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
Vickie celebrated Mother’s Day by beating up her daughter. In other words, the same way she celebrates every day. Poor May.
Sabrina didn’t eat all day, and I started syringe feeding her every couple of hours. Then, we opened a can of Weruva tuna (from Felix and Oscar, purchased during Ingrid’s signing) and she ate a tablespoon of it. If she eats breakfast tomorrow, we’ll hold tight, if not, she’s back to the vet.
I’m glad Sabrina ate the tuna. Fingers and paws crossed that she’ll eat breakfast this morning!
No breakfast this morning for Sabrina. But after I stopped watching her, she threw up what appeared to be yesterday’s tuna. Right now, she’s on my lap, but not her usual coiled bundle of energy, especially considering I just syringed in 5 ml of baby food diluted with warm water and a ground up Pepcid. Have a call into the vet.
Hoping for the best, Harry, let us know.
Poor Sabrina.
I hope it’s nothing that can’t be fixed fast. Brooke needs her “playmate” back into fighting shape.
30 more to go and I will look for Kim’s FB – Tortie Lovers United.
Harry, Julie and Rachel, oops Michael also, I truly hope that Sabrina starts to eat and get back to her stealthy Tortie self. She is badly needed to keep that household of kittens and humans on their toes.
Please let us know how the vet goes or says.
She also needs to drink a lot of fluids.
I am so sorry to have you folks go through this, but Sabrina is a tough little girl, and I know Steeler is telling her to hurry up and take over the house again.
Thanks Bernie. It’s been hard wondering every day what is happening with Sabrina. Hoping for the best diagnosis we can get when she sees our vet tomorrow. She wouldn’t eat tuna, that mom just tried to give her…hard to believe she refused tuna.
Some people think cats don’t become attached to people.
Last Friday, I took a vacation day and took the motorcycle out.
I spent a wile in the garage checking the bike out and doing a bit of clean-up on it.
When I went out there, Kasey was “denned up” somewhere
The walk through door from the garage has a window. I happened to look through the window after being out there about 15 minutes and there was Kasey, waiting on the other side of the door.
She had left a place of comfort, by choice, to look for me and once she found where I was, she couldn’t get to me, so she waited by the door.
That’s a choice she made, she did not have to do that, that shows me that these cats choose to be our friends.
I always feel bad leaving her when she displays that behavior. I give her a few treats and settle her in a comfortable spot before I leave.
Glen, after all you have done for her ( forever home and sooooo much love) she of course was looking for you. After all, she is a Guard Tortie and that means protecting you vs her comfort. I would expect nothing less.
Glen, I am not at all surprised that Kasey would be waiting patiently, while watching you, to come into the house.
Steeler would be in her box in the sunroom waiting for me to come in. Whether it was if I just went outside to ran errands. She waited for me.
Glen, Cookie gave up every spare minute of her life for me, and happily so. Wherever I went in the house, and often out in the yard, Cookie was there, if not on my lap or interacting with me, then just being near me, being vigilant. When I stopped one thing and went to do another, she did too. She would take breaks and walk around the house but was never sleeping somewhere else unless I had been out or away, but she knew when I was coming home and was waiting.
I always called her my “lady in waiting” along with Sophie, who was not so persistent as Cookie, but the two of them were nearly always with me until we lost Sophie in 2006. I think the rest of the house was glad Cookie took care of me so they could sleep all day.
Yeah, Kasey is a guard tortie.
This time of year it gets warm in the house from the sun and its too early for running the a/c since it cools off outside at night.
I leave one of the screened bedroom windows open, its close to my head.
I sometimes have a few concerns that if she hears something she doesn’t like outside (there are a lot of things that fit that description), that I could be awakened by a 14.7 pound tortie going right over top of me to try to try to get at it. 😉
Anyone who doesn’t understand that these wonderful cats choose to be our friends and love us doesn’t know what they’re missing. I know what you mean by saying you always feel bad about leaving her when Kasey displays this behavior. I feel bad leaving to run errands when Allegra and Ruby sit at the top of the stairs giving me sad looks!
And I treasure the times I gave in to Cookie’s plaintive look, “Take me with you!” We had great times at my shop. I wouldn’t have taken her anywhere else, but she never asked–tell me they can’t read our minds!
53 comments to go! Let’s keep Ingrid up late!
I hope all have a happy Mother’s Day. Give those little one extra kitty kisses and hugs. By the way do the same for the children.
I have furry children and no two-legged ones and am just fine with that since I have never wanted them anyway.
Besides this only child on the day we got married became a sister in-law to his 6 sisters, step mother for 4 grown children, 9 step grandchildren, and a step great granchild on the way. They are all in Iowa and Texas. Considering I have never even held a baby and have no clue on how to change a diaper, being out of state is just dandy for me.
I will gladly stick with my furry babies as they give me enough love, probably more than I deserve.
Happy mommies day to all with both four legged and two legged children!
I’m good with only having four-legged feline children, too, Betty. I never wanted human children, either. Happy Mother’s Day!
ditto!
I have been thinking about you all day today, Bernie. This must be a difficult day for you – those “firsts” after major losses are always hard. I hope you are finding comfort in spending the day with Jay’s family and his critters. Eric and Steeler are watching over you.
I think we’re all thinking of Bernie today 🙂
Rachel, Bernie had a hard time after reading all this (as you will understand) so she asked me to thank you and all her other dear friends on here for thinking of her.
Rachel, I didn’t know Jay, was going to respond to you on this, until I seen his post. I am sorry, I was just not able to respond any more last evening. I know you, as an intelligent young woman can understand this.
I do thank you for your concern, you all are helping me more than any of you can imagine.
Bernie was with me at my sister Nan’s ( who I am disappointed in saying she is a lawyer and works for the State ( yea, right) ).
But we had a great time and was treated as part of the family (sorry Bernie).
We ate too much food and really enjoyed ourselves.
Ingrid, my being around Jay and his family kept me from being alone. That is not to say, I didn’t keep letting my mind and heart drift to Eric and Steeler. I tried very hard to stay up with the conversations, but I was not able to respond to a few questions, because I was not really hearing any of the words. I just looked at Jay and told him I don’t know what was said. He understood and changed topics.
It is difficult not to let my mind and heart go adrift. I can only thank Jay and all his critters and kittens, along with all his family. All did go over and above anything I would have expected. The only questions were about Steeler. Which was good. I can talk about Steeler for a while. Eric I can’t handle talking about. I did try. Thank you for your kind words.
The nightmares of the past months have soon got to go to memories of happiness with my Eric and the love, comfort and if I have to say so, Steeler making me get out of bed for her, when I never wanted to open my eyes again. That is still something I have to work on. Making sure I have good reasons to keep doing the things I know I should be doing.
You don’ t have to “work on” anything, Bernie. All you need to do is allow yourself to be. It will never be the same, but it will get better. I’m glad that you were with Jay and his family yesterday.
Thanks Ingrid. I keep telling that to myself. It will get better, that one day the clouds will lift.
Jay and his family have been extended nothing but kindness and acceptance toward me. I am happy for that.
Jay is by my side every minute when I am here and at his family’s get togethers. I can say, that right now, I may be fragile, but I will not break. I can’t. I have others depending on me to be there for them. I also now have to keep Jay in line. That is the hardest job of all. 🙂
Thinking about you, Bernie, and glad you’re not alone but surrounded by family. And then the humans too.
Bernadette, thank you. I was and am surrounded by family. Today I really needed to be here.
Happy Mothers Day to all those out there both both furry and otherwise.
We didn’t get to Ingrid’s signing until it was about over, but we had a nice time. We talked about you all – a little 🙂
I wish we all could have gathered at the book signing. Maybe one day again. Our ears weren’t burning, so I know all said was good. 🙂
Well, my ears were burning.
Not sure what was said but – It was Bernie, not me.
It was great seeing Harry, Julie and Rachel. Some day, we’ll have a complete tortie family reunion.
That is what I am hoping for.
I hit the lottery and we fly everyone in.
Glen, hope you have a passport.
Yes, both Passport and NEXUS pass 🙂
Good morning, tortie family! You guys have been busy! Rather than responding to individual comments, I’ll try to do it all in one!
Lynn, I’m so glad the move went as well as it did – and I’m loving your ghost stories! My gut feeling is that it’s a female. Your take about her enjoying being around cats feels right to me. We had a ghost at the animal hospital I worked at. Occasionally, things would fall off shelves in a room where noone else was (not even the clinic cats!). Some of our staff members reported seeing a woman in civil war garb when they worked late and the clinic was quiet. The clinic was built on an old civil war burial ground, and there are a lot of ghost stories in that area.
Harry, Rachel and Julie, I’m looking forward to seeing you today, and the rest of you shouldn’t be surprised if your ears will be burning 😉
At the rate you all are going, we’ll hit 10,000 this weekend…
I am looking forward to hearing how your book signing goes tonight. I am used to having people talk about me so will not be bothered. Now Bernie has a reputation to uphold ( boy is that going down hill fast !!!!!!). Harry, I hope Sabrina is getting back up to fighting weight. Brooke needs her sparing partner well.
Lynn, I did not get home till late last night (actually 12:30 Sat morning) but Bernie gave me the Cliff Notes version so I will read it all tonite. Wonder how a ghost will hold up to Peaches ?
