He never knows when she is going to jump out at him, huff up, hiss, run after him and try to corner him.
I love all my furry babies equally, yet Columbia has always been “mommys girl”. She is usually not far from where I am. I am disabled so spend a lot of time sitting on the couch. She has a special spot right next to be where she comes and snuggles up on her “wubby”, which is an old torn bathrobe of mine. Once in while if she doesn’t like where I’m petting or scratching her, she will give my hand a little nip that says to me “no mommy”. If the nip is a little too hard, I scold her with”bad girl” and point my finger at her. She lays there, flips her tail up and down for a while, then goes back to sleep. At that point I stop petting her to let her know I’m not happy with her nips.
Last night for the first time when she nipped me, she broke skin. Not real severe, just two little puncture marks that are not deep. Fortunately I jerked my hand away fast enough that it didn’t go any deeper, but it was defintely a hard bite as my hand was sore for a little while after just from the force she used not the actual nip.
Does anyone else have this issue with their torties?
Again, I truly apologize for the length of my post, but I have never had a place where I could tell about my babies and share it with other who might understand what its like to be the parent of a tortie.
take care,
betty
Welcome Betty!
I am guess you must be a Rocky Horror fan by the names of your furbabies. Am I right? lol
I have 2 tortie sisters (same litter) Nikita a true tortie and Luna a muted tortie .
Welcome aboard!
Yes, when my ex-husband and I were dating he took me to my first local Rocky Horror Picture Show viewing. I named my first tortie Magenta purposely to make her more endearing to him. As it turned out, she endeared herself to him anyway. I could have named her fido, and he would have still bonded with her..lol I just kept the pattern going as I adopted my other kitties.
Thank you for the welcome, it is greatly appreciated
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Betty – it’s wonderful ! All of your kitties, and Lucy, are lucky to have you!
From what you’re describing, it sounds like Columbia is feeling a little overwhelmed and she may have picked Rocky to let out some of that excess energy. Unfortunately, it sounds like she also picked your hand to discharge some of it. The best way to deal with this is to watch her for cues and to not let her get to the “nip” stage. Most cats, when they’ve had enough, will give you little indicators, before they nip. Watch her ears, watch the tip of her tail. If you see any indication that she may have had enough petting, stop immediately.
If you’re open to holistic remdies, you may want to consider using flower essences. They can be very effective for behavioral challenges, especially ones that come on suddenly. If you’re interested, let me know and I’ll give you some recommendations.
Thank you for the great advice. I will definitely watch her more closely to try and avoid the “nip trigger”.
Yes, I would be very interested in the recommendation of something to possinly cool her little jets.
thank you
Betty, I really like the Spirit Essences line, and the two I would recommend are Safe Space for Cats, and Bully Remedy. Here’s the link to the website: http://www.spiritessences.com. If you use code CONSCIOUSCAT, you get a 5% discount on all orders.
Thank you so much for the link and info Ingrid.
Right now she is sitting next to me with both paws on my leg, talking to her daddy who has his hand out asking permission to pet her.
Permission is her prerequisite prior to petting her for everyone except mommy.
Welcome to the best Tortie site ever. I can’t help with the behavior problem, but there are many folks here that have multiples. I only have one Tortie. She would not accept anything else in the house.
Wow I read your no cats and now both multiple cats and a dog. You are definitely one of us.
Thank you for the welcome Bernie, and I agree about it being the best tortie site!!
Columbia is still close to her first sister Janet which I got during her acceptance age. She tolerates Brad ok most of the time. She gives her kisses on the forehead as he is such a lovie boy. Yet if she is already agitated about something, she and Brad have gone around a couple of times. Rocky she was also tolerant of until a few months ago. What changed, I’ll probably never know but I do feel bad for him. He has to be careful whereever outside the kitchen he goes as he never knows if she is waiting for him.
I would have more furry babies if I could. I know I have enough for my house size now. My dream house would be in the country, something like an old farm house. Large enough where I could have more babies of my own, plus a barn with heat and lots of windows that I could put kitties that had needed a home. Like ferals who I couldn’t bring in the home, but that need a place that they are warm, fed and safe. Of course I wouldn’t do it unless I could afford to make sure every one of the ferals were spayed, neutered, and vaccinated.
I currently feed a dwindling group of feral cats that live around me. I say dwindling because someone in the nighborhood has been trapping them and turning them over to animal control. I wish I could do more, but it is hard on a fixed income.
take care,
Betty, welcome from me also.
Love your story on how your family came together.
As to Columbia tormenting Rocky and Lucy – she’s a Tortie and figuring them out can be tough. I usually look to Ingrid, Bernadette and Harry for their input.
And getting nipped I am used to. If you go to my FB page you will see that I am learning how to take video’s and there is one of Stir biting me. She does not do it hard but will sometimes break the skin. When she first came into my house 11 years ago that wuld have been to the bone so she has mellowed in her “old age” . Bernie has trained Steeler not to scratch so maybe she can give you tips on the biting.
omg…You’re an rhpc FAN? I’ve seen it a gazillion times, know all the words to yell, and used to go dressed as Magenta, the maid lol
Yes, Bernie….Wild child can do the Time Warp……lol
I have watched it twice in the last week on the Logo cable channel. Not wuite the same without an audience, but still a disturbingly enteraining little flik.
2 more days people
Keep voting
Now back to bed, critters are out and I’m still tired.
BUT I VOTED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with Jay. only today and tomorrow. Keep voting. I voted after midnight and again. Vote twice a day, at least :), for 2 more days.
I can vote 4 times a day, using both the home and office computers (hack, cough), in true Chicago style. Different ISP’s 😉
Harry each email address can vote twice a day on this competition. So the ISP is not the real factor, as long as there are different email addresses voting. OK Then that is true Chicago voting.
Actually, I believe it is driven by IP addresses, Bernie.
Thanks for voting, everyone – we’re in the home stretch!
Glen, I know you and Kasey are in there voting. After all you have been here awhile and we do want to keep going on here.
Only one more day to go. Then we will all have to wait to hear if Ingrid had enough of her friends like us help her get those awards.
Don’t forget to vote twice tomorrow.
Steeler and I will right after midnight. That way I know our votes are in.
Excellent! Thank you!
Kasey and I voted tonight 🙂
The Eagles…Peaches madly loves this….Monkey actually left her comfy couch, ran down the hall, sat down and looked at me like I was crazy for playing this perfectly nice song! Peaches was all over me though! Bernie, you probably already know this one, so feel safe to click
http://youtu.be/0BwOXlGbW6Q
Hey my Wild Child you are right. This is Bernie’s song. Used to along with it. Then again, I could have been the desperado……:) 🙂
This really takes me back…
You too 🙂 🙂
The cover with the guns got me , but I love that song.
I just received two tortoise kittens, they are about nine, almost ten, weeks old and I have been reading up on this type of cat ever since I got them! I have been around cats all my life (my mother is a huge cat person and has never been without a cat in the house), but these are the first ones that are all mine, I am a recent graduate and haven’t lived in a place that allows pets. I would like to get them declawed, but I don’t know if I should or not. Thoughts? My mom has gotten a few of her cats front only declawed and a few she left alone. They would be completely inside cats and spoiled rotten, but I don’t know if this would completely distress them or not. Other than that they are still in a hyperactive and loving temperament, I haven’t gotten into any ‘juvenile delinquency’ tendencies yet, but like I said, they are only a few weeks old. Any other advice or comments?
