The Catnip Chronicles: Leaving the Nest
Pearl and her kittens, post spaying
This is Pearl's tale, our adventures with cat rescue. In brief, we had watched a starving cat come and go in the yard for some time. First, she looked pregnant. Then, she just looked terribly, terribly thin. We began feeding her on the porch, picking up the food at night in case raccoons came along. In the morning, I would put the food out again — and Pearl (as we called her, being pearl gray and all) would come running. One morning, I stretched out my hand to her and was amazed to find her rubbing all around me, purring, tail in the air. Clearly, she wasn’t feral.
Later that day, she led us to her kittens. They were in an old storage yard, two doors down from us. I won’t bore you with all the details again, but we did manage, after some time, to tempt Pearl to bring her babies to our house. She did, all four kittens. And we made a nursery for them in a small room upstairs.
Then began the process of socialization.
All four kittens, not fleeing when I entered the room – progress!
Pearl wasn’t feral — but her kittens were. They had never known human touch at all. At first, every time we entered the room, they fled in abject terror. It took time and patience, but we handled them as much as we could. And, at ZenTrainer’s suggestion, we left a radio on in the room, playing NPR all day, so they would become familiar with human voices.
Before we let Pearl mingle with our other cats, we had her tested for the usual communicable diseases and were delighted to learn that she was healthy. Then we separated her from the kittens for a week. Well, we let her visit them, but we didn’t let them nurse from her. The object was to get her milk to dry up so that she could be spayed. After a week, we took Pearl and all four kittens to the Oregon Humane Society for spaying and neutering.
Once this was done, the kittens were ready to find new homes. One of the females, the one we called Coquette, was the first to go. She was adopted by one of the men who had recently upgraded our phone lines. He sent us a photo — and boy, Coquette looked like she was in a very good place.
Coquette, in command in her new home
The next to go was the little boy we called White Nose. He was adopted by a mother and son in the neighborhood — and I tell you, that kitten is the apple of that little boy’s eye. He absolutely adores him.
Bath time for White Nose
We waited another week with no good leads for the remaining two kittens. We did not want to chance placing them through Craig’s list or other listings because we wanted to be sure that the people who adopted them would be committed to care for them. Accordingly, we felt our best option was to have the the Oregon Humane Society place them — because we knew that the adoptive people would be well vetted and, because they would be paying a $150 fee for the kittens, very serious. Each kitten got a listing on the OHS website. Here is the listing for the female, Shy Shy. Although we were hoping she and her brother would be adopted together, she went home first, just a day after being listed. Her brother, Cream Toe, was adopted the next day. We were so glad that he wasn’t left alone for long.
Cream Toe and Shy Shy
Pearl cried outside the nursery door for one day. Then, accepting that the kittens were gone, she finally gave herself permission to be a kitten, herself. At the time of spaying, Pearl was estimated to be only nine months old. That means she got pregnant very, very young — about five months old. Yes, cats can get pregnant that young — that’s why it is important to get them spayed early. Today, Pearl is kicking up her heels in our home, chasing back and forth with Callie, and exploring everything. For one so young, she had discharged some heavy responsibility with aplomb and now it is her time. She is a delightful cat and we are so glad she chose our home as her own.
But it is sad to reflect that someone had abandoned Pearl. Someone had left her to fend for herself. She had to struggle to feed herself on the street and then to feed her kittens, too. She suffered, poor thing. And she is not alone. Even though it is illegal in Oregon to abandon a pet, people do so all the time. I worry that our recent housing emergency here in Portland has affected more beings than just the displaced people. People who have to leave an apartment because of rising rents may also leave their pets behind. It isn’t kind, it isn’t legal, but when people are pushed to the wall, innocent animals may, and often do, suffer on the streets.
What you can do
If you can, adopt a pet from a shelter. You will save a life.
If your pet is not yet spayed or neutered, get that done! Don’t wait!
Support your local animal rescue groups. They do such important work.