I’m looking forward to seeing Ingrid tomorrow, at her book signing at Felix and Oscar (a pet supply store). We will talk about you all, I suspect. Only good stories, though 🙂
Sabrina ate more baby food tonight, still not enough, but she is improving. I’m hoping that with tomorrow’s dose of Pepcid, she’ll be interested in her regular food again. (Maybe with some tuna or clam juice.)
68 more to go. But we’re not running up the numbers needlessly, remember. It just is, what it is.
Oh oh, there you go again!!!! Sound familiar. You are going to meet up with Ingrid and “talk” about all of us. Wish I could be there. We could talk forever. Here’s wishing Ingrid a very successful book signing. There is no book signing that will ever, and I mean ever, be more cherished by her than the one we all came to. What a great outcome for all of us.
The best part of this is Sabrina. I am, for one, talking to Steeler and asking her to intervene and make sure Sabrina starts eating like a starving kitten. I want so much to read that she is back to her “Stealthy Tortie” self very, very soon.
We don’t have to run up the numbers. (Do WE) 🙂 I will if you tell me to. 🙂 However, now that Lynn is back, where she should be, and Ingrid’s birthday is May 18th, I can see 10,000 post with no real effort. We all are active again.
So everyone, you know who you are, take heed. We have all almost accomplished a feat on a blog that is unheard of. Ingrid will be elated. We, I believe, will just say, what, all this fuss over 10,000 posts. Yea, right. In a pig’s eye. We will all be entitled to the drink of our choice.
Well I will say goodnight to my family here. It has been a really nice day and evening with you all.
Okay, now the ghost. The first two days I was here i kept getting locked out, when I KNEW the door wasn’t locked…just running down to the laundry or to open the door downstairs for someone moving something in. Then once, the door was standing open when I knew I had shut it, and Shanks was out in the hall. But that’s how I found the wierd little balcony from my dreams. Shanks ran from that direction back into my apartment, so I glanced up there and saw light that shouldn’t have been there, so I walked up there and found it. Man, that was wierd.
Since my friends had both told me they thought I had a ghost, just for the fun of it I started talking to it. I told it that I didn’t mind if it wanted to have fun with me, but asked it to please not do anything that could hurt me or my girls. Everything stopped for a few days, but since then there have been little wierd things. Like one day I was sitting at the computer, turned around, and there was a BIG (Too big for the cats to have drug out) sitting in the middle of the floor, set uo to where it was looking at me. Once I got in the shower and everything was normal, but when I got out all the drawers and all three medicine cabinet doors were standing wide open. Plus, every single morning when I wake up, my copy of Michael Moore’s “Stupid White Men” is laying on the floor, face down. Every morning I pick it up, shove it randomly back in among the other books on the shelf, and every morning it is back on the floor face down. This book thing has been going on every day for at least a month. It’s really wierd
Time to call ghostbusters. As for the balcony, that sounds pretty good.
Shanks going out would have scared me to no end. A new home and then out the door in a strange place. I am really glad you caught him before he hid somewhere.
Maybe your “friendly ghost” is trying to tell you it doesn’t like “heavy metal music”. Maybe some Peaches music. LOL 🙂
LOL…it’s wierd, the first few days it seemed kind of hostile, but now it’s just a prankster. Both of my friends who first pointed out that they thought I had one felt like it was female, and I kind of get that impression too. my one friend, when she was first bringing my stuff up said she felt so much sadness and anger she had to leave. I convinced her to come back up a couple weeks later, and she said she still felt the presence, but that the feeling had totally changed, and it seemed happy. I like to think she was a cat lover, and she’s just been lonely all these undred or so years without any furbabies
Hundred or so years
Don’t take for granted “your ghost” or paranormal spirit as they say, is a female. It could be a dog, cat, man, woman, child, or even birds. LOL If you feel a heavy weight pressure on your bed in the middle of the night at full moon, it could be a “weirewoof.” Sleep well my good friend. So glad you are here.
By the way, Ingrid has most likely called it a day. She is an early to bed and early to rise person. Wait until she starts catching up with you. You will keep her busy for quite a while. Good for you.
Everyone will be posting back at you as soon as they see you have been posting. Go girl!!
LOL…I haven’t been here in so long, I guess I went into posting overdrive lol
you are well overdue here young lady. I should take you to the woodshed. We all really wondered where the heck were you. We kept thinking your system was down. But I 🙂 found you. 🙂 You can’t hide from a “physic” ‘ do do do do do” 🙂
And poor little Shanks, when I looked in on her and Monkey…Monkey was calm and easy, as always, but Shanks was wide eyed and actually shaking, for a second I thought she was comatose or something. She scared me!
But anyway, we got settled in to the new apartment. LOTS more room, plus a huge picture window they love to lay in that overlooks the town square. I apparently have a ghost. Both of my friends who helpedme move say they felt it, and I HAVE had a few wierd things happen, but the cats aren’t scared, so I think it’s probably harmless if it exists at all. I HAVE had a few wierd things happen, and I’m totally open to the possibility. I mean, If any place is liable to have a ghost, it’s a 200 year old building that used to be a hotel back in the day, right?
Such a beautiful building. I love old buildings. And the other day I found something wierd that I’ve been dreaming about for years. I’ve been having this dream for a few years that I was living on the second floor of an apartment building that had a wierd, short indoor balcony. Well, the other day I found it. It was because of the (suspected) ghost, again, more on that later.
Wow I think this is a first. Chapters by Lynn. Story continued until next chapter.
I am happy you didn’t go to the breaker box, how shall I say this, tipsy. Electric would not have been the only thing lit up.
How is little Shanks doing now in his new home? Has Peaches been left alone to get adjusted? So she lived up to her reputation by making you give blood. Sorry to hear that, but I think I can honestly say you are at the right club for giving blood because of our little ones.
Now for Monkey. Is she adjusting to her new surroundings? I bet having a large window for all three to be able to look outside has to be great for all of you.
Technically your friend did not tell a tale, about the “children”. She just quoted ages. Love it.
I will have to reread the chapters you have written. It is really great to see you back here. You always have such descriptive tales to tell.
Looking forward to the next chapters. 🙂
Lots more room here for them to stay out of each other’s way, but, since everything has been so crazy, Shanks isn’t fixed yet, and, in an alarming twist, she’s decided that Peaches is who she should flirt with. SO THAT’s causing a few issues, as you can imagine
Because Peaches is SO friendly and understanding….NOT! I can’t imagine. Why not Monkey? At least Monkey LIKES her! At any rate, MUST get her fixed soonest!
Well now that just goes along with what you did to “him” her early in her life. You kept calling her a him. Now the poor little gal is so confused!!!!! My guess is that Peaches will show her that she is having nothing to do with that foolishness from her. Sounds like there may be some complex correction needed. I just don’t know for which one.
LOL Poor Peaches. Poor Shanks. Well at least Monkey has good entertainment
LOL…there’s been SO much going on…..Moving story #1….we had a little van, Not one of those big conversion vans, just a little one, and a pickup truck with a wagon on the back to move me.
I had my friend Carol (the van driver) stay outside while I went in to crate the cats because I knew Peaches would freak, and I wasn’t sure about Shanks. As I expected, I opened the big carrier and Monkey walked in, so I grabbed Shanks, shoved her in before she knew what was happening, and shut them in. Then I grabbed Peaches. It took 3 tries and almost 20 minutes to get her in. At first I thought I’d gotten off with no injuries, but then I reached for something and saw blood running down my arm lol
So, I loaded the cats, then Carol’s daughter (she’s just as pretty as she can be, but strong like Ellie Mae Clampett!) and her friend came and hauled out everything INCLUDING the 900lb couch! We drove to Stockbridge. When we got there the power wasn’t on because of some wirdness with them changing their system at the same time, a week earlier, that they were supposed to be turning it on. CONTINUED
So, the whole time these two kids were carrying ALL my stuff (Including the 900 lb couch) Up all those stairs, I was in the car on the phone trying to get the power on. Carol finally grabbed the phone and said’ “Look, this woman has a 12 year old, a 3 year old and a 6 month old~” Which is technically true…..So apparently the power was on an hour later, but I didn’t know that. I was half drunk, and I wandered down to the gas station and bought a flashlight, read myself to sleep by it. The next morning I looked in the breaker box and realized all of them were on except for that great BIG one all the way at the top….lol
Really LOL’d at the 12 year old, 3 year old and 6 month old. Nothing wrong with that 🙂
Bernie’s a psychic!!!!!!!
Yay! Welcome back! We missed you. How are you, and how are Monkey, Peaches and Shanks?
OMG….SOOOOO much to tell!
Watch out for Fridays that fall on the 13th. Just saying. 🙂
Wild Child YAY!!!!! You have been missed.
LOL Berns!
I’ve missed everybody here SO much!
Oh, Ingrid, I told my FB friend David McElroy, also a writer, and a cat lover and feral and stray cat tamer and adopter to come see us here. He doesn’t have a tortie…yet, but I figured he’d fit in anyway lol
I have a premonition that Lynn may be joining us soon. 🙂 Just saying
#95
Congrats Jay!!
That is a huge accomplishment!
I vaguely remember how it feels to graduate…………………….well, it was 1976 😉
CONGRATULATIONS 🙂
Glen, mine was in 77 from Stevens so I know how you feel. Now I see the school added things like Central Air Conditioning in the 101 year old school
Jay, congratulations on Josh’s graduation! Tell him to follow the money, not the plastic!
