Tortoiseshell cats are named for their distinctive coloring – a combination of patches of black, brown, amber, red, cinnamon and chocolate. The size of the patches varies from a fine speckled pattern to large areas of color. The term “tortoiseshell” is used for cats with brindled coats that have few or no white markings. Cats of this coloring with larger areas of white fur are called calicos. Sometimes, these colors present in lighter versions such as lilac or cream. Torties with this lighter coloring are called dilute torties. Occasionally, the typical tortoiseshell colors are also seen in a tabby (striped) pattern, and these cats are sometimes referred to as “torbies.”
Tortoiseshell cats are almost exclusively female. Tortoiseshell and calico coats are the result of the interaction between genetic and developmental factors. The occasional and very rare male tortoiseshell cat is the result of a genetic mutation.
In addition to their distinctive coloring, torties also have a reputation for unique personalities, sometimes referred to as “tortitude.” They tend to be strong-willed, a bit hot-tempered, and they can be very possessive of their human. Other words used to describe torties are fiercely independent, feisty and unpredictable. They’re usually very talkative and make their presence and needs known with anything from a hiss to a meow to a strong purr. These traits are stronger in tortoiseshell cats than in calicos – it seems as though these traits are somewhat diluted with the addition of more white to the color scheme.
As of the writing of this post, I share my life with Amber*, and those of you who’ve followed this blog for a while have gotten to know her in her Amber’s Mewsings posts. You will soon be able to read all about Buckley in Buckley’s Story – Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher. The photo above shows Buckley in the front, Amber behind her.
Prior to Amber and Buckley, there was another tortie in my life. Virginia was the first office cat at the animal hospital I managed. She was my introduction to torties, and my love affair with this particular type of cat began with her. She, too, had the “tortitude” I so love about these particular cats.
Do you have a tortie or calico in your life? Does she have “tortitude?”
*Sadly, Amber passed away on May 13, 2010, after a sudden, brief illness. I now share my life with Allegra and Ruby, two tortoiseshell cats who have their own columns here on The Conscious Cat, titled Allegra’s World and Ruby’s Reflections.
Photo ©Ingrid King, all rights reserved
I saw a cat sack in Petsmrt today. It was in the cat bedding section. It looked really soft and cozy especially for the winter. But I have no idea if it would look too scary for Rikki or Lucy to even try out. Do any of you guys have this item and do they like it?
Diana
If it’s the kind of cat sack that makes a crumpling sound like a paper bag my tortie Magenta had one and loved it. They seem to love the crinkling sound it makes. Your kitties may feel differently about it, but mine loved it.
Thanks I might break down and try it when I have some extra cash. Psmrt is good about returns.
Hey gang, this is for you all to know. I think Bernadette E. Kazmarski is the best animal artist there is.
I have chosen a picture of my precious and commission Bernadette to do her portrait. Bernadette will do Steeler with her best eye, and also with love in her heart. Steeler was as much Bernadette’s little girl and everyone’s little Steeler.
So if Bernadette wants to give updates on her work that will be up to her. I can only tell you when it is done, it will be a priceless lifetime keepsake.
Am I up to the challenge with the whole world watching? Guess we’ll see! I look forward to painting Steeler, and I’m going to enjoy every moment.
Bernadette, the whole world will see what a fantastic artist you are. I have no doubt you can handle this. y
I kinda, did, yep, put a little stress out there for you. You picked on my about your native weed. LOL
If anyone can handle stress and do a phenomenal portrait, it is you. No rush.
Your post brought up something that happened to me that no matter how much I try to forgive and forget, I just can’t.
When I was with my first husband and we had Magenta, my first tortie. After we had been married a few years my ex-mother in law asked her sister in law to paint a picture of Magenta. She used a photo we had taken of Magenta sitting in a gift bag.
The painting came out really nice and was a very realistic rendition of my kitty. Well when we got divorced and were dividing up things since he was going to take Magenta (she was very much a daddys girl and would have been heartbroken if taken away from him) I wanted the painting. His mother got into it and demanded that I return the painting since it was his aunt that painted it which in her eyes made it his property. So he took it with him.
Of course she also blamed me for the reason we got divorced. How the heck it could be my fault that he wanted to become a woman I’ll never know. She decided that I was a witch, had the devil inside me, and made him be that way , but that is not a discussion for here.
So in one day I lost my husband, my kitty and the painting, never to see my kitty or painting ever again ……
Hey Tortie family, I have a new happening here with Justice and Liberty. You all know those little laser mice we think the kittens will love to chase. Well don’t get me wrong, they are great for the kittens to chase.
Here is the news flash on how to use them properly.
Leave the mouse on the dining table overnight. Get up early and go into the dining are and find a Tortie and a Gray Tiger on the table pushing the laser mouse around. Well naturally, the laser flies onto the floor, followed by two flying kittens. Jumping on and slapping the mouse. Bingo!!!! These kits don’t need a human to play with a laser mouse. They just steal it and keep pouncing on it and that darn light keeps popping on and off to the bewilderment of Justice and Tortie. I left them go ahead and play. The mouse is now lying on the floor, and two exhausted kittens are, yep, you got it, sleeping under the table, as if to watch their newfound friend. 🙂
Betty, research actually substantiates your experience with kittens and catnip. Kittens don’t react to catnip until they’re about two months old – IF they fall into the 50% of cats that respond at all. Some interesting, not cat-related facts about catnip: it is ten times more effective at repelling mosqitoes than DEET; it has a sedative effect on humans and can be used to settle an upset stomach (as a tea); it can heal cuts (damp leaves applied to a fresh cut).
When my mother was a child my grandmother gave birth to a baby girl with a heart problem, and to soothe the baby my grandmother would give her catnip tea.
Ingrid, I was going to follow up my lecture on “not weeds” with a few tips on catnip tea–it’s in every herbalist’s cache! Funny that cats who react to catnip rarely react to the tea, I think because it’s distilled down to only a few essences and the oil is so dilute in the infusion.
Here goes my kitty updates.
Jay came to visit on Saturday. (the kittens of course). We had steak, after I had to lasso him away from playing and taking pictures of the kits. He is so in awe of Justice, the tortie kitten. He is also very loving to Liberty and Freedom. But the Tortie Justice is his true love. She did not disappoint.
He shared small bits of his steak with Justice, who loved it, Liberty who also loved it, and momma Freedom, she also loved it. He ended up eating cold steak for his dinner, he kept feeding the kits.
On Sunday, he could not take his eyes off Justice and Liberty. They entertained him to no end.
So we had an early dinner, shrimp cocktail, steamed lobster tail, then clam linguine. Well he tried giving the little ones a taste of shrimp. No kitten wanted that. Then he tried lobster, again, no kitten wanted that. Then he gave Liberty a piece of clam, well different story. Liberty started to eat it very slowly and like lightning Justice showed up and stole it from Liberty and ate it. From that point on Jay and I were feeding clams to Justice, who showed real tortitude to get more clams and fast, then to Liberty who has very good manners and ate slowly and waited patiently for the next tidbit of clam. Justice was the little clam thief with Liberty. She gobbled her clams and then went after Liberty’s.
Finally Jay had to leave to clear the mountains before nightfall. I was very careful and took a headcount to make sure there was still 3 kittens. He would take Justice in the flash of an eye if he could. He will be the first to tell that. He just loves that Tortie kitten.
I love your kitty updates. The photos on Facebook are adorable!
I won’t touch this one with a 10 foot pole. LOL
Calling a plant a “weed” is kind of like calling me a “crazy cat lady.”
“I won’t touch this one with a 10 foot pole.”
Or a 6-foot Viking.