Pootie Pads
Even though the kittens have gone to their forever homes, your kindness in buying Pootie Pads has really helped us out with our rescue project. Cat food and litter really added up, let me tell you! We are grateful for your purchases of our Pootie Pads (extraordinarily potent, organic catnip pads for cats). Consider treating your cats to some of our catnip -- or buy one as the purrfect gift for the cat owner in your life. Great for Mother’s Day!
Pootie Pads come in three sizes. Fabric choices for original and petitie sizes are here - or let us choose for you.
Original: 23" x 17" $35 plus $6.45 shipping
Petite: 13.5" x 9.5" ONE for $18 plus $6.45 shipping OR TWO for $35 plus $6.45 shipping
Play Size (let us choose for you): 8" x 4.5 FOUR for $35 plus $6.45 shipping
We also have Pootie Pads for dogs -- filled with soothing organic lavender and thyme. You can find the dog pads here.
Comments
This is a slightly revised repost
from a diary I wrote at DK in November. This is my first time trying out the format over here!
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Thank you, Sara R! A very touching
rescue story; and a perfect venue for it, in that this is a very 'pet friendly' Community.
And, a very hearty 'welcome' to you!
Please, don't be a stranger.
(Music City) Mollie, C99P & DKos
elinkarlsson@WordPress
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
Visit Us At Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD)
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
{{{{Unabashed Liberal}}}}}
Thank you for your kind welcome! This was our first real rescue (I sense you have done many) -- but how could we not do something for Pearl? Frankly, I am very flattered and humbled that she chose our house as hers. We learned a lot from the experience. One lesson that bears repeating out loud is that, if you are attempting to rescue a stray, especially a stray with babies, there will be help for you. In our case, the Oregon Humane Society gave us lots of tips and pointed us to resources. And they thanked us for what we did!
I think that there may be an uptick in homeless animals because of a precipitous rise in rents --- here in Portland, and I understand in other places across the country, as well. When people are displaced, so are the animals who live with them -- and many innocents are doubtless on the street now because of this situation. We are pretty sure this is what happened to Pearl because she is so social. She must have been cared for and loved before she found herself alone on the streets.
I will be sure to write more about our kitties! Thank you again for the warm welcome.
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So nice to see Pearl here.
So nice to see Pearl here. And, you too, of course!
Music City Mollie?
Does that mean you are here in Nashville? If so, do you want to meet up with some of us? We do like to eat and talk pets (just don't get Jon crying with sad stories, he is a HUGE pet lover), I'm a dog trainer though I work with cats and their behaviour problems too.
We are also going to be talking about doing some voter registration at our next meeting sometime in April.
Tracy B Ann- technically that is my signature
Welcome Sara R!
So glad to see you here. And your story was wonderful...thank you for sharing it.
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First Nations News
Thank you!
It is a pleasure to read here -- and I hope to contribute more in future!
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I never got around to writing you a thank you letter...
For the Chair that I'm currently sitting on.
THANK YOU! My daughter really loves hers for her homework, and we stuck her desk under her loft bed, so it's a great little hideaway for her!
Great to see you here!
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
So happy to hear
that the chairs are useful and that you are all enjoying Portland!
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Absolutely LOVING it.
Car broke down a couple months ago, but the public transit is so good I barely miss it.
Still not getting out as much as I'd like, but that's more me than it is the fault of the city. Thanks so much to you for being one of my intros to the city! Really made a great impression on me!
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Suki!
I love watching Suki enjoying her pootie pad.
If there is interest
in Pearl and the other cats here at Catnip Manor, I will keep the series going.
Pearl has been a real delight. I'm thinking of writing about her dances. She has several signature dances.
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interest
I daresay your pootie stories would be welcomed as much or more than this one was!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Thank you!
What is life without our four-legged friends?
Thank you for the warm welcome!
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poligirl would have much to add...
I followed her harrowing tale of hard times making her leave a feral community she was helping and having to drive across country with five cats to either drop off to new homes along the way or to live with her in her new home in CA.
You probably know her and may of her tales well.
As I said here somewhere else, the pooties and woozles always bring job and beauty.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Yes, poligirl inspired what I consider my best piece.