104
Jay! I hear congratulations are in order for your son Josh graduating from college!! Looks like you “dun real good” there daddy-o.
Did you have him pick a major that pays well so he can support you in your elder years? If not…send him back for a different degree….lol
Anyway congratulations for helping to raise a son that decided on a higher education and completed it sucessfully.
Betty, Josh graduated with Honors in Architecture Technology. Hope he finds a job fast. Glad he did not go for a job as a Lawyer as my sister is one and 1 embarrassment in the Family is enough. 🙂
Does Architecture Technology mean he is an architect, or something else?
btw nice grad pics on FB!
Hey gang, just to let you all tease and get it out of the way, I arrived at Jay’s this PM just in time to wave so long to him as he went off to work. There is a couple of reasons I am telling this to you all.
First and foremost, Jay doesn’t say much about his himself, which is ok. However, this Saturday, his son, will graduate college. I am here to attend the graduation with the rest of Jay’s family. He is so proud of his son’s accomplishments, I am letting you all know. A proud Dad will see his son graduate college tomorrow.
Secondly, Jay’s family is having a get together for Mother’s Day in Harrisburg and his sister Nan and the rest of the family have invited me to attend. I think they are trying to surround me with caring folks, like they did at Easter, to help me thru difficult days.
Last but now least, I have given Jay’s kittens some of Steeler’s toys and scratch pads. I even brought down her favorite box, from the sunroom, because his Tabatha loves to get into boxes. So what better to do with that cardboard box, but to let another kitten use it.
When I put the little catnip toys down on the floor for the kittens, Stirfry was the first to go to each of the gently and sniff at each one. She did not try to pull or tear them. It was as if she knew they are special to Steeler. She then proceeded to go thru the purple tube and out again. I did get a couple of pics of her and Tabatha.
The rescue shelter and the Humane League will not accept “used” items for their kittens. I fully can understand that. I kept the ones she so enjoyed and the others Jay’s four kittens, will hopefully get as much enjoyment from them as Steeler. Then everytime I see one of the kittens playing with
one of Steeler’s toys, it will bring my Steeler’s memories back.
This is a long post, but hey, you all know me by now. Sometimes I can write this way. This post is different from any of my others.
So you guys can congratulate Jay on his son, Josh’s graduation. He will be surprised and proud.
Thanks for reading this book. 🙂
Oh, Bernie, I guess I needed a good cry. Everything from Jay’s son graduating to his family including you to Steeler’s box and toys, I guess you saved it all up for one good heavy-duty post. I know you didn’t, but I was very moved by it all. I’m so sad for all your losses, but so glad, in all of this, you found Jay. We only need to see his big smile to know how he feels.
Bernadette, I cried as I gathered Steeler’s little toys and her box. It was not easy, but I would never just have thrown them away. I knew Jay’s kittens could make good use of them and it would give me and I hope Steeler some comfort in knowing her little toys and box are making Jay’s little ones happy.
My losses are untold, but I have all of you good people here and Jay’s family have taken to trying to protect or help me thru these holidays. It isn’t going to be easy, but it will help. Yes, Jay will be right beside me, he has an instinct for knowing when things may be getting to me.
No more tears, Bernadette, we have all suffered terribly this past several months. We have to band together and try to find solace within us to do that. With all of you, it sure does help.
Thanks to you all for that.
Yep, I did save it all for one post. 🙂
This whole comment brought tears to my eyes.
The part about Steeler, not about Josh! Congratulations, Jay – you should be very proud!
I’m so glad you and Jay found each other. And even though Steeler and Stirfry never got to meet, it’s like they did now, in a way, through Steeler’s toys.
No more tears. I want Steeler to feel that I am ok.
Each of Jay’s kittens have had a turn at trying out something of Steelers. Tabby took onto the scratch pad and laid down. Pumpkin, as big as he is, got into Steeler box, Frankie tried out her toys, and of course Stir tested those toys before any of them. It was almost like this is the pecking oder around here. No other kit goes near Steeler’s toys until Stir says so. I did take pics of each kitten. I will post them on FB later tonight.
Jay is an unexpected joy in my life, in addition to all the great friends from the book signing. Steeler brought him to me, as she did you, Bernadette, Harry, Julie, Rachel, Michael, and Renee. I could not have been more blessed by Steeler. She gave so much love to all, especially me, in such a short time.
By the way, I know none of us has been paying much attention to the # of post here. I just checked and if my math is right only 115 to go before May 18th. Ingrid’s birthday.
Steeler and I will do our best to help you on the way.
I know if she were here, we would have lots to say.
I’ve been counting :0
Remember who gets the 10.000th post, though!
Oh the BOSS gets that 10,000 even if we have to wake her up in the middle of the night to get online.
I pity the one of us that violates that number. I hear Ingrid, knows people who know people. Get my drift. I sure will hold back on that #. 🙂
Half the fun will be watching who leaves the 10,000th comment. It could be a random tortie lover who finds this site in the middle of the night. And no, you will not be waking me up in the middle of the night ;-)!
uh uh if is one of your regulars. Not mentioning any names. But you better reserve that number for yourself. Know what I mean 🙂
How do we know how many posts there are so we will know to avoid “that” one?
Betty, scroll up to the top of the page where the posts start, under the four pics of Ingrid’s kittens.
There is a post count on the left side above the first post. Hope this helps.
Bernie told me that the day Steeler passed that when she went to bed that night she felt Steeler come onto the bed and walk around her. Then this last week Bernie came to visit and brought some toys for my kitties. The empty bag was put in a drawer I keep for those.
When she went to leave on Monday she went to grab a bag. For some reason the bag she grabbed did not seem right so she had a feeling to grab the one she had brought down. In it was a bag that had clipping of Steelers fur. So glad she found that. This proves Bernie’s Angel looking over her is Steeler.
Oh, this just made me cry! I love how Steeler keeps showing Bernie signs that her spirit is still with her.
I was not going to mention how neglectful I had been with that precious little baggie of Steeler’s gold and black fur. It was so unlike me to not take the first plastic bag from the drawer of many. So I can only feel that Steeler guided my hand and said to look in the bag Mom. Her beautiful fur was there.
It is now safely in a locket. To say I miss her is an understatement. To say I love her so much, is so very understated.
I had thunder here for the past 3 days. Each time of think of my little angel, Steeler.
I have never told anyone about something that used to happen here as I figured people would think I was more nuts than usual.
A former friend of mine had a precious dilute tortie that passed away from cancer. My friend along with her kitties used to live with us time to time when they were in between apartments so I was Auntie Betty to her 2 furry babies and knew the kitty who passed since she first got her as a baby. Anyway after she passed my friend was staying with us and my friend would swear that she would see signs that her kitty would leave to show she was still around.
One of these “signs” that happened on several occasions always happened when my tortie Columbia was around us. Columbia would suddenly go over to my friend and start chattering to her and then turn around and look at what seemed to be nothing. Then she would turn back to my friend. So just to see if what we thought was happenening was the case my friend would start talking to Columbia as if she were her deceased kitty.
Columbia would respond to her in a manner that was not Columbia’s normal behavior. She would also mimic some of the signs of affection that my friends kitty used to do, none of which were normal for Columbia. Then just as fast as her strange behavior started it would stop and Columbia would become herself again.
My friend was also an amateur photography buff and managed to take some very interesting photos while she was here that had some unexplanable shadows, glares, and other things that were not seen except for in the photos.
So I may be nuts, but I know what I saw and heard. Do I believe Steeler is giving Bernie signs, yes ma’am I do!
Betty, thank you for the story of your friend and Columbia. It is still so fresh for me with Steeler, that I find her everywhere. Out of the corner of my eye I will think I saw something move, but it is not her. I know she is still surrounding me and I want her to stay. If this sounds morbid, then so be it.
I don’t want to ever let the little Steeler, who is my angel now, feel I don’t want her to stay and keep visiting me.
Bernie, she’ll always be around. I’m glad you can see her. Some people can’t and it must be frustrating. Those early visits were always a little sad for me because I wanted to just touch them once more, so much I would dream about it and it would be so real. When I lost my first two close together, their visits were really painful and because I couldn’t touch them, I actually didn’t want them around. They didn’t get the idea.
Betty, that’s giving me chills! Totally believable, though. Thanks for sharing it, and you know we don’t think you are nuts. At least not to your face.
What a great experience, Betty! I know Steeler is giving Bernie signs.
Those of you who’ve read my book know that Buckley left some pretty dramatic signs after she passed. Amber left signs, too.
I think it’s wonderful that Berniie is getting all these signs from Steeler, and it’s especially wonderful that she’s recognizing them. I’ve found that frequently in the early days after a loss, the grief is too strong to allow the grieving person to even notice the signs.
My guys have been staring at a spot behind me when they sleeping on my desk. It’s just the black cats, and not all of them, and I can’t really figure out what they are looking at but it seems to be the mirror on the wall on the landing. I do often sense Cookie standing on the landing, as she would when she either came down the stairs or went up to it and then leaped over to the table by the window, but the mirror is way higher than that. Maybe it’s not for me to know.
I have about a half dozen stories on my blog about visits from my cats. I treasure them now.
