Kitty's and Cats

[mourningstar]

I just bought 2 kitty's. They are soo cute. They are cats who have a race. I have a Russian blue(Fuji) and a Siamese(Mia). And i have to tell you, they were expensive as hell. They costed me 500 euro's. 250 each.

solitude is hard. i mean, you pay 500 just to loose it. An appertement is really dreadfull without living things in it.

tell me, does anyone else got cats? they are great !! (soo cute!!)

[jbuck919]

You pay 500 just to loose it.

I know a lot of people who have paid around 500 just to lose it. Isn't that the going rate in Holland?

Seriously, congratulations on your new cats. Give us pics when you get a chance. My family always had cats and this summer I talked to my mother about getting another one (her original idea), but a 86 she reached the right conclusion that she could not take care of one anymore.

You went for breeds, which explains the cost. Without intending to criticize that decision, I am sure that they have alley cats in the Netherlands as well as the US, where they practically give them away, though you still have the responsibility for them, which is no small cost. But I'm sure they're beautiful animals and congratulations on your new family.

[Corlyss_D]

Good job, Mourning! You will love them. I have 5, all chosen for their beauty. Mine are just garden variety Domestic Short Hair, except the exquisitely beautiful long hair tortie. The nice thing about cats is you can leave them for a few days with food water and litter and they do okay. I have to board my 2 dogs when I leave town.

[mourningstar]

You went for breeds, which explains the cost. Without intending to criticize that decision, I am sure that they have alley cats in the Netherlands as well as the US, where they practically give them away, though you still have the responsibility for them,

we had 3 normal housecats, but i live on my own now, and i just felt in love with those breeds.

I have 5, all chosen for their beauty. Mine are just garden variety Domestic Short Hair, except the exquisitely beautiful long hair tortie.

My favourite cat (dickens) had a white fur with red dots everywhere. Beautiful.

but you have 5 cats and 2 dogs. You raised them together at the same age(kitten and puppy).. HOw can they get along ?? Btw; what are their names?

[paulb]

Great for you with your 2 new friends!!
I love all animal s alot, but especially cats.
We adopted(started playing and feediing him, and next thing he's sleeping with us ) my neighbors cat in new orleans back 12 yrs ago. He and I canoed out of lakeview after Katrina. He had a very rough time living in a small cage, while we lived out of our car 1 week and a church shelter 2 weeks. That month was very very hot and he suffered alot.
When we moved into Baton Rouge, I noticed a long hair siamese , male, sleeping next door on the side of an old lady's house. She was feeding the old guy along with 3 other ferrel cats. We took him in and loves us to death as its his very first real loving home. I gave him a haircut and he loved it. How he must have suffered under the hot summers here. He's an old guy ,about 14 or 15.
We also adopted a 2 yr old male cat, black, declawed( the EVIL HUMANS!). He seems to belong to a couple across the street,. but we never know for sure.
He has a complex around his 2 buddies as he has no front claws.
They eat very well, first Fancy Feast and high quality dry food. then onto smoked organic turkey slices (Whole Foods), After I tasted The Fancy Feast, I found it aweful and swore they would never eat that junk again. Yet they cleaned the plates.
A few days ago as I was thinging what I could substitue , I hit on the idea of canned tuna. A big hit! With the spring water, they love the juice and the 3 will finish off a large can, 2X's daily!!!
When they are happy I'm happy.
I hope one day to have funds to assist cat reserves around the world.

Hey Karl you remember "Man vs the Tiger...Who will win?"
Of course we know man is the more dangerous animal., the most dangerous animal on earth.

[RebLem]

My dog Scout is a 25 lb male pug/lab mix, almost all black except for a white breast stripe, 17" tall at the shoulder. The top of his head just fits the palm of my hand. He has a twisty, pug-like tail that stands up on his keester like one of those ready made bows you buy at a Hallmark store. He hyperventilates like a pug, but his snout is a pug/lab compromise. Short, but definitely not non-existent, like a pure pug's.

In fact the modern pug is one of those breeder's things. A friend I made @ the dog park pointed out that a couple hundred hears ago, Wm Hogarth, the English painter, did portraits including his pug, and, in terms of much of his appearance (not his coloring) they look like Scout, not a modern pure pug. The difference is that looked at straight on, Hogarth's pugs have a broad, powerful looking bulldog appearance in the breast area, whereas Scout has a much narrower breast. Go to Google Images and enter Hogarth pugs and see what I mean.

I adopted him 3 years ago at the age of 2 from the Albuquerque East Side Animal Shelter for $82. The fee includes his license, neutering, and the implantation of an computer ID chip. He was a stray they found on the street with no tags or ID.

[Madame]

.