The wise one has spoken from the waters of the Atlantic. Can you find us a 6 foot Viking??????
LOL 😛
Have fun
You don’t understand. Those flowers are my friends.
Now what’s wrong with being tall and being Polish?
Humans are highly illogical.
Betty, I am posting this to you for Jay. He can read CC but for some reason his computer won’t let him post. He wanted you to know, if you need fresh catnip to grow, he can supply plenty of seeds for you. He has a lot of it growing at his place.
Of course anyone else that would like to try to grow you own, he will try to assist you also.
Nothing more fun than watching a kitten with the catnip. They are entertaining as they are, but some just have this gene that catnip ignites and they become even more hilarious.
Posted for Jay Davenport
I’ve thought about trying to grow my own catnip that is…lol I just can’t figure out where in the house I could grow it without the cats attacking it. I can’t gorw anything outside as I can’t walk well enough to walk in the yard.
I bought some sweet grass (oat grass) seeds to try and grow for Rocky as he loves it but is the only one of the four that does and so far after 3 batches I’m not doing so good. I need to contact the person I bought it from to see if they can help me figure out what I am doing wrong.
Then again I don’t exactly have a green thumb as even my silk plants died….from dust.
Betty, once it is planted, it just grows. I believe Jay says it is just a weed that grows anywhere. I know it grows all around his area out east. Those eastern kittens must have a good time any time.
Okay, I will not hear my fellow native wild plants called weeds.
Catnip is a native wild plant over much of North America, from pretty far south up into Canada, and even areas beyond that. It’s actually in wildflower mixes along with purple coneflower and Queen Anne’s Lace. It’s an annual, and a member of the mint family–and if you’ve ever heard of how mint can take over your garden you know catnip is pretty hearty stuff! Seeds sprout easily but keep the soil wet in dry weather. It will grow on its own, usually in tall stems, but you can pinch back the tips to make it branch out instead. Needs lots of sun, even grown indoors.
Betty, start it outside in a pot where you can easily reach it, then bring it inside.
Both catnip and cat grass need a lot of sun, but don’t overwater when grown inside. In fact, it’s okay if they get somewhat dry, but wet roots will make them rot.
Go out and garden now!
I can’t grow it here because I get all the cats in the neighborhood in my yard. And then the catnip is gone!
Okay, I will not hear my fellow native wild plants called weeds.
Catnip is a native wild plant over much of North America, from pretty far south up into Canada, and even areas beyond that.
And your point is????????? 🙂 🙂 🙂
Calling a plant a “weed” is kind of like calling me a “crazy cat lady.” Both denote something noxious and unnecessary. Both provoke the same response in me. I also prefer our native wild plants to the other stuff people try to grow.
There is only 1 place I can get to outside and that is right outside my front door at the top of my ramp. Problem with there is that is where we feed the feral cat we feed everyday. So chances are it would get eaten there. I have no enclosed space outside anywhere. Once we move into our house there is an attached garage with a side window in it that I could have my hubby built a shelf on so I could put it there.
Do you have any hints on how to plant the oat grass so that it grows sucessfully? I have tried just putting the seeds on top of the dirt and tried burying them and both times it grew in very sparse and weak.
Betty, how much direct sun does the grass get where you have it? It’s usually either too little light or too much water that makes plants sparse and weak.
It’s fine to sprinkle the seeds on the surface of the soil since the roots will grow downward no matter what. I usually sprinkle pretty heavily too, completely covering the top with seeds. Dampen the soil before you plant, sprinkle the seeds on, then spray water on the seeds so they don’t wash around and you make sure they are evenly wet. You can sprinkle some dampened soil on top to keep them moist. Unless it’s really dry you may not need to water again before they sprout in about a week, and you only need to water about once per week. But they need at least four hours of sunlight each day to grow correctly. Hope that helps!
Thank you so much for the information on how to plant the sweet grass!! One more question, the way we knew Rocky loved it was my hubbie had bought one of the sweet grass kits. We followed the instructions in it (which I accidently threw away after) and the last one was to cover the container until the seeds had all sprouted. The kit came with a small plastic container and a snap on lid that I put on after planting.
Do I need to cover the seeds after planting them?
thank you!
(but technically the post IS about kitties in that the sweet grass if for one) 😉
Betty, it does help to cover it, and you can even use plastic or waxed paper and a gum band to hold it on. It does help to keep the soil and seeds from drying out and keeps the temperature a little more constant, which is what seeds need to germinate quickly. The only thing that could be a problem is if you have any standing water, even in the bottom of the container, because it will mildew if it’s covered. But I wouldn’t worry about that. To properly dampen soil, just use about 1/8 cup of water for each cup of dry soil or soil mix, mix in the water, then let it sit for a day to make sure all the water is absorbed. If it’s still dry, add a little more, if there’s water in the container, pour it off. Then plant your seeds and spray them instead of pouring on water, and cover it. When you see the first sprouts, take off the cover. The rest have already begun sprouting and removing the cover will not slow it down.
Thank you so much Bernadette for all the valuable information!!! I even copied and posted it into an email to my hubby so if he plants it next time he’ll know how.
Mybe Ingrid needs to add a “how to” section for things like growing sweet (oat) grass and catnip so there is a permanent resource with the info in it.
thank you again!
Betty, that reminds me, I’d meant to write an article about this and wanted to use photos of my process, but forget to photograph every time I plant new grass. Yes, I forget to photograph the event!
It’s been awfully quiet here on the board. Just checking in to make sure everyone is ok and just busy having a good weekend.
I got the homegrown organic catnip in that I ordered from an online site that my babies are going nuts over. When my hubby brought the mail in Columbia climbed up onto the diningroom table and attacked the pile of mail trying to rip through the envelope. I got it away from her in time and took the catnip bags out and let the large manilla mailing envelope fall to the floor. Next thing I knew Columbia had her front claws embedded in my sock (which was on my foot at the time) while she chewed on the envelope. So I took that away from her, pryed her off my foot and scattered catnip on the cat tower.
Since Columbia is so possessive of any catnip I put down I had to put some down in the kitchen for Rocky, some across from the cat tower for Janet, and some in my computer room for Brad. I have to keep Brad and Columbia seperated when it’s catnip time otherwise they will fight over it, even if there’s more than one pile available.
Rocky just eats it, Janet eats some then rolls her head in it, Brad rolls his entire body in it, and Columbia lays on top of some of it while she eats some, then rolls in it.
I don’t know who is more entertained by it, the kitties or me.
Betty, I love to hear updates from your household, especially Columbia with her big personality, but mostly I like to be reminded of The Rocky Horror Picture Show every time you write about your cats. They have no idea what their names mean! It just cracks me up! I was a groupie.
My ex-husband took me to see it on our first date..lol I had to get up on stage with the other “virgins”, then was auctioned off. Quite a first date indeed!
If I ever can get another kitty it will need to be a boy as I’ve already used all the girl names, Magenta, Columbia and Janet. The next boy name would be either Riff or Eddie. I suppose worse case for a girls name I could use Faye.
You could cheat and start using the actors’ names, but only a few people would know. Let’s hope for the best if there’s another adoption in your house.
Great first date!
That sounds like some serious catnip, Betty! What brand is it?
Allegra and Ruby vary in their response to catnip. Allegra still occasionally gets aggressive when she’s exposed to too much, so I use it sparingly.
I can’t give mine catnip.
Morgan gets wild and hits Taz on the head.
Taz is OK, he just rolls around but then is a target for the others.
Kasey just gets nasty (nastier???) with the other animals 😉
Glen, the first time Jay ever came to meet Steeler, he cheated. He brought fresh catnip for her. She was zonked and the two of them became best buds. She rolled and played and played. Jay petted her and gave her. kitty scratches. He then planted some here at the house.