What I had forgot to mention in my previous post was that my friends 2 remaining kitties (calicos, one of which was a grown baby of the one that died) would at least once a day start running and playing with the deceased kitties toys (my friend couldn’t bear to get rid of them) and seem as though they were chasing and playing with a third kitty despite there only being the 2 of them in the room.
I should also say that until these “incidents” with my Columbia and her other kitties the belief that things like this could happen were not in me. The types of events were way against my belief system, such as it is.
Betty, I do believe these things happen. My religious beliefs are animal related and their spirits look over us. With Steeler her Spirit is so strong that I know Bernie is protected and watched over. Her healing stones are saved along with her collar so Steeler will always be there. When the treat bag starts to move under the pillow Bernie better let us know.
I think our “old girls”, Molly the silver tabby (was a stealth tortie) and Mitzi the tortie-tabby are still with us.
Unfortunately, I don’t seem to be as in tune with these things, but those that are have seen “shadow cats” in the house.
I no longer keep her treats under her pillow. I now keep her favorite yellow ducky. So if that pillow starts to move, I will know Steeler is back to play. 🙂
Those are the gifts our cats give us, Betty–they go about changing our lives and our beliefs all the time. I’ve known people who let their “beliefs” get in the way, glad you didn’t.
To each of you, if these are gifts, left for me from Steeler, then I am hoping I get them always. Just when the emptiness of the house seems to make me feel really at loss of her not being here, is bad. Then somehow I see something she scratched or a toy in a place I hadn’t looked and believe it or not, I know she is around.
I was going to refinish the dining chairs legs where Steeler has gouged the wood so much, but I decided that for the time being those are her marks left on my heart. The antique dining chairs are just material things. The marks on those legs are my Steelers.
Had a scare with stealth tortie Sabrina this morning. Last night she tossed a huge furball, first time ever, and this morning again… and about 4 more times, mostly bloody mucus. Julie ran her to the vet, who thinks that it’s just irritation from the hairball, told us to give her Pepcid and a cat laxative. They also gave her some fluids. I knew she was really not herself this morning when she didn’t bite me for dragging her out from under the bed – plus she was good at the vet.
Brooke keeps offering to help with the pill, but I don’t think that’s a great idea.
Oh no! Those hairballs can be so scary. I hope by now Sabrina is back to normal.
No, she’s not. She threw up again a while ago, and is now so far under the bed Julie can’t reach her. We haven’t been able to give her the Pepcid. I was planning on grinding the pill up in broth, but all the chicken broth we can find has onion. Going to try syringing it in baby food instead, when I get home… if I can get her.
That is worrisome that she’s still throwing up.
Indeed. She has stopped hiding, but refused food, including baby food (which had Pepcid ground into it). I will have to pill her in a bit 🙁
So, you remember all the trouble I had trying to give Brooke Prozac before giving up? Wouldn’t eat it in a pill pocket, wouldn’t eat it in baby food, or formulated into chicken syrup? So, I’m mixing the ground Pepcid into baby food prior to loading a syringe, and suddenly I can’t keep Brooke’s snout of of the bowl… sigh. Torties.
I got a ml of baby food with the ground pill into Sabrina with a syringe. Hopefully that’ll start to help.
Harry, I am so sorry to hear Sabrina is sick. She will just have to get better. You all taught me to “papoose” Steeler if I had to and I did. So now, maybe I can suggest you “papoose” Sabrina. You all told me to pill her somehow. I did. So please now take my advice and help her take her pills. I don’t know much about pepcid except it helps and upset stomach. I wonder if liquid Pepto Bismal would help? Just asking because I really don’t know. I, of all of us, don’t like to hear of Sabrina throwing up and needing IV.
As for Brooke, of course she is going to get involved. She wants to see if she is missing something. No surprise there.
Kitty hugs and kisses for Sabrina to get well quickly.
Sabrina ate a half teaspoon of baby food on her own about 9 p.m., but is back hiding. Poor thing really must not feel well. In a little while I’m going to see if she’ll eat some more – trying to space it out in small servings.
How is Sabrina doing this morning?
She slept on the bed with us last night, and cuddled with me this morning, but is still refusing food. Julie spoke to the vet’s office a moment ago, and they said it was ok to give her the next dose of Pepcid early. When the vet comes in, they’ll talk to her about options.
Hope everything is okay with Sabrina.
I one time heard my cousin Lenny say that his stomach was upset, so he didn’t want anything harsh – like eggs. “Eggs are hard, I need something easy – like kielbasa.” His wife explained to me, eggs upset his stomach – polish sausage doesn’t. Me, whenever my stomach’s been upset, I crave a McDonald’s filet of fish. Bizarre, I know.
This morning Sabrina refused food and baby food, but I was opening the cabinet in the bathroom to get out my razor, and moved the bag of Friskies Party Mix Beachside Crunch – and she came running. I gave her four pieces, which she ate, and then four more which she also ate. Waiting to see how those stay down, and then I’ll give her more. Baby food – harsh. Trashy snacks – easy. Whatever, so long as she’ll eat it.
Best wishes for Sabrina.
Our tuxie-girl, Morgan is a small, seemingly fragile cat and had a stay at the vet a couple years ago due to not eating.
She eats Royal Kanin products regularly but lightly. I “test” her with Temptations treats to make sure she is interested in food. She likes these and gets too many of them but I would rather she eat something.
Exactly, Glen. I just tricked her into eating a little Pinnacle dry food by mixing in the treats. Now she’s sleeping, but on top of the window perch, not hiding under the bed.
Harry if it is kitty treats to be Sabrina back to being health and herself, let me know. I will have cases shipped to you. Anything I can do , let me know. Please, tho, no shaving cream. 🙂 Try whipped cream for her.
The important thing is that she eats.
Thanks, Bernie. That’s what the vet said – just get her to eat. She said it’s like when you hav ean upset stomach, and all you can handle in the beginning is saltines – if you can keep them down, eat them. Sabrina ate some more baby food on her own a while ago, and some more treats.
Sounds like Sabrina is starting to come around. It’s always reassuring when they stop hiding.
The thunder is rolling here right now. So Steeler is at it again.
I think Steeler is saying ok, now, on with it.
l67 more posts to go.
Good morning all!
Well it’s still morning here on the West Coast.
Good to see so much action here lately.
My girls are doing great! Luna is really trying to make a connection with me. She still doesn’t like to be held unless you are standing up and won’t sit in mine or John’s lap but she will jump up on the couch, stand on my lap and put her paws on my chest for a chin scratch or pet. She only stays a minute and gets right down (almost to say, I’m here don’t forget me). She has never done that for John and he hasn’t seen it so he thinks I’m fibbing. She also will come up and lie on the couch next to me like Nikita does but only if Nikita isn’t around. Nikita is still jealous and will come up and bite Luna on the butt or swat her if Luna is on the couch and I’m paying attention to her. I guess Nikita’s toritude is showing up later now that they are almost 2 years old (in August).
Last night when I took a shower I left the bathroom door open after to let the steam out and I didn’t realize that Nikita had gone in there to hide in the lower cupboard that doesn’t shut all the way. Later in the evening I closed the bathroom door because I don’t like them playing in there because they shred the tp. A few minutes later I heard a panicked meow meow meow…..howl. She does not like to be locked in a room, that’s for sure.
Sue I can see Nikita hiding in the bath. Steeler would follow me wherever I went in the house. I can only tell you that she would just sit where I had been until I went looking for her. There she would be, just sitting patiently for me to let her out. Then I would be treated to a barrage of her Tortie talk and talk, and tail twitching. So I can relate to how Nikita would feel about getting locked in the bath.
Allegra and Ruby hate to be locked up in a room. Last week, I had a service person in the house and locked them both in my bedroom for about two hours. After half an hour, the door started rattling: Allegra tried to paw the door open. I feel awful when I have to lock them up, but it’s for their own safety. Thankfully, they’re always quick to forgive.
So happy to see Bernie back in the swing of things! (As soon as I wrote that, Emma insisted on climbing up into my lap to say a tortie Hello as well.)
Who would’ve thought that tortitude would’ve driven us to become friends, family, and to write 10,000 posts? Well…maybe the torties knew…
It’s raining here in the Big Apple. I will welcome thunder as Steeler’s purr.
Hi Kitten.
Good to see you here. Emma must have been talking to Steeler. It has been storming off and on since last night and early am today. Lots of Steeler thunder. So here’s hoping some of Steeler’s thunder hits the Big Apple, but only by a little. 🙂
Aww, I love that, Shannah. Now I will think of Steeler everytime I hear thunder.
Good morning all. I know this is a surprise. What the heck is Bernie doing up in the middle of the night on CC. Well I have to take my auto to the shop. Right now I am talking to Jay on the phone and letting him know to get himself going on here.
I take this seriously. I must, otherwise I would be sound asleep. 🙂
GOOD MORNING BERNIE !!!!
Nice to see you woke up at a “normal hour.
I have been up since 5:15 and put the critters out at 5:45.
Folks, Bernie has learned to wake up to a donkey braying and getting coffee in bed.
And being surrounded by kitties who want attention.
Good Morning Jay:
This is an ungodly hour to wake up and in a very short period of time folks, this Bernie is going to snuggle back into bed and wake up later.
Coffee in bed is nice and the donkey does bray and the kittens are an extra delight. So there Jay, I will agree partly with you. 🙂
Now we are talking.
