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
Howdy!
I’ve been here lurking a bit. I actually am on facebook more than here.
The girls are doing great, personalities changing on a daily basis just to confuse me. lol
Luna is actually becoming more affectionate! She will come and sit with me on the couch but only if I’m by myself, if another person is on the couch or Nikita is forget it! She will jump up, walk all over my lap, sit on the back of the couch and sniff my hair and the lie down next to me and roll over for a tummy rub but beware! She will let you know when she is done with tummy rubs by nipping at you.
Nikita on the other hand will lie between Brian and I on the couch and quickly get as close to him as possible without actually being in his lap (this is the guy who is allergic to cats and doesn’t really like them). I call her a hussy because she only does this with him.
I wish I knew what they were thinking when they look at us with those big green eyes. Most of the time Luna looks at us like we are crazy and she’s the sane one. lol
To all my friends here on CC. I want you guys to know I cherish your thoughts and stories. I am going to take a personal leave from CC for a while. My heart is elsewhere and I need to have some family downtime.
Know that where I feel I can, I will be back to help push these posts over the 10000 mark for Ingrid.
All of you are important to Steeler and I, but for right now I have to put all my energy into my family.
Keep on talking, I will be reading. Steeler and I bless you all.
I’m sorry to hear that, Bernie. We’ll al be here when you decide to come back.
As always, I am here for you to talk to.
Lynn, let me know how the Bully Remedy works for your friend’s situation.
Oops, they NEVER listen to me . I mean!
It’d a shame that they all know my metal voice, and that they all listen to me….lol
Oh my Lord if SHanks doesn’t stoop tipping over the garbage csan Imma get out my metal voice
It’s the only thing he’ll listen to! I’m all; NO, we don’r get on the computer desk Put him diwn, he jumps bacl up…After about 6 times I finally break out the heavy metal voice “STOP IT!!!!” loll
And he’s all….Okay.
My friend Carol told Sarah she should get a cross and holy water before she came over, to deal with Peaches lol…in Carol’s defense, once she was carrying the cat food in and Peaches walked out and went all halloween on her, hissing and growling……Peaches is just mean for NO reason! But I love her mean belligerent self anyway! lol
My three are a REALLY tough crowd….even little Shanks hissed and spit at his mom….he’s learning bad habits from my crazy girls
Ingrid, im wondering….A friend from work’s moither recently moved then moved in with her with two cats…Tracy ( my friend)’s cat hates the other two,and they both hate her. I was thinking of letting her try my essences to see if she could establish peace, which would you send? Bully or peacemaker? WHich would you think was more important to my crew to keep for a recurring issue?
lol…I was joking with my friends at work about how my crew is a tough crowd…somone said they were Gangsta, and I agreed that if mama was able to last 5 days in da hood, she was able to deal with anything! lol
Did your friend do a gradual introduction with the mother’s two cats? If not, that’s the first place I’d start: the mother’s cats need to be in a separate room if that’s feasible, and they need to be reintroduced to your friend’s cat gradually. Unless one of the three cats is a bully, then I’d use Peacemaker for that situation.
Unfortunately, I also think that since the two remedies combined worked so well at your house, I’d really hate to see you change anything, but if I had to pick, I’d say Peacemaker is the better remedy to keep the peace at your house (pun somewhat intended!) if you have to go with just one. So that’s not really helping with your idea of giving one to your friend.
No, no gradual inrto…but yes, there Does seem to be a bully, and one other cat seems to be getting tired of it. The other seems to be staying out of the way….I’d already decided to loan her Bully, should I give her peacekeeper too?
They should really back up and do a gradual intro. In addition to that, she could start with the Bully Remedy alone, if that doesn’t get any results, add Peacemaker. But I think in this situation, a gradual reintroduction is the key to success.
Traci doesn’t have the time to do it, and her mom’s not willing. lol I told Traci to take picture of her mom’s face when Traci whips out the “Magic Potion”……………….lol
I gave her the Bully Remedy
Update on my Baby-mama!…..apparently her people decided to go a whole ‘nother direction and named her Olive. They still think she’s the greatest cat ever, she’s still sweet and polite. she’s now BFFs with the sister’s kitten, and seems to not notice the Chihuahua at all. She’s good with Audrey most of the time, but sometimes when Audrey charges her she’ll run and hide lol….she’s still polite and does the paw thing to ask if it’s okay for her to jump up, and still does “the reach” when they rub her jaw….Sarah says she’s a keeper. YAY! RESCUE SUCCESS!!!!! lol
Excellent, a very good outcome 🙂
“Sarah says she’s a keeper”
This is where it shows you did the right thing and followed your heart.
Congrats. – Now a forever home and a happy family.
I’m SO thrilled, she SO deserves a good, loving home after what she went through. Sara said when she went to buy food and toys and scratchy things, she felt Olive “Needed to be spoiled”, so she spent a big chunk of check on all the best stuff she could find, and now she can’t keep her sister’s kit or the Chi away from Olive’s stuff! lol
BTW, Olive has an appointmwnt to get spayed and shots this Monday. I had already felt Sarah out about that kind of stuff before Olive was abandoned, I already knew she was responsible.
BTW, I left my reading glasses at work again today, so please forgive any typos
Wonderful news – I totally love happy endings!!!
Betty, since yours sounds more like territorial issues than simply not getting along with each other, I’d start with Safe Space for Cats: give it to everyone, either by putting it in the water, or rubbing it on their fur. If the kitchen is Rocky’s stalking area, you can also spray the kitchen with it a couple of times a day. Use it for a couple of weeks and see if you notice any change.
“How do you give it to them?”
Betty, are you asking about the essences or Reiki?
The essences. If it’s like giving them a pill, it will be impossible.
You can either put a few drops of the essences in their water, or you can rub a few drops on their fur. I prefer the fur method, but both work equally well. Depending on which essence you use and what for, you can also spray them in the areas where the challenging behavior tends to happen.
Betty, I’m using two different ones, Peacemaker which I’m putting into everyone’s water, and Bully Remedy which I’m putting on my hands before I pet the troublemaker. I should probably add Bully to my petting routine with Troublemaker#2 as well.
Harry, I knew sooner or later you would have to use the Bully Remedy for yourself, #2. Isn’t that the #2 you are referring to? 😛
Which essence would I give 2 cats that stalk and attack each other, and one who has tantrums.
Rocky’s turf is the kitchen where he is prone to laying in wait for Columbia to come by then smacks her. He doesn’t do it every time, just when the mood hits him.
Then I have Columbia whose turf is the rest of the house. She will stalk and then slap and try to fight with Rocky and often corners him.
My Brad gets in moods when it is nighttime and we won’t let him out anymore until morning that he decides to nip my Janets butt. That is the only time he does it, if he wants out and we won’t let him. He doesn’t do it everyday, just once in a while. Normal days they sleep cuddled together.
Who needs two legged kids, these fourlegged babies keep me busy enough!
Mixing it into their food worked great for me
I’ve always believed that there’s no point in trying to convince someone who is skeptical about a treatment modality with words and scientific evidence (and there is some for Reiki – NIH and the Cleveland Clinic have done some studies). Seeing that something works is far more convincing. Some of these modalities have been used for thousands of years.
Jay, I’m laughing at your comment about torties being trained acupuncturists – but you may not be so far off. I’ve always believed that cats are natural healers, so why not strategially placed claws in an effort to heal us ;-)?
But Healing should not be painful should it ?
😛
Ingrid, when I offered to let my work friend try the spirit essenses I was so unsure…..But she’s willing to try anything, just like I was lol
I took it in today….some background info…Traci’s mom worked for the company for 30+ years……everyone she told about it said: Cool, if it works, try using on your mom! lol
bUT iNGRID, YOU SHOULD KEEP TRYING TO CONVINCE PEOPLE, ugh, my bad, didn’t realise capslock was on, but anyway, I was a skeptic, it worked, and I gave it to another skeptic.. If it works for her, she’ll give it to anothjer skeptiv…..
I took Bernie to a cat show today.
We saw all sorts of cats and the most impressive was a Tortie that is a Therapy Cat.
She is taken to Nursing homes and VA Hospitals.
Loves people and attention.
We are thinking of now training Stir and Steeler as Therapy cats too 🙂
Question: with Stir and Steeler, who would need the therapy? lol
LOL, Betty!
Betty, I think I am going to look for my own therapist soon. Steeler let me know today, she will never consider being nice. I have the marks to show it. 🙂
I just wish that Columbia and Rocky would make nice with each other.
Betty, make nice with your little ones. Get some directions from Ingrid and Bernadette. They somehow have found the secret to get little ones to play nice.
Steeler does not play nice, sometimes not even with me.:)
“We are thinking of now training Stir and Steeler as Therapy cats too”
Shock therapy???????
LMAO..That would probably be more traumatic….at least as far as Stir is concerned! lol
Worse is Steeler because she looks so cute and innocent that an unknowing person would want to pet her or pick her up (A DOJ agent made that mistake and paid for it). At least with Stir you would not even attempt trying to touch ( we know you would as you are like me and will tame any animal). But imagine a Nursing home where these 2 came in. 🙂
Nightly News segmant for sure.