I have not tried to give the new ones any. Freedom may get some soon, she is becoming a good little mom.
Justice and Liberty still need to eat good food to grow. The last this duo needs is more energy. They fly around enough without any nip.
Kasey is not a good nipper. Taz sounds like Steeler when she was well and had it. She loved everyone, Until it wore off then all bets were off. She became my little Terrorist.
I have discovered through my lifetime of having kitties is that none of the kittensI’ve had have been interested in catnip. It has always been when they get to about six months or so before they spark their first interest in it. That’s just my experience, others may vary.
I have a tortie and she definitely had tortitude but in a very loving way.
I think most torties are loving, Katy – it just takes a special person to understand that tortitude is part of the package! 🙂
Oh, by the way, don’t forget to vote for Ingrid. We can win these categories for her. Here is the way to the site.
https://ingridking.com/2012/07/05/the-petties-part-two-please-vote-for-the-conscious-cat-2/
Everyone please vote. Thanks.
Thanks for voting, and for reminding everyone, Bernie! The direct link to vote is http://petties.dogtime.com/voting
Hey here I am again. Home again. Have a piece of pizza and a wild blue. Kittens are in the cat tree and Freedom is upset because I won’t let her in my room. I am having a kitty free zone while I enjoy my snack.
While sitting her I thought I would let you folks all know about the new found behavior of all three.
I was running the sweeper (yes I do housework, before anyone guesses wrong). The Justice and Liberty were playing in the kitty central room (formerly know as my formal living room). They were each up on the kitty tower. Freedom was resting peacefully on the bed (formerly my bed). Well the sweeper had no effect on any one of the three. They simply went about their ways and ignored the sweeper altogether. This is reminiscence of Steeler’s behavior. The sweeper was her buddy. Well these three acted just like she did. The only difference so far, is that none of them have attempted to ride on it while I am sweeping.
Story for today. Smile darn it and enjoy the visual of this one. :):)
I remember trying to imagine Steeler riding the sweeper.
I’m sure the three were looking down on you as the hired help. I’m sure they can also find insufficiencies. Cats.
I think they do feel that I am just the hired help. The one that feeds them, plays them and overall annoys just plain annoys them. 🙂
This should help with the visual of Steeler riding the sweeper. I have a Dyson Animal. She would jump on the head of the sweeper then look up at me and hold one to the round part that is called the tunnel. She would just sit up and look delighted. I always had to watch her tail. As soon as I shut it off she would get off and act indignant that I had stopped. Love that little Tortie. 🙂
Tortitude demonstration.
Taz is my 22+ pound orange guy. He is the size of a typical Maine Coon male, even though he isn’t one. He has a stubby tail like a lynx, due to a pre-rescue injury when he was about 12 years old.
Kasey is big for a female cat and a bit too heavy at 15 pounds.
Taz was lying on the floor last night minding his own business.
Kasey came along and started sniffing the end of his stubby tail, he ignored this.
The she bit his tail.
He forgot what he was dealing with and sat up and hit her on top of the head.
This did not deter her one bit, she reared up and attacked him like a tigress.
He very quickly retreated, while I caught her and took her elsewhere to distract her with a toy.
Even the big orange guy, who out weighs her by 7 pounds, isn’t a match for the “Warrior Queen” 😉
Oh poor Taz. He just doesn’t get it yet. The big orange guy, is still in his trusting all kitties mode. Kasey on the other hand was feeling a little like getting things going and she decided Taz was her best bet. She got your attention right away. She is no dummy. The “Warrior Queen” wins “again” 🙂
I’m going to have to say goodbye for awhile. It is a possibility that the intense itching is caused by radiation from my wireless laptop and modem. Will shut them down for a few days to see if that eliminates or helps with my problem. If it’s found to be the cause of this scalp itching my computer fellow says he could hard wire my system to eliminate the radiation completely. Hope this works. I will miss reading your comments. Before I go I’ll leave you with on last story. Trying to decide which to write about . There is Termite and her self entertaining antics, or maybe Tater, the cat that said “WHAT” or perhaps Sparkle who lost her young life due to a vet mistake. On second thought I’ll just wait until I can return to this electronic maze of filtering our thoughts. Take care. See you soon. Dick
“Tortiologically!” I love it!
So what does that make all of us? Tortieholics?
Tortieholics is a definite!
Yes, but it’s a tortilicious way to be!
Well, that’s a tortitudinous answer!
I think we are all a bunch of Tortitudiloonies!
Bopeeps, I don’t know where your post is on the site, there is so many wonderful stories going on, from Betty, Glen,Dick and Lynn and so may more. I seen the post where you wanted to know how Freedom, the kittens mom was reacting to her kittens. Let me put it this, they are far from best buds, however there is more progress. She will allow them in the same room with her and she will even eat while they are just a foot or so away.
She is bonding with me very well. As soon as she knows I have come into the house, she will come out. At bedtime or if I am working in my room, she is right there. She likes to get kitty scratches and long petting on her back. So there is great progress.
To make it really good, Momma has not bitten or ever attempted to bite anyone including the kittens. I have a good feeling about these kittens. 🙂
Thanks for asking.
Tortilogically! Tortilogically! Lynn wins some kind of award!
Bernadette, you might be wondering how cupcake got her name. Margaret worked at the Humane Society of Alachua county at the time and in late November told me about the snack she would prepare for Christmas morning to have while the two of us opened presents. She said I could also have a cupcake with my coffee. Here it comes. Yes she brought CUPCAKE home for Christmas morning. The workers at the Humane Society had named her. A tuxedo cat. Dick
Another good Cupcake story! You’re full of them, but she is one fun kitty.
Bernie don’t you love the expressions on the kitties face. They don’t have to talk, just that look is enough. Sometimes cupcake will come into the kitchen and set near her food bowl and look at me as to say, “well, are you going to feed me?” Dick. As a friend of my says “Life has an expiration date.”
I think I love Cupcake. Just the name is enough.
Dick,you cupcake sounds like she knows your weak spots.
As for the kitten eyes, whether yours, mine or anyone elses’, we all get the look from their expressive beautiful eyes.
A lot is said to us from our little ones.
Bernadette, I agree 2 are constant motion, then just flop down where they are and sleep until the next round. But I am not complaining. It is motion of a lot of fun.
Ok folks, here is a the tale of what happens when you have two kittens and the litter box is in your bathroom. No kidding.
Early yesterday Am around 5 I awakened and went to my bath. I turned on the light, and all at once this tiny head of gray, with big round green eyes looked up at me from the litterbox as if to say WHAT. Having seen that and smiling then I seen my little Tortie, Justice sitting patiently on the bath carpet for her turn, she looked at me with her big round gold eyes as if to say turn off the light and take a #. Well I decided I really didn’t need to go in there after all. Just curled back into my bed smiling and thinking how it looked in my bath at 5 AM. Fell fast asleep. Don’t have a clue what they did next. Not sure it was any of my business. 🙂 🙂
By the way everyone, keep voting. Jay and I vote daily.
Bernie, one kitten alone is an experience in cleaning up after a whirlwind, but two kittens together = way more than just two kittens. They can plot and plan and climb on each others’ shoulders. I had great fun with the Four.
I love your kitten stories, Bernie!
And thank you for voting!
lol, too funny Berns, they’re training you well!
Monkey and Shanks “cover up” for each other….if one poops and doesn’t cover it properly, the other will come along and do it lol
I still get two or three in one litterbox at the same time. I told them they don’t know the rules of litterbox use, that it’s supposted to be one cat per box. Unfortunately the photos never come out well.