New number l86 to go.
Come on Torties, get your servants and show them the computer. Show them how to go to this blog. I miss all of you.
So I am hoping to see what you have all been up to while I was pre-occupied.
Glen where are u? 🙂
I will have to tell Jay, to get busy also. He has a lot of stories, he just needs to start telling them.
See I told you I am back and getting bossy. 🙂 Ain’t that great. It is to me.
You guys know who you are and also “THE SHADOW KNOWS”.
Write real soon or the Tortie wrath will haunt you. 🙂
I am already haunted by a Tortie. Stir runs the house and although Frankie has tried to challenge her, he has backed down to her fast left paw. He walks away talking to himself.
You will be haunted by more than a Tortie if you know what’s ahead for you. You have some really good stories to tell, if you just would, about the kittens that is.
I just got back home tonight. I have been away for the past couple days (work related).
Kasey is happy to have me back.
Fortunately, I don’t usually go away overnight like I did when I started working for the outfit, 30 years ago, I was usually out of town for 120 days, or so, per year. That was fine then but I am glad those days are done, now.
I bet Kasey is really happy you are back. She has to keep Taz and Morgan in shape while you are away. Now she can get some cuddles and sleep. Good to hear you are back safe.
Welcome back Glen, we missed you (not as much as Kasey – but we don’t use claws to get your attention)
Kasey was quite attentive last night, and also this morning.
When I called home at around 10:00 PM on Wed. May 9th, one bit of discussion was “oh, just an minute, Kasey is hitting Taz”.
I am taking today as a vacation day, I will likely take the motorcycle out but will be spending some time here this morning
Kasey is scheduled for her annual vet visit at 5:00 PM today, but contrary to what you might think, she is good at the vet and doesn’t hold a grudge about the trip when she comes home.
Glen, Here’s hoping the Vet visit is as you expect it to be. I learned a time back, Steeler would be sweet and I would wonder what did they do with my Tortie. Other times, they wore gloves. So nothing Kasey would do will surprise me.
I am glad this is just an annual checkup. 🙂
Kasey was very good at the vet.
The cyst on her chin is still not an issue, the vet said it is best to leave it and keep an eye on it.
She was down to 14.7 pounds from 15.1 pounds last year. The vet said to observe her for early signs of diabetes re: drinking and litter box use, we will decide in a week or so whether or not we will have blood work done.
He is not concerned about it just observant, she is in general good health.
I did check our records, Kasey has been up and down between 14.7 and 15.1 pounds, up and down, in the past 4 years.
We took Morgan, our tuxie-girl in to be checked, she has always been a small, frail cat. She will have blood work done next week. The vet thinks she might have a thyroid problem.
Morgan is happy and active, though. This morning, this 13 year old went after a bug, like a kitten, and seemed quite proud when she caught it.
Glen I know you know Kasey better than you know yourself. The vet is being cautious and that is a good thing.
I am hoping that Morgan is just a little frail. Hopefully there will be no problem with her thyroid.
Sounds like Taz is just a little “buggy”. 🙂
Sounds like you may have good news all around.
Yes, the vet news could have been worse.
Kasey is doing well, and the vet is being cautious (I am glad we switched vets 1+ years ago). She is a very happy cat, active and well.
Morgan is actually doing well all things considered, the vet says if it is thyroid, it should be treatable.
Taz, well, he is just the hardy farm cat type. His annual vet visit is in Sept. This normally docile, happy cat is a 22+ pound handful at the vet, I do take gloves as a precaution with him.
I’m glad everything went well at the vet’s. Your vet sounds very proactive and on top of things.
Hey guys and gals. I have always written stories about Steeler and myself on FB. If you would like to see more about Steeler I am going to give you all the link.
Now as you browse my FB, you will see more about me than just my Steeler. Some of you will be surprised. Others will say “No way”. Then again some will say, “you have to be kidding”. So here it is. “DRUM ROLL PLEASE”
[email protected]
Have fun and remember to keep it GP. I don’t even know for sure what that means.
Oh before you ask, I do pick up new and much welcomed family members. So don’t be surprised at my family. 🙂
Well I did it. I even messed my own link up. So let’s have a new and improved “DRUM ROLL”,
please 🙂
http://facebook.com/bernie.tracy
See there, I could screw up a one car funeral, and it would be mine. NO I am not drinking, but I think maybe I should be. I will settle for a piece of “TURTLE PIE”. uh uh Rachel and Harry, let me repeat that, “TURTLE PIE”. YUMMY. 🙂
I don’t know how you could do that to poor turtles.
Eat your heart out my friend. As for the Turtles, I will never tell them they how good they are in pie 🙂 🙂 🙂 YUM YUM YUM
Must be the Wild Blue beer.. Too much alcohol for some people.
I can tell you that Bernie cannot handle her beer.
See there, so goes the being nice to Bernie. Well that is good. Now I can just be myself. So get set..:)
191 to go.
I came to my senses and realized that a while back I opened up myself to “ridicule”by saying we could get to 10,000 posts for Ingrid, no problem. 🙂
Now by all the strength I have in me we will.
Now gang, if I have to I will just keep writing the numbers countdown if I have to. Now you all don’t want me to go there, do you???? 🙂
Ingrid will read this in the Am, middle of the night for me, and I suppose she may
“take me to the woodshed”, again!!!, if I do that. But you all know I will. So get the lead out.
I knew I could count on you, Bernie 😉
Bernie can count ???
Does she have to take off her shoes when she gets to 10 ?
ahem….well Jay if anyone would know what she has to take off………
Betty, hey, hey, hey, I thought you were my buddy. Don’t give Jay an inch please. 🙂
Folks don’t pay Jay any mind. He has to line up his critters and kittens just to get to 7. At least I can get to 10.
By the way, Stirfry is beginning to like my attention. That is a lot of progress. I hope the next time I see her, she remembers how nice I am to her. I have already given blood for her. 🙂
I can always count the kitties on the back of Harry’s car to get to 7.
Unless he got more that he did not tell us about. 😛
I did not. Though if I did, you can be certain that I would not admit to it…
(And it’s not 7, it’s “four and three spares.”)
According to Brooke, it’s 1 cat and 6 spares.
According to Brook, it’s one cat and 6 unnecessary squatters.
I’m glad my little Kelly has been showing some spunk lately! She’s been feeling pretty alone but we’ve been spending more time together.
I just have to share a totally cute thing she did. I was standing at the stove and the cabinet where she eats is just behind me. She was walking around and talking because she wanted to see what I was doing, and then I felt tiny little paws on my back–she was standing up and walking her paws up and down my spine while she looked over my shoulder! Felt great! She was very pleased with herself.
That’s tortitude to me.
198 more to go.
Aww, that’s so sweet!
OK Gang. You heard it from the “Boss”. Ingrid’s birthday is May 18th. Now to give a gift of 10,000 posts would be way beyond most realms of blogs. This blog, however, is not like most blogs. So, if I can get here and post, I am saying come on gang. Let’s knock this 10000 post out of the ball park before the 18th of May.
Steeler will be watching from the heavens and most likely make the thunder roar if we don’t get busy.
Harry, now it is 200. (I am taking for granted your math is correct) 🙂
Now, whenever I hear thunder I think of Steeler. Looking forward to Spring and Summer storms (although my driveway is working it’s way to the road out front along with the pasture. That thunder is Steeler telling all who the Boss is and don’t you forget it.
Considering I live in Florida, the thunderstorm capitol (and my biggest phobia), I will be hearing from Steeler the most….so nanny…nanny…poo…poo….lol
Betty that makes my day. Steeler’s thunder will be heard forever by so many. I heard it yesterday and again today. She sure is clearing things up in kitty heaven. Most likely making space for Tortie’s only and then only with Tortitude on one side and all other gentler Torties on the other side. But all together in the same areas.
Hey Hi everyone.
I have come on today to say thanks for all the wonderful kind and caring thoughts and words sent to
Steeler and I. Unfortunately you all know from Ingrid’s beautiful tribute to Steeler that Steeler lost her hard fought battle to stay here with me in the early morning hours on April 30. I feel like I have lost another child, she means that much to me.
I read every word that anyone has posted here both about Steeler and I, and all other little treasured kittens here.
Let me thank these folks, who have been keeping me sane for the past few weeks while Steeler was slipping away.
Ingrid, Bernadette, Harry, Julie, and Rachel, without your support and comfort, you treasures friends were there for me any hour, any day anytime. I love you each and treasure the friendship we have. Steeler brought us all together and she has left me with a treasure trove of love and friendship.
Glen, Sue, Betty, you guys are wonderful with your words and hope for Steeler. Your thoughts and words are cherished by me and will forever be within me.
I hope and pray that I never have to see any of you and I mean every person on this blog go through this type of ordeal. Our kittens are just to precious to let go of.
So, all I ask of you on this blog and those that may have joined, when I was silent during Steeler’s illness, to in memory of Steeler to keep this blog going and keep it the very best on the web. This is more than a blog, it is more an extended family and friends, with only a single agenda. That is to discuss our Torties, the good and the bad.
Having said all this, know that I have, do and will continue to follow this family of folks and hopefully interact with you.
You all know how much Steeler would want this to go full force ahead. She lived her life that way and I think that is how all our little ones go on.
