Your daily cat and kitten news

[Puddy_Tat]

(((devit )))

 

[tufty79]

aw, devit
((you))

 

[Agent Sparrow]

Ah, the sanctuary of the cat and kitten thread.

After two years pretty much unemployed (I had a 10 week contract!) I finally got a job... the slight fly in the ointment is that it's in Hong Kong. Since I got the offer (and said Yes) I tried to get my parents to take the boys on, that way I stil have them "in my life", just a little extended. However they couldn't take them.

I have, though, found a friend of a friend who is absolutely mad about cats, and a really nice person to boot. She came to collect the cats today at noon I've been out for the afternoon but have come home to a horrible empty shit flat with no cats and I'm pretty much losing it. Why do we get so attached to these bloody animals? I always had a choice - I could have said no to HK - but then I couldn't guarantee them a home here anyway and it'd be far worse them going somewhere else for bad financial reasons.

I know it's only been a day. I'm distraught, seriously howling and I have to say I'm almost embarassed. Don't really know any cat mad people (except one who understands by text!). Has anyone else had to leave their cats? Oh I don't know if that's the reason I'm posting. May be I just want to write it out on a thread where people won't think I'm a twat (hopefully).

Looking forward to HK, the new challenge, the travelling opportunities. But hope this feeling passes (they really have gone to a fab home).

Goodbye Pilau and Ginger - you kept me sane during my unemployment and frankly you're the best cats in the world
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Liked for the pictures of the lovely cats and your obviously fond words, not for your pain

 

[Agent Sparrow]

Saw a cat that looked very similar to Buffy cat (RIP) today. Very friendly little thing though, enjoyed getting a stroke.

In the circumstances, seems as good a time as any to post these pictures I found on my computer the other day, when they were both adolescent cats.





Gosh, Trillian has definitely got more fluffy in her adulthood!

 

[devit]

Thanks for the words and brackets. I think that's what I needed... get it off my chest and not feel like a weirdo for missing them. Been getting an update from their new servant - apparently they are starting to cause mischief. *proud*

 

[Manter]

((devit)) I don't think you're mad at all- cats gave such personalities and can make houses feel full even when there are no other humans there. But it'll get better when you're starting your exciting new job.... Just let yourself miss them

 

[CRI]

Ah, best of luck for the job devit and it's brilliant that you found a lovely place for the furballs to stay. It is bloody hard. When I was 20, I "went abroad" (from the US to Norway) for the first time, leaving the dog I'd had since I was 6 and my cat with my parents. It was such a wrench. (Not unexpectedly, the dog died while I was away - one of the worst days of my life when my mum told me on the phone, but the cat died suddenly two weeks later and I was wondering which of the damned Nordic gods I'd managed to piss off to be so cursed. .)

I didn't have pets again for another 5 years or so when I was "settled" in London and got the gerbils. You'll get your stuff sorted one day and can have cats (or whatever you fancy) again - won't be the same, but different and still special. Keep that in mind, and that your kits are in a happy place and wow, enjoy HK!

 

[Manter]

hipster kitty

 

[CRI]

Saw a cat that looked very similar to Buffy cat (RIP) today. Very friendly little thing though, enjoyed getting a stroke.

In the circumstances, seems as good a time as any to post these pictures I found on my computer the other day, when they were both adolescent cats.

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View attachment 47627

Gosh, Trillian has definitely got more fluffy in her adulthood!

What beauties and yes, Trillian definitely much fluff now!

 

[CRI]

hipster kitty

How's the bottom problem?