Lynn I am loving it. They really are a lift to me. If anyone would have said that to me after Steeler, I would have been upset. Here I am thanking Steeler and Eric every day for the happiness sent my way.
I’m sorry you felt compelled to delete a news story I had sent. No matter what we would like the world of animals to be, that type of story is the real world. Of course you have every right to manage you blog site any way you want. I respect your decision and will in the future not submit any other disturbing and or offensive blogs. Dick
Hmm, I’m on both sides of this coin….It’s important to show the bad things that happen, so people aren’t looking through rose colored glasses, but then, this blog was intended to talk about our torties. I guess, as it isn’t Tortiologically (heheh, I invented a new word) inclined, I can understand.
Dick, please don’t stop posting here. I’ve had posts removed before, in the interest of keeping the peace, I think we all have lol
“Tortiologically”? Fantastic word. Does that mean we are all “tortiologically challenged”? lol.
I think it means exacttly that! lol
I’m torn too, but the real world of what people do to animals–and Dick and Lynn and most of us have been in the trenches for a long time–I see it all the time on Facebook, every evening the lists of animals on death row, the FB and Yahoo groups I’m in, I read reports from my shelters on animal abuse and massive rescues, I’m out on trapping adventures to get stray and feral colonies out of harm’s way before someone poisons or shoots all of them and I’ve seen far too much ugly stuff to ever forget–and I am glad for one place where everything is happy, except for when we lose one of our precious members. I don’t have to worry when I see a post show up in my e-mail whether or not I should read it or just delete it considering a recent discussion. I’m always happy to see a post from here, even if I don’t always comment.
OMG, I wish there was a “Like Button”
I SO wish I was mobile and could help with this.
Lynn, wow, that has to be entered into Webster’s Dictionary. Tor————–, is a lot to say. Buy I like it. If it wasn’t a word before, it is now.
The first time I told somebody that Gracie has “tortitude” they looked at me as if I was crazy (well, people often do that …!). Wait until I tell them about “tortiologically”. I’ll have to work it into a sentence once I can get my tongue around it so to speak.
Margaret, I agree with you. That is a lot of word to say. I decided not to even spell the whole word. Good for you. You even spelled it. 🙂
I can see it happening now. The posts will begin to show these loooooonnng words and we will be trying to come up with something that is a real twister. Gonna be a fun time 🙂 🙂
Hey everyone, as those of you who have commented here for a while know, I rarely delete comments. However, I felt compelled to delete Dick’s comment about a hoarder story in Palm Beach County. This blog is not a venue for such posts. Those of us who love animals have great compassion for cats in need, and it’s emotionally difficult to see these stories all too frequently during our online travels. This blog is a place for people to come to read about cats without having to deal with stories of abuse.
Thank you for understanding.
I did tell you about Cupcakes love of water. In the evenings after her supper, Cupcake will sometimes go to lay in HER room which is across the hall from the bathroom where her water is gotten to fill her bowl. Oh yes don’t for heaven sake let her water bowl get more than half empty. You will not hear the end of it until the bowl is refreshed. The other evening Margaret and I were in the living room and cupcake in HER room when she let out one of her loud meows. We both knew that she wanted her water bowl attended to. But Margaret and I were in a discussion about something and ignored her cry. Cupake wasn’t going to have being ignored. She let out another yell from her room, again ignored. She came into the living room and again yelled at us. Went back down the hall and into the bathroom and sat waiting for one of us to come empty her half full bowl and refill it with fresh water. She took her drink and promptly went off to sleep. Persistent cat she is.
lol….My, she’s got you trained quite well!
Sounds like she’s got both of you wrapped around her little paws – which is as it should be! 🙂
Glen. Kinda role reversal there with you and Kassey.
Yeah, it was.
That’s OK, she did 8 years “hard time” there, it is a wonder she is alive.
She came out of it with the tips broken off both upper fangs and an injury to her back legs that has left her unable to jump (good thing she is an indoor cat now).
My only regret is not taking her out of there in 2006 instead of 2008; but she is happy now and quite “imprinted” on me.
Glen when I read that you had returned to the site where Kasey had lived before you took her home, I was wondering how that was going to effect you. I know you could probably still feel the anger at the “place” just for Kasey. But you did bring her home and now she is happy, loving and most of all your real buddy, above all others. So it is time to stop thinking what if. What you did and have continued to do for her speaks volumes. You brought home the greatest gift you could ever have for yourself.
We all know what it means to rescue a kitten in distress. It burns into your heart that you have to make sure this/these kittens are and forever will be treated with great love and medical care. You have been doing all that. Have no regrets for what might have been in 2006.
Actually, I will be there for a couple days on a job that I am supervising in two weeks.
I was actually there when the site was built 30+ years ago as a new guy on the job, so I have a long history associated with it.
With Kasey out of there and at home, where living well is the best revenge 😉 it has gone back to being just one of the many facilities that I work on, periodically when repairs, upgrades or modifications are needed.
It is nice to just go up there, get the job done and get out, without having any concern over my old ” buddy” 🙂
Lianima, yes it’s difficult to put into words for others to share what you are experiencing with your cats. However keep in mind no matter what you have as a pet or just an animal that you care for, they are always a reflection of your spirit. To demonstrate, have you seen an animal that shy’s away from those whom they are around? It probably didn’t take but a minute for you to decide the animal is being maltreated.Your animals,PETS, are evidently treated very well and reflects your love with the ease of their antics. Our cat Misty can talk, but she CAN’T PURR. She makes some type of utterance that I could’t describe. When she lays on the arm of my chair she usually has a paw or foot touching my leg as if she were holding hands or having her arm around me.Any how that’s my interpolation. I enjoy her touch and look forward to it. I usually respond with a gentle rubbing behind her ear and her ears themselves. Ain’t it funny how attached we become to our pets?
All my girls have totally different personalities, but they’ve all always been that way. Peaches is sneaky evil, But sweet to me and me only, Monkey loves EVERYONE…no shyness whatsoever, and Shanks is quiet, shy, but very docile and gentle, she’s a sweetie.
I love it when cats “hold paws” with us – so sweet!
OMG you guys this is hilarious! I wish I had a video recorder….
Okay, I wish you guys could see this, it’s hilarious….but I’ll try to do it justice by description. My very slightly built little black chick Shanks is playing a game of tag with my Portly big-Persian-haired tortie Monkey…..they’re shooting back and forth across the apartment…It’s a pretty new apartment, I’m still buying stuff, so I still have boxes…there’s an empty Dirt Devil Vacuum box broken down and propped against the wall with other boxes holding it in place…also keep in mind my hallway is REALLY long…so Shanks keeps enticing Monkey to chase her at warp speed down the hall then sprinting through the box…Monkey keeps getting stuck and Shanks keeps creeping around the back to bite her tail….I could watch this all day! lol
Never a dull moment with a kitten around, is there? And where is Peaches while all of this is going on? I picture her somewhere up high, with a disapproving frown on her face. 🙂
Exactly….watching disdainfully from the back of the love seat. I swear I saw her roll her eyes.