You went for breeds, which explains the cost. Without intending to criticize that decision, I am sure that they have alley cats in the Netherlands as well as the US, where they practically give them away, though you still have the responsibility for them, which is no small cost. But I'm sure they're beautiful animals and congratulations on your new family.

That is true, some breeds fetch a good amount. IF I were to get a cat, I'd love to have a Himalayan, it's a cross between a Persian and Siamese. I love the tortoise color, they are gorgeous. The drawback of course is that they shed terribly and I'm not crazy about the idea of cat hair all over the place.

[paulb]

That is true, some breeds fetch a good amount. IF I were to get a cat, I'd love to have a Himalayan, it's a cross between a Persian and Siamese. I love the tortoise color, they are gorgeous. The drawback of course is that they shed terribly and I'm not crazy about the idea of cat hair all over the place.

Yes that is the species of cat i adopted here in BR, a Himalayan. He has all the markings of ba traditional short hair siamese, but has a thick full coat. I gave him his 3rd and last hair cut for this yr. Winter in comming on and he'll need a full coat.
btw madame they do not shed at all. My other 2 short hair cats do shed. I use one of those sticky roll linen brushes , you can find at Beds And Linens stores.
Do not use on a Himalayan, Siamese or Persian. They have more of a hair coat vs the shedding FUR coat of short hair varities.

The best dry food is from ROYAL CANIN, they have several varities, I buy the one for PERSIAN. This RC brand cost alot more, but hey the kids only get the very best. You can find it at PetSmart. Also I've found that Albertson(or other major chain) brand tuna in water large size can is in fact the same price as "Fancy Feast". I tasted some FF the other day and found it chemical tasting. Absoluetly horrible and will never buy another can. Even though they will eat it. The tuna is much more healthy and the same price.

[Madame]

My dog Scout is a 25 lb male pug/lab mix, almost all black except for a white breast stripe, 17" tall at the shoulder. The top of his head just fits the palm of my hand. He has a twisty, pug-like tail that stands up on his keester like one of those ready made bows you buy at a Hallmark store. He hyperventilates like a pug, but his snout is a pug/lab compromise. Short, but definitely not non-existent, like a pure pug's.

In fact the modern pug is one of those breeder's things. A friend I made @ the dog park pointed out that a couple hundred hears ago, Wm Hogarth, the English painter, did portraits including his pug, and, in terms of much of his appearance (not his coloring) they look like Scout, not a modern pure pug. The difference is that looked at straight on, Hogarth's pugs have a broad, powerful looking bulldog appearance in the breast area, whereas Scout has a much narrower breast. Go to Google Images and enter Hogarth pugs and see what I mean.

I adopted him 3 years ago at the age of 2 from the Albuquerque East Side Animal Shelter for $82. The fee includes his license, neutering, and the implantation of an computer ID chip. He was a stray they found on the street with no tags or ID.

"Designer" dogs seem to be the in thing today -- cross breeding to get the best features of each. "Puggles" (pug-beagle) is one of the most popular, but there are concerns that the weaker features will dominate or be compromised. Pugs are prone to respiratory problems because of their limited lung capacity, and they should not be over-exercised (be careful about taking a pug for too long a walk, you may end up carrying it home, LOL). Likewise, they should not be over-fed, getting fat puts them at risk.

My son lives in a 3-level townhouse condo and his purebred Pug gets plenty of exercise just going up and down the stairs, he's a little tank. His favorite spot is lying on the top of the couch back and putting his forepaws and head on my son's shoulder while they watch TV together. And he truly watches it, he took to it from the get-go. After a bit my son will hear this long low snoooorrr and know he's zonked out for a bit. I wish I could post a pic of the two of them here.

When it's time for night night he is put into a wire caged area, and that is HIS turf! When they go to clean it he has to be right there "helping" and over-seeing it. At the end of the day my son says "OK, lockdown!" and the dog trots right over to it and goes in -- what a hoot.

[Ralph]

Tassel and Kimmy are my two feline companions. They're almost fourteen. Tassel is as frisky, still, as a kitten.

They're both adopted from a rescue outfit. They're Domestic Short Hairs with Four Paw Traction and Amplified Vocalization.

Wonderful friends!

[paulb]

Ralph tell us how were the reactions from your 2 pals the day your etended stay at the hosiptal. I know there's a story to share. After 14 yrs I mean its like family, close knit. I know they were joyful to see you back home.

[Ralph]

Ralph tell us how were the reactions from your 2 pals the day your etended stay at the hosiptal. I know there's a story to share. After 14 yrs I mean its like family, close knit. I know they were joyful to see you back home.

*****

Truthfully, one of my concerns when I was away for six weeks was that they'd forget me and our regular rituals like reading the Times together every morning. I wasn't worried about their care-my son fed them every day and played with them.