Congratulations on your two new tortie babies, Sarah, and welcome to this site! If you’d like, you can post photos of your babies on our Facebook page, we’d love to see them.
Please don’t declaw your cats. It’s a radical surgery, it’s extremely painful for the cats (the procedure doesn’t just remove the claws, it actually removes the first joint of the cat’s toe) and it can lead to serious behavioral problems in cats who have had the surgery.
This website has a lot of information about declawing, from why it’s inhumane to what the surgery actually involves to suggestions on how to train cats to scratch where you want them to scratch, how to trim their nails, and humane alternatives to declawing: http://www.declawing.com/
If you have questions after reading through some of the information on that site, please ask – I’ll be happy to answer them for you.
After reading that all I have to say is YIKES! I was considering it because I have a sleep number bed, it’s pretty much an air mattress you can control, but I think a pillow top or something will be more appropriate. The article mentioned something called SoftPaws, and I think that would be ok, but do you know if it effects how they retract their claws? If they can’t retract their claws is it uncomfortable? My bed was my biggest concern, other than that I’d think they’d be fine, I plan on getting them a 72′ tower/scratching post when I can afford it, for their Christmas or something maybe. Like I said spoiled rotten, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. 😀
Clipping the claws helps, too.
It is best to start them young, then they usually just think of it as attention, in my experience.
I have even got it so I can clip the claws an my tortie “warrior queen” Kasey.
I rescued her three years ago when she was around 8 years old. She had seen neglect, abuse and often came into conflict with other animals; her policy is no fear, just attack. However, she still wanted to be a pet cat at heart and is quite affectionate.
As can be imagined, introducing her to claw trimming was “interesting”. Now she does quite well with it.
I figure if getting her to handle getting her claws clipped is possible, it should be able to be done with most cats.
Everyone is happy with Kasey’s claws being clipped, especially my 20 pound orange guy, Taz. 😉
Sarah, hi. Welcome to the friendliest site on the www. I have a rescued cat, similar to Glen’s Kasey, and I called her Steeler. I never even gave a thought of declawing her. Steeler was also an abused Tortie. I watch her throw her little duck or small toys in air and snatch them with her front claws. It is very fascinating to watch her play using her claws. Think seriously before you make such a move. The little ones wii amaze you of their abilities. It is really great to have you here.
Sarah, over the years I’ve lived with more than 20 cats long-term and more than that in fosters. In all that time and all those cats I only had one, my beautiful deaf Sally, who knew exactly what she was doing when she dug her claws into my furniture just out of my reach, and who threatened to remove my face if I trimmed her claws. Of the others, one cat came declawed, all the others had all claws and were, and are, regularly trimmed.
Just start now, I believe the instructions are on the site Ingrid mentioned, get that tower and lots of other things like inexpensive cardboard scratchers. Some cats like to stand and scratch, some like to stretch. I have a few short sections of tree trunk here and there that they’ve nearly worn the bark from but they love them.
Congratulations on your new family!
I don’t think you have to worry about your bed, Sarah. I’ve seen those beds, and they’re too sturdy for a cat’s claws to be able to do enough damage to actually puncture them to let out the air. An additional pillow top will certainly help – and it will feel wonderful to you!
I don’t particularly care for the SoftPaws because they won’t be able to completely retract their claws with them on, so I have to believe it feels a bit strange to them, but if they’re the only think that stands between declawing, then I’d certainly give them a try.
Your babies are still young, so if you start getting them used to having their nails trimmed now, it will be easy to keep their nails from doing any damage. Between that, and giving them plenty of opportunities to scratch on scratching posts, you should be set!
Thank you all for the help and advice! I think this is the warmest welcome I’ve gotten on a forum. 😀 I attempted to trim their claws today, Midna did not like it and I only got her front paws done, and Navi, who is usually my overly rambunctious one didn’t mind it at all, she was more interested in the sound than what was happening to her. I have officially decided that declawing is not an option, and I’m not too sure about SoftPaws, but they seem like it’d be just as uncomfortable.
As for facebook what do I need to search for to look you guys up? I would love to show off my new babies!
My kitties are doing great getting used to their new home and are overly loving and playful, which is a good thing. Navi likes to sleep on me in the most inconvenient way, like wrapped around my neck, and then I feel bad when I have to mover her to move myself, and Midna curls up next to me. My cousin accidentally fed them half the pack of treats and Navi gorged herself to the point of me staying up all night with her worrying, overreaction probably, but I just want them happy and healthy. She threw up and then seemed just fine, she thought it was party time all night, like I said, prolly overreaction. She has been more than fine since and Midna doesn’t seem like she overate at all. Navi seems to think my computer is the eighth world wonder of the world and attacks my screen if I move my mouse, Midna watches but my screen is safe.
So other than a little redirection on not attacking my computer I think we’re doing great!
Sarah, glad you decided against declawing. Mine were done before I knew better. And even Stir would not have been declawed. Look on Ingrid’s FB page and you will find a lot of us there under her friends.
Bernie has trained Steeler to not claw by holding her paws where I never trained Stir to not attack. Or bite
Sarah, since you are one of us and we all stick together, I as the pushy “elder” of this group and asking you to help Ingrid win in two competions for Conscious Cat. The voting ends tomorrow at midnight. I keep after everyone to vote or I threaten to send my Steeler and Jay’s Stirfry on a roadtrip to visit those that aren’t helping. It is just a joke. We would not really do that, but Ingrid does appreciate any help she can get. So I am going to post the voting site here. You can vote twice a day thru midnight tomorrow at midnight. Thanks
To vote, go to http://dogtime.com/petties – I’m nominated in the Best Overall Pet Blog and Best Cat Blog categories.
Sarah, I’m so glad you decided not to declaw.
The Conscious Cat Facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/consciouscat
Thank you for voting!
I don’t believe in declawing cats, personally, because even if you plan for them to be indoor only cats, there’s always a chance they can get out, and if they do they’re totally defenseless. Asthetically, also, I feel like cats are perfect just the way they are, and physically, I wouldn’t want my fingernails pulled out by the roots.
As long as you keep plenty of stuff around that they can legaly claw, and, if they are kneaders (Peaches is) lay a comforter across whatever body part they want to lay on and let them knead away. Peaches has gotten to the point where she’ll let me know she wants to come up, and she’ll wait for me to lay the blanket, and that’s her invitation to go ahead and come up on me.
Monkey, on the otjher hand, just rudely jumps on me whenever! But even she never jumps on a body part that’s not covered by blanket
I got them a scratching post and they don’t seem to be clawing anything else, other than when they need to get up on something since they are still too itty bitty to simply jump up, which is fantastic. It’s a small simple one that comes up to about my hip, they love to play on it and they are going to get a bigger one for Christmas, but shush don’t tell them! 😀
Sarah we all feel that way on here. You will always get responses to help you. I know I have always gotten the info I need. Ingrid runs a really good blog here and we all support each other. The more folks that find this site the more we have to interact with.
By the sounds of it, you have become the servant to the two little ones very quickly. I was told that “dogs have owners” “cats have servants” on this blog. How true. A very warm welcome and please stay.
Also Ingrid is in the competition for two of the best blogs for Conscious Cat. I am going to post it here for you. Please help us help her get the award. The money awarded goes to help rescue shelters. You can vote twice a day. We need all the help we can get. I am the pushing “elder” one that keeps after everyone to vote. The voting ends tomorrow at midnight. So please be one us and help. Here is the site: Thanks.
To vote, go to http://dogtime.com/petties – I’m nominated in the Best Overall Pet Blog and Best Cat Blog categories.
