Answers To Questions/Comments

Today I answer comments.  And forgive me, I tend to use handles as names...  And forgive me the "cute" gif.  I found it by accident and loved it.

Megan said " That second pic shows Laz's extraordinary fur markings really well".  Yes, Laz has distinct markings.  But his furs are basically grey tabby.  It is his deep blue eyes that show his siamese parent.  And his voice.  He talks a lot, loudly, as Siamese do.

Several people mentioned the whisker collection.  I started doing that in 2008 after Skeeter left and thinking that I should keep memories after I found whiskers around the house.  The green bottle was a happy find at Walmart.  If I get bored someday, I may count them.

The Meezers mentioned that "Lori has a cute stink eye!!".  Yes she does.  She can look really mean sometimes.  But she is never actually mean.  But she can growl sometimes.  Yesterday, she came in with those triangular "sticky seeds" stuck to her fur (it's that time of the year).  And when I held her down to pull them off, she complained the whole time.

Piltch mentioned "those white chocolate truffles too and at Valentine's Day, they have white with strawberry filling".  I love the extra dark and white chocolate.  Never had the ones with the strawberry filling, but will watch for those.  I love strawberries.

Memories Of Eric And Flynn said "Great flashback! Iza did a good job on skinning her mousies! Love her pose on the cards and it would make a good centrefold"

Iza was a dedicated skinner of her rattley-mousies.  She ripped everything she could to pieces.  I had to hide toilet paper from her.  She could unroll and rip up an entire roll in an hour of dedicated effort.  Lori follows her tradition.  

And Iza's playing card pic was one of the oddest I ever took.  She lioved showing off her tummy, but that was a weird view of her.

Meezers - "Ahhh, Marley are you guarding the Duck from the youngsters??!

Marley protects anycat and everything.  He doesn't actually plasy with any toys ever.  Maybe he just wants them to feel safe.

Thank you all, everyone for reading and commenting!

 

Werdy Wensday

TBT:   I haven't answered comment questions for a while, so I am trying to catch up:  Here goes...

Pilch92:  "That is sad. You don't have any snapping turtles around, do you? Or snakes?"

 

(About the disappearance of Spring Peepers). No snapping turtles lately.  I did find one 20 years ago and used a snow shovel to carry it across the street to the swamp.  No special frog-eating snakes either.  Just environmental changes.  The swamp is draining away slowly.

 

Marcia:  "I had to look up what a tonette is"

 

It's a toy pipe.  Back in the 60s it was a fun little flute-like thing.  But I remembered it because Mom bought me one then.  I couldn't even figure it out.  I have no musical talent.  But my younger brother picked it up and gave it a try.  In a week, he could basically replay songs he heard on the radio from a single hearing.  He had talent; I didn't.  

But The Mews are coming to recognize the total open notes as "come in".  I needed "something" because I can't seem to whistle anymore.

 

Zoolatry:  ?? your FIRST dinner ?? what's that all about ... how many dinners are served ??

 

Generally 5-6.  The Mews eat like Hobbits.  Breakfast, 1st and 2nd Lunch, 1st and 2nd Dinner, and "lasties" before bedtime.  I read once that feral cats need 6 mice a day.  So The Mews get about the same 5-6 times a day.

 

Meezers:  Mousie was feeling worn out...totally!

 

Mousies don't play well for long.  We need more durable mousies around here.

 

Katie Isabella:  By the way, tell your Dad I loved reading his chase adventure in his comment on my (Katie) blog Still making mom and I smile.

 

The chase was more active than I mentioned.  Marley kept hiding under the bed headboard.  It's a bookcase headboard that can be moved separate from the waterbed frame.  He kept moving from one side to another.  So I had to pull it away from the wall to get Marley to leave that area.  But (bless his trust), when he saw the door was closed and I was standing above him, he surrendered.  It actually took about 15 minutes.  We barely got to the Vet on time to avoid a "late fee".

 

Megan:  Geez Ayla. I'm not sure that I'd describe that as "polite"!

 

It is actually a polite action among cats and dogs.  Sniffing another's butt tells them a lot about health, what the other has been eating, and (I think) attitude.  At least, it doesn't seem to bother a cat when another sniffs.

 

Memories Of Eric And Flynn:  It is good to have somewhere to rest your head, Marley.

 

The carpet where Marley rests his head on the platform is now actually worn off down to the wood.  I will be posting pics about that soon.  As far as I can tell, it is 13 years of him resting his head there.  I've never seen any scratching at it.  And I plan to cover the bare spot.

 

Melissa, Mudpie, and Angel Truffles:  Fun memories! I love Marley's face with the frog.

 

Every Mews has enjoyed catching frogs.  Hop, jump, hop attracts attention...  But they never quite know what to do with them once caught.  The only Mews who actually ate them was LC.  The others only want to play.  

 

And they play "dead" quickly.  Lori brought one up on the deck last week and it went "dead" and she ignored it after a few minutes.  Three hours later, I was out on the deck and saw it suddenly turn over and hop away...

Tuesday Answering Questions Time

We (The Mews and I) love questions in comments on both blogs and by email.  They let us know what we aren't explaining, didn't know of, or didn't think of.  They let us know what you are thinking.  Even better, it gives us something to post about other than showing The Mews napping every day, LOL/MOL!

*  Jackie of Memories of Eric and Flynn asked about Lori's size relative to Laz.  It's tricky and mostly a camera-angle thing.  Laz arrived here at 8.8 lbs at 3.5 years old.  He has dropped to 8.4 over 2+ years.  Mostly because 1) he can run around outside here, 2) he has Lori to run around with inside here, and 3) he is kind of a fussy eater.  