 

[Manter]

How's the bottom problem?

fine- we think he drank the water the plasterer left out

 

[CRI]

I am afraid I win the prize for worst cat mum today. First I realised it was time to deflea her; no advocate but had some program left. Which should of been fine, had I not then accidentally applied the oral suspension mix to the back of her neck Then I cut a little bit of matted hair off below her chin. Done very carefully and all fine. But then noticed that one set of whiskers are now shorter than the other side, with a distinct hair cut quality to them

Since then she has just received tickles and strokes from me, and proper care will resume when I locate my brain again

Have you seen some of the ghastly photos after I've given Griff (guinea pig) a haircut? Tell Trillian things could be much worse! (he needs another trim )

 

[CRI]

Also (sorry to reply again to the same post but you're on a subject that floats my boat) the process that causes any particular pattern in torties is developmental and linked to whichever X chromosome in a particular cell randomly becomes dominant at an early stage of development (unsure, but maybe at 4 or 8 cell stage) and that state is then copied during cell division. You could in theory clone a tortie cat and have it end up with a completely different coat pattern (although in the same colours) than the individual it was cloned from, depending upon which X chromosome in each cell became dominant and subsequent cell division and distribution of those cells amongst the melanin producing cells of the skin.

Similar with cats with white on them, the amount and pattern of pigmentation is part due to genetics (the % of white is largely genetic) and part due to the way pigmented cells move away from the neural tube in early foetal development, which could not be replicated even in a clone.

Edit: I have a cat that is mostly white with some black markings, and I can see what position one of his stubby proto-legs would have been in relation to his body when he was at an early development stage in the womb, because he has a black spot that is half on his abdomen and half on his leg.

Just wanted to say a big thanks for all the info. I'm learning loads here (and looking up more stuff as well.)

 

[devit]

Ah, best of luck for the job devit and it's brilliant that you found a lovely place for the furballs to stay. It is bloody hard. When I was 20, I "went abroad" (from the US to Norway) for the first time, leaving the dog I'd had since I was 6 and my cat with my parents. It was such a wrench. (Not unexpectedly, the dog died while I was away - one of the worst days of my life when my mum told me on the phone, but the cat died suddenly two weeks later and I was wondering which of the damned Nordic gods I'd managed to piss off to be so cursed. .)

I didn't have pets again for another 5 years or so when I was "settled" in London and got the gerbils. You'll get your stuff sorted one day and can have cats (or whatever you fancy) again - won't be the same, but different and still special. Keep that in mind, and that your kits are in a happy place and wow, enjoy HK!

Thanks CRI sorry to read about your experiences. It's gutting whenever these things happen but when you're not there... must be doubly worse

I have looked into volunteering for a cat charity in HK - a good way to meet like minded moggie-lovers perhaps and will definitely have cats again in the future. Their new servant has put a pic on FB and they look cute and fast asleep. This has given me a great big smile on my face, because 1) they are content enough to relax and 2) they are going to cause hell when they go "exploring" in their new territory in the early hours (at least they better, that's what they did to me all those years ago!!)

 

[devit]

((devit)) I don't think you're mad at all- cats gave such personalities and can make houses feel full even when there are no other humans there. But it'll get better when you're starting your exciting new job.... Just let yourself miss them

Thanks Manter - good advice.

 

[trashpony]

I have looked into volunteering for a cat charity in HK - a good way to meet like minded moggie-lovers perhaps and will definitely have cats again in the future. Their new servant has put a pic on FB and they look cute and fast asleep. This has given me a great big smile on my face, because 1) they are content enough to relax and 2) they are going to cause hell when they go "exploring" in their new territory in the early hours (at least they better, that's what they did to me all those years ago!!)

That sounds really good

I can totally understand your sadness but how lovely that they have a home with someone who you know will care for them and send you updates. Not quite as good as seeing them in the fur, but nearly. Perhaps you could get them to skype?

 

[Epona]

Fascinating stuff by the way Epona, always interesting to listen to someone who really knows their shizzle. I love it when someone on here turns out to know loads about a particular subject.

Cheers mate - it's been a specialist subject of mine for a few years now. I don't have any formal qualifications (at least not in that subject, I have a degree in archaeology) besides an A-level in biology, but have always been massively interested in genetics and enjoying reading and self-motivated research as much as I do, I dedicate plenty of time to learning as much as I can about it. Because of my interest in cats since I started having them as pets, that interest has become very focused on a special interest in cat genetics and I like to consider myself a sort of 'expert layperson' on the subject, although there is always more to learn. I take great pleasure in always learning even when not in a formal educational setting and it disturbs me that I will never know 'everything' in my lifetime if that makes any sense - but that provides a constant drive to read, analyse, and learn, at least wrt to subjects that particularly hold my interest.