Lat and certainly not least, Steeler brought many good people into our lives and one special to me personnally, and as most of you guessed and later were told, is Jay. He has been there as a rock.
So you can all know there are special people on here. The kind of people that don’t just talk the walk, but actually walk the walk with you, when you them and sometimes when you don’t even know you need them.
So thanks Ingrid, Harry, Julie, Glen, Rachel, and Jay. You are burned into my heart and I am sure Steeler looks down on all of us, and says get on with it. You still have a lot to do.
With love
Bernie
I am so glad to “read” you again Bernie. You and Steeler have been on my mind constantly, and that is not an exageration. Perhaps I didn’t say enough or email you during this time as I am very awkard in these siuations and am afraid of making matters worse by saying the wrong thing.
I do hope you will still be here as you always give good advice and are such a joy in your words and thoughts. I can’t picture this place without you.
Also, thank you Jay for looking out for “our” Bernie.
Anyway Bernie, thank you so much for letting us know how you are as the not knowing can make one crazy (ok crazier than I already am). As I said I may be the quiet, not avid poster type but I do read everything and feel both the happinessa and sorrow expressed here.
Your posts are like little treasures, and I miss them and you. Take Care please Bernie.
Betty, I am back and will write as often as I can. Your post is lovely. You words of support were remembered. Thanks you.
OK forgive me for adding to the previous post. If I don’t mention one other person she will shank a b—-!!
Lynn you belong with the previous post. I apologize for not mentioning you. Now you remember, I do find you as family and please don’t be angry.
I don’t want you to send me bad vibes or any heavy metal. You are a treasure on her also.
Love
Bernie
Come on Lynn, Bring on the Heavy Metal – Monkey music !!!!!!!!!!
What a lovely post, Bernie. Steeler will never be forgotten. She brought you into our lives, and I will be forever grateful to her for that.
As for keeping this thread going – less than two weeks until my birthday. Just sayin’….. 🙂
And just 202 comments to go to 10,000. I mean, 201 😉
It’s a lock.
Bernie, do we still have to be nice to you, or can we stop that now?
Only kidding! We’re always nice to you, and we’ll always be here for you. I’m glad to see you feel you can write again. I know it’s not the same for you but you are still a part of the group.
Nope, I mean. yep, you still have to be nice to me.
I do feel like writing again. So I came here and said thanks, and yes it is not quite the same, but I am back.
As for being nice, you folks are have been.
197 more to go. 🙂
Ain’t never been nice to nobody, and not gonna start now.
You’re right about one thing, Bernie – this is the Hotel California. You can check out anytime, but you can never leave.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xtbrf_eagles-hotel-california-live_music
(Don’t worry – not Monkey Music.)
Harry your puffing again. “Tough guy, you ain’t”. 🙂
Listened to the Hotel California and your right. It is fitting for this family on here. I can checkout, but I won’t leave. I came back knowing this is what I need. I am back to pester and I may even have some tales to tell.
Maybe I will remember Steeler and something she did that comes to mind.
Right now, when I go east to visit Jay, I am trying to make nice with Stirfry. I know this is a dangerous situation. I will post to let you guys know if Stir is naughty or nice to me. So far, it is mixed reviews.
Just for laughs, I am old enough to know the melody of “Hotel California”. Thanks for reminding me.
LOL, Harry. The Eagles seem to be figuring prominently in my life all of a sudden. Last Sunday’s post featured one of their songs, and now you’re mentioning “Hotel California” here. Hmmm. Time to dig out the old cd’s.
Ha! Do a Google image search for “Don Henley with cats” and watch what pops up as the first result!
Ingrid, I don’t have the Eagles CD of Hotel California, but do have the LP. Guess I’m older than some on here. Now I have to get my turn table back from my son to play it.
“Don Henley with cats”? Not sure what I should be looking for, the first article was about him with the Stray Cats. That’s okay, I like them both, and I have the “albums” to prove it!
Now I’ll have the opening bars of “Hotel California” repeating in my head all day. That can replace “Bohemian Rhapsody” that someone mentioned yesterday. Some songs you can never get rid of! I tried replacing it with “The Stray Cat Strut” but it’s not working!
Bernadette, before I fall back to sleep, let me say this. I listened to the Hotel California and finally got it out of my head and fell asleep, early AM. Now I am about to go back to sleep and you just put that lyric right back in my head.
I hope Kelly and the fab blacks sing all day for you. 🙂
Bernadette, do an image search for “Don Henley cats,” not a regular Google search.
Whoa, Ingrid, how did Allegra end up at the top?!
Bernadette, I must have optimized the image really well 🙂
Now Kelly is acting like a the Tortie that she is. She is looking over your shoulder asking “Whatcha doing Mom”. Watch those little claws if she slips. It will be one heck of an “OOPS”.
Kelly has taken over the kittens and is Top Cat. Now she is showing you also. Tops in Mom’s family of kittens. So enjoy and let’s get these stories and tales going.
196 to go. 🙂
You’re my other grandma Bernie 🙂 You are a strong woman and an amazing person!
Rachel, I am proud to be your other “Grandma”. I follow all the work you do with the pet rescue along with your blog. You are an amazing young woman.
Thanks for adding another “grandchild” to my family. 🙂
im glad i have my lil mama kitty she is the best
i found my baby along the river one year ago feb it was 8 degrees she is my heart i took her to the vet they told me she was a dilute tortie but all i see is black and brown and its just not her she is grey tan and white and soooo sweet she is not mean or attitudeie pissy or any of that she is a LOVING SO LOVING not mean at all maybe she is not the breed the vet says anyway dont care she is mine she is safe and she is my heart
Dilute torties are grey, tan and white – if you do a Google search on “dilute tortoiseshell cat,” you’ll get a ton of images of them. Your baby sounds wonderful! Dilute torties in general tend to not have the very strong “tortitude” that some other torties have. My two are super sweet as well.
I have a question about “tortitude”.
As I have posted in the past my tortie Columbia absolutely torments her brother Rocky (male tux much larger than her) in every room except for the kitchen which is his turf and whee he goes after her. She will stalk him waiting endlessly for him to try and go into wanother room and off she goes after him growling with hair up. This behavior has been going on for about a year, prior to that they co-existed peacefully for about 8 years.
We might be moving closer to where my husband works to avoid the $100 plus a week in gas he uses. Do you think a different place to live will throw Columbia off enough that her behavior might cease?
It’s possible, Betty. But I would also be alert for an initial aggravation of the behavior at the new place. Moving is very stressful for cats. There are a lot of things you can do to make it easier for them, but you really can’t predict how they’re going to react.
I’ve moved twice since I’ve had the four babies.
The first time I moved my honey had built them a huge cat tower, so that was the first thing I had brought in the house before releasing them from their carriers. They all congregated on it and it became their safe zone until they got used to the new place. All in all a fairly easy transition for them after a 20 minute car ride. The second time I moved it was next door to where I lived so their travel time was about 5 minutes being walked across the lawn in their carriers. This also was a fairly easy transition for them.
However this time they have been in this house for about 6-7 years and the ride to their new home will be a little over an hour and the cat tower has been gone a long time. We are not taking all of the furniture with us as it isn’t worth the trip so they won’t have many familiar things around them. I will of course put their beds, toys, dishes and litter box around the house, but not much else will be familiar to them.
I also want to start keeping my one kitty that goes out during the day an all indoor kitty again as the area we may be moving to is a suburb and not rural like now. It was never my idea to start letting him out in the first place, it was his. He turned into an excellent escape artist.
Betty, you’re a pro at this!
I thought this article about turning an outdoor cat into an indoor cat might help you with yours:http://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/transitioning-outdoor-cat.html
Thank you for the article link Ingrid. I guess the one thing I have going for me is that he is already well litter box trained since he was originally an all indoor cat and now he has an 8:30PM curfew every night and cannot go out again until it is light outside. We also keep him inside full time on days like Halloween and friday the 13ths. He is all black and there are some sicko people out there.
He can get a naughty streak in him if he can’t go back out at night. For years now if he wants out and I won’t let him, he will find his sister Janet and proceed to nip her on her rear back just before her tail. He even taught my youngest boy (who he has always thought was his son) to do it. They can be such brats at times!
I woke up at 5:00 AM to the sound of fighting cats on Wed. morning.
Taz and Morgan are shut in the basement at night due to Morgan’s nocturnal galloping (she doesn’t realize she’s an “old girl”) , she and Taz are like litter mates and this gives them a break form Kasey who stays upstairs. The basement is far from banishment, dry, lost of room, beds, toys, scratching posts, toys, food, water….etc.
Anyway, at first I thought Taz and Morgan were fighting or one was in severe distress.
I knew Kasey was OK, she was within reach.
As I came more awake, I realized the sound was outside.
By then, I was wide awake so I got up and let Taz and Morgan up.
The fighting outside was from two toms, here is the reaction from the three cats;
Morgan was very aware of them, wary and timid.
Taz was about as responsive to it as a potted plant, he just asked for pets and treats.
Kasey was looking for them, going to the wall baseboard closest to the location where the sounds came from, looking ready to “kick butt and take names” 😉
Glen and gang. Now that is what some of our Torties do. They will take on anything and even look for the trouble. Don’t fret Tax and Morgan. As long as you have Kasey, you are both being protected by the “Warrior Queen”.