Regarding the last, he wants kibbles.  I think Stinky Goodness is better for him, but sometimes he won't eat any unless I sprinkle some kibbles or freeze-dried chicken on top (and he has taught Lori that bad habit).  Sometimes I tell him "eat or don't".  He usually wins.  I don't know why (because I'm not the hungry one).  But his weight has settled on 8.4 lbs.

Lori arrived at about 4 lbs, 15 months ago.  But she is a regular vacuum-cleaner of an eater.  Well, she was a healthy growing girlcat.  She weighed 8.2 last week.  So she and Laz are about the same weight now.  But weight can be deceiving.  Laz is a lean cat.  He is 1/2 Siamese, and I've never met a fat Siamese.  Lori is a Tonkinese.  And while Tonkies are basically Siamese and Burmese, they are "dense".  No, not stupid; "muscular".  So her weight doesn't quite relate to size like it does with Laz.  

With Laz, weight is size.  With Lori, you can get fooled a bit.  Trying to hold her is like trying to wrassle a boa constrictor.  As much as she loves me, she doesn't like to be picked up.  She and Marley are both "paws on the floor" types.  So with both, imagine a soccer ball of muscle...

But she looks smaller than Laz.   It fools me too sometimes.  I think she curls up tighter than Laz does.  That's my best guess, and I'll stay with it.

* Megan mentioned "Lori doesn't need any toys, Marley - she's got Laz!"  True.  They run around, wrassle, and run more.  They are playmates to the highest degree and the most active pair of cats I've ever had the joy to share space with.  But there is a difference in toys.  The only toy Laz likes is a wand type and the only thing he wants of that is to chew on the string.  OK, he sometimes chews on soft toys like bananas.

Lori will chase any toy.  Like Iza, she loves rattley-mice.  And she will leap at anything I toss over her (she is very bird-reactive).  But springs are her favorites.  They bounce and roll (mousies?).  I usually keep a few in my pockets.  You should see the laser-focussed-eyes when I start to wave one around!  She especially loves it when I toss one down the stairs.  Iza was like that, too.  Both charged wildly down the stairs after them.  Maybe it's a Tonkie thing.

But Megan has the Laz/Lori thing right.  They are each others' toys in a way.  Each will stalk and ambush the other in a way they don't relate to simple toys.  Hallway "stampede of elephants" hardly describes it.  Often, in bed, I will cover my face with a hand because they would be fully-willing to run right across my eyes.  I sometimes wonder how much they understand that each other is "another cat" and not prey or some amazing toy.

But each post should have a picture...

Laz and Lori settling down after a good house-chase...  And, yeah, he sure looks bigger!  

 

Replies To Comments

AYLA:  OK, I'll take over for this.  I have more experience...  And I don't post all that often, so it is a good opportunity...

The Lone Star Cats:  "I'd stay in where it's warm - I got no interest in being out in da cold!"  

I agree, it got down to 8F last night which is really cold fer a domestic furry.  TBT brushes our furs often an that means less of it.  Less furs means colder.  He let Laz and Lori sniff the air through a crack in the door and they backed off.  Marley could tell it was too cold just by a nose on the door.  I didn't even consider it...  These old bones can't deal with 20, never mind 8.

Zoolatry:  "Mmm, well now, your Daddy was a once upon a time New Englander, so he could get you some "galoshes hip-waders", a big bright yellow raincoat (heavy sweater underneath) ... a rain bonnet, tied underneath your cute chinny-chin chin of course ...

TBT would wear sensible stuff like that, but we won't even wear collars.  You should see the heavy stuff he wears just to go get the mail and fill the birdy-feeders!  Iffen it had been daytime, he might have let Laz out.  Because Laz has enough sense to run back inside when the wheathers are bad.  Lori runs seeking shelter.  Bad idea.

Mickey's Musings:  "We had rain yesterday too and some wild wind!

I did not want to d=go out in that!
I suspect that you would not like rain on your furs either!"

Lori allows some rain.  But cold rain gets tiresome fast.  So TBT kept her inside.

Megan:  "Is that some mistletoe you're sitting under Lori?"  No, but it it served well enough.  Laz grooms me often.  And I vicy versa-like to do too.

Cathy Keisha:  "Who's that reflection cat I see outside? Is it getting wet?

Probably not.  TBT was confusured about that picture too, but he thought he saw a cat behind the reflection and almost went to see if he could put a foodbowl out the door.  But I told him it wasn't really there.  I see things better than he does sometimes.

Zoolatry:  "Merry Christmas, Mark ... (that has to be an art rendering of Lori ...)"

The cat decorating a Chrissymouse Tree with mousies came from a card we received many years ago.  TBT just had to keep the image, of course.  However, it is the inspiration of our own Mews Tree.

TBT bought a new bag of rattley mice an we gathered around to paw at the places he should put them.  It was a wunnerful decorating experience.  I personally didn't get involved when Laz was there, but I suggested some places after the other Mews left for 2nd Dinner!

Megan:  "Oooh ah - dead mousies on the tree. Did TBT do that at your house?"

We have vague ideas about "dead mousies".  We think they just get tired of playing.  But see above about mousie-decorations.

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Now, about our Chrissiemouse Day gifts:  We got more cards than we expected (not on the card list this year).  We thank one and all for email and snail mail cards.  They were set up on the table

They will be attached to the inside of the front door soon so we can see them when we walk to the stairs to the litterboxes.  But for today, they take over the dining table in thanks...