Glen there isn’t a shock therapist that would have the courage to get near Steeler or Stirfry. 🙂
LMAO…I be a little skeerd
Jay, the cat show and the Therapy Tortie really impressed you. 🙂 Now get real, us training Steeler and Stirfry as Therapy cats. We haven’t even been able to train them to play nice yet!!!!:)
I think you may have had too much birthday smiles. 🙂
Took a one-day trip to central Virginia yesterday to visit close family friends, got back late and tossed extra food in the cats’ bowls before we went to bed so we might not get prodded awake an hour early. When I did open the bedroom door to go feed the 5 downstairs cats, Brooke waltzed in, looked around. Sabrina held her ground, Piper retreated under the bed, and Brooke started to follow her – Sabrina hissed, and Brooke changed her mind and walked back out. And while she was eating, I rubbed her with more Bully Remedy…
Hmmm, maybe Sabrina needs the Bully Remedy!
Harry, are you using Peacemaker as well? If so, you can spray that in the bedroom a couple of times a day in addition to rubbing it on fur or giving in water.
Yes, I have Peacemaker in the water for everyone. I think the Bully is definitely working on Brooke, because she heeded the warning and walked out.
It’s wierd, I would have been the first person to pronounce this some kind of mumbo jumbo if it hadn’t actually worked for me. I’m SUCH a skeptic……but the essenses Ingrid recommend Actually REALLY worked for me! I started with an elderly cat who hates everyone, and a three year old who is a sweetheart, but hates the 11 year old. I gave one Bully and the other Peacemaker, plus inherited a kitten and started giving him Peacekeeper too lol Everything is so much calmer and mellower now, it’s hard to believe they’re the same cats!
Lynn, I bet I’m a bigger skeptic than you are, but I see results, too. And now, we’re not getting just some strange Reiki, but the good stuff from someone we know!
Like everything else that is out of the Norm, we are skeptics. (look at acupuncture and chiropractic medicine). The Healing stones were laughed at but now we have cat collars that I know do work.
I will try anything if I think it will help (acupuncture will be rough as I HATE needles).
Is a Tortie a trained acupuncturist ? Seems so to me.
Harry – “strange Reiki” ?
I believe in it so it is not strange.
How do you give it to them?
The minute to minute changes in tortie behavior, all of this took place in about 10 minutes;
I sat on the floor with a cat comb, this brought Kasey over within 10 seconds as usual.
Really liked the combing, loud purr, rubbing, etc.
After a few minutes, the excitement of being combed was too much and we got swatting and light biting started.
Got her a toy, then she got quite wild, I got up, telling her thats it if she’s going to do that.
I went down the basement.
Within minutes, I had tortie song from upstairs, this was like a kitten calling its mother.
I went up and got her so she could be with me.
As I type this she is snoring in a cat bed.
And she being a Tortie you found this different how ???? 🙂
Yeah it was a typical tortie morning, just thought I’d share the experience.
It is a good illustration of why they’d be dangerous to keep if they were much larger.
Depending upon the individual scholar, the estimate varies from 4,000 to 8,000 years since the domestication of cats began.
But I do know that the process is still a “work in progress” 😉
Definitely a work in progress, especially when we’re talking about torties!
As far as Torties go I think regressing might be the key work.
LMAO, good point!
I had a similiar tortie day with Columbia. I decided to take care of the clean laundry so before my hubbiw left for work I had him put the clothes baskets with the laundry in it in the bedroom so I could use the bed to fold it neatly into piles.
In came Columbia as usual since she always has to know where mommy is. She jumped up on the bed and decided to lay on top of daddys clean tshirt pile. When that no longer entertained her she decided to jump into the clothes basket that was on the bed that had the clothes I was getting ready to fold in it. Each time I grabbed something out of the basket she decided she didn’t want me to have it so she would grab onto it with those curved claws of hers and we would then have a battle of the clean underwear (or shirt, etc). So what would have normally taken me just a few minutes to do took much longer.
Once that basket was empty, except for the sock she was sitting on and refused to give up, I moved her basket and put another on the bed. The battle resumed in basket number 2 and then onto the last basket. Then it was time for her to lay on the various piles on the bed. She went from pile to pile and decided each was folded too neatly so she just had to knead them into her preferred shape.
Since I was standing during the whole laundry escapades, I just gave up and figured I did my job and it was time to go hop on my knee scooter and sit for a while. A few minutes after I left the bedroom she came out looking very pleased with herself and climbed up on the couch next to me to take a well deserved nap.
Back when I used to be able to make the bed, changing sheets day was also an adventure with her. Columbia used to love to run and get under the sheets and blankets when I would fluff them and get them into position. She made a cute little bed lump 🙂
I got so lucky, monkey’s wild, but she’s always such a sweetie….yeah, she’s unrolled the toilet paper, so has Shanks. Peaches did it 10 years ago. It’s something you have to learn to live with when dealing with cats lol..It’s GONNA happen at least one time!
Awww, Monkey’s my little laundry helper
She’s actually not very helpful though….lol
At least she only unwraps it, Columbia eats it after she unwraps it
lo
Peaches music of the day…..Berns you and Jay will both like this one, it’s mellow
http://youtu.be/qX9SymWdBjs
And…..get ready for it….it’s Christian metal!
lol, they’re usually screamers, I just thought you’d like that one. Imagine MY surprise when I realised my screaming rockers were screaming religion!? I bought the album anyway because they’re good, and discovered this song, probably my favorite
Monkey Music…but still Christian…. by the same band http://youtu.be/RMEUv8Gckwc
This is the song I heard that made me buy the album…..beware Berns, It’s Monkey Music
Hey Wild Child, I tried. 2 seconds. Not even a Tortie can listen to that without needing a calming essence!!!! 🙂 I ran to the coffee pot to drink coffee after that one!!!!! 🙂
LMAO Berns! You KILL me! I TOLD you it was Monkey music….when I say Monkey Music RUN! Even if I say it’s Christian! lol
Enjoy this – I’ve been listening to it on autorepeat for over an hour because it’s my 2 year old granddaughter’s new favorite. Yes, I’m babysitting today. On the other hand, it IS animal related. And Callie likes it – she’s been doing that tortie chirp-along while my granddaughter claps and dances around. So with a tortie seal of approval it can’t be all bad…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iP27eatYxE
LOL…they were very wierd and interesting! lol
MADLY LOVE the eyebrow guy, too funny!
My landlady told me that the people who used to own mama tried to sneak back in the night without anyone seeing them, and couldn’t get in because she changed the locks. I told her to telll them, if they asked about the cat, to not even come and ask me because I was going to come unglued. You guys think I’m joking, but I really WILL shank a bitch when it comes to mistreating animals!
Lynn, stay calm, remember – your kits need Mom at home and not locked up.
lol…this is true. But ya know, under NORMAL circumstances I’d never a problem, attitudy as I can be. But if these guys come back and try to give me some problems, they’d better be ready! I SO wish they’d ask me what happened to their cat, because I’m not telling them. I’m going to tell them they don’t deserve to know and shut the door in their faces
maybe I’m too hard, maybe not, but to my view a person who abandons ans animal loses ALL rights to that animal, the law be damned!. They can go ahead and take me in as long as that animal is taken care of.
Heheh….yeah, Bernie, say it again…..Peaches is no meaner than her mother lol
Aww, I wish the Heathens hadn’t broken my camera so I could show y’all the SWEETEST pic of Shanks and Monkey laying end to end on the floor, sunning themselves and grooming each other’s tails.
The Princess, of course, is above it all, lying on the 900 lb couch/throne and looking down on the unwashed masses in distain…..
Happy Birthday Jay! Hope you had a great day.
Thank you all for the Birthday wishes.
No indoor kitty yet but on the way home tonight I saw something along the road about 6 houses up. Fearing the worst I walked back with a flashlight. Luckily just soccer ball. But I worry about him. Maybe??????
Anyhow I am having a Great B-day.
And when my Mom called I asked her if she liked Chardonnay wine. She does. Told her she could have my Herding Cats wine but I want the bottle back. Those cats weren’t hearding but stampeding. I would after 1 glass.
Jay, I’m with Betty–make it a really good birthday and bring in the little black and white guy. Sometimes animal companions come into our lives at transitions, and he’s come to you as such a time. He belongs with you. Wasn’t the soccer ball warning enough?
Get yourself a better wine for your birthday!
1. I told you to get the merlot, not the chardonnay. That’s the problem.
2. What Bernadette said. Soccer Ball = Sign. That is all.
Heads up folks. Stirfry’s daddy, Jay has a birthday today. So let’s hear it for the man with the one Tortie we all fear. Happy Birthday, Jay and many more.
WOOT! Happy B’Day Jay!
http://cafeastrology.com/birthday/november4_2011.html
I was going to paste the whole thing here, but it’s pretty long
Happy Birthday, Jay – have a purrfect day!