Don’t worry I’ve voted 😀
Sarah, I should have know you would. Thanks. I know not only Ingrid but all of us here appreciate the voting. It would be so great to know we have the exceptional blog here. I am the one on here that actually implies trouble to many for not voting. But that is all in good fun. Actually after a while on here you will find we go overboard on our posts and once in a great while, one of us gets “taken to the woodshed by Ingrid”. If I am not wrong, I think it is usually “me”. 🙂
You all read Jay’s post. Vote Vote Vote. 3 days left. Then Ingrid will be shown receiving the awards for excellence in two categories. So go get to it. Steeler and Stirfry would prefer not to take a road trip to pay you all a visit for not supporting their friend.
A Tortie that was at the local sheler was adopted. Aurora is her name. And her parent was listed on FB. I wrote her and gave info of CC to her. And best of all she lives in Ephrata .
Hopefully she will join Ingrid’s blog and add to the Pa Tortie Group
WOOT! Go Jay!
3 more days
Vote – Vote – Vote !!!!!!
Thank you – thank you – thank you :-)!
Monkey does this in fits….for a while she’ll be the sweetest most lovey baby EVER! Then for a while shell be a total heathen, in trouble EVERY DAY, causing destruction and mayhem…But I just call them metal moments lol
You know, when rock stars trash hotel rooms and all…I just look at Monkey as a metal chick (she’s a rock star, no doubt about it!)….I yelll at her, then move on
This is the reason I looked up Stirfry and Tortoiseshell on the net and found CC.
Stir acts like this all the time. In seconds from lovable cat to Demon Cat and then back.
Found she was a mutant – A Tortie.
Metal Chick has nothing to do with trashing things. Steeler does that everytime she gets angry. Even now she will tear into whatever she can get to, just to prove her point.
She always wins. Jay’s right – very lovable little girl and all at once I wonder just what happened to my Steeler. And not long she shows back up. Fun girls.
Forgot to say Harry
Welcome back.
We missed you.
P.S.
What do you serve as an appitizer for mice?
They want something before the main meal.
Peanut Butter dip is always good for mice. They all like peanut butter. Better than cheese. 🙂
Just don’t leave the jar open. Pumpkin would like that too.
“What do you serve as an appitizer for mice?
They want something before the main meal.”
Cat food. And don’t remind them that it’s not just a snack, it’s a destination.
Hi all, it is tuesday and for the past 3 days Georgia (ankle biter) has been so cuddley and cute with us she purrs so loadly it gets Jerry started so I have the purring duo. Right now as I write this Georgia is snuggleing with me and Jerry is just plain eminating love, I love these moments in time these presious lives so full of love and wonder.
Angel 🙂
Sounds like you are having a great time. Dueling Purrs. I get that sometimes (Not from Stir though)
Fabulous Ingrid! I will definitely look that up!
“juvenile delinquint stage” huh? I hadn’t thought of that! They are really working my last nerve but they are so cute that it protects them. lol
Off to vote!
Thanks Bernie & Bernadette for the input.
Yes it was my cake. 🙁
Yes it was chocolate (German chocolate my favorite)
Yes I’m frustrated but oh well, it had a plastic lid on it and I can just scrape the frosting off the lid.
I have given up hoping to keep Nikita off the counter with the microwave as that’s her thing and Luna uses the same counter as a spring board to the top of the fridge. I don’t mind that really. I guess it was the tag team thing every time I got them down, they would be back up there. I wasn’t even in the kitchen at the time. I think they were plotting to get the cake!
I would not let that cake go to waste. Not German Chocolate, actually I wouldn’t let any chocolate go to waste.
I guess the girls were celebrating your birthday, their way.
Are all of you voting today thru Friday. uumm. Come on now, let’s get it done. Then I won’t have to team Steeler up with Stirfry to visit you folks. Would not be nice. Also, I will put Elvis music on here or at least the Monkees. (Not THE MONKEY Wild Child.) 🙂
Thanks, Bernie! We’re definitely in the home stretch!
Oh boy…….do I need to vent!
I do not know what is up with my girls but they are driving me completely NUTS!
I have been trying to keep them off the counters, especially when I am cooking because they will try to walk across the stove and I don’t want them to get burned. For the last 2 nights they have been testing me and have been all over the counters. Usually it’s just Nikita jumping up to gaze at herself in the microwave door but the past 2 nights Nikita and Luna are tag teaming it! I will get them down and as fast as I do that they jump right back up. Last night they were both up there at the same time and flipped my birthday cake up and off the counter on to it’s top. 🙁
They are about to turn 1 next month and seem to be getting rebellious. I think maybe they may be bored. Probably getting back at me for getting rid of the ratty microwave oven box. I better get another box quickly before they turn the entire apt upside down.
Also the bedrooms have been off limits to them because sleeping on the bed and pillows make John sneeze and he has so many wires in his room it could be dangerous for them. They have been waiting outside the doors for someone to open them so they can slip in, even in the middle of the night.
Wow, I know who’s running my tortie house.
Sue,
Often they just want to watch what you’re doing, and even though it seems to go against logic that you’d provide something close enough to the counter for access, give them a safe observation spot like a tall stool or something at or near counter height. I have that plus I gave up my little cabinet/kitchen island so all seven could watch me work, but it keeps them all out of trouble, and when they take steps to join me and I tell them “no”, they really do back off because they can still see what I’m doing.
If only I can get Giuseppe to stop jumping onto my back whenever I lean over.
Bernadette , Giuseppe says he wants to meet his Canadian girlfriend, even if he has to ride your back to get there. 🙂
Giuseppe keeps coming up with ideas, and so far Niagara Falls may be best, but Miss Daisy’s mom doesn’t drive (as she says, she doesn’t want to hear that she’s “Driving Miss Daisy” all the time). But the other day Miss Daisy’s mom was a little under the weather and Giuseppe wanted to rush up to Colborne, damn the passports here we come, and make sure Miss D got her insulin that night. Since I have control of the keys, we stayed home.
“If only I can get Giuseppe to stop jumping onto my back whenever I lean over.”
Must be a black cat thing – both Henry and Sabrina do that. I’ve learned to recognize the calculus in their eyes when they’re contemplating my shoulders and sometimes to move in a way that makes the math come up “not now.”
I’m back, and I HAVE been voting in Chicago style all along. Just busier than a three-legged tortie at a mouse convention right now.
Harry you mean there are enough mice left for a convention?? Well we will just have to take care of that. Welcome back.
You were sorely missed. This is a tough crowd to control. 🙂
Mouse convention at Jay’s. Pumpkin invited them.
I’m sure Jay’s Pumpkin will be forever grateful. Don’t know about Jay. Although it could mean 3 square meals a day for him. 🙂
“Although it could mean 3 square meals a day for him”
So now I have to supply dinner for a mini donkey, goat, mini horse, 3 cats and now 3 squares for Pumpkins friends who will probably keep me up all day and night with their parties. You know how those conventions get. Police will be called, rooms will be trashed.
Thanks a lot.
Well look at the bright side of this Jay. You would be know as the Piped Piper of mice in your town. Heck, between Stirfry and you gathering all the mice, you will be more notable in history than George Washington. :)P
Welcome back, Harry, and thanks for voting!
I do the “dodge” as well, and he’s learned to leap on-leap off to another surface before he gets flung when I stand up, but he likes that. Mr. Sunshine has been practicing as well. Love having 25 lbs. of cat on my back at once.