We have so much stuff (toys, treats, etc) that we dared not ask for more this year.  Sandy Claws might have asked why we wanted more.  So we didn't.  We'll save that for next year maybe.  MOL!

But our Auntie Susie sent us some treats anyway.  We are gonna get FAT trying to eat all the goodies!

We will hope all of you had a great Chrissymouse Day, got things you wanted, and had Special Treats on the Special Day.

Thursday Answers

TBT:  Today, we are going back and looking at questions and observations in comments.  We have forgotten to do that for too long...

Meezer's Mews & Terrieristical Woofs  commented that Laz and Lori are "just about glued together".  Yes, they are.  They play together, wrassle, eat together, nap together, and even outside, they are often close.  In the older days, Skeeter and LC were close, but not as close as Laz and Lori.  All the cats here are "The Mews", but I am starting to think of Laz&Lori as The Ls.

Brian and Megan both asked "who won" the wrassling match.  Neither.  They play evenly and then mutually stop.  After a few minutes, I see them both curled up together on the waterbed.

Pilch92 said "I am amazed that spider plant has survived all of you".  It does, but the lowest spiders get chewed sometimes.  Sometimes I just put the baby spiders in a bowl of water to grow roots.  I should trim them up a generation.

Erin the Cat Princess mentioned that "Ah, well the mistake humans make is to think they are in charge of this game," referring to feeding.  Yes, The Mews are basically in charge of what and where they eat.  What one or another loved last month is not what they want today but will love next month.  That's why I generally have 8 stacks of cans, kibbles, and dried chicken.  

And "where" matters.  Marley is a food vacuum-cleaner.  The other Mews have learned to demand their food in the bedroom (where Marley doesn't associate location with food - yet).  Or sometimes I just stand there and pull Marley away from the other's foodbowls.  

Marley does not understand the concept of "too much food".  He will (given the choice) eat until he cat-bomits.  He was a shelter cat as a kitten and maybe he didnt get enough food then and he remembers that.  

Megan asked "Could you try serving Laz's food at the same time as everyone else's and putting it outside on the balcony for him? Then he could eat it before he came back inside and you wouldn't have anyone else trying to gobble it before him.

Laz would be an outside cat if not for meals (and sometimes rain-sheler) inside.  Calling out "Dinner-Dinner" is almost the only way I get him back in the house before dark sometimes.  He ignores his name and my other calls.  He responds to "Dinner-Dinner".  I sometimes think that if it wasn't for his love of Lori, he might just leave.

Gidget Blue Sky commented "da luv story of Laz and Lori."  Yes indeed.  It is quite amazing.  Laz had a hard start in life and it took a year to comfort him here to where he stopped attacking Ayla.  I got him halfway to calm, but when Lori arrived, he calmed down completely.  I don't know why, but she sure affected him positively.

Megan noted a pic about the food bowl mat saying "I want to know why there are food scraps all over the place. Poor TBT has to clean that up, you know."  I never have to clean the mat.  Marley comes back and licks up all spilled food later.  He weighs 18 pounds for a reason.  He would kill a hyena for leftovers.  LOL!

I think that is about all I can answer.  But there do have to be pics, right?

The Ls...

And Marley...

Ayla is hiding under the bed (happily).

Caturday Saturday

TBT:  Oops - We took a day off, and it turned into a week!  It wasn't deliberate; we just  skipped a day at a time for various reasons.  Great weather, lots of yardwork and housework to catch up on, doing a lot of cooking, good TV, etc.  By the time we wanted to post, we just wanted to go to bed...  But I finally got enough done to be able to sit down at the computer again.

But we did get questions from the Caturday Saturday post last week, so here are answers!

1.  Zoolatry asked (and then said not to answer) "Who is your favorite cat". But I can answer...  All of them in their own way of course.  No one cat is the same as the others and each have special points.

But The Mews each want to make their case as "favorite", so I will indulge them...

AYLA:  I'm his favorite.  I'm the eldest.  I'm his first (and only) full Siamese.  I'm his Princess.

MARLEY:  Well, I'm not all that competitive about who TBT likes best, but I secretly know I'm his favorite because I am so easy-going.  I'm his "Big Buddy", and that has to matter.  And I eat anything in my bowl.

LAZ:  I know I am his favorite because he spent so much time helping me adjust to a new home and other cats when I was shaking, scared and uncertain.  He spent hours talking to me calmly when I first arrived.  He helped me get over attacking Ayla, explaining that I didn't have to protect my position in the house all the time.  One day I caught on to that.  And he admires my bloo eyes and buff chest with the rest of me grey tabby.

LORI:  I know I'M his favorite because I am utterly cute and maturing into "beautiful".  And because I follow him everywhere.  OK, I know I was sort of a replacement for Iza who left for The Bridge too soon, but I'm different in some ways and he likes THAT too.  And like Marley, I eat anything.  And I sleep with him.

2.  Meezer's Mews mentioned they can't comment (but did this time).  We have learned that the ability to comment at specific blogs comes and goes.  Some blogs we have commented on for years suddenly doesn't work, others do after not working, and we don't know why.  TBT sometimes thinks that Google, AOL, and Feedly just randomly change the way things work for reasons of their own.  

3.  Pilch92 asked if TBT would get more blood tests for Lori.  Lori has "clumping blood platelets".  The Vet's onsite equipment couldn't detect that and the apparent (but inaccurate) results made it seem to risky to do her spay operation.  It took an outside lab with better equipment and experience to find the problem.