Jay’s horoscope predicts a furry day! Happy birthday, Jay!
Happy bday Jay. For your big day why don’t you bring that little orphan kitty in and give him to yourself as a present 🙂
A little late, but Happy Birthday!!! Hope you had a great day, and many more to follow!
2373 All we need to make the 10,000 posts. I know we can do it before Christman, Hanukah, or any other observance before the end of Dec. It would be nice if if were before Dec.25th. It would be like der Weihnachtsmann visiting Ingrid with a nice gift. Yep, I looked it up. 🙂
Color me impressed, Bernie 🙂
Harry, I will try to find a way to keep track of all the things you nailed me with. Your wit is more than I am accustomed to, however, I am a quick study, just a dumb blonde ? brunette? of well one or any of all. Like a tortie I can change learn quickly, and unlike a Tortie I can change hair colors.
I will have to keep a journal on all the hits I handed over to you. You are just to sharp witted, but I will keep trying. By the way, Snowflake is very happy and now living in North Carolina with her servants.
You ain’t dumb. Hair color, I can’t argue with. (Have you ever thought of going tortie?? That would be pretty cool.)
You only handed me two “hits” – I just keep relentlessly banging on them. I learn from my torties, too.
Glad to hear about Snowflake – thought about her when the weather turned cold. Just like Mama, she’s one lucky girl to have crossed the paths of the folks in this group.
Harry, I can honestly tell you that I had the look of a Tortie haircoloring when the hair color didn’t quite work right. From then on,I only use a professional hair dresser. Believe me, it did not go over well.
You are a quick study!!! 😛 🙂
lol I used to work with a girl who was a goth rocker chick and did her hair a few different colors (at once) every week or two…..at one point she stripped all the wild colors out and WAS “Tortie” for a week. I thought it looked awesome! lol
Little Mama Update:
I went into work to great news this morning! Sarah said Mama strolled from the carrier as soon as it was opened, investigated the house, investigated the Chihuahua without incident, investigated her sister’s kitten without incident, then walked up and gave Sarah the paw. After some snuggles and cuddles, she hopped down and let the toddler, Audrey, pet her until Audrey got bored and wandered off. She then assumed a Sphinxlike pose on the back of the couch and surveyed her new kingdom until even Sarah’s mom, the sceptic, remarked “She’s a really nice cat!”. She was pronounced “Majestic” by Sarah’s husband, and they are trying to think of something royal to name her.
She said Audrey was the cutest. Every time she remembered she had a new cat, she’d go pet her for a while, then wander off again.
She really is just a fearless and special cat. And at this point I’m not even angry with the people who abandoned her, really, because it seems like it was meant to happen exactly the way it did.
This is the best possible update you could hope for. Sound like the little momma is going to be a happy little girl. Congratulations on your fostering. You were able to let her go, unlike some people who failed at fostering 🙂
That has got to make you feel better 🙂 What you said before is so true – it’s hard to explain to them that what is happening is in their best interest, all the while they’re crying and protesting. I explained that to Sabrina the first two times I stuffed her in a carrier to go back to the ranch after an event, as she clung to me and whimpered. The third time, I stuffed her in my car and drove home in a blinding snowstorm. And she never left. You did the brave, strong and right thing, Lynn. And those wonderful updates really reinforce it.
You did the right thing for Sabrina too, Harry, even though it was technically a “fail”. I guess we’re all MEANT to fail on certain occasions lol
Bernie, it’s wierd. Sarah had been talking a few weeks earlier about how she’d always had black or black and white cats, and had been thinking of adopting an adult, since she didn’t think she could handle a kitten with a baby and a toddler. The whole time I was watching Mama meow and paw in that window and waiting to hear from or see somebody, I was thinking of the hour I’d spent with her that one day before her people left, and about how calm and quiet and friendly she was, and how much she and Sarah were alike. In the back of my mind I knew that if I ever got my hands on Mama, I was going to approach Sarah first. I just had a feeling about those two
Ingrid and Bernadette…..Right? I don’t think I ever really believed in fate. I’ve always believed we create our own path by our own actions, but maybe for innocents, fate actually does exist.
Bernadette, your story gave me a kind of chill and made me come to the above conclusion.
It remains to be seen, though, Sarah is planning on getting a rat when she moves out…apparently mom’s NOT to be talked into THAT! lol….we’ll have to wait to see how Mama Cat greets THAT new development!
Then again…..http://youtu.be/D85yrIgA4Nk
Lynn, the rest of the story is that one child went to college, the other soon will, and mom and dad will essentially have a new life–we all feel Jack will be an important part of everyone’s transition. I’ve been “the medium” before, but this was the most unique experience, especially as it develops.
And you don’t have to chalk it up to fate; not all paths are predestined but are taken step by step. She got as close to you as she could and you reached out from the other direction.
The neatest thing about the video is that all the people who love animals are immediately friends. That’s what animals do to us! Look at this group!
Bernadette, I loved that about it too! People from all different walks of life coming together over animals. None of those people would ever have spoken to or even acnowledged the others in a normal day to day situation…the young Asian girl, the young preppy couple, the older apparently wealthy couple, the Vietnam vet….what else would they ever have in common?
Lynn, apparently you were just the medium of transfer! She looked at the household and said, “What took so long?”
Like the orange kitten I took in this spring and the long lost friend who saw him and adopted him on the spot before even meeting him, he walked into their house and was immediately kin to all the adults, children, cats, dogs and guinea pig. Really, I think it works that way sometimes when they just fit right in.
I know stuffing her in the carrier wasn’t easy when she cried, but that was just because she didn’t like it.
Just think of Audrey who will never know life without her!
I love it! It was clearly meant to be.
Thats great news about her new home 🙂
“She was pronounced “Majestic” by Sarah’s husband, and they are trying to think of something royal to name her.”
You could suggest Bastet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastet
GREAT name, I won’t see her again until Monday, but if they haven’t come up with anything by then I’ll definitely suggest it!
If I had know about that name 3 and a bit years ago, Kasey might have been Bastet 😉
Glen, is that spelled right 🙂
I hope its spelled properly, I sometimes have my problems with reading glasses and typos.
Here’s a quote;
“From the third millennium BC, when Bastet begins to appear in our record, she is depicted as either a fierce lioness or a woman with the head of a lion.”
Well that is interesting. I was way off on that interpretation. Sure glad you cleared that one up for me. Loved it. 🙂
You did SO good finding mama a new special home where she will be loved and get lots of attention. Will they be getting her spayed soon?
I know another name was suggested but if they don’t like that one, what about Cleopatra? Seems fitting since she was sitting like a sphinx.
Thats a good one, too 🙂
Hi all. Since Lynn has had a happy outcome with Little Mama getting a forever Home. I will talk about Steeler and my latest endeavor.
As you all know, right Harry & Ingrid, I locked myself out of my own home not to long ago. A very good friend supplied me with the keyless lock system. I was told just take the old entrance handle and lock out and just slide this right in. Well Steeler and I took on this easy task. Between Steeler wanting to get on the sill between the storm door to look out and me trying to work on the door, we finally finished the task about 2 hours later. I had a Tortie supervising me from screwdrivers to packaging. I ended up asking Steeler if she could figure out hour to program this pad. She just put her paw on the instruction paper (about 2’X2′ large) and left her marks. I think she was saying “hey your not a technician”. So we continued to work on this and she continued to squawk and talk constantly at me. She was done with the work routine, she wanted food. I on the other hand was determined to finish. Well I finally finished,Steeler kept up her vocal tirade until I eventually said “Steeler, Please, enough already.” Yea tell a Tortie that one. So she prevailed and got her food, again, and again.
I decided it was time to get off my foot and went to my room to lie down. Here comes the Tortie, still being very vocal and pulling at my arm and hair on the bed. She finally settled down on her pillow, very pleased with herself, for what I don’t know, purring loudly and finally fell into a deep sleep. Now if someone can ever explain Tortie talk and actions, they will be a new level of genius.
All I know is, I am outwitted at every turn, by a little bundle, called Steeler. But darn, life is good for us together.
lol….and you wouldn’t have it any other way, would you Bernie?! And she was probably afraid you were locking yourself out again. She was yelling “Mom, the keys are in here on the table! Don’t lock it!” That’s also why she was so pleased with herself when you came in and laid down….she thought she’d saved you from certain disaster lol
Lynn, you remembered that lock out. I have to admit I have pulled some good ones. I think Steeler felt she supervised quite well. We did lie down. That is the best thing I could do was install that keyless lock. Now I don’t have to break into my home ……..again! Eventually I will do that to the other doors. But no hurry. Thanks to a very good friend, I won’t be hammering my own door.
Like you, I wouldn’t have it any other way with Steeler. Just like you and your love of the three musketeers. They rule us, no doubt.
Love the way you handled Little Momma. Great job.
I am almost sure most Tortie talk is only 4 letters and not suitable for mixed company.
With hisses and spits in between those words it can’t be good.
But in between there is lots of LOVE.
And you would not have it any other way.