P.S. Happy birthday–I presume the cake was yours!
Sue I have nothing on the little ones getting up on counters. I have a floor dweller. But oops for the birthday cake!!! Was it chocolate??? You little girls want to be everywhere. I know it is not funny, but since I have never experienced this with Steeler, I am smiling at the thought of how you must be looking about now. Darn and the cake on the floor.
Bernadette knows more about how to help you than I could ever tell you, I got nothing, except the visualization of you trying to keep to very active follow the leaders in tack.
Good luck.
They’re enjoying their “juvenile delinquent” phase, Sue 🙂
Something that quite a few people I know have had good luck with when it comes to keeping cats off counters (or away from anyplace else you don’t want them to go) is the SSSCat compressed air blaster. The nice thing about it is that, unlike simply using a can of compressed air, it’s motion activated, so the cats won’t associate it with you and view it as punishment (which is never a good thing when it comes to training cats). Here’s a link to purchase: http://tinyurl.com/innotekcatscatter
I hope everyone is voting today.
Have to have to send Steeler and Stirfry to your houses. 🙂
Thanks for all your support, Jay!
It is now Tuesday Morning. Have you voted yet ????
get them Stirfry. 🙂
OK folks here I am again today. Now we only until Friday at midnight to vote for Ingrid’s Concisous Cat sites.
So get those fingers or toes or paws going and vote twice a day thru Friday. Just my weekly reminder. Told you all I was back from vacation. um um I will test you all on Saturday to see how you did. 🙂
To vote, go to http://dogtime.com/petties – I’m nominated in the Best Overall Pet Blog and Best Cat Blog categories.
Big orange guys like our 20 pound Taz are often quite friendly and affectionate.
However, they seem to severely lack in good judgement.
He has been observed to walk up to our 9 pound tuxie, Morgan, and sniff her “nether regions”
The result is the same, Morgan gives a sharp meow while spinning around and giving him a cuff on the head in one motion.
He shakes his head and things go peaceful.
This morning, in spite of prior experience, for reasons unknown, he tried that with Kasey.
Kasey let out a small cougar snarl while spinning around and giving him a cuff on the head in one motion.
That’s where the tortie/tuxie similarities ended.
He backed off expecting things wee done.
Kasey lowered her head and started towards him in a slow, determined manner, pressing an attack very quickly and thoroughly. She was not happy until she had driven him from that end of the house.
Moral of the story, don’t mess with a tortie (did Taz learns something here?………………….in one word, No)
Glen Taz is in way over his head. Maybe you should get that helmet for him just for in-house activities. Kasey shows no fear that’s for sure. The way you worded this I can almost see them all in action. Morgan may have cuffed him and left, but there is no way Kasey was going to just cuff him. I love this story. She is my kind of girl. 🙂
“Maybe you should get that helmet for him just for in-house activities.”
Well, I always thought that by nature of being a big, orange boy, that his head was already like a helmet. 😉
Good one. Give me time on that. Don’t want to say anything to incriminate myself on here. I will work on a response to that. Sure will!!! :)P
Glen, thank you so much for the laugh this morning. I can totally see Taz doing these things to Kasey and not learning. Seems orange kitties are super cute, affectionate and slow to learn. I see the same thing daily with Pumpkin and Stirfry. Stir deals with him as a slow witted cat who doesn’t seem to know he is walking into a dynamite shack with a candle to light the way. He should know the results but continues anyhow.
Hmmm, thinking back on (RIP and please forgive me, you were my very first cat, and I was just starting to talk well when I named your large orange manly self) Tinkerbell, Mr. G and Ratman……yeah, helmets might have been in order….
OK FOLKS, THE FOOTBALL LOCKOUT IS OVER. SO WHAT TIME IS IT???? UH UH YOU GOT IT!!!!
IT IS “STEELER TIME” ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL.
STEELER SAYS TO GET IN SHAPE. WE OFF TO THE FIELDS.
Seems like Spring training is getting a slow start. Hope Steeler is getting in shape also.
Tortie hisses, snarls and cougar growls for the opposing team.
Our little Mascot has to be at the top of her game this Fall. Hopefully I will be able to watch more games and cheer them on. I have a Steeler towel for Stir to sit on while we watch them win. Hope I can keep that unwashed instead of a work shirt. 🙂
Ingrid, you got it. I also have their pics on my facebook page.
Angel, do you have a link to your FB page ?
i posted to your fb wall some comments and pictures of my girls. i hope you like. oh and to answer the question do they get along, yes they do and jerry being the head cat in charge does not share her duty.
Angel (to big for her brichies)
Angel, I just looked at the pics of Jerry and Georgia. They are very beautiful little ones. Very nice pics. THanks for sharing them. 🙂
Welcome! And I can’t wait to go see the pics of your girls.
Must go vote on the Petties first though. Bernie’s been threatening to send Elvis music if I don’t keep on it. I think that would traumatize my poor metal cat Monkey horribly, and even moreso myself, her metal mama! lol
That Bernie’s quite the determined girl!
Hey Wild Child your right. I am watching you. Elvis will come to you if you don’t keep voting 🙂
Hi all, my name is Angel and my husband and and I are owned by a Calico and Tortie the calico is Jerry & the Tortie is Georgia. Georgia is a fun loving kitten who is too big for her brichesi have never had a tortie before they are so fun. I am a big fan.
Angel
“Too big for her britches” sounds just like a tortie, Angel! Feel free to post photos of Jerry and Georgia on our Facebook page – we’d love to see them!
Hey Angel, welcome. It is always good to see some new folks here. So your little Tortie is “to big for her britches”. Can’t dispute that a bit. How does she get along with Jerry?
Please post pics on CC FB. Most of us have our little furry ones there.
I have the Tortie named Steeler. Yes after the Pittsburgh Steelers, and of course her being gold and black cinched that name.
Welcome Angel, tells us more about Georgia and Jerry and how they get along. I have a Tortie and Calico also and they mix like oil and water. No getting along at all. Torties seem to be the dominant one in the household as you will read about Brooke, Steeler, Kasey and Stirfry. Getting along does not seem to be Tortie way but more like “I am the Boss – accept it”
Did you all vote twice today, uumm? Ok then, get it done before midnight. Then you can vote twice again right after midnight. Just a reminder.
Thanks, Bernie!
Brand new Tortie – Gracie. My beloved Peanut, another Tortie (is there any other kind?) was cat-napped by a creep with good taste. This is my 4th Tortie, and, as they are typical narcissists, all she can say is “Me! Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”
That’s the best description of a tortie’s vocalizations I’ve seen, Helen – and of course you’re right, it’s all about them!