Lori had all the platelets she needed.  The clumping is not actually a problem.  So, unless an operational problem arises where it makes a difference, there won't be further tests.  And a positive shout-out to the Vet:  They  didn't charge me for the outside lab work...  The Vet said she needed to understand the problem herself for professional reasons.

4.  Mickey's Musings asked which cat sleeps closest to the pillow.  It has varied over time.  In the older days, Skeeter used to sleep under the covers every night (LC never did).  In the current generation, Ayla was under the covers most nights.  Iza slept under draped over my hip.  Marley is sometimes an under the covers cat, but not in direct contact.  Laz used to get under the covers, but only when I lifted a knee and made a slight tent.  

Lori is the undercover-at-the-pillow cat these days.  She not only likes to be under the covers but she pushes her head right up to the pillow.  And my nose.  It is actually a bit awkward though.  I am suddenly breathing in her outbreaths and not getting enough oxygen.  So I wake up suddenly lacking breath.  I have been encouraging her to settle a bit further down.  Lately, she is accepting being moved a bit lower.  She seems happy being against me anywhere, but she prefers (other than my nose) my hip or the crook of my knees.  She also has a very loud purr, so a bit further away (still cuddled against me) helps.

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We loved answering the questions.  Feel free to ask anything anytime.

And a "Sleepy-Lori" pic...

Werdy Wensday

TBT HERE:   It seems time to answer a few questions.  So here we go...

Summer mentioned (about the mirror kitty) that That looks like fun! Sparkle hated mirror kitty. I think she is pretty!  We thought she meant Ayla's mirror kitty at first.  Then realized she meant her own mirror-kitty.  Yes, Summer, your mirror-kitty is beautiful!  As you are.

Memories Of Eric And Flynn mentioned The boys had ping pong balls in the bath which they used to bat around. We soon learned to take them out at night!  

We did ping-pong balls in the tub too.  Same results.  The sink made it much quieter though.

The J-Cats said “my brothers mostly go there when there are dishes with tasty food remnants there, waiting to be washed up.”

I just drown all the dishes at night and put them in the dishwasher the next morning when I’m lazy.  The Mews don’t get to lick them much.  I use a lot of spices and I’m never sure about what spices are safe for them.

Several readers were concerned about Laz falling 12’ from the deck.  Well, he lands better than I did from the ladder and on 4 feet.  He is fearless.  He willing jumped off the deck to chase a squirrel a day before.

Neither event bothered him in the slightest.

“Easy Like Sunday” had many people happy.  I was happy too.  It was a rare event.  The good news is that Ayla is asserting herself.  And I am beginning to thing that Laz mostly just wants to play but hasn’t learned how with Ayla.  

Things seem calm again.  When Laz gets too close, she hisses.  Lately, he backs away after that.  They will never be friends, but maybe he is learning not to be so aggressive.  Laz and Marley get along great!

And yes, food is soothing to all…

Many commenters asked about “mousies” vs “voles”.  The Mews consider ALL of them “mousies” in the generic sense.  The distinctions are minor (small, furry, grabbable, and pouncable).  But I learned about some differences I had NOT understood before.  

https://cavebearslair.blogspot.com/2021/04/mice-voles-moles-and-shrews-oh-my.html

On Twofur Tuesday, several people mentioned the warm laundry or the bloo towel in the drawer.  I do not mind cat fur on my clothes.  After years, cat fur is part of my life.  Though I do sometimes put a towel over the underwear drawer when I offer it for cat-naps.  Cat fur on the outside of my clothes is just such a routine part of my life, LOL!  I don’t even TRY to avoid it anymore.

Answering Questions

Today I answer questions and comments. 

PATZYS PLACE  commented:  I never get to go outside but our screen broken and I snuck out. Usually I’m too scared. I was gone for a couple of hours and when mommy finally spotted me at the door and shooed me in she went to kiss me and I slapped her in the face! Not once but twice. It’s a good thing she wears glasses. Then I ignored her pretty much for two days. Everything is good now but I can’t figure out why I slapped her. Was I mad that she let me get out or was I mad she made me come back in? It was after midnight when I did this. Any ideas?

MARLEY:   As an indoor cat, your outside instincts are naturally surpressed.  When you got loose outside, yur inborn feral "programming" came to the surface to protect you while outside.    When you returned into the house, it took a while to change back again.  So you were in self-protect mode for a while.

I am glad it caused no harm to yer Mom, but it was not an unnatural reaction.  She was "temporarily" a stranger and possibly a threat.  You reacted properly.  I am sure that by now, you have made it up to her...  You both need that.
    -----------------

Many commenters asked if Maraey brought a mousie in for Laz to play with.

MARLEY:  No, I didn't catch one.  They are still hiding in their wet holes.  But once I catch enough for ME, I will consider bringing one to Laz.  TBT will know when.  I hold offerrings at the deck doors asking to enter with one.  Usually, it is for HIM, but I'll surrender one to Laz.  He's my brofur...  He deserves to experience a mousie.

      -------------

TBT:  We also got many comments about The Mews all bein of the bed together.  It WAS unusual.  Usually, one or 2 will come up on the bed.  Seldom all 3.  Laz tends to join me alone.  Ayla often comes up, but leaves if Laz is there.  Marley and Ayla are fine together. 

Each variously gets under the blankets.  Sometimes nosing in, but usually by invitation if I raise the edge of the blankets.  Marley sleeps there the best, just out of touch.  Laz is getting good at snuggling his back against my crooked knees.  Ayla likes her paws against my legs and her claws tend to slide out.  That is not so great. 