Every day when I come home from work, Monkey and Shanks meet me at the door…Every day I say “Hello beautiful, hello other beautiful” then walk down the loooooooooooooooooooooooong hall to the living room where Peaches is inevitably curled up on the loveseat, I say; ” Hello beautiful” rub her cheek for a second, get bitten or hissed at, and move on lol….Peaches is just anti-social. My friend Carol was helping me carry my groceries in once, she was carrying the cat food, in fact, Peaches came running out and went all Halloween cat, arching her back, hissing and growling. Now Carol tells everyone who’s coming over that they better grab a cross and some holy water for Peaches. I figure since Monkey refuses to show “Tortitude”, Peaches has decided to carry the torch lol
lol….She’s so funny though. I love her madly….In the same way I love my ex’s father who would walk through the living room, look at me and Tony, shake his head and mutter “And people wonder why I drink” lol….He liked me, he was just cranky, and he loved that I thought his crankiness was funny. I see Peaches the same way. She’s old and cranky, but she loves me and I love her back!
lol
It’s “Peachitude” – Peaches’ special version of tortitude!
LMAO…..Exactly! She’s a big girl, a Maine Coon type, she could do damage if she wanted to
Peachitude….perfect lol
Peachitude, another new word for the dictionary. Who would have know this group was so highly intelligent. Glad to be a part of such great company.
You folks have ( me too) let the storms and heat get to the, “let’s invent new word” part of our brains.
I think Lynn should get the Gold Star and Ingrid, you should get the Silver. Lynn made up a really long word. I would say she said a $50 word. Yours is more in the area of $25 word.
Now that should improve the grammar for all of us. 🙂 🙂
She cracks me up SO much, she’s just evil for NO reason…Ornery for the sake of being ornery, for some reason I find this hilarious
It has been a while since I was at the company facility where I took Kasey from in May 2008.
I was on a work related road trip and stopped in there on my way back, this afternoon.
Habitually, each time I arrived there, I used to look for Kasey or signs of the (food and water bowls) as soon as I got in the office/maintenance building, to see if she was still there. I still used to do this out of habit after I took her home.
Well, this time I didn’t look, knowing she was at home where I left her this morning and thinking when I was at her former home, she was likely holding down a favorite cat bed back home.
Not all my stories will , if any, be a wow factor. I will, however try to keep them interesting. Margaret and I live in a small North Central Florida town that when there were still public telephones some would gather around the phone booth on a Saturday evening taking turn listing to the neat sound of the dial tone. And now back to the kitties. I won’t remember to write the complete story at one time about a particular cat ,but as I do recall some of their habits and antics I will write again about the same cat.I told you that you wouldn’t believe CUPCAKE. WE still have cupcake she is now 15 years old. All she wants is her water. Even as a small kitten she would jump onto the bathroom sink counter to lick residue water from the sink. We had what we called a cat condo.A rug type covered round house about three feet high with a place on top to relax and take a nap. Below were two apartments to be crawled into to hide from the world. One Sunday my son visited with his little rug rat still small enough to find her way into the bottom apartment. Paul, my son, was able to work his head into the apartment. He yelled out there is a cat in here purring with Abbey, the baby. That was cupcake. It didn’t bother her one bit that someone had invaded her space, she just carried on without a care in the world. The most recent event with cupcake is when she had an operation to correct an eyelash that had bother her for some time. The lash had turned to where it was irritating her eye. There were stitches needing to be removed once the healing was complete. Margaret took her to the vet for the procedure. Of course typical of cupcake she lay purring on the exam table as the vet was examing her to determin if the stitches were ready to come out. They were, so without so much as a relaxing shot cupcake laid there purring while the doc removed the stitches. Doc’s and the techs comments “I don’t believe this cat.”
Thanks for the feed back about being a physic cat. I still have stories about the other cats that have crossed our lives. If I won’t bore you about their lives intertwined with Margaret and I, I’ll gladly share. I do seem to enjoy writing about them, but it’s your call. Dick
Great stories so far Dick, I am really enjoying them!!
Please do continue to post about your other kitties and experiences. We are a “the more the merrier” kind of place that enjoys hearing about all kitties, not just our torties.
So by all means…post on
We love cat stories here – keep them coming! And feel free to post photos of your cats on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/consciouscat.
Is Misty physic? The least she will do is set, look at the ceiling and talk to whatever. Neither Maegaret or I can see a bug or anything up there she might find visually interesting. Well I said that was the least. The first time I experienced any thing of a physic nature with Misty was a little unnerving. I was home alone with her as Margaret was at work. Misty was on the couch across the room from me when suddenly she stood and stared down the. Her stare was intense, she was seeing something. She let out a couple of slight meows as to speak to whatever she was seeing. I looked,couldn’t see a thing. It gave me such a weird feeling that I got up and looked through the entire house. NOTHING. When Margaret was home that evening I told her about the episode and to say the least she was a nonbeliever, that was until a couple of evenings later when I ,Margaret and Misty were all relaxing in the living room. Misty was lying on top of the re-clinger where Margaret was relaxing. Misty jumped up, looked down the hall said a few words and raced down the hall and set in front of the closet door where the air handler was kept. She just sat there looking at the door. It was a while before she gave up her interest. Margaret was amazed at her antics. Of course I couldn’t help but rub into Margaret how she had poo-hooded me when I told about my experience a few days earlier. She became a believer and didn’t have any suggestions as to what Misty was up to. Have any of had any similar occurrences with you kitties? I’m still looking for a reason why Misty did what she did.Help us out with this one if you can. I sure as time passes I will remember more about Misty.
I never doubted that cats can see things that we don’t. After Buckley died, I would often see Amber stare into space with a faraway look in her eyes. There’s no doubt in my mind that she “saw” Buckley and was communicating with her. While I would feel Buckley’s presence, I never actually “saw” her, but I’m sure that Amber did.
Hi Dick,
It’s good to hear from others who have had “those moments” with their kitties. My first tortie Magenta would quite often “talk to the walls”, or sit mesmerized by something that neither my ex-husband or I could see. She would seem to be in her own world then suddenly snao out of it and be back to herself.
One of my kitties now, Rocky my male tux has always stared at walls, shelves, into space and howled. He doesn’t cry, he howls. It was expecially happening in my old apartment. A friend of mine that lived a few apartments down the hall from me at the time had a cat that had a little of kittens, out of the 4 two of them died at birth as they were preemies. My Rocky never saw the babies or knew they existed, yet after they were born and passed he seemed to have found some “invisible playmates”. He would sit and howl at my apartment door then a few minutes later start running and look as though he was chasing something or someone. In fact this was the little of kittens that my Angelika came from.
Anyway here it is years later and he still howls at empty spaces. I just shake my head and wonder what he could be howling at, then I figure do I really want to know? Probably not.
Hey folks, listen up, first Jay and I say VOTE. OK
Message from Jay by phone to me. Jay can’t get on line to respond to anything, his computer, crashed and burned. He is rebuilding one. So in the meantime, know that I will do my best to keep him updated. He does have a laptop, but like, well maybe I won’t say that, he prefers his PC.
Now I have you all updated on his absence. Look for his return. In the meantime remember to VOTE
OK 🙂
Well folks here comes the stories. JJ’s story is very difficult to tell. Already I’m seeing these keys through watery eyes When the neighbors wife died, Tom as they had name him, started coming around our house. Margaret started feeding him. Well you know what happened then. Yes Tom became our cat. Never thought Tom for a name showed much character so I renamed him after his former owner,JJ, He was an outside cat evidently never really bonded with former owners. He wouldn’t set on my lap or show that he wanted much close physical contact. The next door neighbor had her carport stuffed full of boxes, appliances and miscellaneous items with many places a kitty could find for taking a safe nap. I could go out on the front patio, clap my hands and call out JJ. Here would come JJ running across both yards to greet me. His usual was to allow some petting and then rubbing himself over and around my legs. Also when Margaret was out working in the yard I could look out and see JJ laying not more than two or three feet away just as content as any cat could be. I assumed he felt very safe around either of us. As time went on I began to notice that JJ was n’t looking too well his walk became slowed and his demeanor was subdued. I began to worry more about him and took JJ to the vet. After some testing he was diagnosed with a blood parasite which would be cause for treatment in their hospital. I ok’d that. After a couple of days there JJ came home.He ,at first, responded well to his treatment then he begin to show signs of regression. After a few more days of dragging himself around, in almost a stupor I again took
JJ to the vet.This time the vet said the best for JJ was to put him to sleep. Both Margaret and I were there sitting on the bench together in the exam room with JJ mulling around on the floor as the vet was explaining the procedure of putting JJ to sleep and the necessity of it. Now here comes the difficult part for me. As I explained before JJ was not a lap cat. JJ jumped upon the bench and laid between us, something he would never had done. He lay there for a bit then crawled into my lap. The vet ten took JJ from me and began the procedure. After JJ had passed I told the vet JJ’s story about how JJ would never have come to me like he did in the exam room. With that She began to cry. I really never bonded with JJ, buy I really liked that cat.