I was out in 97 degree temp putting roofing sealer on my garage roof (it is flat and between the roofers in the winter and a goat and donkey standing on it, it started to leak). Stirfry was at the window talking away. Torties are natural Supervisors. With Kasey helping Glen in the garage, Steeler helping Bernie on her door, Brooke and the Shubins (7 cats) screened in Porch, Cookie and Kelly (with some black cat help) getting Bernadette’s business packing, Ruby and Allegra as Reiki assistants and blog writers and now Stir as a roofer – it is a wonder we ever got anything done without them.
lol…I don’t find Monkey much of a supervisor. Then again, I don’t do much of anything. I’m lazy, so her job is easy! lol
Hey Wild CHild, then if you don’t do much, that just gives Monkey more time to think up things to do. One is to supervise you to be doing nothing. Not a think wrong with that. Monkey lets you be whatever you want, but just be there to feed her when she’s ready. So she does her supervising only on a different level. 🙂 🙂
And don’t you love how Stirfry supervised you from the comfort of air conditioning? Yup – our torties have it made.
http://www.castanet.net/news/Offbeat/62184/Pitbull-vs-kitten
A cute video
That is not surprising to me at all. Pitbulls, in my experience (I was in pitbull rescue for about 10 years) are the sweetest, most affable, playful and clownish dogs you’ll ever want to meet. People MAKE them mean, and it’s not an easy job, because they’re NOT mean dogs! All the years these sick SOBs were breeding them to fight each other, they were also breeding them to not be aggressive toward humans, because they had to be able to safely get them out of the ring. Any fighting stock pitbull pup who EVER snapped at a human or showed ANY kind of aggression to anything but animals was killed. They never even bred them or let them grow to adulthood. I’m glad that fighting dogs is illegal, but, on the down side, when they made it illegal, they also removed the unspoken breeding rules that had been passed down for centuries. The pitbulls of today are badly bred, some are even being bred to be aggressive on purpose! How stupid is that? Take a dog that has more raw muscle and jaw power than any other dog…yeah, I think we should breed the mean ones together to get an even meaner bunch of pups!
Hell, my neigbor’s pittie is so sweet, she just wants attention, she’ll lick you to death. Their grey tabby cat Fiesty sleeps on top of her!
*sheepish smile* As much as I love cats, and torties and Big orange Toms in particular….and goats…..I also love pitties and will defend them within an inch of my life. They get a bad rap they don’t deserve
Wow you really are morning folks here. I on the other hand am not, and I make no excuse for that. 🙂
I am going to share some treasured moments with Steeler that has been the best. As most of you know she has health problems, but that is not a part of my story today.
Steeler has always been off limits to cuddling. Just recently she allowed me to cuddly her for a few minutes. Then she had it. Well yesterday, she kept going around and around my chair purring like an engine. I checked her food and water and she was good for that. Then I looked to see if she had a couple of treats and she did, so I ruled those out.
Well I realized maybe she wanted to be held. I reached down and picked her up. She curled down into my arm and put her head into the bend of my elbow and just purred and stayed. This went on for a good 15 to 20 minutes. The phone rang and I just left it go to the answering machine. My laptop made the chirping sound of emails being received and I ignored that. This was a special moment in time for Steeler and I and nothing was going to interrupt us.
I held her close, but not to tight and enjoyed the complete relaxation of her in my arms. After a long length of time she decided to get up and look at me, stretch and then want down. Now to many of you, you have experienced this bond with your little ones. This is the longest Steeler has ever wanted cuddled and I truly will treasure it always.
I’m so happy for you and Steeler, Bernie. That’s just the best feeling. I call these special times “moments of magic.”
I felt as though it really was like a prayer answered. When her little body went limp and she slept so soundly with her little head down in my elbow, I could have cried. No I didn’t cry, I didn’t move a muscle, like Bernadette said, I don’t think I even breathed for the longest time. Nothing was going to disturb this long awaited time. I knew then that we had really reached the full trust and love for each other that so many of you have mentioned. I no longer have to wonder what that would feel like. Steeler showed me and she did it her way. I was and am in awe of this little girl. So tough and yet so gentle and so giving. How lucky I am she chose me.
My Moses was 12 the first time she carefully settled on my lap, more from fear than lack of preference as she had been feral and felt unsafe when she wasn’t under her own control with her feet on the floor. I swear I held my breath the whole time she was there. She didn’t do it to often in the next 7 years, but each was precious. I’m so glad you were there for Steeler when she decided it was time.
Bernadette I will treasure each time she does this. I would like it to be frequent, but I like you, will wait for the next time she reaches out for cuddling. I am so happy I was here. It is a wonderful feeling.
Bernie, that is Great news. That little down time Steeler had let you pick her up without complaints. Now she realizes how nice it is to be loved and held. Now it will be a non stop thing, same as the Ham. And I am sure you will not mind at all. 🙂
Jay, I will stop whatever I am doing, and give her all the love she wants, and cuddling whenever she wants. But the ham is a demand, life would be rough, if she doesn’t get her chipped ham. Oh and it is always Isalys ham.
Wow, you guys had a busy night! Since some of the threads are out of reply options, I’ll just respond here!
Glen, tell Kasey thank you for voting, and thanks to everyone else for voting, too!
Bernadette, that cello piece was pretty amazing. There’s a Finnish metal band with two guys on cellos, I think Apocalyptica? Help me out, Lynn? Reminded me of them.
Those of you who liked the cello piece, check out Mark Wood. He’s an amazing musician who also builds electric violins. I met him when he played with Transiberian Orchestra, and then went to see him several times when he played with orchestras at local schools through his Electrify Your Strings program. This promo video truly captures the experience the program: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPNWFfnXb7A
Try to stay cool everyone – one more day of extreme heat here, but apparently not supposed to be as bad as yesterday.
Thank you Ingrid
Mark Wood is an inspiration to all young musicians
TSO is on my list of groups to see. Hopefully this XMAS season when they come to Hershey
Your link also gave me this to Mark Wood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIh53XVcbuE&NR=1
Ozzy’s Crazy Train
Jay, I’ve been going to see TSO at least a couple of times a year for the past nine years – it’s a fantastic show. If you get a chance, go see them this winter tour – you won’t regret it.
Yeah, it’s Apocalyptica. Out of my normal realm, but they have some pretty good stuff. Now I have to go check out Mark Wood, never heard him before
I really like Apocalyptica and TSO–these guys are writing their own arrangements of music they grew up listening to pretty much like Apocalyptica started out. I like Mark Wood too, though I haven’t heard much, just lots of intereviews.
Mark is one of those people who truly live their passion. I loved him with TSO, but when I saw him work with the kids in the Electrify Your Strings program for the first time, I understood why he left TSO. Talk about making a difference in kids’ lives.
Good Morning all
It’s Saturday morning.
1st thing – Coffee
2nd thing – VOTE !!!!!!
http://dogtime.com/petties
These are both Monkey Music, EXTREMELY hard, but with good messages (if you can understand her….I can, but for someone not used to her vocals…lol FUGEDDABOUDIT!)
http://youtu.be/1ZS5JCbzjjA
http://youtu.be/HK-P4WRW9lg
Okay, I’ll post some music this time. How about some metal…cellos? It’s Guns N Roses “Welcome to the Jungle”, entirely on two cellos, and the filming is great! They are really amazing, see what you think: http://youtu.be/_AYEgwwCYWw
love it Bernadette
Whoa! That was bizzarre, and good in a wierd kind of way
They actually perform quite a few rock and metal pieces. What would you do if you saw them just performing in the middle of the city? I just love how people react–this wasn’t authentic, I’m sure, but here in Pittsburgh good street musicians have a following. I’d love to see these guys live!
I know several classical musicians who go off and do something completely different like this.
I would SO stop, listen and donate
I like wierd stuff though. There are these two songs by the Agonist that are both wierd, but for totally different rteasons. She does a version of Swan Lake that is nothing but her own voice layered over itself…..I’m going to post it, but keep in mind this is the same person who is screeaming and death growoling in the two songs above.
http://youtu.be/vsrkEmFUR4c
Lianimal, that was really cool! I’ve found that often musicians from all genres have classical training and even experience–I can only think of a few right now, but Jimi Hendrix did, the guy from Nine Inch Nails actually performed classical music, and sometimes it’s totally off the wall–Janis Joplin was a recorded gospel soprano. Someday I’ll remember the surprising performances I’ve heard.