When I got home, on the mend but emaciated and largely immobilized, they took about a half-hour to scamper about staring at me and then all was back to normal.

Before I got sick I had a mantra I shouted out every night to get the cats into the basement - their only routine obedient act. I'm a super-light sleeper and I needed them down there. I couldn't do this so they sized up the situation and moved onto the bed with me. They've been there ever since. I believe they prefer my bed to the basement even though it's finished and I always left a remote out so they could watch TV.

[Corlyss_D]

My favourite cat (dickens) had a white fur with red dots everywhere. Beautiful.

Sounds like a calico to me.

but you have 5 cats and 2 dogs. You raised them together at the same age(kitten and puppy).. HOw can they get along ?? Btw; what are their names?

Yes, it wasn't my idea really to have so many cats. I would have only two if I had my druthers, but I can't decide which two so I have five. I had 3 when I moved here from Virginia. The oldest about 13-15 yrs old died of kidney failure and congestive heart failure within 6 months of moving out here. I had had her from the time she was about 1-2 yrs old - she adopted us - a tiny gray tabby with the most beautiful markings, obviously a little girl's cat, abandoned by someone in the near neighborhood. As long as we let her out, she returned to her old home looking for her family. We finally had to put a stop to that. She went blind after 4 years with us, but she knew where all the furniture was and didn't have any trouble navigating the house. She wasn't real happy with the whole process of moving here. The other two rescues I had had about a year when I moved here.

Anyway, when we had been here in Utah about 2 weeks my little poodle Gai (pronounced Guy) collapsed from paralysis in his back legs. The vets in Salt Lake City wanted me to put him down, but he wasn't even 3 years old at the time, he was a present after a serious illness, I just had moved to paradise on earth, so I couldn't bring myself to do it. I got him a little k-9 cart and he could get around very well in it, but he was depressed with his condition. The two remaining cats wouldn't have anything to do with him, bein' as he was disabled. So after a couple of months I got him two young cats in hopes that they would play with him. Well, they had been cage mates in the adoption place, so they didn't want any part of Gai either. So after about 6 months I got him a dog, Gitano, a brilliant little poodle-terrier mix whose rescuer alerted me about the litter from which he came the day after they were born. He's done wonders for Gai's outlook and mine too truth to tell.

Then last summer I spied in the pet store adoption section what I thought was a dilute calico, my heart's desire as far as looks go. Dilutes are pastel colored. The woman told me that it was a dilute tortiseshell, not a calico, but it was too late - I had to have her. So that's how I ended up with 5 cats and 2 dogs.

Cats

Battin' Rouge, commonly called 'Red' - big orange and white male tabby with the sweetest disposition you'd ever want to meet. He was Gai's playmate after his predecessor cat was struck by a car and killed.
Chiara - big longhaired female tortie whose patterns of light and dark just begged the name, short for chiarascurro of art fame. She sings all the time. I got her at the same time I got Red because she was just so beautiful.
Houdini - small black with white patches male, named because he wriggled out of the box before I could get him up to the store front to pay for him. He's the agent provocateur in the family, always picking on the other cats because he'd really rather be an only pet.
Cicero - a very loquacious small orange tabby with a very affectionate disposition. He talks up a storm constantly, which is why I named him Cicero, but he answers to "Sunny" for his brilliant coat and his warm disposition.
Cascia - my little dilute tortie. She's absolutely fearless, and very affectionate. I call her my little tomboy. She comes immediately I call her, because her mom didn't have time to teach her not to do that. In your copious spare time, you should try to run down a copy of Paul Gallico's The Silent Meow. It's a fun read and nobody dies at the end.

Dogs

Gai - my largish full blooded apricot toy poodle. Bossiest damn dog I ever met. His breeder warned me that apricots were the most narcissistic of the colors. I'm his biggest toy and he never lets me forget my true status in the family - he's almost like a cat in that respect. He does demand a lot more attention than the others because of his disability.
Gitano - my little white knight poodle-terrier mix with a terrific sense of humor. He's got enormous hazel Weimeraner eyes, which is a bit startling in a small poodle body, and a beautiful recurved plume of a tail that arches over his back. He's probably the sweetest disposition of the entire lot.

If I have time later I'll put up some pics of the motley crew.

[Ralph]

Corlyss,

The great pleasure your pets give you comes through. And THEY have been or are super-lucky to have YOU!!!!

An especially nice post from you.

[mourningstar]

Corlyss, what a lovely home you have there.. ,.. and their names are top-notch given. they wouldn't deserved less, same goes for your dogs..

and we would love to see pictures of your cats.. great family

[Corlyss_D]

Corlyss,

The great pleasure your pets give you comes through. And THEY have been or are super-lucky to have YOU!!!!

An especially nice post from you.

Thank you, Ralph.