ON the blankets, Marley is easiest.  He just wants to be close.  Ayla is worst.  She likes to sit on my ankles and and that feels odd.  I tend to toss and turn a bit.  Laz likes the small of my back and that is oddly comfortable. 

That's long enough for today...

Wordy Saturday - Answers

TBT HERE:  Megan commented...  "Always fabulous to read about some of the history behind the present-day blog. I recall that you got Marley because his owner discovered that she was allergic to his fur. By the time you were in contact with her, she had promised him to someone else, but you managed to convince her that it would be better for him to move in with you. I wonder whether you might tell us a bit more of that story one day - what was it you said to persuade her to change her mind? And did that woman become a follower of the blog so that she could monitor Marley's development and reassure herself that she'd made the right decision?  

Another story that I'd love to hear is how you came to acquire Laz."

So, an answer...  I was searching for a young male orange/white cat because I am convinced by experience that they are friendly, peaceful, healthy, and calming.  I looked at shelter cats online, but they were always brothers that had to go together.  And that wasn't what I thought I needed.  I wanted ONE do be a calming influence in the house with Ayla and Iza being hissy at each other.

I was sent a link to a single orange/white male kitten on 'Craig's List'.  I emailed the owner.   She said she already had a family interested in him.  And she was only letting him go because he was a Christmas gift but discovered she was allergic to cats.

Well, you can't get what you don't ask for.  I discussed my retirement and cat-attention.  I invited her attention to my blog.  I mentioned my desire for an orange/white male cat.  I mentioned the great food I provided.  I talked about the previous cats and I talked about laptime.  I mentioned the high fence around the entire back yard and the mice available for a cat to hunt.  I talked about tossing toys and treats.  Etc.  

In short, I convinced the lady I was a better home for her cat than the family she had promised him too.  But I still had to visit to convince her I was a good cat-person.

When I visited her condo, she called Marley down from upstairs.  He actually responded, coming halfway down the stairs and looking at me, a stranger.

I sat on the floor with legs crossed, and he came right over and curled up.  He purred...  I sure didn't expect THAT!  But it sure convinced the lady that he liked me and that I was good with cats.  

That was what convinced the lady I was the right person for Marley. He sat right down in my lap even though I was a stranger to him.

There was a cost.  Marley had cost the gifter $135 at a shelter and she wanted that for a replacement gift.  I paid it and took Marley home.  I've never regretted it.

Marley was such an adorable kitten...

The lady followed the blog briefly.  She wasn't really a cat-person, so she stopped after a few weeks.  I did make sure to speak nicely of her.  Technically, I suspect she was required to return Marley to the Shelter, so I tried to disconnect him with her and me.  I was worried some shelter official would come and take him.

I asked her his name and she said I could call him anything I wanted, but I was curious.  He sure did respond to his name when she called him and that is a good start.  I asked about the name.  She was a Bob Marley fan, so "Marley".  OK, if his name was "Bazooka" or something like that, I would have changed his name.  I have some naming habits from characters of books.  But I thought "Marley" was a pretty good name and I kept it.  If I had kept to my 'Clan Of The Cave Bear' book series naming habit, he would be "Jondalar".  But "Marley" seemed to  fit him.

Now, about Laz...

I wanted a Tonkinese female to replace Iza.  I found a breeder in Baltimore who bred Tonkies, but they were really vague about "when and color" (Tonkies furs can be anywhere from (Burmese to Siamase).  Though they did say I would be a perfect cat-daddy for one.  But they appeared and disappeared sometimes and I worried about that.  

So I asked the breeder of Ayla and Iza if she knew of a Tonkie source.  She didn't, but mentioned she had a "half-siamese male" on her hands from a hard first home and might I be interested in him?"

I'm a sucker for a sad story.  And the picture she sent was awesome...  I agreed to buy.

Laz was originally in a home with 2 pit bulls and 2 grabby children.  When he was returned to the breeder (who did not actually breed him  and some mystery exists for me about that), he was mostly traumatized.  She kept him for months to try to re-socialize him.  That was "iffy".  So, when I contacted her about a Tonkinese female, she had no source but she did have him.  I don't think he even had a name.  She said there had been some interest in him, but she wasn't sure about how well he could adapt.  When I contacted her, she knew me from previous adoptions and decided I was his best chance.  She was probably right. 

Well, with book characters in mind, I was thinking 2 Tonkie female kittens from Heinlein's sci-fi books about Lazarus Long.  The character had 2 female clones named Lapis Lazuli and Lorelei Lee.  

Well not having both, I decided that the new half-siamese male with the gorgeous blue eyes could be "Lapis Lazuli" for the color and I would save Lorelei Lee for a Tonkie female "to come" later.

Laz is doing his best to adjust to a new home.  He isn't an easy one.  He doesn't seem to get "Laz" as a name.  He doesn't seem to understand "dinnertime" as a sound meaning food.  He doesn't get "come".  My words make little sense to him.  

But I can tell he is trying to get used to his Forever Home.  And it IS his Forever Home "good bad or indifferent".  You couldn't get him away from me without serious force.  I'm persistent.  He wants attention and I give it.  He just flops down in front of me and hopes...  I give scritchies.  He is beginning to invite chin rubs.  He isn't fully socialized, but he is trying, so I won't give up on him. 

Let's say he is half-socialized.  He would probably be happier in a one-cat home, but he isn't going to have that.  But he IS starting to relate to Marley (wrassling and Wow a head-grooming recently).  He chases Ayla around sometimes, but less than at first.  I have been a bit firm about him not doing that (hand-claps nothing more).  