There’s nothing worse than having to make that decision, especially when it’s unexpected, or you don’t feel your relationship with the cat is really ready to be over–that there’s more time you want to share together. But sometimes cats come to us to be rescued, sad as it is for us, imagine if you and Margaret hadn’t befriended JJ and he’d suffered and died in one of those old appliances, never knowing your friendship. I’d say you bonded just fine, and he gave you his final gift, to voluntarily get up next to you two, and sit on your lap for even just a few minutes. I’m so glad you could do that for him, and knowing my own rescue cats, he’s no doubt still thanking your for your love and mercy.
I’m so sorry about JJ – it’s so hard to have to let them go. I’m with Bernadette, that was a wonderful gift he gave you at the end. I’m sure it was his way of saying “thank you.”
Oops. How could I have forgotten about Sparkle, who lost her very young life due to a vet mistake. Dick
Dick, we welcome any and all stories, even if they aren’t current and aren’t torties. I am down to one tortie but have been owned and managed by several tri-color cats so I am well-trained, and am currently being manipulated by five black cats, all related.
Let the story telling begin.
Meant to say I’m so sorry, in advance, about Sparkle, and JJ as well.
And it’s obvious you’re a serial cat rescuer. You are among friends.
Today is my day to hit “submit” instead of “return” when I’m commenting on blogs.
Ok Dick, you have really picked the right site. We are not just about Torties, although they are our most treasured babies, most of us also have other kittens. So telling stories of your kits will be fresh and most likely very enjoyable. We talk and encourage all to feel comfortable to talk about their kittens. Occasionally there may be a mention of someone’s beloved dog. Jay, one of our treasured friends, talks of his kits, a combination of Torties and more, his mini Donkey, named Buell, his mini horse, Harley and his Boer Goat, Nutmeg. Do you still want to ask if it’s ok to tell stories about other pets. Heck yes. Tell away. 🙂
Hi guys. A little more about our Misty. She taught herself to open the kitchen cabinet doors to snuggled down for a while or to just look around. The way she does this door opening is ingenious. She will grab the door handle with her two front paws while standing on her hind legs then walk backwards to open the door. It is quite entertaining to watch. A smart cat? I don’t know if this is the proper forum for telling stories about other cats that have been in our lives, but if it is, I could tell you about JJ and his sad and touching end of life or about Tater, the cat that said “WHAT.” You won’t believe CUPCAKE. The vet and the techs say”I don’t believe that cat.” Let me known and I will share these stories. Oh yea, how could I forget about Termite and her self entertaining antics. Dick
Ok folks, kitty update. My Tortie, Justice and my gray tiger, Liberty, have become the most active and amusing kittens possible. They are just to cute for words. They go constantly and all of a sudden they will just plop down and sleep. Just like a snap of the fingers. I won’t say they are not mischievous. They find more places, both high, low, under, on and around that I could not have imagines. We have come a long way since they came to me in June. Justice and Liberty love company. They may be nowhere to be seen or heard, but let someone come in and they put on a show like you could not believe.
Now for the mom, Freedom, today, was a really good day with her. She has been getting on the foot of my bed, but would not come to me or let me touch her. This AM I was talking to her, no kitty talk for this one, and moving my fingers, as if to give her kitty scratches. To my utter surprise she slowly came up to me and I was able to pet her and give her kitty scratches. She was truly enjoying herself, she finally knows she is safe here. That was until Justice and Liberty decided they were not going to let her have “their” mom’s attention. Up they came and away she went. The interesting thing is they want attention, but I am still not touching them. They will rub on my leg or arm or lie against my back, but they are not ready for hands on just yet. Any day now that will happen.
So you are up to date. My home, looks like a kitty land, and if you enter, beware, somewhere or somehow a strange kitten will appear and possibly scare the dickens out of you. 🙂 🙂 Lots of laughing with these little ones.
Bernie, sounds like life is dull and intolerable in your house.
It has always amazed me that at six weeks of age and weighing much less than a bag of flour, one tiny kitten can thoroughly and methodically investigate an entire house, create new games and toys, eat, litterbox, bathe completely, and create total havoc in just a few hours–one tiny little kitten. It’s always amazed me how quickly they mature and how much they can do when other species are still falling over.
And it’s a wonderful gift when they let you pet them that first time.
Bernadette and all, it is all new to me for the kittens. WOW how they have changed my house. They have taken over and I am still waiting for the little ones to let me actually pet them. They do sleep up against me at nite and run off when I awaken. Sneaky little ones, they are. Their momma, Freedom is going to make a lovely cat. I may just be lucky and have a lap cat or two. Here’s hoping. 🙂
I love hearing your updates – the kittens sound like so much fun! I love that Freedom is coming around, too.
I adopted a homeless, diluted tortoiseshell about three years ago and I couldn’t be happier with the kitty I chose. At first, when I let her come live in my house, she hissed at the very smell or sight of my other cat, a male British Bombay I’ve been having for twelve years. She would pick a fight with him every chance she got and, also, kind of attempted to take over the house like she owned it. After a few months, both of my cats accepted each other and now, they are like brother and sister. They look after each other and play with one another everyday like they’ve known each other for years. My diluted tortoiseshell cat definitely displays independence and feistiness but also enjoys companionship and being spoiled. She’s one of the cutest cats I’ve ever seen or had the chance to take care of.
That’s wonderful that your two get along so well, Ryan. I think the combination of feistiness and yet, enjoying companionship, is one of the many things that makes torties so special.
Welcome Ryan!
It’s always nice to hear from someone else that is owned by a tortie.
What are your kitties names? We also love pictures, the more the merrier. Somewhere on this site is the information as to where you can upload pictures.
Please stop in anytime and share the adventures of your two kitties.
Ryan, welcome to the best Tortie blog, bar none. Sounds like you rescued a very special little girl. Hissing and taking over the house, well that is part of the “Tortitude” that comes with a Tortie. They are definitely in a class of their own. It is really great that she finally bonded with you other kitten.
Sounds like you have been enjoying the antics of kittens for a while now. That is what makes them special. Always at the ready to get into something and always ready to surprise you. We would like to see pics of both you kittens. Please post them on https://ingridking.com. I believe almost all of us have posted our kittens pics there.
My Tortie is Steeler. She was and always will be a very special Tortie. She crossed over the rainbow bridge on April 30, ’12.
Have fun here. We are always “bragging” or teasing the folks on here. 🙂
we are new at this computer game, so bear with us as we attempt to take pictures and get them on the computer and then posted. You are right I was unjustly a little perturbed. I have been dealing with a sever allergic reaction to what we believe is medicated related. I am miserable and my nerves are on a raw edge. My sincere apologies. it is so nice to hear from others who have an affection for the kitties.