Glad you got your lock changed. 1 less worry about getting locked out and explaining to the cops why you are prying a door lock open and a cat that won’t vouch for you.
I guess I will never live down the cops and the snowflake. Now it is LMBO, Harry’s interpretation!!!
Well just so you all know , I did a really quick run to, yep, where else, KFC. Now I have a contented Tortie and she is quiet.
This little girl can be very demanding and she keeps winning. Those words are not nice. I know just by the way she keeps going around talking even if she isn’t looking at me. 🙂
See, this is why I absolutely revere anyone who is able to foster, because I can’t do it! Sort of like job-wise, I hold anyone who is able to work retail and stay sane in the highest regard!
I couldn’t foster, either. My only attempt at it was Amber, the classic “failed foster.”
I just left a comment on your Facebook page – you’re totally doing the right thing for your little mama. She’s lucky that you took her in, and that you love her enough to find her a home that’s a better fit for her than yours. And I’m sure your three are high-fiving each other 🙂 Well, okay, maybe Peaches isn’t – probably as far as she’s concerned, Monkey and Shanks should have gone with Mama!
What Ingrid said 🙂
This is why we’ve given up on fostering. Oh, we’ve done it plenty of times – Vickie, Pearl, Sabrina, Piper… you get the idea. (OK, there were also Nick, Beibei and Gabbie, but we’re batting under .500) And we cried each time. I agree – fosters are incredible, I don’t know how they can love and let go. But what you did was best for you, and for Mama. Otherwise, you wind up with 7 cats and unable to foster any more, like some folks you know. Definitely a great thing you did, Lynn!
🙂
I was thinking the same thing.
Likewise. I really admire everyone who does foster work, but I know I can’t handle it, at least for cats and dogs. I tried fostering cats once when I was volunteering at a local shelter, and all 3 of the kitties ended up with me permanently. Anyway I’ve learned that the only things I can reliably foster are the weird stuff like lizards, snakes, rodents and even tarantulas. For some reason I’m not scared of them, (though I do respect whatever teeth, claws or other defenses they have), not too grossed out by them and some of the weird things they eat (thanks to my sons for helping me through that!) and most importantly although I am very conscientious about taking care of them, I am not at all sorry to give them up when a forever home is found for them.
lol Sharon….Lemme tell you about a MAJOR fail. I thought I wanted a snake, so I bought one, bought a couple rats to feed him, made friends with the rats on the way home, and ended up giving the snake away and keeping them! lol
lol…yeah, Peaches would just as happily waved goodbye to all of them! The look in her eyes clearly said “One down, two to go!”
LMBO 🙂
LMBO 🙂
Um, “Locking My Buns Out”?? 😛
Harry 😛
lol Harry! Good one!
Stir thinks the same thing. But we keep those others just to show them who’s boss . (We know they are don’t we)
lol…..Monkey wishes she could say that….but she’s the boss of Shanks, anyway. Peaches is the President, Monkey is the Senator, and poor Shanks got stuck in the…..oh wait, I was gonna say Shanks was the taxpayer, but no, I guess that would be me….. that makes Shanks the Governor!
If I got the statuses wrong, forgive me……but what I meant the ranking of my household is
Peaches- HBIC and She who must not be approached in any way, shape or form unless she first approaches you. Also Homeland Security (people and animal related)
Monkey- 2nd in command of Homeland security (bugs only), Head of entertainment, snuggles, and all things food related
Shanks- Monkey’s underling and yes man
Lynn- Providing a roof, heat, AC, food, water, bathroom cleanup, and entertainment for the higher-ups
Lynn, I always knew I couldn’t provide the best home for “one more cat” and it was a worry until I found a home, a good home, only the best. And then it was like giving a gift, introducing two living creatures who would spend the next years or decades together in that wonderful human-animal bond. How I felt meant little, only the animal and the adopting family were important. I only cried happy tears, and yet again when I heard the loving stories. You saved her life and found her a forever home. There is no sadness in that.
Thanks so much for all the support you guys. I’ve always sucked at fostering lol…..many many failures under my belt too!
Bernadette, the tears were mixed, partially happy that I knew her life was about to change drastically for the better, and partially because I had no way to make her understand that. To her at that moment I was only inflicting one more trauma on her that she didn’t know what she had done to deserve.
So, all you rescue people. who all still cries when they leave you, even if they’re going to a great home? I just balled my eyes out over little mama. First off, I had to fight her into the carrier, which was the worst because I felt I had betrayed her trust, then I talked to her and cried the whole time I was waiting for Sarah to come get her, explaining to her that she was going to a place that was SO much better, with no computer, less cats, more people with more time to love her…but she kept sticking her little white paws out toward me. That was her thing, she’d put both paws on my knee to let me know she wanted attention, then, when I started rubbing her jaw she’d reach one paw waaaaaaaaay out toward me.
Okay, thanks for letting me vent and cry. I used to get this way over the foster pitties too
I don’t know if it ever gets easier…it never did for me with the pitties, and apparently I’m no better with cats lol
Lynn, you did the best thing.
Now that little cat will be so spoiled and have the place to herself.
And you have the satisfaction of saving a little life.
Thanks Jay, I know you’re right, and I’m so happy for her…I hope it works out. I’m sure it will. I’m glad she left while she was still well-behaved, before any of my crew befriended her and had a bad influence lol
Lynn you have made a very good decision for little mama. You always knew you couldn’t really keep her, but your heart was breaking. Finding her the right home, was very hard for you to do, and I don’t see why you would not cry. I cried over a little kitten, I only managed to catch and give to a very happy couple. If I had brought that baby in, and Steeler would have left her be, I don’t know if I could ever do what you just did. You are a very good person with a heart of gold. You may have your ups and downs with the present trio, but this little mama sounds like you made her life a happy one. So cry all the tears of happiness for her and you can feel all the sadness you want. But what you have done is priceless. Bless you. I kept reading your post not knowing what to say to you, as you were trying so desperately to decide what to do. I had no words of wisdom for you, but tonight I can tell you, you have made a great choice in finder the little mama a forever home. No one could have done more than you did.
Thanks for all the sweet words, Bernie. I was fine until she was fighting me so hard over going into the carrier, then I just broke down. All I could think of was this poor sweet baby that never did anything to anybody, and she’s been abandoned, ripped from her home and dumped into a tiny apartment full of hostile cats, and found a person to give her a small bit of the attention she’d been craving for so long, and now that very person whom she had started to trust was stuffing her into a box to do God knows what with her, and she has no idea why her little life has been turned upside down lately. I got a good update this morning, so far so good!
You did the very best for her. A forever home with people to love her. That is all any little one wants. Now you need to concentrate on the homefront and get a peace treaty with those little ones. Give Peaches a break. She has the 3 of you to deal with. 🙂
Yeah “Rolling eyes” Poor old put-upon Peaches, she of the ten lightning fast built-in switchblades and the rattlesnake bite. She who strikes Halloween poses and hisses at guests who are helping carry the cat food in. She who stalks and terrorizes poor superstitious African men, sneaks up behind them, stares down on them, buzzard-like, from the back of the couch, then finally reaches out and touches their ear gently with one paw causing them to run screaming from the apartment. Poor poor Peaches……lol…Peaches popped out of the womb evil!
Wow do I have a lot of reading to catch up on!! Got back early this morning from a 4 day trip up to VA to spend our first wedding anniversary with my mom. We got married in her church last year so she kept our cake top as we told her we would celbrate our anniversary with her. She is 81 and very srthritic and isn’t able to fly down here anymore so we took a drive to see her. Not nearly long enough but just to get the 4 days my hubbie had to schedule his days off for 2 workweeks back to back.
Needless to say I was haooy to see all my furry babies when we got home. Of course part of my time away was spent worrying and crying as my only cat that goes outside (and that is against my will), Brad decided he wasn’t going to come home for about a day and a half. My next door neighbor who was caring for the babies kept checking, calling, etc. but he decided since mommy and daddy were away he could break his curfew.
Needless to say once he was in, my neighbor put him under house arrest and wouldn’t let him back out. When we got home it was about 1:30AM and he cried and cried to go out but no way. He is never allowed to stay out all night, his curfew is 8:30PM and once he is in, that’s it for the night.
This morning my Columbia was in her usual spot next to me on the couch then for the first time moved around so that her little head was laying on my lap, after she put her head on my lap she did some serious “air kneading”. I think she missed her mommy 🙂
Awww! My kids are never allowed out. It sounds harsh, but my vet told me as long as they have a screened window to sun themselves in and get some fresh air from, plenty of toys, scratching things and something to climb, there’s no reason they need to. He also told me that indoor cats live much longer, disease free, and less violent lives. Even for the natural born hunter, the average house has enough spiders, flies, centipedes and what-not to keep them happy and supplied with extra protien lol
Well as I said it wasn’t my idea, it was his. He had been a totally indoor cat for the first 6 years of his life, then I moved to where I am now which is very rural. He started dashing out the door before we could stop him, managed to somehow get some window screens out of the window, and anything else he could think of to go outside.