He invites my attention more than he did at first.  Well, that is normal, but he does seem to understand that I'm a good thing in his life.  He nestles up against me at night more recently.  He is twitchy, but he feels some comfort sleeping next to me at night now.  

I see Laz and Ayla close to each other more too.  Ayla is still concerned about him, but things are getting better.  Next year, all this may be of no matter.  Or some.  We will see. 

There is still a desire to get another Tonkie female.  But until Laz is calm around other cats and fully one of The Mews, I dare not bring a kitten into the house.  I would bring an adult in (like Iza) because "she" could handle Laz even now.  But I'm cautious.

Laz has had enough stress in his life and adjusting is hard.  He is improving, but I don't want to bring another cat into his life (as much as I want a Tonkie female) until he is fully calm and social.  Laz is here now and deserves the best calming I can provide.  My desire for another Tonkie female is secondary to his need for a certainty of acceptance and trust in me.

Damn I wish Iza was still here.  She would have been a perfect partner for Laz...



 

Caturday Saturday

LAZ:  Wow, I got questions ta anser.  There ar kittis out ther who care bout me!

Most were about "do I like it here"?  Yes, yes I do.  New wet fuds bt also familar crunchys, Ayla playful an we run aroun the hous together.  She says chasin is differnt that with Iza.  Like I play and Iza whapped.  We sit and groom a bit.  And Marly.  That new ta me.

Te best thing mebbe is that there no mean doggs or grabby kids.  Me first place was hard with them.  Snarls and tail grabbin.  Foster much better.  But I like it here too.  Calm, quiet, easy.  Sleep against BT at night and sometimes Ayla and Marlly.

I like that BT tosses toys.  Some smell odd and make me wild.  Some make sounds.  Some are gud ta carry around.

One thing bother me.  I wanna go out.  Ayla and Marly do, but BT wont let me.  He says I need to come when called beter.  Im trying.  I got a new name an sounds ta learn.  I go to the clear door with them, but he says not yet.  Well, at least I get ta smell them all over when they come back.  That ecitin!

BT says my niknme is "destrocat".  Well, still not used to were evrything is so is bump stuff over.  I clime a lot,  Nok the top board off the fire place.  Nok stuff over all over.  BT does just smile and stroke me, an thats gud.  Nothin I do gets me in truble, thats gud. I relly like BT.  

Gettin calmer.  Likin new fuds.  Likin the litter boxs cause Marly and Ayla use them, so I should too.  Their stuff is OK.  Easy ta paw arond.

Lerning new werds evry dy.  Ayla talks them ta me a lot.  Marly sometime.

I stil get all spookd easily and run an hide.

I like the huts in cat trees.  Comfy an safe.  Lik I sed, sometims I get spookd, so huts are gud.

Answers To Questions

AYLA:

We havent done this in a while, but TBT reminded us that we should.  When other kitties ask questions or suggest something in comments, he says we should answer them.  Yeah, that makes sense.

So we are going back a few posts and trying from there.

1.  Catio Tales mentioned "We keep asking Äiti where your Catio-wire is. We have been told such things are essential for us, but you do not have them. Pffft."...

We do not have wire fences around the deck or below on the sunken patio.  TBT has considered it several times, but (meowing gratefully) he has not done so.   But we only do go out when he is too, so he watches over us carefully.  The big fence around the backyard is impawtant, too.  He built it just FOR our safety when out.  It is to keep the Big Doggies out, but it werks for the Vishus Deer too. 

2. The Meezer Mews mentioned my 'purrsonal launch-pad, observation deck" for hunting mousies.  It was a discovery to me.  TBT set a Big Board on the ground and stuck it in place with metal rods so his ladder was level when he filled the birdie-feeder.  The flowerbed slopes, though it is not obvious from pictures.  And with his weak biped legs, he worried about falling backwards.

And apparently, Beings have a poor sense of balance.  They land badly.  It's almost funny.  LC once rolled over in her sleep off the deck (8' high), and she of course landed all 4s and just walked back up the steps.  Like TBT could do THAT...  MOL!

3. Many cats were uncertain what we meant by "merfing" when Marley said he was merfing around the house late at night.  I merf often at night.  It the small sound you make talking to yourself quietly. (merf, merf, merf)  I do it when I'm carrying a toy.  And I was the only one who did until recently.

I think Marley is looking for Iza.  She used to groom him regularly.  And she WAS more his size, so they wrassled in fun sometimes.  He doesn't seem to unnerstand she went OTB yet.  Well, I sniffed both Skeeter and LC and Iza, and they never came back, so I unnerstand better than he does.  Iza was the first cat to go OTB while Marley was here.

I have been talking to him about it recently, and I think he is beginning to unnerstand that we all go OTB eventually.  He resists the idea.  Well, he feels so healthy.  He is shocked by the idea that TBT will do the same someday.  Yeah, it bothers me too.  The Beins seem ageless.  Still, I've been here long enough to realize he is older than he was when I first arrived.

4.  Several kitties and Beins mentioned the vultures we saw in the tree over Iza her last day outside.  I know about vultures.  They collected in the trees in the forbidden yard-next-door.  I was sitting on the fence.  There was an injured rabbit flopping around there.  When it stopped flopping around, they all landed near it at the same time.  I ran inside.

5.  Several kitties and Beins also noted on a Friday Flashback where Marley and I were grooming each other years ago that we should start doing that again.  We have.  TBT didn't have the camera nearby, but he has seen us doing that a few times.  He will get a pic of that some day.

I would do more, but this is getting long...