Janis? Gospel??? Say it ain’t so! Those two words do NOT go together! lol
Glad you liked it, Jay!
Bernadette that is great. What an ending with that tremendous crescendo. Loved it. That is mine and Steeler’s kind of music.
Bernie, that was me! Lol….That was one of my crazy metal chicks singing that beautiful music Of course, Peaches is a bigger fan than Monkey. Monkey would rather hear the two above that song by the same girl
Kind of a crossover piece we can all enjoy a little bit! Bernie, no matter what we post, you always listen, that’s the good thing.
I try to keep an open mind for everyone. But sometimes I wonder “what the heck” is that. But then other times I am pleasantly surprised.
I have seen this happen in the streets of Innsbruck, Austria when I was there. It is an everyday thing. It also is big in Vienna. Street music is great and pops up so unexpectedly.
Your right I will listen to anything. I just won’t just the person posting the music. I will judge the music or some of it. 🙂 🙂
OK START COPY PASTE AND GET ALL YOU KNOW TO HELP. HECK I EVEN WENT AFTER FOLKS I DON’T KNOW TO VOTE. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. IT’S TORTIE SUPER BOWL TME!!!!!!
VOTE HERE; AND VOTE TWICE A DAY. OK. OR I WILL HAVE STEELER AND STIRFRY AND KASY AND BROOKE AND SABRINA , MONKEY AND COOKIE SENT YOU A MESSAGE ONLY A TORTIE SERVANT CAN UNDERSTAND!!!!!
To vote, go to http://dogtime.com/petties – I’m nominated in the Best Overall Pet Blog and Best Cat Blog categories.
REPLY
Tortie Super Bowl – I love it!
🙂 🙂
I put Kasey’s vote in for her, this aft.
Glen, go for it. Good for Kasey. How the heck have you guys been up there. Are you folks in the heat?
Keep voting 2 x’s a day for the net 7 days. This is the Tortie Super Bowl.
Kasey will tear into Taz if you don’t help the Torties win this thing. 🙂 🙂
Yes it has been hot.
It does get warm in the summer here, but it has been very hot for here and we’re not as acclimatized to it It can go from 0F in the winter to 80F in the summer but we’re in the 90’s and I saw 100F on the thermometer on the back deck for a bit today.
We were on a motorcycle ride on Sunday July 16th. Our bikes have full instrumentation including a ambient temperature readout. It hit 97F at 2:00 in the aft. We wear full protective gear, in this case it is armoured textile with mesh panels. Even at 60 mph, the air stream is warm, it just dries you out. The bikes have oil coolers and do fine, the limitation is the rider in this case 😉
And……………………….I’m afraid Kasey needs no excuse to tear into Taz. 😉
Glen, why so much gear. Mandatory in Canada.
Hot is an understatement. This is a, well I can’t say that on here, but you get my message.
I forgot that Kasey, Steeler and Stirfry, need not reason to attack. These girls are just to macho for the toughest of us.
“Glen, why so much gear. Mandatory in Canada.”
No, only helmets are legislated.
Motorcycling is not the smartest thing to do so my wife and I both were the gear, never needed it so far, don’t plan to use it either, but it is better to have on.
We don’t wear the traditional leather gear. We opt for modern riding suits.
The gear itself that we wear is not particularily hot to wear. The jacket and pants have armour padding in the right places but the rest is a textile mesh, the air sails right through it, mine is light grey so it doesn’t soak up the heat.
My wife has travelled in some of the deserts in the souther U.S., she tried the tee shirt and regular pants and found it wasn’t much cooler, actually she dehydrated quicker and there is no protection.
Once you hit the 90’s, there is no cooling effect, at best, it is neutral or actually feels like air from a heating duct. Under those conditions, your body temp goes up regardless of attire and you dehydrate.
I was on a day off today but the bikes remained parked.
Glen I have seen the mesh gear. I know of what you speak. I just wondered if cycling was regulated in Canada. Helmets I agree with. I never want to hear of someone being badly injured or worse because of not wearing a helmet.
Stay cool. This heat will break and you will be out there riding quite quickly. Enjoy.
PS: Do you have a helmet for Kasey YET? 🙂
No, Kasey prefers to wait for my return.
Taz could use a helmet when she hits him, though. 😉
Good on Glen. 🙂 🙂
Glen I blame the typo on Steeler. I told her not to type on here. That should read “good ONE”
Now I will make sure Steeler tries to do a spell check before she hits send. 🙂
Bernie, was that remark directed at me?
Riding gear today was camo pants, cut off shirt, leather vest with Taurus 45 in the side pocket, head wrap and goggles. Temp was 98 but felt good in the open air.
Steeler is responding to Jay about wearing a helmet on the motorcycle while riding (not while sitting and posing).
Mr. Jay, my mommy says to tell you this: “IF THE HELMET FITS, PLEASE WEAR IT”. I don’t want to have to talk to my buddy Stir about her daddy being injured or worse, because mommy says he may be hard headed, but not so hard not to be hurt. OK 🙂 🙂
Thanks for the continued voting support, everyone! I found out today that DogTime Media will be livestreaming the actual awards ceremony on August 26, so you can watch me accept my Petties (thinking positive here!) from the comfort of your own computer. I’ll provide details as we get closer.
Great news Ingrid. Now all of you folks on here get busy with all your email friends to vote, send the voting site to them and ask them to send that to their friends.
Would you all not love to see a live streaming of our boss receiving awards for the very best sites.
Let’s get with it, no more time to waste.
Sweet, I’d love to be able to watch you accept! Keep reminding us…well, me, at least, because I remember every useless piece of information I’ve ever heard in my life, but I can’t remember dates or phone nuymbers to save my life! I mean, I’d be a GREAT Jeapardy partner…..but not good for much else lol. My brain is full iof useless trivia. I think I ran out of room or something lol
Been a busy 2 days. Forgot to check my mail yesterday as I was helping my brother in law Doug (former Pagan – not cat lover) and did not get home till it was time to go to work. So today at noon I drove the car to the local discount store for bread and candy bars. On the way back I stopped at an Amish yard stand for a quart of home grown Peaches (not the cat) for $2.
Got the mail and saw a large package, Bernadette’s Calendar.
Bernadette – I love it.
The picture are amazing and the stories so touching.
And the autograph :
To Stirfry and Pumpkin and Tabatha
Harley and Buell And Jay
( I see Stirfry got top billing )
If it weren’t for Stirfry we would never know you! But I added a thanks to you for rescuing as well.
And I honestly wanted to include your bichon in your list of animals but I looked and looked through comments and just couldn’t find a name–sorry!
Thanks for the compliments.
You need to eat better. Did you have a Milky Way sandwich and a peach for dessert? Don’t tell me you had hot sauce on that too.
Thanks Bernadette.
My Bichon was Samatha. Her and Punky were best buds.
The candy bar was breakfast this morning but a Peach was dessert last night along with 2 roast beef sandwiches.
I have Stirfry to thank for me looking up why she was so different and leading me to Ingrid and CC.
I have made many wonderful friends thanks to her and learned so much.
Also no hot sauce on the candy bar or peach.
That was on my eggs I made for lunch.
Plus a cup of sugar with some coffee to dissolve it. 🙂
I’m so glad to hear you didn’t add hot sauce to the candy bar.