When he knocked out the window screen Rocky got out too and was gone for a day until Brad brought him home. It was amazing that my girls didn’t escape also. It was then I had to decide what to do, risk all my babies or let him have his way.
Fortunately, except for while we were gone, he tends to stay around the house. He likes to lay on the picnic table and roll around in the sun, naps in the shed, and under a trailer on the edge of the property.
I’m not happy about it, but trying to keep him in is fruitless.
I feel you, Monkey was TERRIBLE! SUch an escape artist, almost like she was hellbent on getting out! I had to REALLY police her though, because she has severe flea allergies. If she gets a flea bite…yes, just one, she starts losing hair and scratching herself scabby! Luckily for me, she’s not smart enough to realise she can hop over the baby gate I always put across the door when I’m expecting a delivery or whatever…lol
Y’all keep your fingers crossed for Little Mama…..I’ve been thinking about this girl I work with as I get to know LM better……LM’s not at all shy, very people oriented, a cuddler, quiet and pretty laid back. Sarah from work is quiet, laid back, married with two quiet gentle little girls just like their mom……Sarah likes black cats, and she doesn’t want a kitten, she’s been thinking about adopting an adult…she wants a lap-type cat. With four people to love, LM’d be more than able to get the attention and cuddles she wants.
The only roadblock is that Sarah and her family are still living with her mom for a couple more months while they save for a house. I can’t keep LM that long. But Sarah says she’s going to talk to her mom about it, and since it’s only for a short time, it might be okay. She’s going to talk to her mom first, then come meet LM sometime this week. I’ve never seen a more perfect personality match. I SO hope this works out.
Here’s hoping you find a good fit for the Little Moma.
Hey yes, I do think Peaches is getting a bad rap I read that, actually I heard my name taken in vain for caring about Sweet Peaches. I still think she is a sweetie. She has to contend with the rest of you. I would be a little defensive in that situation also 🙂
Sarah didn’t talk to her mom last night because of all the distraction of trick-or-treaters, and because her sister’s kitten was driving her mom nuts. She didn’t think it was the optimal time, rightfully…lol
She came over today after work, met Mama, fell in love, and went home with new determination. She even asked what was the soonest I’d let her go. I said; “As soon as you get the stuff she needs and are willing to take her!”.
As I suspected, they are a perfect personality fit. Mama wouldn’t come out at first, but she wouldn’t yesterday when I got home either…..maybe she’s scared when I leave I’ll never come back, like her other people, I don’t know. It’s only the 2nd day I’ve gone to work and came back since she’s been here. I suggested to Sarah that I show her a game I play on FB, and she’d probably show up a few minutes after we quit looking, and she did. I picked her up, hugged her, petted her and said; “This is Sarah, she might be your new person”, then handed her to Sarah. Mama looked at her for a few seconds, went in for a sniff and a nose lick, then snuggled in.
Another update…I woke up to Shanks and Mama playing tag up and down the hall. Shanks has tentatively decided she’s okay, Monkey’s still not convinced….this morning they were laying about 2 inches apart in the bathroom while I did my make-up, but when they come face to face Monkey still goes all hissy and mama still just sits there and looks at her lol
I wish I could take a pic of mama. Sarah mentioned she looks like a black and white Lemur, and now that she said that, I can TOTALLY see it! She’s long and lean with a little round head and HUGE green eyes, a long skinny tail with a ring around it…lol
Peaches is becoming legendary among my friends and co-workers who’ve met her….for what, you may ask…..For her evilness! lol Not simply famous….LEGENDARY! Every single person who’s met her has been hissed at, growled at, bitten or shanked! SHe has her good times, with me and me only, but for the most part she’s mean and ornery just for the sake of being mean and ornery!
The other day my neighbor was over, she walked up and head-butted him…I said “Wow, Anthony! You’re special, Peaches never comes up to anybody!” So he started petting her and she started hissing. He pulled back, and she head butted his leg again. So he started petting her and she started hissing again. That’s just how Peaches rolls. She’s always been mean. SHe was mean at about 4 months old when I got her, and she’s just gotten ornrier .
I’m fairly sure that while I’m at work every day she’s busy with some nefarious plot to take over the world.
Quiet night; everyone must be celebrating that win over the Patriots. The Saints didn’t do so well against the Rams, but things are good anyway. My neighbor is spending the day since her grandson is doing some painting work in her living room. She brought over some clothes that we’ve been sorting out to donate, and of course Minnie is in kitty heaven, burrowing around in the piles. Laundry is the funnest toy ever!!!
Dood is of course riding high, zooming around the living and dining room and out to the patio with my neighbor on the Hover-round, with Allie stalking and pouncing and chasing after them.
Miss Cal is the only one who’s a bit out of sorts at the moment. Apparently she does not approve of her son’s new mode of transportation. In fact, she’s been sitting on the coffee table keeping up a fairly steady stream of complaints that rises to a screech every time they pass by her. Something like” “I can NOT believe this. Just look at that ungrateful kitten! I try to raise him right, and this is how he turns out. Dood, you get down from there! Did you see that? He practically ran me over on that wheeled contraption. It’s unnatural, I tell you. Unnatural! Well, he didn’t get that from MY side of the family. My family keeps all 4 paws on the floor, yes we do. Doodles, are you listening to me? Get yourself off there this instant, young man! Doodles!”
What win? Who?
Much rather hear about kitties! Too funny!
Ok my good buddy. You know you heard the roar of the Pittsburgh Torties Sunday evening even up to Carnegie. Remember black and gold prevails and you have a couple of lovelies in your home. Woe is you, not supporting their colors. 😛
Well the Saints didn’t fare so well, but it sounds like your household had a great time. The little ones seem to have won that show.
Miss Cal is the smart one. Get out of the way of the wheeled contraption. Find a safe spot and just sit there. 🙂
Drinking the Hearding Cats wine ( Chenin Blanc/Chardonnay)
Now I know why they run. “Imported by Underdog wine merchants” so it says on the bottle.
Maybe a good cooking wine but I prefer sweet wine such as Cherry or Ice wine.
But I like the label.
Harry I will be using this Herding Cats Wine one for cooking. Or maybe I will regift it to one deserving Tortie servant friend!!! 🙂 Wonder who that might be uuuuummmmm:)
I need to buy a bottle of that. My favorite quote for something impossible is “It’s like herding cats” lol….I wonder why they named a wine that?
I think the problem is you’re drinking the white wine… cats don’t like white, they prefer the merlot 😉
Now you tell me. Merlot for cats. Herding cats for looks. Geez, that stuff was rough.
Just set that out open for the mouse problems and they might leave home. 🙂
Can’t believe this. We just had a mouse in the house! Did it have a death wish entering a house full of carnivorous cats? Fortunately mom made the great mouse rescue and brought him outside in a tupperware container. He got the heck out of it and ran into the grass!
So yes, you can have 7 cats & a live mouse!
I can believe it. They haven’t bothered the chipmunks or squirrels either. Word gets out.
Kasey would be another story in that situation, I have no doubt.
I doubt she would hesitate for a moment to go after any of those rodents, given her past reputation and history at her former home.
Of our cats, Taz the 22 pound orange guy would watch them with some interest, Morgan the tuxie girl would go after the smaller stuff pretty seriously, Kasey is another story altogether, she doesn’t do “catch and release” 😉
Cookie, for all her sweet nature, is a dedicated killer, and I’m sure she’s glad to see Mewsette and the rest of the Fantastic Four taking over. Prior to them, most of the others in the household would do the chase and torture routine, several of them in a circle, Kelly tossing the animal in the air like a pizza crust and Sophie chasing and chasing but curling her paw back and looking horrified when it came time to touch it. Cookie would walk into the middle of the circle with her take-charge attitude, lean down and kill the little thing, like, “Get over it, let me show you how this is done,” then walk away.
Bernadette
Thats Kasey to a “T”‘
She loves attention and people who are nice to her.
However, she is all business when hunting. The other two are house raised from kittens and even as senior cats, they get all excited over bugs and chase them like kittens. Kasey appears to disdain this behaviour, as if those trivial things are not honourable and worthy opponents; for her, its bring on the bigger stuff or don’t bother. When she was at the compressor site, she used to drag stuff from squirrel-size and up occasionally back to the plant.
She also doesn’t play fight like the other two still do once and a while, for her, there is no “play” in fighting.
This is why she is sometimes referred to as my Warrior Queen.
Cookie, Steeler and Kasey can team up and teach the others how successful mouse elimination is done. It’s in their genes. A live mouse is going to be a dead mouse for sure.
Steeler is right there with Kasey. Glen. A mouse is just a nuisance to them. Dead it is no longer a nusiance. That is their first reaction and the mouse’s last. 🙂
Steeler says she will show your 7 how to play, and destroy those tiny gray intruders. Then her speciality is to toss them in the air when they are dead. She is more than happy to show her technique. 🙂 A dead mouse is a good mouse!!!!! so says Steeler.