Love the story Glen.
I’m glad you liked the story.
Of course, sometimes the “Warrior Queen” will do the lost kitten squeak when I leave her in another room.
It appears we may be fierce, but we still need attention.
Betty has been trying to post a comment here for the past couple of days, but for some reason, her comments have vanished into thin air. My webmaster is looking into what’s causing the problem, but in the meantime, Betty has asked me to post this for her:
“This is a sad time indeed with the loss of “our” Steeler. It seems as though life is not always fair. Bernie has been through so much lately and now this. My thoughts and heart are with you Bernie, please be sure to take care of yourself.
I’m sure after reading about the adventures of Steeler the past several months since I found this message board that as soon as she crossed the Rainbow Bridge, she started her takeover of the place. Arranging it to suit her and letting the other furry babies there know who was now in charge.”
Betty
Last Sunday I had the 3 critters tied outside. Could not find the one rope that had 2 hooks to that clip on the halters (one is a back up in case the 1st comes off) so I used it on Buell. Harley has run off too many times. A few hours later I looked across the street and saw Buell greeting the horses in the pasture. I figured the rope had slipped off the tree he was tied to but as I got closer I saw he had no rope at all. I took this video and when I got closer Buell followed the horses as they ran down the pasture to their barn. Buell followed. It took a while to catch him as the horses ran back to my mailbox with Buell along side.
Here is the video of Buell greeting the horses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEXy0S9ACYQ&feature=youtu.be
Something interesting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2iG9NQk9mI
While surfing the web for kitty tribute ideas and just feeling a bit sad and out of sorts due to the loss of my 20 year old 1/2 persian tortie “Fozzie”, I came across your website and Steeler’s tribute. How beautiful and loving! I’d never heard of “tortitude” before today and it brought a smile to my face to read the exact traits of my “Fozzie”. Known to me as “mama’s kitty”… probably b/c I was the only one to really understand her… she sure did exhibit true tortitude! In her early years, she had much more of it and really only liked the immediate family, not wanting to share herself with anyone else for any reason. Not even her own daughter (who lived 17 years with her). She chased many a dog out of our house. In her old age though, she finally did mellow, letting in anyone who would rub her head. I am going in and out of the guilties for putting down my furry friend, which I am dealing with now. Once a very plush coated healthy cat, she had become 1/2 of what she had been. I know in the end, it was the right thing to do, or I perhaps keep trying to convince myself of that idea. She probably did have a bit more in her, but considering her age, her doctor thought it best to not allow her to suffer as her poor condition would progress. So I do too…. wish they could stay with us longer, but know she is along side her brother Ozzie and daughter Fluffer along with her knew friend Steeler, eating all the canned cat food they can muster, then off to the sunniest spot in heaven to sleep the day away! Thanks for your blog!
I’m so sorry about your Fozzie, Liz. It doesn’t matter how long they live, it’s just never long enough. Even though you’re doubting yourself now, it sounds to me like you gave her the ultimate gift of love when you let her go. Thank you for your beautiful words about Steeler. I know Bernie will read it when she’s able to, and I know it will bring some comfort to her.
I like to think that there’s a special place in heaven for all the torties we’ve lost.
“I like to think that there’s a special place in heaven for all the torties we’ve lost.”
I suspect, after Monday morning, that there are several SEPARATE special places… 🙂
Ha ha ha…. yes, seperate places for sure! They do like their own space, don’t they? Or at least Fozzie did. And that trait probably continues in Kitty Heaven no doubt…. unless???
Just saw the post on FB about Steeler leaving us…we’ve been praying for her and I’m so very, very sad. She’s been on my mind so much over the past few days as have you, Bernie.
We love you.
Shannah (and Emma)
It is a tragic loss for the tortie community. But, she’s not really gone, she’ll be with all of us, forever. Her memory and her accomplishments cut an even bigger swath than her swat.
Steeler will be greatly missed. Bernie has us all to fall back on. We are family.
Thanks to Ingrid and Bernadette the story of Steeler will live on forever.
When ever we hear thunder we will know that that’s Steeler letting all those in Heaven who the Boss is. Don’t mess with a Tortie.
I just can’t believe she’s really gone. I just posted a tribute to her: https://ingridking.com/2012/04/30/a-tribute-to-steeler/
I can’t believe she is gone either. She is at peace now with all of our past kitty friends.
Bernie
I am very sorry to read about this.
It may be small consolation at this time but by letting that stray cat in, that wanted to come in so badly, you gave her a second chance and a very good home.
In turn, she stayed and became your friend and companion., we just always wish they could be with us longer.
I have a 2-year-old tortie who has absolutely NO tortitude! She is 100% sweet, angelic lap cat 🙂 She follows me like a shadow, but she doesn’t mind sharing. She absolutely never uses her claws or bites. She’s like a little rag doll when you pick her up lol.
Now, my orange tabby…HE has TABitude 😉
I always love hearing about torties who defy the stereotypes, Lisa! Orange tabbies seem to go one of two ways: either totally mellow, or full of tabitude!
Somehow, my Buzzy is both mellow AND full of tabitude. Mostly, he lays around and loves absolutely everyone. He runs up to strangers like a dog, “jumps” on them by putting his paws up on their leg, aaaand then when they are all like “awww what a friendly kitty!” and are petting him and loving him…sinks his claws into their leg.
Except with me. Cus he knows I’m onto his shenanigans.
Sorry to hear that your Tortie has no attitude.
My Stirfry gives lessons if you need.
The 4 kits on here that are pros are Steeler, Kasey, Brooke and Stir.
Tels us more about your kits and their names.
And Orange kitties are so loveable.
I have 1 Tortie (Stirfry) 1 Tortie with White (Tabatha) 1 orange kit (Pumpkin (Stirfry’s son) and my latest feral but lovable B&W (Frankie).
Post pics of yours on Ingrid’s FB page.
Yeah
Kasey is an attitude pro.
But she does have a composite of behaviours.
I call her the “warrior Queen” because her attitude plus 8 years of hard knock (pre-rescue) gave her an aggressive demeanour. She doesn’t particularly fear much.
She is an indoor cat now but very aware of what is going on outside and acts like she is guarding the house.
She does not play well with other 4 legged critters and is dominant.
Her first response when there is something on the list she doesn’t like (a long list) is to attack it.
Before I brought her home, she was well known to drag kills in that were just about the size of her.
However;
She loves attention from people.
She likes strangers that come to visit.
……………….and, inexplicably, she is well behaved at the vet (they think she is “sweet”)
The Vet drinks heavily before Kasey comes to visit and what ever Kasey fears is something I never want to meet.
“and what ever Kasey fears is something I never want to meet.”
This sort of spoils a lot of sci-fi movies around here.
The show some alien monster and as soon as it is on screen, the comments go;
“Kasey wouldn’t even consider that an honourable and worthy opponent”
Glen, when the Pennsylvania contingent came down for the book signing (over a year ago? can that be?) they met Brooke and all were charmed by how sweet she was. The little faker.
Isn’t Brooke on Prozac ?
Drugging your Tortie to leave a “Good Impression” is Cheating
Brooke SHOULD be on Prozac. We’ve *tried* to put her on Prozac. She has successfully resisted all attempts. (Even when formulated into “delicious, palatable chicken-flavored syrup.”) What you saw was the unvarnished, unmedicated real deal. These days, though, it’s pretty clear that it’s Sabrina the stealth tortie that needs pharmaceuticals. Brooke would leave her alone, already, if Sabrina would just not growl.
Haha. I’m not sorry at all! My cats are a perfect fit for me 😛
My orange tabby is 5 years old; his name is Buzzy. I adopted him from animal control when he was 4 months old. He loves absolutely everybody. The other day, I came back from taking the trash out to find about 7 kids pressed against my screen window trying to pet him through the screen! And, of course, he was loving it….. leave it to Buzzy to ENJOY the screaming children.
Luna, my tortie, is 2 years old. I got her from a family who was keeping her in a tiny bedroom with 2 other cats and not giving them any interaction at all. They’d gotten these cats for their daughter, but the daughter had lost interest after they weren’t kittens anymore…and the parents were REALLY allergic…sooo the cats got locked in a bedroom.
I know that they didn’t abuse her, but she certainly must’ve been handled an awful lot by a young child. Therefore, she somehow learned a LOT of patience…. She follows me around EVERYwhere though, and she and Buzzy have bonded really well. She went from being locked away to being queen of the castle 😛 Buzzy must’ve taught her that the cats really own the house…’cus she seems to know it and will now do things (like scratch at the carpet or sofa) that she KNOWS will make me yell….then, when I point a finger at her, she comes up to my finger and rubs on it like “I knooow you can’t be mad at meeee.” Still, she’s very very sweet and has absolutely never used claws or teeth on any person! 🙂
Lisa my muted tortie is named Luna too and her sister the full tortie is Nikita. Nikita is sweet as can be except when “she” is done being petted then she will sink her teeth into you especially if it’s her tummy being petted or when dealing with her sister Luna.
Luna has a bit of tortitute but not much.
They do seem jealous of each other though and will come up to you if the other is getting attention.
The other night Luna was up on the couch with her paws in my lap getting some attention from me and Nikita ran from across the room and bit her in the butt to get her down off my lap! Craziness!
LOL, Sue! That sounds like something Allegra would do to Ruby.