Cat Lady In Moonlight
For all the moonlit cat ladies out there~
I shave my legs with Occam's Razor~
Beautiful
I love this piece. It would make a great center for a quilt. (All things I see seem to be viewed by would it make a great quilt... LOL)
Thank you so much.
I did have a fabric look I was going for, but it is paper, I assure you.
I hope it's a somewhat pleasant, although awkwardly placed welcome to Sara R~
I shave my legs with Occam's Razor~
It is gorgeous!
Thank you for the warm welcome, {{{{triv33}}}}}!
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Of course!
and thank you for the kind words.
I shave my legs with Occam's Razor~
You have inspired me.
I am going to take painting classes at my Sr center. Do you work in oil paint? I want to paint just like you.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
It's all acrylics-on canvas and paper monoprints.
The piece I'm working on now, I'm stopping to take a few pics along the way as I progress so you can see how I put one together.
I shave my legs with Occam's Razor~
truly an amazing piece too! it's beautiful!
and of course, it was one of the few things i didn't leave behind...
it's still hard for me to think about...
2 of my feral boys that i couldn't catch the rescue never managed to catch either, so i get really depressed... they'd been fed by me since they were weaned and i could pet them both even though they were ferals... the elements of Louisiana are not kind and the doghouses and chairs that they used as shelter in my carport weren't there anymore so they are probably struggling to make it if they are still even alive.
this is them: Freckles and Lightning...
5 ferals i was able to trap and they got a barn home. 2 of my indoor ones got adopted in Louisiana, 2 of my boys are with txcatlin just north of Dallas, and i have my other 4 here. one will be going to my ma this summer...
makes me sad sometimes when i think about how different things are now for my kids...
Wow!
That was an impressive rescue! I am in awe!
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Hi Sara, so nice to meet you here, I still
have my doggie pad, just unfortunately my doggie is gone, yet to a very good new home.
I swear to God, I will rescue another doggie again one day, when life treats me well and gives me the option. And you will hear from me again with a photo and a doggie pad order, that's as sure as the amen in the church.
I am happy that you made the step over into this "foreign territory" where people just talk like there is no tomorrow. I am convinced there is a lot of amicably love here among the participants of the c99% and you will feel welcomed.
Best to you and Ann.
https://www.euronews.com/live
oh mimi! It is so nice to see an old friend here.
{{{{{mimi}}}}} I hope you are well and happy. It's been a long time!
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yeah, a long, long time, my memory gets so bad
that I have to write a book about my life to get my time line together and that's really not the easiest thing for me to do ... you know english and all of that. ... that's why I need another doggie pretty soon to let me know that there is another life out there ...
https://www.euronews.com/live
Keeping track of time.
I used to do that so much better when I moved every 2 years. That way I could associate time with whatever house I lived in. Then I bought a house and have lived here for almost 15 years now so for all I know it's 1968 again, I've totally lost track.
Tracy B Ann- technically that is my signature
How lovely to see you here, Sara R
I remember you posted a series about Pearl and her kitties. Would you consider posting the series here?
Welcome!
{{{{CroneWit}}}}}
I would be delighted to write more about the kitties, thank you! What is life, after all, without the four-legged companions that keep our hearts open? Every blog needs pooties...
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Doggies are good --
a dog will get you walking and talking with people. They are very good for one's health! Plus they are very loving.
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welcome home Sara!
This is a great site. One of the things I like so much about this place is the feeling that here, we're all in this together, with the same goals and for the same reasons. I hope that folks like you and Winglion can help make this a real community.
Also, I can attest that Pearl is one cool and crazy kitteh. Now if only she did didn't keep mistaking my socks (with my feet in them) for a cat toy whenever we play boardgames at your house!
Tell the truth and run - Croatian proverb
Pee ess...
let's not let your feet be Pearl's cat toy.
We'll distract her with the red dot....
Maybe we should write about board games over here. There are so many social issues that can be illustrated with modern board games.