True…..the closest thing to a fight was when she went after Shanks last night…and Peaches, also last night. They’ve all been dosed with the essenses twice since then…midnight laced snack, and then their normal morning feeding. I’m really just amazed she’s so bold. Every cat I’ve ever brought into an already occupied place, or even just a new place has been really timid and shy for at least a few days! He just came in like she owned the place! (stealth tortie tendancies)
Hey Wild Child, a while back Ingrid told me about an essence called “Rescue Me” or something close to that for Steeler when she took a horrible fright of a severe thunderstorm. She said I could even put a dab on my ear for a calming effect. In hindsight, Maybe, just Maybe, you could try some of those essence on your ear lobes to see if it can help keep you calmer and more easily rested. It’s worth a try. Stop picking on little Peaches, after all she is getting more and more outnumbered in her own house. 😛
You’re thinking of “Rescue Remedy,” and it can be very effective. I’ve actually come to like “Stress Stopper” from Spirit Essences even better – the Spirit Essences line just seems to work better for pets than the Bach Flower Essences, most likely, because they are formulated especially for pets, with the guidance of a veterinarian and a feline behaviorist!
Lynn, you can try spraying the remedies (especially Peacemaker – I think that’s one of the ones you use?) around your apartment a couple of times a day in addition to what you’re already doing. It may help calm things down even more.
I will, but they seem to be doing REALLY well, just from the food drops. I wish I had known about this back in my rescue heyday! Especially my Pitbull years. Man, this could have helped SO much! I have a few pittie rescue friends I’m still in touch with, and I WILL be giving them this info to pass along!
I think I’ll buy a bottle of Rescue Remedy as well as another Bully and Peacemaker as soon as I can afford to. Since I seem to be one of those people who attracts animals in need of rescue (geez, I thought, when I had my trailer just outside of town, it was just a locale issue, everyone used to dump their unwanted animals in my yard! But now that I think back on it, I’ve been befriending animals since before I can remember….cats, goats, mice, rats, snakes, stray dogs, mean horses who hated everyone else…….lol, maybe it’s what I was meant to do!) It seems like, now that I know it exists, I should probably keep a bottle around, just in case.
Lynn, I actually like Spirit Essences’ Stress Stopper much better than Rescue Remedy. It has worked wonders for Allegra’s fear of storms.
That’s a thought. When I had my fish tank with the large aggressive fish people said could never get along, I used something called “Stresscoat” and had no problem keeping an Albino Oscar (about 1 foot long), a Tiger Oscar (about 14 inches), an African Snakehead (about 18 inches), a Pirahna (about 6 inches), and a HUGE Plecosemus (about 18 inches) together. IOf corse it was a 100 gallon tank…DO NOT TRY THIS IN YOUR 5 GALLON AQUARIUM!!!! lol
Oops, got a little off track there, what I meant to say was stress stopper sounds like a good option for EVERYONE in my house!
Since I really rarely ever get stressed out….I’m almost always very laid-back and un-worried, I forget that my cats may be stressed. I guess I always assume that since I’m calm and laid back, they are too!
Actually, there’s a lot to this, Lynn. Cats pick up on our stress, and the less stressed we are, the less stressed they’re going to be. Of course, once again, Peaches doesn’t exactly follow that rule… 🙂
I don’t think there has ever been a rule Peaches followed…..
Peaches is just http://youtu.be/_7VsoxT_FUY
BBBBBAAAAAAD lmao
lol….Sarah was laughing when she came over the other night because my friend Carol told her to bring a cross and holy water for Peaches (Carol’s the one who got the halloween pose, hisses, and teeth for bringing the cat food in)
Sarah was only here for a half hour, and she got to see Shanks get too close to Peach, she sent him yowling and racing across the room, then I was petting her and she was growling, hissing, and making rrrrrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrr noises at me! Peaches is too cute, I really DO love her little mean self.
Not making excuses for them, but I’m starting to see why they were able to find someone to take the kit but not the mama. Mama is VERY people friendly and can’t get enough attention….the problem with that is that three times so far when she wanted attention she didn’t get it so she jumped on my back, claws and all. Now I know who SHanks gets his Shankster ways from! lol….
Also, she seems to be truly cat aggressive. They’ve all been keeping their distance from one another, haven’t had any real fights, but a lot of yowling, growling and hissing, mostly on her part. Of course she’s new and must be VERY overwhelmed with all the cats after being alone so long, so that may change. I hope so. But she’s not hiding like I’d expect from a normal cat, she’s freely touring the apartment hissing at whoever she comes in contact with.
Harry, that Stealth Tortie Idea may not be so far off! lol
Lynn, after trauma like Mama’s had, the fact that she’s able to find her place in the new world (read: show PP, Monkey and the Shankster *their* place) without out and out warfare says to me that it’ll be ok. You don’t have the space to do introductions the way we always tell everyone to do (isolate, swap spaces, etc.) and despite that it sounds like it’s not that bad. Yowling, growling, hissing are all communicative speech, that send a message. Ask North Korea. It’s much better than actual fighting.
True, Harry, and she’s really calmed down with the aggression. I think it was like Bernadette said, she was in shock. Plus she seems to be one of those cats that, when given a choice between fight or flight, will choose fight. She hasn’t gone after anyone since that first night. SHe still goes up to them, but when they hiss she backs off. She’s not scared, but she’s sensible lol
Those of you on Facebook know I was running a little bet this week – I called it “Meowloween”, and promised that if we raised $500 for Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation, I would don cat ears and tail, face paint, and meow on Youtube. Well (drum roll, please) thanks to some generous efforts by some folks on this list, the final tally was $555. I’ll be meowing soon on a computer near you. (LDCRF, to my surprise, even sent our videographer who does our publicity to do the video, and she shot a pretty gruesome one, after the store closed tonight…) Thanks, everyone – you’re all fantastic 🙂
Congratulations! I can’t wait to see the video!
Thanks Harry. Loved the video. Now it is viral on the tube. We will all eventually get there and help you out on comments. You can be sure.
Congratulations on such a successful drive.
Happy Meowoleen!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Can’t wait to see it!
Wow…Mama found her way onto the bathroom wall, and is now guarding it from Princess with yowls and growls. Mama’s apparently no-one to tangle with
And she’s such a teeny little cute thing…lol
Mama Cat is black, isn’t she? They laughed at me when I said it about Sabrina, but… Stealth Tortie. Look for that one orange hair, it’s there somewhere, probably underneath. On second thought, maybe looking isn’t such a great idea 😉
lol I think you may be right
Holy cow, Mama just went off on Peaches!….even Monkey is on top of the freezer just watching.
She’s so tiny and sweet-looking in her little pink collar, I didn’t expect that! Little Mama’s not taking any!
Lianimal, she’s in a little bit of shock right now so if anybody needs essences, it’s her! I’ve seen lots of abandoned cats from nasty places act that way when they first come in, including one mom cat who tried to kill her eight-week-old kittens and then nearly sailed out the second floor window after she ripped the screen out of the window frame. The next day, you’d never know, but for some snippiness that was apparently her personality. Some of what she’s doing may continue, but don’t be afraid of it, although she may need a lot of observation for the next day or two. Engage them in play, toss toys and such to keep the tension from building. Also, remove any catnip. Not that you or I would know anything about this where illicit drug use is concerned, but if there’s a little paranoia in the air, it’s decidedly accentuated with recreational use of catnip when introducing cats.
I feel bad for you in your little apartment! But you’re such a good person for taking her in. I think I missed something–was she left behind, or was she your landlady’s cat all the time?
The neigbors, a guy and his girlfriend, owned her and she got pregnant during her first heat….she couldn’t hve been more than 4 or five months, because she’s so tiny, she doesn’t look a year old now! Shanks got out when they were BBQing one day, and I found him. She originally told me it wasn’t her cat, but then later confessed that it was, and then I met his brother Batman and his mother…I can’t remember her name so I’m calling her Little Mama…she’s a teeny litlte thing, Oddly, she doesn’t SEEM to be in any kind of shock, she’s very bold….she didn’t hide, like I’d expect…..she just walked around and investigated like she owned the place….she walked right up to Peaches and Monkey…..she seems pretty fearless lol
I couldn’t figure out how your landlady was involved. That erratic personality indicates a sort of shock. Cats are usually fairly well-controlled, and some cats are fine being plucked out of one house and dropped into another, but it often takes them some time to get it together and at that point they’re not sure how they feel so they are by turns very forward and defensive. Walking right up to a strange cat, especially when the space is obviously theirs, is not typical cat behavior in the first few moments in a new house. She’ll find her spot. I’ll bet all the others have big eyes and are keeping pretty still!
That’s exactly what they’re doing…..sitting on top of stuff and watching her with big eyes
I have hopes for eventual peace because Monkey’s acting the same way she did when Shanks first came….so there’s hope. Peaches hates her of course. Peaches hates everyone.