Sue, better that Nikita bit Luna on the butt than you.
Hard to explain that to the doctor.
Hahaha oh goodness 🙂
In this family, it’s BUZZY who shows jealousy. He doesn’t bite or anything, but when I call for Luna, HE comes running first to try and get my attention instead.
Luna is the submissive one — she’s always grooming Buzzy. She keeps him nice and clean, which is great for me as he will NOT hold still to let me clean off his face when he gets those allergy-related eye crusties this time of year.
They both sound wonderful, Lisa. It’s actually quite amazing that Luna is as sweet as she is, considering her early life experience. And clearly, she has you wrapped around her little paws – as it should be!
It really is amazing. When I first got her, she didn’t know what toys were… it was so strange! Now she looove to play! And, yes, I am very much wrapped around her little orange and black paws lol.
Luna seems so much like Steeler. Steeler knew that scratching on a $5000 piece of furniture would get Bernie’s attention real fast. Her kitchen chair legs were gouged deep from that pissed off Tortie. And her cute look would let her get away with anything.
I just read the tribute to Steeler, and it had me tearing up. Both of my kitties came to me when I needed them most. Buzzy saved my life…literally…after my dad and stepmom (of 15 years) went through a very long and very gruesome divorce. And Luna came to me after I had to re-home a puppy that I’d adopted with a boyfriend…we broke up, and I kept the puppy until I literally could not afford food anymore. It was so hard to let him go (he’s with a friend’s family now, though, and very happy).
Kitties just know — they know when you need love, they know when you need snuggles, they know when you’re sick and need them to watch over you….and they know when you need them to be ornery little butts who sink their claws into your furniture!
OH!! And I just saw the facebook page and posted pics of my kitties!! YAY 😀
hi there,
i am a newbie here, and also a new mom to a petite female tortoiseshell. i discovered her at a local shelter about three weeks ago. she is a year old, and i was doing some reading on/near your site to learn about the breed.
i am so sorry that your special girl, steeler, is not doing well. i lost my 12-year old japanese bobtail, max, one month ago.
i am saying prayers for both you and steeler. i am happy to hear that you are spending every moment that you can with her. while she may be confused about being ill, remember that you are her touchstone. with you by her side, she is sure to feel safe, and loved.
this is my first time blogging. i am sending my positive energy; my new kitty (tentatively named sophie) sends “four paws” worth of her little heart.
take good care,
joanne
Joanne, I’m sorry for your recent loss of Max – it’s so hard.
And what a lovely note to leave for Bernie, who is Steeler’s mom. If you’ve read through some of the recent comments, you’ve probably figured out that we’ve become somewhat of a “tortie” family here, and when one of our babies is sick, we all worry.
I’m the owner of this site, and my two torties are Allegra and Ruby. They have their own columns here on the site. Well, they’d probably tell you that it’s their site, but I’m still the one with the opposable thumbs, so….
If you’d like to post photos of “tentatively named Sophie,” we’d love to see them – you can post them on our Facebook page.
Joanne,
I welcome you and your new little Tortie. I am sorry to read of the loss of Max.
I know this little Tortie will give you years of entertainment and Tortitude, and happiness.
Let me take this opportunity to thank you for your very gracious words for Steeler and I.
Please do, keep posting here, as Ingrid said, we are more like a big family than anything. One tortie or kitten is everyone’s here. Without the support I am receiving form the friends here, this difficult period would become completely unbearable. But here I get support and encouragement.
The very same is give to anyone on this blog.
Just for the record “Ingrid just thinks this is her blog” actually it really is Allegra’s and Ruby’s, her two very beautiful Torties.
Bernie said her PC is down.
No change on Steeler. She ate 2 tablespoons of food.
She has been giving kitty kisses (the 1st time ever) and still purring.
She is so tired.
I’m so sorry to hear there’s been no improvement. Steeler and Bernie have been on my mind all night.
“My thoughts and prayers are with you both.”
Mine, too.
Bernadette, I really am grateful for the four tortie paws and 20 black paws help. Steeler should be able to feel all the energy all the kitties and friends are putting out to her. So far today she has not eaten. That is now 2 days in a row. If she does not eat for the rest of the day we will be back at the vet tomorrow.
So all my friends here just keep that energy coming to her. With all your help, my little Steeler will beat this somehow, someway. There has to be some way to make her better.
Again I am coming to my Tortie family for Steeler and asking for all the healing and prayer thoughts we can muster up. I don’t know what else to say, except, without all of you being here for my, I would be so alone.
Thank you all so very much for helping Steeler and I get thru this. <3
How is our girl doing this evening?
Ingrid, I am very concerned. Steeler has stopped eating again. She has not eaten since early in the hours of Tues. AM. Around 6AM No more than 2 tablespoons since. I will take her back to the vet tomorrow. She is simply worn out and sleeping almost all the time. She really needs divine intervention. I decided to let the gang know that our little Steeler is not improving.
I will let you know tomorrow what the vet says.
Tonight I am just staying very close to her.
Thinking of the two of you, Bernie.
Bernadette and Ingrid, I know you are all thinking about us. Thanks you so much. Steeler and I treasure all of you and I will tell her about the fuss she is creating and how she has to start to try to help me get her better.
My thoughts and prayers are with you both.
Thanks Ingrid and Bernadette. I will update you sometime tomorrow. This is so hard, watching her fade. She has taken over my pillow on my side of the bed and she is still purring for me. So I will just let her rest anywhere she wants to as long as it is within my site of her.
Hi gang. I have been kind of quiet here lately. As most of you know Steeler is having serious health issues. So just to let you know, we are still here and reading.
Steeler is very tired today. She is not very active, and I am hoping that soon, I will be able to report to you all that she is up to her old antics again. So if you can, keep my little girl in your thoughts, and maybe out positive thoughts will bring her back to her old self again.
In the meantime, where the heck is everyone on here????? 🙂
I am saying prayers for Steeler and all my cats (Stir included) are too.
We need our little girl back in fighting shape.
I’m sorry to hear Steeler had a bad day. You have both been in my thoughts and prayers every day.
Bernie, four tortie paws and 20 black paws are “pulling for Steeler” here–you know how my black kitties love their little older torties and calicos and they are doing their best to “virtually” cuddle around her for warmth and strength and energy. Hoping Steeler has a better day today and underneath it all she’s healing somehow. She’s done it before!
I am looking for the cat (and other animal) window decals like Harry has. I need a Donkey, Horse, Goat and Tortie too.
ACE, Petsmart, Tractor Supply, Agway and a few other stores were checked out in the last 2 days. No luck there.
Jay:
http://www.carstickers.com/proddetail.php?prod=1088
Thanks Harry, does anyone make a Tortie sticker ?
Jay, this one actually has goat, horse and donkey stickers:
http://www.familystickers.com/
But, no torties. for that, you have to use this:
http://www.justcarstickers.com/cat-stickers-mountain-lion-4.html
I am at Bernie’s and glad to announce that Steeler is eating and has purred when scratched.
I was even able to hold her and have my picture taken before she wanted down. I was not scratched or bitten ( so Steeler is not at 100% yet).
Today we ( Bernie and I – not Steeler) were at the Comicon Convention and had a Great time.
I had a few comic’s signed by Stan Lee, saw all sorts of people dressed up as Characters and a guy in a Skirt – NOT GOOD !!!!!!!!
I’m sorry to read about Steeler’s health problems, but glad to hear about the improvements.
I am offering best wishes and hope for continued improvement.
Glen, I knew you would pick up on Steeler right away. Kasey and Steeler, each have had to fight the odds. I thank you for your good wishes for Steeler. I am staying hopeful.
Hey everyone, Bernie asked me to update you on Steeler. She gave Bernie a big scare earlier this week when she was very sick. She had been losing weight, and just not doing well, so Bernie took her to the vet’s on Monday. The vet diagnosed Steeler with thrombocytopenia, a fairly rare (in cats) condition in which production of red blood cells is abnormally low. This can cause internal bleeding. Steeler was given steroids and antibiotics and sent home with instructions to get her to eat at all costs. It was touch and go for a couple of days, but thankfully, Steeler started eating again on Wednesday. Even though she only ate very small amounts, it was better than nothing. This morning, she ate a full meal for the first time.
Bernie took her back to the vet’s again today. She had gained an ounce, which may not sound like much, but that’s a lot of weight for a small cat to gain in just a few days, and a good sign that things are headed in the right direction. Steeler has elevated liver enzymes, but that may be linked to the original diagnosis. She received another steroid injection and a B-complex injection. She’s not out of the woods yet, but things are headed in the right direction. She goes back for her next check up in a week to ten days, unless she stops eating again.
It goes without saying that Steeler and Bernie are in my thoughts and prayers.
And it did my heart good to see a photo of Steeler in her brand new fancy leopard print harness on Bernie’s Facebook page. According to Bernie, she was outside earlier today, enjoying the sun and the feel of the grass against her.
GREAT NEWS!!! It is just a bit of progress, and even though it’s a quandary in taking cats outside in any way I have always found it helps to relax them as they forget about their symptoms for a while and just enjoy a few minutes of being a cat; it can be very healing. Let’s hope for more progress.
Thanks Bernadette,
Steeler really relaxed in the coolness of the grass and sunlight. She was even purring. I know this has to be a good sign.