I think I ordered before all of you guys, I REALLY need to go check my mail. But here they have…..I guess I have to call them cluster-boxes…..all the mailboxes for the whole block are in on spot, and it’s just been too hot and ugly to walk up there the last few days! I’m not young OR in good physical condition, and when it’s over 100, yeah, not so much lol
Lynn, I checked your tracking number and it was delivered on July 18. You had me scared there!
We finally are having a “Not as stiflingly miserable” day, so I walked up and got it…absolutely GORGEOUS! The wokmanship is so high quality, and the little I saw and read before jumping on here to say thanks is absolutely wonderful! I can’t wait to dig in deeper!
Monkey’s driving me crazy this week lol. The hottest week of the year, I only have one pair of pajama pants that is really light and breathable, but they have dangly waist strings. I keep forgetting to tuck them after I go to the bathroom, and every now and then I notice Monkey lurking under the computer desk. She NEVER goes under there, so I know she’s only there for one reason, to ambush my belly! She’s done it before!
Well she is telling you to get on the ball or she will give you a tummy tuck, if you don’t help the Tortie sites win the contests for Ingrid. uh uh Monkey has been calling Steeler while I was away. So watch out, or Monkey will improve your tummy, Tortie style. 🙂
lol…been voting once a day, will do twice a day this weekend. And yeah, noticed some random long distance calls on my bill, you should check underneath every surface and make sure she hasn’t hidden any Slipknot CDs
I believe Steeler is teaching Monkey the other side of the music world. Slipknot not here. Monkey likes Elvis Presley, which Steeler is now introducing her to. Vote twice every day at the same time. Just refresh and vote twice while you vote once. That way it is twice every day.
Monkey may start singing you tunes that would have you plugging your ears or changing your phone # 🙂
ELVIS???!!! On NO no no no! He needs to keep his controversial pelvis AWAY from my precious Monkey! lol
Cannot say what I am thinking here. But boy do I have a comeback for this one. Elvis and Pelvis, umm. Better call Steeler to turn off the laptop before I get in trouble here.
Hi everybody!
Just thought I’d check in, I don’t get on here that often.
The girls and I are doing great except the heat is back so I have 2 very flat cats.
Nikita seems to be picking up more tortie traits, personality wise. She is VERY opinionated and noisy! She will still sit beside me on the couch for rubs but is getting worse about being picked up. It is definitately NOT fun for her. She reminds me of a kid having a tantrum, you know how they will go all stiff arms and legs, unbending? Well…I tried to pick her up yesterday to get her off the counter and she went all stiff on me, actually pushing away from me. Sheesh! I was just moving her so I could use the microwave. She has become quite enamored with my new red microwave or should I say, looking at herself in the microwave door. lol Everytime I turn around she is up on the counter staring deeply in to the microwave. What a character!
Luna is the same old Luna….squshy…lovely Luna. She loves the red step stool and still throws herself up there and turns on her side to have her tummy rubbed. She loves the bathtub especially right after it has been used (that’s my water baby) and still sticks her paws in the water dishing spilling it at least once a day. Her new thing is if you walk by her without paying her any attention she will reach out and snag you with a claw! She has gotten John more than once!
Good to see Bernie is back and Steeler is giving her heck for being gone.
Hope everyone is well….fur babies and people alike!
Sue
LOL…Peaches offers me her belly EVERY DAY! She rolls over and shows me that big fluffy white soft-looking belly and says; “C’mon….rub it. You know you want to…..”
But I know the second I touch it she’ll attack my hand.
Yeah…I’m wise to your little head game evil Peaches….lol
Good to hear from you, Sue. My two are fascinated with the microwave, too – they like to watch the carousel spin!
Try to stay cool and keep the kitties as cool as you can.
Sue I did not miss your post, but I am a brat for not replying to you sooner. I know you are hot there. I know the little furry ones have a hard time trying to cool down. This is the first time I have heard of the amusement of the microwaves. Steeler can’t get up there to do those things. But if she could I am sure she would sit there and watch it spin.
I am back, and Steeler is being really good now. At first, she gave me more heck than you can imagine. Now she is clingy and, you know what, I just love it this way. Life for us is good.
Hope things cool down soon for all of us.
I knew you didn’t forget me Bernie lol. The microwave thing is funny because she looks in it when it isn’t on. I think she is looking at her reflection lol.
Well that is interesting. She is using it as a mirror for herself. Steeler likes to look into my floor length mirror. But she doesn’t go after the Tortie in the mirror, at least not yet.
I feel a little guilty when I don’t respond back to someone that takes time to post here. I guess you could call me the hall monitor. 🙂
Hey keep voting for Ingrid OK 🙂
VOTE HERE; AND VOTE TWICE A DAY. OK. OR I WILL HAVE STEELER AND STIRFRY AND KASY AND BROOKE AND SABRINA , MONKEY AND COOKIE SENT YOU A MESSAGE ONLY A TORTIE SERVANT CAN UNDERSTAND!!!!!
To vote, go to http://dogtime.com/petties – I’m nominated in the Best Overall Pet Blog and Best Cat Blog categories.
Weerrree Baaaccckkkkk Hi everyone. I arrived home last evening to a home that a Tortie named Steeler owns. I ran into her extremely happy greeting to me with her own style of “I’m so happy you are back”. I picked her up immediately until she began to purr. Then she decided it was time to get down and then all he– broke loose from her. I heard all the emotions (I think) that a Tortie has. She got down and the snarling and hissing and walking around me yelling at me incessantly about my not being here. Folks I had my camera still packed but I seen all the sides of anger and disgust with her human to let’s go to bed mom. This morning has been hers and she awakened me in her way and early with the human cat walk and the morning smack to the jaw with the left paw. Then he headbutt of her kisses. We then headed to the kitchen and she got to eat and take her Meds. She was ok at that.
Right now she is shredding my chair legs, I guess an angry Tortie doesn’t kiss and make up so easily. At least not Steeler. I don’t know how many legs are going to be left before she gets over my being away from her. She had plenty of company and music while I was away,but we all know our Torties don’t care how much help and kitty sitting they get. They get darned angry when we go away.
As for my vacation, it was great. A lot of water in the Gulf, and the water was like a bathtub. So warm and inviting. Went for morning, afternoon, and sunset swimming (more like falling down swimming). I was retrieved from the Gulf floor more than a mermaid would have been. But all was fun.
Now I am baaaaaccccckkkk. I can’t address all of you posts right now.
However, I want to say welcome to Suzanne and Lulu. I am the trouble maker here. Steeler is my Tortie. It sounds like you have a real love connection going on with your little Lulu. Would love to see you post her pic on Conscious Cat Facebook (Ingrid’s site’). By the way, she is the head honcho on here. If it were not for her we would not have this great site to talk and brag and get information and help with our little ones. So a big welcome to you and Lulu.
OK FOLKS, NOW WHERE DID YOU VOTE LAST? UH UH I’M AM RELENTLESS ON THIS. THIS CAMPAIGN IS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS OF RUNNING AND WE HAVE TO GET ALL THOSE VOTES IN BEFORE THE 30TH SO LISTEN UP. THE PEST IS BACK AND WE NEED TO GET THOSE TWICE A DAY VOTES GOING. YOU KNOW I KNOW , UH UH I DO, SOME OF YOU ARE SLACKING OFF. COME ON NOW, GET THIS BALL BACK ON THE COURT AND START USING THOSE FINGERS TO HELP INGRID WIN THOSE CATEGORIES. IT WILL BENEFIT CAT RESCUES WITH MONEY AND YOU WILL HAVE THE PROUD RIGHT TO SAY YOU HELPED.