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Yes! Maybe here I'll actually
Yes! Maybe here I'll actually post some articles instead of just commenting all of the time. Talking about boardgames in the political/social context might be an interesting topic to some people.
Tell the truth and run - Croatian proverb
Hi quill!
You beat me to it -- I was going to email you and let you know I had made my first post here.
The atmosphere is very companionable and I sense many, many like-minded people. It is good!
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Great story, great retelling, Sara!
Pearl and Pootie Pads are great subjects, too. And, you know *our* pootie loves her Pootie Pads! ♡♡♡
{{{{pdxteacher}}}}} Thank
{{{{pdxteacher}}}}} Thank you! We love your pootie and are so pleased that she counts her Pootie Pad as a special place to relax. She is such a sweetie!
Support Community Quilts by buying Pootie Pads, awesome catnip aromatherapy for your cat, available in lavender and thyme for dogs, too.
Thank you for bringing this here.
I love pooties and woozles. In the mind-numbing depression of politics, smiles and pootie pads are so very welcome.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
{{{{dkmich}}}
Thank you! Truly, pootie said and woozles make life more civilized. They do!
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Oh, those feral cats.
I was surprised to read how quickly Pearl's kittens had become feral. Do you think truly feral or just lacking in socialization?
I got 2 cats from Craig's list 8 years ago. In talking to the woman on the phone, I realized she was one of my old clients, I had trained her dog. She told me the whole story of how her neighborhood had been doing TNR (trap, neuter, release) on a whole herd of cats for years. The 2 (sisters) she had were the first they had ever been able to catch young enough to even try to tame. She got them at 9 weeks, I got them at 10.
I wouldn't say they were tame yet. My handyman of 8 years has never seen them. I think I just got used to their quirks until I got 2 baby boy kittens (brothers) 4 months ago. One is a little shy but the other greets everyone at the door and will get in anyone's lap.
So, I was just wondering if there is a genetic component to being feral or if it's environmental. I have wondered about that concerning some of my own behaviours, but either way I figure I get to blame my parents so it works for me.
Oh and just so folks know, dogs, at least my dog, Said, love pootie pads too. To be fair though, he was born in a house with a cat and was raised by cats.
Tracy B Ann- technically that is my signature
I believe that if a stray cat
has kittens in the wild (so to speak) they will be feral. Pearl's kittens were absolutely wild. Getting them in the house was a production. First, we put all our cats in rooms behind doors. Then we popped the front door open and Ann sat behind it so Pearl could bring the babies in without them seeing us. The plan was to close the door once they were all in and then somehow get them upstairs to the room we had prepared as a nursery. Unfortunately, the fourth kitten (Coquette) heard me moving around on the stairs and fled, back to the storage yard.
So we closed the door and I scruffed each kitten, one by one, and got them upstairs. By evening, there was no sign of the fourth one, so we went back to the storage yard with gushy food on a paper plate and coaxed her out. When she was far enough out from under the gate, I scruffed her and quick marched back to the house. I was bitten pretty badly in the joint of my finger for my trouble, but I did get her in.
In fact, each and every one of the kittens bit me, getting them upstairs. And they would flee (as the Humane Society lady put it, "like cockroaches when you turn on a light" every time we came into the room. It took a lot of patience, letting them eat gushy food next to me, and gradually moving the plate next to me, to get to the point where I could touch them and pet them.
I understand there is a small window of time to socialize kittens or they will be feral an unadoptable. We were lucky to succeed with these little ones -- and now they all have homes.
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We called them
The "Pearlettes" -- and I imagine they are running things in their new homes. Like their mother, they are wicked smart so I imagine everything is going their way.
Thank you for the warm welcome!
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Beautiful Story. More Catnip Chronicles Please!!!
Welcome to C99 Sara R!
Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.-Lucy Parsons
Pootie royalty
Great to see you here Sara! Let's not forget about the woozles...
Progressive to the bone.
My woozle
number 1 (I got deuces). Meet Jack, the Jack Russell Terrier, laziest name evah!
Progressive to the bone.
What a cutie-pie your Jack is!
I love Jack Russells!
Kaye
Jack!