Worry not Dick, we all have those days. I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. I have been through a couple of medication allergy experiences and I don’t envy what you’re going through. My last and worst one took over a month to get my system back to normal. My body, especially my back became covered with huge itchy hives and the doctor tried benydryl injections but finally had to pump me with steroids to get them to slowly stop.
We all are definite tortie lovers plus other kitty types as well. I think many of us have “mixed” families. I have 4 kitties, only one of which is a tortie. She is clearly the queen of the roost and has no problem reminding her sister and brothers of that fact.
Right now she is next to me on the couch, laying on her “woobie”. We’re watching an old Richard Pryer concert on the comedy network and just finished sharing some crackers and cream cheese. Granted she was more partial to just the cream cheese which had to be served on mommys fingertip. She is my constant companion at night, always laying close to me, but not on me. She is not a lap cat. The only time she has ever insisted on being on my lap was a couple of years ago when I came home from a 13 day hospital stay. I had never seen her cling like that before. It was exactly what I needed to complete my healing. Torties especially seem to sense these things.
So anyway Dick, I am as I am sure others here will send you some positive thoughts to speed up your recovery. Please take care and let us know how you’re doing. We;re just like that here. Welcome to our family.
No Worries. I hope you feel better soon!
WE WERE TOLD SHE IS A MUTTED TORTOISE SHELL.BLACK AND ORANGE PATCHES. RUBBING HER HAIR AGAINST THE GRAIN EXPOSES COMPLETELY WHITE FUR. YES I MAY HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE, I’M TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO SOMEONE WHO DOSEN’T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT A MUTTED [TORTOISE ] SHELL IS.
Dick, love the story of Misty. You and your wife must love her very much. Rescuing her from a shelter is an act of love of a pet.
Misty sounds like she is just full of herself. Showing her Tortitude “indeed”. Steeler was my special Tortie and she did not allow me to hold her, but she would sleep every night on the pillow beside mine on my bed. I am not surprised to read this of you little Misty.
I may be wrong, and if I am, I am sorry. I believe the shelter may have met muted Tortieshell kitten.
That would explain why her colors are not as strong as others but that would not mean she is not a Tortie. From the sounds of her “Tortitude” behavior, she sure is a strong Tortie. We love pics. Is you could, could you please post a pic of her on http://conciouscat.net. We, meaning all of us on her have posted pics of our little ones of all breeds and types. I would like to see Misty there among all the others.
Keep that Tortitude going Misty. You are in great company. 🙂
Ah, muted as in “dilute tortie” – of course! I don’t know why I didn’t realize that when I first read Dick’s comment about Misty.
Welcome Dick,
You’ll find we are all fellow tortie lovers. You seem upset because we weren’t understanding you. Please don’t be. I believe Bernie is right and it all comes down to a possible type, mutted instead of muted that’s all and nothing more.
We are in no way doubting that your kitty is a tortie, her tortitude alone is proof of that.
We would enjoy hearing more about her and her tortie adventures and like Bernie said, we love pictures of all our furry babies.
So welcome, and enjoy 🙂
we have a three year-old mutted. Got her at three months. I love her to death. She won’t be cuddled, buy will lay on my lap at times.Loves to lay on the arm of the chair in which I set. Usually sleeps on HER pillow on top of the bed with me. She will talk a lot to my wife when she is asked if she wants to eat. She has gotten to where she hides under the bed when any one approaches the house. She has her advantage point on the back of the couch to see any one coming. When someone approaches, she takes off like a shot for the bedroom. During the first year she was find with other people, then she developed this trait of running and hiding. I believe she shows typical traits of a mutted. The head of animal rescue, where we got her, said “she was the dominate one of the litter”. When we were in the play room with her and one of her sisters at the time we were deciding which cat to adopt, Misty our cat, would jump up to the door handle as to open the door. She evidently knew how the door was to be opened, but of course couldn’t open it. After we brought her home she ran every where. Never walked any place, always a run. Tired of being caged up since birth. When my wife,Margaret, picks Misty up the cat will become stiff-legged with the claws out. Not that she is attempting to her any one its just her way of being held like “I don’t want any part of this”. Like I said she is not a cuddlier.
I’m not familiar with the term “mutted,” Dick. I’m assuming it means mixed breed? Misty definitely sounds like she’s got tortitude!
Kelly has been keeping me busy in this heat–no more disappearing acts in the basement to give me yet more gray hair, perhaps it will be my eyebrows next since I’m nearly all gray anyway–but she can still disappear into a very small space anywhere in the rest of the house. I spend at least an hour each day trying to find the next spot she’s found, like under the book case in the corner of my bedroom, or behind all the matboard in the corner of my studio where, of course, I have to move things and lean in at an impossible angle with a flashlight to be able to see her. She spends all day in these spots, which means she does not visit the water bowl, so I have to dose her with fluids every few days. I even have an air conditioner in the bathroom now which serves the upstairs pretty well, but Kelly has to be independent. I’m just glad she’s feeling well and eating well. And, of course, she is as sweet as pecan pie, which kind of resembles her in coloring.
Sweet talkative Kelly hiding. No Way. Surely you can hear her telling her stories somewhere. When I met her she talked and talked and talked. The tale she spun would make Dickens look like an amateur.
Hope she gets back to that little Tortie behavior. Hiding, well if I had all those big brothers, I would probably go somewhere and hide just to get some quiet down time away from them. 🙂 Hope she starts drinking lots of liquids for you real soon.
Definately in this heat keep water for her and the others. Bernie would put ice cubes in the water for Steeler.
Morgan update;
She is doing well, so far.
Food is staying down, she is active.
She has regained her bold demeanour and is not as skittish (bold for a small tuxie, it doesn’t approach tortitude on its best day).
She DEMANDED two feeding of A/D food, this morning. It was not asking or begging, it was a demand.
Glen, when I have used A/D for cats in recovery from illness or simply in need of extra nourishment, it always did the trick. I haven’t used it lately, but I remember it was based on liver, which is highly nourishing for obvious reasons, and a favorite flavor with most cats whether it’s food or treats.
That’s great news, Glen!
Glen, hearing this is really good news. Demanding is a very good sign, especially for Morgan. Now on the way to being the kitten she is meant to be. Lots of life to have and love to give (except when Kasey decides to change things). 🙂
Fantastic news. We are all pulling for her. And even though Tuxie’s can demand, they don’t have the roar to back it up like a Tortie. But that is progress and we are happy.
We have a little dilute tortie — beautiful. Used to wonder if she was one of those blue-grey cats, but her “peachy spots” gave her away. Despite peachiness, she has incalculable tortitude. Just today, she jumped onto our American shorthair’s window-bed, flipped him (in all his girth) and then appropriated the bed! She also partakes in attacking (yes, attacking) two massive German shepherds she is forced to share her home with, sitting in high cupboards for hours refusing to come down, biting the hand that feeds her, and sitting in between the shower curtain and the liner. And to think we adopted her because we thought she would have a quiet disposition. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Taking on two German Shepherds – now that’s tortitude!
Yes, that’s the classic tortie 😉
I have no problem visualizing that, Kasey, my old “Warrior Queen” would do the same thing. She loves human attention but puts herself in a good guarding position in a strategic location where other animals need or want to go by, such as a doorway.
She lays down and relaxes until the inevitable, (but welcome, to her) confrontation results.
There’s nothing wrong with your Tortie. That is what makes them so Lovable. 🙂
Sound like your typical Tortie. 2 German Shepherds work even work up a sweat for her.
You will find a few on here that think nothing of taking on an animal 10 times larger. Steeler and Kasey had other animals doing all they could do to avoid them.