The landlady got involved because She asked the humane society to take the cat, and they told her it was her responsibility and if she didn’t do something about she would get in trouble. The girl and guy who owned her are in a town about 30 miles from here with his dying mother, they have no car, so I suppose they’re having a hard time finding people who care enough to give them a ride to take care of their cat. I’m trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but they’ve been gone a month, and nobody around here has seen either one of them more than a couple of times since.
I’m actually really surprised. The girl, Vickie, seemed to really care about her, and she’s extremely people friendly, doesn’t act like she’s ever been abused at all
BTW, sorry so long in replying to this, I was distracted, but LMAO on the catnip! It never occurred to me that it might make them paranoid, like….*cough* um, anyway, So THAT’s why when I give it to Monkey and the Princess two feet apart it doesn’t seem to help relations any! All this time I was thinking it would make them mellow! lol
Ugh y’all, new development. I have Shanks’ mom now. The landlady just came over freaking out. She said someone called the Humane society, and they called her. She says she asked them to come take the cat, but they said it was her responsibility, and if she didn’t take care of it she would get into trouble. She was talking about just letting the cat out. Riiiiiiiiiiiight, Like I was going to let that happen….sweet trusting black cat around Halloween, unspayed, not even a year old and already HAD a litter….so, needless to say, the girls aren’t happy, but Monkey’s acting the same way she did with shanks, so she’ll probably be okay. I haven’t seen shanks since I brought her over, he doesn’t remember her.
The place was awful. She’d been using the bed as a litterbox. There was no water anywhere, I guess she’s been drinking from the toilet. There was a big cat food bag on the floor slit open, but it was empty. She’s not skinny though, so she hasn’t been without food for long, thank God. Poor little thing is starving for attention though, she’ll hardly leave me alone. And she doesn’t seem a bit shy. She’s already investigated the place and tried to make friends with Monkey and Princess Peach, although they’re not having any of it.
No way I can keep another cat, but she’s sweet and seems well adjusted in spite of being left alone for a month. She’s also young, and has REALLY cool markings, so I’m hoping I won’t have any problem finding her a place.
I can’t take a picture, because the little heathens knocked my camera off the counter while it was recharging and it’s not working
Geez Lianimal, the conditions that Shanks’ mama was living in is absolutely disgraceful! I’m so glad to hear you got her out of that terrible situation! I think that you will be able to find her a home (unless Princess Peach needs a new friend??).
God, letting out a black cat so close to Halloween makes me sick. Thank you for rescuing her!
NO way that was happening! There was just a pretty bad fight between her and Shanks, no less! I decided it was time for an extra wet food snack laced with some essenses for everybody…..I didn’t know who to treat, so everyone got 3 drops of Bully and 3 drops of Peacekeeper
Oh my goodness, and just when things were going so well! Good idea to use both essences for all three. It won’t affect the ones who don’t need it, but you can be sure the ones who do need it will get it. I would also recommend spraying Peacemaker around your apartment – just a couple of sprays in areas where the cats hang out the most.
In my landlady’s defense, she’s from Serbia, and they don’t have those kind of wierd problems there. Their cats are always in and out. Plus, she’s not a cat person. She was just thinking it would be better off outside where it could get water, kill mice, and poop wherever it wanted instead of trapped and starving. I see where she was coming from
I just couldn’t let it go down that way, being rescue-minded and all….lol
Its not easy to take one in when you have a house full right now, IMHO it is commendable that you took here in.
I know that sort of thing happens far too often.
Glen, It wasn’t a choice, I HAD to….this poor teeny cat was breaking my heart….every time anyone was outside, either in the back or the front, she was in a window meowing and pawing…..I’d been trying to get in touch with someone, anyone, for weeks! When the landlady offered, I jumped!
Plus, I had met the cat before, knew her personality, and knew a girl I worked with that I suspected would be a perfect fit…they met today and it turns out they ARE a perfect fit! Now we just have to work out the logistics……Keep your fingers crossed for lil Mama
Gosh my friends it is so quiet on here. I feel like you all have deserted me (tears now). I know we are all doing things and working harder, because this is the time of year, everything seems to pile up on us. I am no different than anyone else.
I have an interesting and very surprising story to tell about my little one.
Most of you know Steeler can’t jump. Well this evening we were upstairs on the second floor. I was busy looking for warm sweaters. I glanced to the side window turned quickly back for a second. Guess what. I had this beautiful antique kitty sitting on the windowsill looking like a little statue. Yep. Steeler was sitting in the window. First time ever to see this. So I wondered how she got there. So I looked and seen I had left a boot box by the bedroom chair (a white one no less). Steeler had stepped up on the box then on the white chair then on the hot water radiator, onto the windown sill. She looked very happy there. Well, I turned the valve on the radiator so it would only get warm, not hot, for her. I don’t want her to feel the heat off the cast iron. So I left her up there with that door open.
If you can picture a cat in an antique shop window, that is what Steeler looked like. And so statuesque and regal. Of course the camera was down on the first floor and I could not get a pic of it. But if you can imagine paned windows and a beautiful tortie sitting right in the center pane. What a beautiful sight. I guess I will have to throw a cover over the white bedroom chair so as to allow Steeler the enjoyment of looking out high above the grounds. She can see more from that second story window than from the back porch door. I am really glad to see she found this window and a way to get up there, because with this weather, the back door has to be closed. Just thought I would share this with my friends. Steeler scored another victory for herself tonight. I am just so proud of her.
I can picture it. This is what Cookie has always done since she can’t jump either. She just happily finds a path of upward steps, and she’s even gotten to the top of the refrigerator that way. But all those photos of her on my drawing table, on the bed, on the cabinet and any windowsill, she’s found her own way to get there. It’s one of the things I love so much about her.
Then you really do know how it excited me to see she found a way to get up on the sill. I was really happy to see that. It is a first for her. I will not heat that radiator this winter. It will available to her to use all year now.
You must have felt the same happiness when Cookie found her way up onto her first climb. I am so proud of her, as you are of Cookie. They do have a way to solve their on problems.
The cats have a perch in my parents bedroom, and it’s under the window. Often I’ll come home from being out and find either Piper or Sabrina looking out the window to me (I like to call for them and the neighbors must think I’m a freak).
That’s great that Steeler was able to get up to the window. Piper wants me to add what a whole new world there is to see out of the big, clear box!
Well Rachel, get on that. Piper wants to see out there let her find out what it’s like. Steeler is still upstairs looking out. I have security lights around so she can see all the wildlife that comes around from her perch. We do have a variety of that. Deer, raccoons, groundhogs, rabbits, other kitties even a red fox. So her world has opened up even more. So let Piper widen her horizons, she will be a happier kitty.
I’m confused, I think you misunderstood. Piper looks out the window all the time, she loves it!
I misread your statement you said Piper wants to add. I read that as if Piper wanted a whole new world. Excuse my stupidity on the reading. My brain was reading faster than it was receiving. Sorta like when I type. Words aren’t spelled the way my mind says to spell. Sorry, about that. I don’t want you confused. You need your wits about you. You have to try to keep your Dad on the straight and narrow. 🙂 🙂
Alright Steeler.
Bernie – remember Bernadette – ALWAYS HAVE A CAMERA ON YOU AT ALL TIMES.
THE BEST PICS ARE WHEN YOU DON’T EXPECT THEM.
That’s great.
I know what its like, Kasey can’t jump either.
She has some, low sill, all season windows to look out of here but I have a couple places with steps for her.
Aww, I love it. A whole new world just opened up for Steeler!
Alright, Steeler – what a clever girl!
I feel so sorry for Shanks. He has no idea why Peache hates him. He keeps trying to go up to her, He has no clue that she’s just a grumpy old B who doesn’t lke ANYONE…except me occasionally lol
SHe shanked my neighbor SO bad last night…..Bree was petting her, Peaches was grpwling and hissing because that’s what she does when it’s anyone but me….and sometimes even when it IS me…she’s just grumpy….but anyway, Bree was petting her, Monkey walked up, and Princess Peach shanked my neighbor! Two big long bloody slashes across the back of the wrist. I hope she doesn’t get cat scratch fever or something wierd.
Lynn, Shanks and Monkey are friends so don’t worry. Peaches is like Stir and attitude runs hot and cold. As you know no one is safe here but Punky has Tabby and have survived 10 years of Stir and I expect another 10 plus. Can’t ask for miracles can ya. If so go for World Peace or Intelligent Government. Better chance of that.
lol…Princess Peach is apparently ALWAYS going to be a testy bitch……I was so lucky that Monkey is a sweetie pie and befreinded Shanks like she did. I was at the end of my rope! I loved them both, but neither were happy, no way I could have them fighting like that. I was foing too hav e to re-home someone, and it would have have to have been My little soulmate Monkey, because she’s the one who’s sweet=natured and friendlyenough that someone might fall i love with her. Peaches is so grumpy, old and mean, she wouldn’t stand a cjhance!
BTW guys, I left my glasses at work, so if I make morfe typos than usual, It’s because II can’t see!
Blame it on the Tortie. Bernie’s and my excuse and so far it’s worked.
Hey wild child, Peaches is just not the touchy feely kind of girl. So let those beware.