 

[Epona]

devit - congrats on the job, sorry to hear about having to leave the cats, glad that you have found them a good home - that is the main thing. I'd be concerned about your basic humanity if you didn't feel completely cut up/guilted out about it, but it sounds to me as if you have done right by them and found them a good home.

Good luck in your new job, and I am sure any cat charity would be glad of your help.

 

[Epona]

Radar my moggy was in 'pestilence' mode most of Sunday - torturing my legs, sitting on top of the PC and leaping up to grab my arm, that sort of thing.

He is far better than he used to be (he is now nearly 8), when he was a kitten he reduced me to tears a few times and I had to wear boots indoors to protect my legs for the first year of his life

 

[Quartz]

Radar my moggy was in 'pestilence' mode most of Sunday - torturing my legs, sitting on top of the PC and leaping up to grab my arm, that sort of thing.

You know the trick of having a box beside the computer in which the cat can sit?

 

[Quartz]

devit, they'll remember you when you return.

 

[CRI]

Breeze and her beloved brown mousie (which lost half its tail during this encounter - must find more brown mousies!)

 

[tufty79]

It's been two weeks now, and rocky and angel seem to have properly settled, and pepper is getting on fine with them (and vice-versa, other than rocky nicking her filters - can't believe I have *two* purry weirdos ..)
The new kittehs have got into a routine of waking me up with purrs and facebumps, and rocky's nickname is shoulder cat


Now and then I manage to get a pic with all of them in at once..

 

[Agent Sparrow]

Lovely photos CRI and tufty79

No photos for me, but have discovered the cat is fascinated by me dusting. And when I turned my back for 5 minutes, started writhing around with the dusting cloth Daft cat

 

[CRI]

It's been two weeks now, and rocky and angel seem to have properly settled, and pepper is getting on fine with them (and vice-versa, other than rocky nicking her filters - can't believe I have *two* purry weirdos ..)
The new kittehs have got into a routine of waking me up with purrs and facebumps, and rocky's nickname is shoulder cat
View attachment 47839

Now and then I manage to get a pic with all of them in at once..



View attachment 47840

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Aw brilliant! It's great they've all settled. What's this thing with cats waking you up in the morning (worse than children!)? Lovely photos. Happy!

 

[CRI]

Lovely photos CRI and tufty79

No photos for me, but have discovered the cat is fascinated by me dusting. And when I turned my back for 5 minutes, started writhing around with the dusting cloth Daft cat

Duster - cheap cat toy! Can you teach her to wrestle with it, say along the skirting boards behind the sofa in a fairly straight line?

 

[colacubes]

I didn't get a chance to have a shower post swimming, hence my feet have been getting a lot of attention due to their alluring eau de chlorine

 

[Agent Sparrow]

Aw, bless him colacubes, I can just imagine the writhing and snuggling!

Btw, what is this "t" which is now appearing on loads of photos on here? Is it a particular hosting site?

 

[TopCat]

Dylan the intact tom has developed malignant smelling piss. He does not spray but I wish he would go for a piss/shit outside rather than in the litter tray. He is enormously loving though and (play) fights much less now with the older tom Bobby Cat. Bobby growls like fuck at him and gives him a swipe regularly just for badness. To be fair, Bobby does this to me too.
Bobby is much nicer to Mation, sits on her lap, wants endless strokes.

Ungrateful bastard, 10 years of love and food and shelter and he treats me like this. I love him to bits.

 

[colacubes]

Aw, bless him colacubes, I can just imagine the writhing and snuggling!

Btw, what is this "t" which is now appearing on loads of photos on here? Is it a particular hosting site?

It's cos I was on my phone so they were uploaded from tapatalk.