And...  From Frum (if we are allowed to make a small jokie at a sad moment)...

 Wishing him well with crossed paws...

Caturday Saturday - Comments and Questions

 Answers...

1.  Megan asked “which one of you was supposed to be snoopervising him when he hurt his back?”

We ARENT getting blamed fer THAT.   He did it all by hisself  outside when we were inside!  But we have piled around him in bed since then to add our warmth to his back.  We do what we can.

2.  @ Memories Of Eric And Flynn “I am glad TBT is starting to feel a bit better. It is lucky that he can still bend down even though he complains when he does it.
Being fed on the table would be interesting, and I can see that you would want it there all of the time.

He has learned ta do knee squats.  Or legs.  His body is a little different than ours.  But oh mousies!  We thought we had gained the table.  He is stubborn…

3.  Several friends commented about getting a new back from Amazon.  We found a good back brace but not anny new backs.  He is probly stuck with the one he has.

4.  William Kith & Kin said “Maybe you kids need to put him in a troll box and take him to the human fix-it place!”

We tried that.  We even got him in the car (his own PTU), but we couldn’t start it.  No thumbs.

5.  Pilch said “I highly recommend a turmeric supplement, it is an anti-inflammatory.

He looked into that.  He says he is better with ‘Ibuprofen’.  He is always on the edge of “gout”, and the Dr said he should use that stuff.

6.  Jan’s Funny Farm said “Ouch! Jan has been known to throw out her back too. We've never figured out how she finds it again, unless she buys a new one each time. We hope TBT finds his, or can afford a new one, so he can keep up with you guys again. Being your photographer is a very important job.”

We miss him taking our pictures.  DON’T TELL HIM THAT.  Its our secret.  We get more treats by complaining…

But, as we need ta end this on a good meow,  he is starting ta move better.  The bear grunt when he bends over to put our food bowls down seems less “gruntier” than on Monday.  So he probly won’t die and leave us trapped inside.  We DO worry about that sometimes.

Caturday Saturday

Responses to comments and questions...

1. Megan asked:  “Why oh why is TBT so slow with the foods? Perhaps a wee nip on his ankle would speed him along”.

There is a process.  First, because the cats don’t eat a whole can at once, there are leftovers of varying amounts and those are refrigerated.  So the cold can has to be warmed in a shallow tray of hot water for 5 minutes.  Then the proper amount for each cat must be spooned out carefully.  Marley gets the most (being the largest).  Ayla gets about 1/2 as much (being only 1.2 Marley’s weight.  Iza’s food has to be smeared around the edges of her bowl to slow down her eating rate or she “returns it”. 

Iza will eat as much food as she can get at, as fast as she can eat it, as often as she can get it.  I got her 3^rd-hand so I don’t know about her kittenhood.  But apparently she had some food-issues. 

I even have to give them all small amounts for the first meal of the day.  Iza can’t handle more than a spoonful the first meal, and if I give Marley a full amount, Iza noses in on it when I’m not looking.  Ayla gets a regular amount because she eats out of Iza’s reach. 

Marley and Ayla want to go outside right after that, so Iza gets a 2^nd spoonful 15-20 minutes later.  After that, everything seems OK.  Mealtimes can be a real dance around here!

2. Summer commented:  “That's interesting that all three of you have gotcha days in January”. 

It was mostly coincidence.  In December 2007, came across a local Siamese cat breeder, and mentioned that if she ever had a kitten that didn’t quite meet her selling standards, I might be interested.  As it turned out, she had female too small for breeding and her regular Queen had a litter on the way and she didn’t like having other cats in the house with newborns.  So I got Ayla in January 2008.

When Skeeter died in December 2008, Ayla was lonely (she loved Skeeter and LC was mourning him and not being friendly).  So I emailed the same breeder and she happened to have a Siamese female “with smudged colors” and wasn’t good breeding material.  So I took her.  That was Iza.  Well Iza was really a Tonkinese and her colors were proper for her, but the breeder didn’t realize that.  My thanks to the “A Tonk’s Tails” blog for telling me Iza was a Tonkie! 

But after a year, Ayla and Iza weren’t getting along well (Iza was twice her size, and a bit “assertive”), so I remembered that Skeeter had always been a peacemaker.  It seemed to me that Orange/White male cats had always been calm, so I searched for one.  The shelters always seemed to have brothers that had to go together, and that was exactly NOT the point.

This is a bit embarrassing, but I don’t recall who directed me to a CraigsList notice about an Orange/White male cat for adoption (please feel free to remind me so that I can keep that in my cat file, and thank you once again). 

I emailed the owner, and she sent a picture.  I fell in love with him.  She explained that Marley had been a Christmas gift from a friend, but it turned out she was allergic to cats.  She loved him dearly, but wanted the best possible home for him.

I had to work to get him, as he had been promised to a family.  I pointed out that I was retired and could give him attention all day.  I mentioned the large fenced-in back yard full of moles.  I told her about the high-quality food I gave my cats.  I sent her pictures of all the toys and scratchers. 

She suggested I come visit to see how he reacted to me.  I came.  She called “Marley”, and he walked right down the stairs.  I sat on the floor cross legged and he came right over and curled up on my lap.

That settled everything right there!  Marley went home with me, with his bag of Meow Mix, his litter box, and his one toy (a cloth fish with a Velcro strip that allowed you to stuff catnip in. 

Over the first few days, I mixed better food in with his Meow Mix, emptied the old-style clay in his litter box and bleached it (in case of parasites), and put real catnip in his fish (which I examined and discovered had never had any catnip in it.).  He arrived January 22. 