What is her name ?
And post her pic on Ingrids FB page.
Sounds like she has iniitiated you and your dogs properly into her world of tortitude. You will notice in the responses to you that none of us are surprised by her behavior. That’s because we all live it with our tortie babies. It is a wild wacky world and I know that none of us would trade it for anything.
Welcome!
Today has been interesting. I woke at 6:55am and put the barn critters out, came in and turned on the news while laying on the bed. Tabby was on the pillow beside me and Frankie came up for a 3 minute scratch. After he left Styx came up on the bed, saw Tabby and hissed at her. I yelled at her and she left. About 5 minutes later she came up for a scratch. Minutes later she was gone but in the next hour was up and down about 6 times.
I later went on the computer and Styx has been in and out near my hand getting scratches. A few times she went Tortie on me and growled and swatted my hand. A few minutes later she was back for scratches.
Arourd 10 I was at the kitchen door and Stir wanted out , eventually Stir, Tabby and Punky were out eating grass. I combed Tabby and got an extra cat with all the fur off her.
Inside at 10:30 Styx chased Frankie and he went to the kitchen. 5 minutes later Stir came out and chased Frankie. Poor cat is going to get a complex. Stir went into her litter box and I heard scratching (digging to the basement). Styx went in a I heard hissing and growling. Styx came out real fast. Then I soon had 4 cats laying in the living room, Styx on the floor by the front door, Stir on the living room floor watching her, Frankie on the hearth watching both of them and inches away Tabby trying to sleep next to him. I am now trying to get my kitchen table cleaned off with all the old mail, paying bills and throwing junk letters in the trash. Gonna be a hot day. Might turn on the fan for the kitties. The ceiling fan has been on so might explain why the cats are in the living room.
It sounds like they’re sorting it out, and the girls are running the show.
The girls are running the show, that’s for sure. Jay has his hands full, but he loves it. Imagine 2 Torties with the same or close to the same personalities. 🙂 If anyone can handle them it is Jay.
You guys did it! The Conscious Cat was nominated for a Pettie for Best Cat Blog and Best Pet Blog. Thank you so much for all your support – it means the world to me.
Now the voting begins. You can vote once a day through July 29. Spread the word!
https://ingridking.com/2012/07/05/the-petties-part-two-please-vote-for-the-conscious-cat-2/
Hey, there was never any doubt in our minds, or whatever, if we have any minds. Congratulations.
Ok gang, once a day, every day or like Chicago, vote once and often again. 🙂 🙂
here is the site. keep listing it in each post until we all get the message.
https://ingridking.com/2012/07/05/the-petties-part-two-please-vote-for-the-conscious-cat-2/
I voted.
Everyone else vote !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A mother and her young son returned from the grocery store and began putting away the groceries.
The boy opened the box of animal crackers and spread them all over the kitchen table. “What are you doing?” his mother asked.
“The box says you can’t eat them if the seal is broken,” the boy explained. “So, I’m just checking to make sure the seal is still in one piece.”
I think everything comes out butterflies up at the rainbow bridge, but the idea of dumping on the animal abusers is not bad.
There you go Girlfriend. Dump on the abusers 🙂
Today I am out powerwashing the deck. Just came in for a sandwich, don’t need a drink as it is not hot yet (not even breaking out in a sweat) 🙂 Bernie 🙂
Pumpkin was a the kitchen door 6 inches away watching. Afraid of his own shadow but the only cat looking outside.
Stir chased out Styx as she left the bedroom earlier. Then she laid down by the hearth. Styx was 6 feet away laying down and Frankie came out and looked towards Stir and moved to his right, looked to the right and saw Styx, looked really worried and walked straight into the living room. He laid down so I then had 3 cats in a 6 foot triangle. Stir had a low growl the whole time. Guess that is progress.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0Cqwr27tyo&feature=youtu.be
This is the video I took of Stir, Frankie and Styx. You can hear a constant growl from Stir.
Awe I remember that little guy (Frankie so gentle) between the 2 far from the wild Torties, Stirfy, the one no one messes with and Styx the new Tortie in the house, student of Stirfry for Tortitude. If I were Frankie, I would have run for the best corner to hide. But then Frankie is just a gentle, loving big kitten, still learning. Quickly, I might add.
Can someone answer a question about this “Rainbow Bridge” thing… um, are we going to be responsible for our own litter boxes??
:0
One BIG scoop but it is dumped on those undeserving people down below.
Explains those sandstorms in the middle east.
Oops, good question. Somehow I think those litter boxes will not have to be empties. They will be used to create the most beautiful rainbows in the skies. Hoping anyway.
Of course I like Jay’s way of thinking also. For anyone that has ever harmed or abandoned pets, dump on them for sure.
Folks we had Steeler talking early this am. Lots of lightning and thunder. The little ones were not affected in any way by all the moving and shaking. I raised the blind in my room so they could see the lightning. They were curious but showed no fear. That is a good sign. So after checking out the strange noises, they returned to their activities of “let’s see what we can get into in here”? 🙂
Why should they be scared ? After all Steeler told them how to get to your place. Just a friendly voice to them. Now everyone else up there is keeping their distance.
I’m still trying to figure out what we did to upset Steeler last Friday night.
Bernie, I know that you’re not serious about two more kittens. Take it from someone with 4-and-three-spares… stop while you can pay attention to all of them in a single day.
I wonder what you did myself to have Steeler show her wrath. Yes I am serious about the kittens.
My home is very large and has plenty of space for all. Would be able to raise them with my little ones. They appear to be the right age. My home is so catified right now, there is more than enough for 2 more kittens.
Harry, I just had a very loud thunder roll and the sun is out. There are storms in the area but have not started here yet. So Steeler is really on a roll about something.
Steeler is saying – TAKE THOSE KITTENS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Harry, do you REALLY WANT TO ARGUE WITH STEELER ? She was only mildly pissed and you lost power for a couple days. And you wanting to take a vacation at the ocean. . Think WATERSPOUT.
Harry, you know that if Male Tortie come in, I would be hurt if you didn’t call me first. Also any Tortie conjured up by a Sorcerer in a swamp during a full moon. Kasey and Stir can’t be the only ones that appear. ever now and then.
Jay, I think if Harry gets a male Tortie in as a kitten, he would be adding another sticker to the family car. Just saying 🙂
Haven’t been on much either; we got our power back several days before Ingrid, though the internet didn’t come back until later. Busy now trying to square away several urgent projects that showed up this week so that we can go on vacation next Saturday. And, of course, worried about the cats while we’re gone. Last year Henry got very ill while we were away, and I fear it was because stress lowered his immune system. He (and everyone) are getting Stress Stopper. And in addition to a pet sitter twice a day, we have neighbors coming over once in between. I hope that’ll be enough human contact.
Harry, yes you have been missed. We all know you folks have had a really bad time without power.
I think you are all due for a long vacation. Don’t forget to go to my old stomping grounds :).
I know you will be checking in on Henry and the rest of your kitty family the whole time you are away. Here’s wishing the Shubin family a very relaxing vacation. Have fun.
They have a Strip area near the Ocean too ??? 🙂 My type of place!!!!!!
Harry,you and the family have a great time. You deserve it after this last week.
I’m with you on the pre-vacation leaving the cats stress. I went through that before I left for Utah, and I was only gone for four days.
Happy 4th of July, everyone!
I’m sorry I haven’t been commenting much, I’m still catching up from not having power for two days and only having limited internet access, so there’s quite a backlog of work. I have been reading all of your comments, though!
Glen, I’m so glad Morgan is doing so well.
Bernie, I love reading your stories about Liberty and the kittens – they make me smile.