What a handsome guy.
He looks smart, bet he's a handful.
From the little bit of teeth showing, he's posing and smiling, right? What a ham.
Sandy, (yea, I know I'm infamously known for creative pet names too), was the only dog I had who could look at you sideways without turning her head--the sidelong glances that invariably meant, "You're joking right? I'm not doing that."
About your avatar... By the ears, I'm guessing that's the rarely-seen Vulcan named "Spot".
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Sandy of the expressive face
Sandy looks like a wise soul.
Jack is a sweetie!
Lovely dog!
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Hi Sara R.
It's nice to see you. Blessings.
{{{quilldriver}}}}
Thank you! So nice to be here!
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Welcome SaraR....Nice to have you! :)
There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.. This...is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.--John Adams
{{{{kharma}}}}}
Thank you for the warm welcome!
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So happy to see you here!
Loved hearing about Pearl and her kittens again. Our Spider and Cookie just love their Pootie pads--and even the mailers they came in. It took quite a while to sneak them away! I look forward to reading more from you in the friendly atmosphere here.
"As long as there is a lower class, I am in it.
"As long as there is a criminal element, I am of it.
"As long as there is a soul in prison, I am not free." Eugene V. Debs
{{{{Hollyanna}}}}
Thank you! And thank you for trying Pootie Pads! I am so glad your kitties have had fun with them.
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4 and 20 Blackbirds? Bah!
Any fool can do that.
It takes a real Gastronaut to get 7 kittens in a casserole.
Just Kiiiiiiiiiiddiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing. It was bath day. They were completely infested with fleas. Mom took it very well too.
See?
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Squeeee!
Oh da cuteness. Brain dribble in 5,4,3....
Oh my goodness!
A litter of seven? Poor momma cat! I take it these were outdoor kitties?
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Yes, Sara, outdoor kitties
The weather was temperate. She was a porch cat; very friendly, stray but very feral. I made her a special bed. Then she had the kittens. We kept her very comfortable. Hell, we doted on her. 3 of the kittens went on to become Pinky, Spotty, and Whiny.
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Awwwwwww!
What a picture! So kind of you to take care of the mother and her babies. They are beauties, each and every one!
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What a great story!
And the pictures -- I can't stop smiling!
You have a new Pootie Pad customer -- as soon as I feed the pup, I'm going to order one. My little former-feral, Earl, has a basket he loves to sleep in, but he needs a soft lining for it. I was going to knit something for him, but a PP is a much better solution.
Hope you do more rescue stories -- it's so great reading about these happy endings!
Hell is empty and all the devils are here. William Shakespeare
So kind!
Got your order. Is there any fabric Earl would prefer?
Know that we pre-wash our fabric so there is no toxic sizing in it. Sometimes the little darlings suckle on the pads and we don't want anything in them that woudl harm them. The catnip is Oregon Tilth certified organic, too -- leaves and flowers rather than stems. In short, the good stuff!
Please share pictures of Earl with his Pootie Pad -- we love to see happy cats!
Support Community Quilts by buying Pootie Pads, awesome catnip aromatherapy for your cat, available in lavender and thyme for dogs, too.
Somehow I missed the fabric choices --
but from experience, I can tell you that Earl loves soft things like flannel or fleece. So if those are possibilities, he'd be deliriously happy! If not, the softest option you have will be fine. If it helps, Earl is solid gray w/green eyes. But we are not very fussy, so I'm sure whatever you send will be most wonderful.
Pictures - of course!!
Hell is empty and all the devils are here. William Shakespeare
Gray with green eyes...
I think we have just the thing!
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Yay!!
We can't wait to see it!
Hell is empty and all the devils are here. William Shakespeare
Look for an e-card
from me -- it has the USPS tracking # on it. Your pad should arrive 3/26. Thank you again!
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Hai and welcome Sara R
New here myself.
What's not to love about Pootie diaries?
I want a Pony!
Hai Arrow!
I agree, pootie diaries are so pleasant!