As for the typing, I like Jay always blame it on the Torties. They just can’t keep their paws off the keyboard.
Right now Steeler is clawing at my chair leg, because she wants all my attention and I am now on the computer. Earlier I was on the phone and she threw one of her hissy fits in her box. Soon that box will be in shreds.
Nothing wrong with Peaches, she is just being herself.:)
LOL Berns, I don’t know what this bond is you have with Peaches, but if you were here she’d bite you in thanks for standing up for her all the time lol
It’s been a busy week. As some of you have seen on FB my “little” Pumpkin caught a mouse and was proudly showing it to me. He was laying on the floor with it by his side. I thought it was dead and when I touched it it did not move. I went to pick it up but thought I better get a sock first. When I came back Puumpkin had it between his paws tail up towards his mouth. Then he lay down with 1 paw on it then rolled over looking at me. I pcked up the mouse and it open it’s eyes. Showed it to Tabby but there was no interest. Did not dare show it to Stir.
I put it outside under the cat feeder as it was raining. 30 min later I looked and it was gone. No cats around so I figured he took off. Pumpkin got cat treats and scratches Said he wants to visit Harry as he heard there were squirrels or chipmunks in the basement and were looking to make friends.
Here is the address for those that haven’t seen this
http://facebook.com/JayDavenport1956
Jay, “little” Pumpkin has no traits of his Mom, THE FAMOUS AND INFAMOUS ””STIRFRY'”. Stir has to teach him or give him some real Tortitude about what happens to mice that get into the house.
Punky can’t just keep playing with those critters and letting them go. Maybe Harry, could take his place for a while and at “Least Punky would bring those squirrels to Harry, even if alive, and then Harry could help them along”. I know Steeler did her mouse and when it quit breathing she just tossed it backward at me. I have not seen any brave mice come into this house since. 🙂
I left the door open to the basement, and even former barn cat Vickie showed no interest – I can only conclude that the chipmunks have moved on 😉 Or, maybe Jay needs to come visit soon and bring the Punkster to show them how it’s done?
Bernie, didn’t you ask me about “Herding Cats” merlot a while back? I think it’s actually quite good, and it’s like under $7 a bottle. Your mileage may vary.
Harry you need the Punkster down there for sure.
I believe Jay asked about the “Herding Cats” merlot. You and a friend of yours on your FB mentioned it. We both wondered what it is.
I now have a bottle of it, unopened, hoping to hear from you what it may taste like????
Jay found a bottle for each of us. I don’t know if he tried it yet. Maybe he should let Punky get a sniff of it and then those mice would be done for. LOL
This one is still working for me http://youtu.be/zunRVKtrcZQ
Hmmm, lessee if this works. Apparently they don’t want it shared with the public, must be planning to release it in a big way. I uploaded it and made it so only people with this specific link can view it….lesse if it works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md55qspLZkk
Berns, it’s the link to their new ballad, Remember Everything that I promised you
Wow, they’re right on it! Don’t even try, it’s already gone. The way they have that song on lockdown, they must have big plans for it.
lol….It IS a good song….but maybe not good enough for all this drama lol
Ah well, here’s another off the album…..somewhat Monkey Music, but not horribly so. Princess Peach doesn’t hate it too much…….lol
http://youtu.be/QH3yF7zJ-aY
Jay, you’ll like it anyway
OMG BERNS! Remember Everything! Click it quick before the men in black steal it again! lol
http://youtu.be/zunRVKtrcZQ
I think they can have a pretty popular hit with that if they they take that one f-bomb out for radio
you were to late. I already tried. It was gone. But at least we tried. Maybe it will pop back, you can never know. :0
http://youtu.be/zunRVKtrcZhttp://youtu.be/zunRVKtrcZQQ I’m listening to it right now. It still works from my FB page….lol…it used to just be a song, now it’s a friggin’ mission! lol
Just finished listening to it. Not bad. Bernie approved. Steeler left the room, I am not sure what that means. 🙂
Ah, Steeler will get used to it….even grumpy old Peaches likes those guys! lol, and she reminds me of one of those old movie critics from the muppets who hate everything!
Okay, everyone….and especially Berns, who seems convinced that The Princess Peach is SO sweet…….my neigbor Anthony was over, just learning to play wow, and The Peaches walked up, sniffed him, and nudged him for a pet. I said; “Wow, Ant, you’re pretty special, she ALWAYS hides when people are here! SHe likes people even less than I do!” We both laughed and he started petting her…..she hissed and growled at him! He pulled his hand back, and she went in for another head butt, he started petting her again, and she sat there and let him pet her for at least 2 or 3 minutes, hissing and growling the whole time, then finally stormed off lol. She cracks me up….just mean and grumpy for NO reason!
I know someone else who growls and hisses as she is getting scratched (you would think an all out attack will happen any second). But when I stop she begs for more with head butts.
They can’t admit that they love us so much. Ruins the image they think.
lol…Peach is a Black and white! They’re supposed to be normal……torties are supposed to be the hard-asses, and Monkey’s a doll (except when dealing with Peach!) lol
Wild Child no one on here can describe NORMAL. I don’t think any of us knows the definition of Normal when it comes to our little ones. Tortie or otherwise. Then again, I don’t think our little ones think of us as “Normal”. So that makes for great teams!!!!!
Jay are you messing with Nutmeg again? Leave the goat alone!!!!! 🙂 That is who you meant, right? 🙂
My Wild Child, I heard my name being used in vain. I am proud of Peaches. She is getting some of Monkey’s Tortitude. With Monkey and Shanks closing ranks, Peaches has to come out swinging. Then again, if she didn’t really take a liking to your friend. Maybe he just didn’t know just how she
likes to be treated. I am proud of her.
Mean and Grumpy, no reason, your kidding right. Two good reasons, Monkey and Shanks 🙂 🙂
The thing is, she DID take a liking to him! For most people she never even comes out! SHe actually came to him for pets….She NEVER does that! But then the whole time she sat there and let him pet her she cussed at him in cat speak! lmao
If she didn’t want to be petted she would have bitten him, she’s done it many times when uninvited people touched her. She’s even bitten me before! Peaches is just grumpy and mean and always has been. I think that she came to Anthony, a stranger, and tolerated ANY petting was either the essences, relief at being (mostly) left alone these days, or both. The fact that she hissed and growled the whole time, well, I’ve come to think of that as her just being grumpy old Peaches lol
Wierdly, I’ve seen her hiss and purr at the same time…she’s just mean! lol
My very good friends, that would be the Torties, other furry friends, and humans, I just posted a pic on my FB for all to see. I tried to explain to my little Terrorist “that would be Steeler” not to eat cardinals, just beat them. Check out the pic you will enjoy.
I should have put the link to my FB so those who don’t know it can enjoy Steeler’s pics. So here it is:
http://facebooc.com//bernie.tracy
Hope you enjoy the fun. That is all in fun there.
folks no spell check that should read facebook not facebooc and no Steeler did not do it this time 🙂
My other love me also but Stir comes to me as an equal and know that I love her more than anything. She is my “Wild Cat”.
I know what you mean because that also would be Kasey, my “Warrior Queen” 🙂
I only have my one Tortie love. I know also whay Jay means, sometimes I call this little ornery furry one,” my little terrorist”.
I was discussing this with a buddy of mine today who has a couple cats, no torties though;
I sometimes wonder what we are to our domestic pet cats.
They are not a pack animal programmed to seek out and follow others and are supposedly quite solitary and retain some wild behaviour, as can be seen in some torties.
Yet we are more than a meal ticket from my experience, case in point.
Kasey will den up in the basement independently for a couple hours as she did today. Then she will take a notion that she needs to be around me and get attention, so she came upstairs looking for me. To do this, she left a location where she has food and water within easy reach.
Taz will do the same thing.
Kasey waits at the door, starting about the time I come home from work, she fusses if I am outside where she knows I am there but can’t be accessed.
The list could go on.
Makes me wonder why something that would be so elusive if wild has this need for attention when they are pets.
I know Stir is independant a Tortie as Kasey, Steeler and Brooke.
But like you and Bernie have found out they picked us and we not them.
They can see into our hearts and know we were meant to be together.
My other love me also but Stir comes to me as an equal and know that I love her more than anything. She is my “Wild Cat”.
Nuff said.
Glen I sum it up in one 4 letter word. They need LOVE just like humans do. Maybe more. They give it unconditionally unlike many human counterparts. So that is the only real meaning I can give to it. LOVE
I think Jay is right. It’s really very simple: it’s ultimately about love.
I just read Jay’s post, and I can tell you the Torties are using red feathers tonight as toothpicks. Steeler has some kind of little red feathers all around. A few new her nose. Now what kind of bird do you think they beat up on tonight? Oh I know, those were the Arizona Cardinals. Good Black and Gold Torties. 🙂
Good Torties indeed – nice job, Steelers! Keep those red feathers flying!
Pittsburgh Steelers 32 – Arizona Cardinals 20
The Tortie’s ate some more birds