YOU KNOW THE SITE, BUT IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT PAID ATTENTION LATELY I AM GOING TO POST IT AGAIN IN THE NEXT POST RIGHT AFTER THIS SO YOU CAN SEE IT PLAINLY.
IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK.
Welcome back! Now the house officially belongs to Steeler because you were GONE. It’s all according to her rules!
Not only the house Bernadette. She has thrown a temper tantrum since last evening. Just when I thought she was done, she must remember I was gone. Today is just as noisy and bad as last night. All I can do is laugh. She will not let me go out of her sight. If I do I hear this noise that is just insane. So she has claimed my being as well.
I am glad to be back. Missed all of you.
I’m glad she feels well enough to give you hell!
Welcome back, Bernie! I’m so glad you had a great time. I’m sure you’ll be doing penance for a little while longer as far as Steeler is concerned.
And I’m glad you’re back on the campaign trail :-)!
Ingrid, I am glad to be back. I tried to swallow the Gulf of Mexico a few times, but the salt water saved a lot on the breath, saved on mouthwash. 🙂
I read all the post and seen Jay was trying to get the vote moving on.
All I did was be a little more aggressive to let out gang know the last couple of weeks are crucial in any campaign. So work is to be done.
Every one just keep voting.
Lianimal I had great hopes that you would keep reminding everyone to vote. So get to it Wild Child. Ingrid could use all the votes she can get. Vote twice a day and have all you friends do the same. Then overtime you come on this site to post remind everyone to vote and put up the link. Steeler is on strike, right at this moment. So I am volunteering you to help out.:)
SORRY BERNS! I dropped the ball….It’s been so stupid hot and I’ve been so cranky and mean because of it…I can’t handle heat….I’ve been voting every day, though
Wild Child not you!!! I hope you will help me get votes for Ingrid now. I have much faith in you and your heavy metal friends to help put this together for Ingrid. So there is still 8 days to work on them. 🙂
You keep voting every day. I am back and I will be checking in on you. 🙂 Hope this heat lets up soon. The last thing we need is a cranky heavy metal chick!!!!!! 🙂
Thanks for helping Ingrid by voting every day.
I talked to Bernie. She said she misses all of you but will be home tomorrow night. She really misses Steeler (I can see why)
Harry, How are the Shubin 7 ?
I was just thinking about Bernie coming home today, and how much she must miss Steeler. I’m sure it’s mutual on Steeler’s part, too.
While I was away I called every day, sometimes twice to check on Steeler. I even had the phone put down by her so she could hear me. I know it sounds odd, but this little girl is so much a part of my being, it is impossible not to miss and love her.
But being away was good for me. But now being home and giving heck on here helps me re-accalimate myself with all that is going on. 🙂
I told you folks to be bad on here while I was gone!!!! Geez, you guys were to quiet, now I have to make you all misbehave to get you all going here. 🙂
I hope you all are voting twice a day for Ingrid’s sites. I hear you, is that a yes? You don’t want me to send Steeler to see you, do you????? 🙂
I have owned a tortiseshell now for almost 2yrs her name is LuLu, at about 4 wks old she was found stuck in a pipe where my sister works. I am a huge pet lover so my sister called me, did everthing to save her bottle feeding to keeping her warm and suggle. Cooking with one hand and holding her in the other ha she was my new baby! She is nowfixed and declawed in the front, very spoiled and just a joy for me she is a loving baby for me but doesnt like anyone else in my house. Which is ok with me. Reading this has explained a good bit but helped me understand her cry she does i am at this point trying to get my husband to allow me to adopt 2-3more from the animal shelter because not only would my house be great butthis breed is AMAZING!!!
LuLu sounds like a very special little girl, Suzanne. She’s still young enough, so she would probably accept another cat easily, and enjoy having a feline companion (or 2, or 3!). If you’d like, you can post a photo of LuLu on our Facebook page – we’d love to see her!
Technically, torties are not a breed – but those of us who are owned by one know better. They’re most definitely a breed of their very own!
Welcome Suzanne, tell us more about Lulu. We love to hear about everyones Torties.
On hear you will learn much on the health and caring for our wonderful furry friends.
Ingrid, Bernadette, Harry and Lianimal know so much from years of experience.
Others of us were picked by Torties to open our houses to them.
Have to ask if you are a football fan since it seems like the NFL strike is over.
Read
https://ingridking.com/2011/02/04/steeler-the-cat-accidental-and-unofficial-team-mascot/
Hope you like the Steelers.
Jay
lol….if you get more cats I would suggest kittens. Torties tend to be very attached and posessive of their person! She might take to a kitten or two, but, unless she’s used to being around other cats, it’s going to be a long hard road getting to accept another adult cat, or even a half grown one! Especially anopther tortie with the same attitude!
Bernadette, I just ordered your Great Rescues calendar.
I hope you autographic it for me. Bernie said I should get that now as when you become rich and famous you will then charge extra for that. 🙂
I have heard many good things on this calendar and can not wait to see it.
Jay, I got your order before I checked e-mail, so your calendar is already on its way! Of course I autographed to you and yours–thanks!
Have you all voted yet ????
I was reaching
This morning I was up 30 minutes early for no particular reason, so I went into the basement to check my email.
Kasey doesn’t do stairs very well and usually stays upstairs, which is normally acceptable to her.
This morning was another story, she did the lost kitten mewing thing.
Well that was her idea but with her voice, it was more like sci-fi or tales from the crypt sound effects
I went up and got her and carried her downstairs, then all was well, until I took her back upstairs when I was done.
Even my fierce old warrior queen has a needy side 😉
Aww
Glen, that’s so sweet and breaks my heart atg the same time! You’re such a good dad!
Kasey is a wild cat but she knew she needed to be with you. We all know how Torties don’t communicate as well as “normal” cats but their voice is well known to us and understood.
She spoke and you understood.
Yeah, they have a funny combination of traits.
On the one hand fierce, on the other, needy of attention; that’s one of the things that makes them endearing.
That lost kitten mew is the saddest sound. I can’t even imagine it enhanced with Kasey’s unique sound effects!
I know that sound very well haha my LuLu does that same cry when she is ready for me to go to bed for the night!!
It’s the only good song they have, but it IS a good one…Okay, that was lame, I’ll do better next time lol
Couldn’t seem to get that one…this one’s good too http://youtu.be/PqCt54Wx2e0
I know it’s been a while, but…..Monkey music!!!!!!!!
No One To Blame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I8RBYJAY…
Oops, EIC FAIL! lol…lemme go see if I can find it.
Speaking of tunes;
This will show my age 😉
I remember when it first came out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGmkM4v9AaY
Awful quiet on here tonite.
My E-mail is screwed up and working on it. But at least I can go to the web to figure things out.
I hope….. 🙂
Still voting on The Petties.
Voted for myself and for Bernie.
Hope everyone else is also.
Still cleaning out my basement.
Burned some boxes yesterday at 4pm and thru a huge log onto the fire. It burned some.
Then at 9pm I thru the wood and bottom base of a 6′ couch onto the pile to burn today.
Last night at 1am I saw light coming thru the bedroom window. Thought it was car headlights. Looked out and saw a huge bonfire as the counch had caught fire. Went out till 1:30 and made sure everything was ok.
Put some video’s up on FB of Stir and Pumpkin in the catnip patch. Punky gets stoned and Stir gets mellow (Still fighting mad but does not break the skin when biting – that is very mellow for her)
Just saw Buell in the catnip patch now so have to chase him out. Stir would kill him if she finds out.