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Pearl and the kittens are fortunate
to have such wonderful parents. I'm owned by 3 cats myself. Two were strays and one was from the SPCA.
Welcome!
C99, my refuge from an insane world. #ForceTheVote
Hi RantingRooster!
And scritches to your kitties! How lovely that you took in the strays -- they must have picked you (as Pearl picked us). That is a high honor!
BTW, I am still looking for quilt messages for the Mother Emanuel quilt. NO NEED to donate, I just need 29 more messages before we can assemble the star -- and I would be so pleased to have one from you! It would be a big help.
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all mine are
RESCUES.... Nutzy was a gift rescue 16 years ago. Better known as Jabba the Cat.
Vladimir Bogart, aka Bogie, was rescued through PetSmart in Marysville, WA.. he's a NOAH rescue kitty. 18 pounds, thinks he's a sack of oranges and never met a kleenex or roll of toilet paper NOT on its proper stand that he didn't consider fair game.... Then Booter was kidnapped right out of my back yard. That's Das Booter *basic bootstart* over there to your right.
ALL are fixed... Nutzy spayed, and the boys, aka The Wrecking Crew... snipped and neutered... AND NO DECLAWING, DAMMIT.
that's like cutting off their fingers at the first joint, behind the fingernails. CRUELTY. Commit to living with cat habits or taking the time to subvert and divert the habitual wreckage they commit to furniture... start with making cat trees and sisal rope clawing poles.
******************************
Muerte al fascismo. Muerte a la tiranía. colapso total de los que promueven tampoco. A la pared con el unico porciento%
I absolutely agree --
declawing is inhumane amputation. It should be illegal.
Sounds like you have a marvelous pride of felines! Ours are all rescues, too, of one sort or another.
Booter, huh? We have a Boots -- aka Bootsie or Das Boots. She's a tuxedo tigress -- gray tiger with thigh-high white boots. Boots is our Spokescat:
Boots says, "Thank you for supporting community quilts!"
Support Community Quilts by buying Pootie Pads, awesome catnip aromatherapy for your cat, available in lavender and thyme for dogs, too.
Welll, your stripey girl looks like
Booter's mum, Bootsie whom I was never able to capture.
She had a litter of one, was ill as a kitten and knocked up as a kitten hrself -- and I suspect if not dead or eaten by coyotes is deceased now. Bootsie had two boots and a set of smaller gloves up front. When she appeared in my back yard, nosing her kitten in front of her where I could see him, she was weak, staggering and starving. I thought they both might have a respiratory infection, but put out a warm but worn out cat bed with a padded bottom to retain heat on my tiny back stoop, out of wind and rain, and put out water warmed to body temp for her in a proper bowl and a shitload of spendy dry food and one tiny can of specialty (sic) cat food on a proper platelet. Those things are stable and dishwashable, and junk bowls just blow away. She ate almost 2 cups of food in under 90 minutes, so the next morning I put out 3 cups, though she was gone.. the kitten was wedged into the padded cat bed so deep asleep I thought he was dead. NO I didn't take him at the time. He was still nursing, for goodness sake. 5 days later he was attacking little weed stalks blowing in the cold wind and snuggling to his mom who slept with him literally between her front legs, tightly curled around him. Gradually I 'd see him tucking into the wet food, then the dry and drinking the water.. and one morning she was gone. A "tender trap" didn't entice either of them.
Booter's name came because he's a B&W tuxedo, classic tux markings, except for the black coloration starting on the top front of his snout sharing space with pink hide .. and that black hide is tougher than the pink hide on cats, when they're tux or mask on mantle (diff markings, more like a hat, ratty cape etc., and not symmetrical, so that in dappled outdoor shade they disappear to birds and animals hunting them with limited color vision.. they melt into the pattern when squatting or sleeping, either one.) Booter, being basic, was your "basic bootstart cat" , a "beginner's model."