So Marley was 4^th-hand.  He was, apparently, born in a house as one of a litter of unwanted kittens, then spent time in a shelter, then spent a month in a house where the owner was allergic, then came here.  I’ll count that as 4.

I got Skeeter on Halloween 1992.  I got LC on Halloween 1993 deliberately.  Ayla, Iza and Marley came into my life at the same week of different years entirely by accident.

BTW, Ayla and Iza got their names from a series of books I loved (‘Clan Of The Cave Bear’).  Ayla was the main character, a Cro-magnon orphan, and Iza was the adopting Neanderthal mother.  I had intended a next cat to be named in the same style of the books, but when the lady said his name was “Marley”, I knew at once that “Marley” was exactly the right name. It just fit him perfectly.  “Marley” he was and “Marley” he stays.

Marley has lived up to my expectations.  From nearly his first days out of the adjustment room, he brought peace into the house.  Iza was larger than him, but accepted him as equal.  Ayla loved him.  They slept together after the 1^st week, ate together,  and ran around together.

3.  Many mentioned Ayla’s “Princess” poses, so I won’t list everyone.  But from the first day she was here, she had the royal “look”.  Not all Siamese do.  She sits upright with her ruff showing and her long tail curled around the front paws.  She eats daintily.  She draws but only “allows” attention.

She only wants to see me at eye-height.  If she is on the floor, she pulls away.  If she is “up”, she demands my attention.  We HAVE to be at least equal in height (and she likes it better if she is just a little above me) for her to feel comfortable.

She likes to walk off the bathroom windowsill and walk briefly around my shoulder, neck, and other shoulder before reclaiming her windowsill spot.

She lives almost entirely in the bedroom.  But if I open the deck door (however stealthily) I can count down from 8 and she is there at the door.  She is quite certain that I ONLY open the door JUST FOR HER!

Ayla is certain that I give only her the best food in the house.  She is certain that the Duck, Turkey, and Rabbit is ONLY for her.  That I give Marley and Iza cheap junk…  She eats in the bedroom, so what does SHE know?  I indulge her fantasies.  Who wants to upset a true Princess?

Ask more questions, and I’ll do this more often…

Monday Comment Replies

We have had some comments lately we want to answer.  Whispering...

We discussed them a bit...

From places of comfort.

Many questions lately, and we sit down to answer them...

 Sitting discussing them...

So going backwards...

The Whiskeratti said:  "Maybe TBT can ask the local stores to carry or special order some foods for you."

TBT asked the Petco store guy about that.  He said he doesn't have control about what they send him.  And said "special orders" come to him the same way they come to us.

 Megan asked "As for being the perfect weight: wouldn't some suggest that Iza could slim down to a svelte 8.5 or 9lbs????"

Iza gets desperate under 9.5 lbs.  I got her down to that once and she started eating corncobs, bread, and licking pans on the stove.  10 lbs seems to be her minimum acceptable weight.  And I am wondering why I should care.  If she is happy at 10.5 lbs for her life, should I make her unhappy to get a couple more years?

Summer asked:  "So far my human has found more damaged cans at the pet store than she has had delivered here (of course, she leaves the dented ones on the shelf"

The local Petco Manager  says he removes all cans from the cases to assure that none are dented, and absorbs the cost.  That makes me want to support him.  But his suggestion that I come by each month to place a specific order he will try to fulfill "just for me" seems excessive.  I would have to visit nearly every 2 weeks.  That is a lot more than just having the stuff show up on the front steps once every 6 weeks.

Mr Puddy said:  "Ours are not Goldenrods but Ferns."

We have Japanese painted ferns in our yard spreading from just a few we planted years ago.  They are lovely.  TBT will be dividing them a lot and putting them in a front yard bed in November.  The deer dont eat them.

Katie Isabella said "TBT, please tell me about over wintering Cone Flowers. I just bought a tiny bit with just two blooms because I felt sorry for him. DRY as dust and drooping. So I have him fully water, in a sun place. Shall I keep him in a pot for winter or trey to dig a hole in this concrete-like ground?"

 We had to discuss this among ourselfs.  We decided that the best idea was to soak the pot in a bowl until it is entirely watered and then remove it to drain.  Then do the bowl thing every few days  until it goes dormant outside, then pull the little Coneflower out of the pot, dip it into a large bowl of water to loosen some of the bad soil away and then set it into a slightly larger pot with standard potting soil, and keep it it in a Eastern or Western window overwinter.  Not very wet but not very dry either.  A finger an inch deep should detect moisture but not be wet.  Next Spring, after last frost, set it outside in a sunny spot.  Hope that helps.

Patzys Place said "Great pics but we are laughing about the duct tape holding the planter together. You guys are not rednecks are you? Haha just kidding. Duct tape is essential to life as we know it. Right?"

We are center-left Progressives.  Duct tape is great, but it was a last resort.  The bottoms of those pots all split open after several years. We tried to cement the split parts together.  But no cement we tried worked.    Resin cement didn't work, epoxy didn't work.  Rubber contact cement didn't work.  Our idea now is to get a 12" wide board and cut 8" circles in it for the bowl parts to sit in.  Throw the support stands away.  Or drill 3 holes around the top lips and turn the upper parts into hanging planters.

 -----------------------

The hobbit feet got a lot of attention. The "retouch" feature in Preview helped a lot blending them onto my legs..  Spooked the Mews a bit though when I wore them.  Iza cared least; Marley hated them.  Ayla watched carefully, then decided there was no threat.