And he gets sung to, as does Bogie and as does Nutzy. There are doggerel songs for each one. Bogart, aka the Lummox, is jammed into the chair I'm in right now, sprawled falling out over the arm (leatherette recliner swivel chair.. beat to spit.. laptop is on a hospital bed table and the chair is the computer table's chair... Bogie likes to cram in right next to people, rather than on them. It's startled the rare visitor, downstairs.. I have two chair and a half hideabed easy chair, and he waits until someone is seated, and jams himself right in next to them, looks up at them once, then sighs and drops off to sleep immediately. Idiot. Trusts everyone and everything except the sound of cars...
Nutzy goes under furniture.. ALWAYS.. to avoid being picked up or even petted, except if I'm at dining table in my chair, and then she's in the next one over, waiting to be petted from neck to rump and flea combed (she's not got fleas, but those combs get out all the loose hair, so she doesn't hoick up furballs).
Booter and his mum before him were fed grain free food from the getgo, so she'd make good milk for a strong kitten and then so he'd have food to be weaned on to. He's never known a hungry hour ,was still a kitten, but a fully weaned one when Bootsie just LEFT.. left him in the yard and habituated to me, more or less. I went out, scooped him right up out of a 11 gallon galvanized oval tub om a greenhouse stand in which I grow a tomato plant every year, threw him into a soft sided carrier and hauled out the garage door with him on the seat in my little IQ, going from vet to vet in my town until I found ONe that would give him the instant flea killing pill and worming pill, as well as put flea drops between his shoulder blades. I also had them draw blood for communicable diseases, and finding none, he got his first round of shots, and then he came home with me to his owm hidey hole in a closed guest bedroom for 14 days, while he got snipped and the other two cats could smell him and he them through the bottom of the bedroom door. a choice of kitty beds, brand new cat toys all his own, reeking of good catnip, water, his familiar high quality food and a radio with human voices, music, etc., on a timer, on most of the time. Lights on timers and me visiting.
Post snip, Das Booter had about six days to heal up, and then one morning he shot out the door into the loft upstairsbefore I could put down the filtered water bottle -- and he ran right OVER Bogie who was lying there hoping to get a look at the intersting smelling newcomer. Bogues at the time was mostly a large overgrown kitten around 4 months older than Booter. Bogie just lay on the floor stupidly while Booter kept jumping back and forth over him, and The Wrecking Crew was born. You'd think the Lummox would have broken him. Bogues reminds me at times of the idiotic Abominable Snow man who keeps catching Bugs or Daffy or Sylvester and telling the screen he'll name them 'George' and will "hug them and love them and squeeze them and never let them go." Yes, Bogues is that thick.. and Booter, now an adult at half Bogie's adult size, is the Brain to Bogie's Pinky, the instigator of all their damage, and the leader in the galloping noisy races through the house..
Booter's the chow cat, the sniffer of the air looking for food to rip off, the searcher for things out of place to mangle and mark, etc.
And often on really glum days, my babies are all that make me laugh.. and they've pulled some truly STUPID stuff.... Nutzy sneaks onto the bed when my pain meds are not working that well, tucks herself behind my knees, puts her head on the covers over my thigh and purrs with a chirp in the purr; helps me lie still until the meds kick in. Then she'll lie on the bed while I work the Therabands until my feet just burn instead of stabbing me as if I had built in naile guns firing off at irregular intervals in one foot or another. I don't know many cats that patient while still acting mostly standoffish.
Bogues will moan and wail until I manage to pick him up and lug him around thrown over one shoulder.. He really DOES think he's a sack of oranges. He'll literally leap up to rob his wet pink dognose on the palm of my hand and get his whiskers pulled and chops rubbed. And he doesn't wriggle when I lug him around, but DOES expect to be carried up and down the stairs. Loony. Utterly LoonyTunes. And, of kharmic course, being the biggest cat he is the most insecure.
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Muerte al fascismo. Muerte a la tiranía. colapso total de los que promueven tampoco. A la pared con el unico porciento%
What a great group of cats you have!
And such personalities!
That is one of the fascinating things about living with the creatures, though -- they are such individuals.
We live with small tigers, Fentress!
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What a beautiful story!
I have one little furball right now and I am anxious to expand our little family. But I need to get into a bigger home first.