We Are Back

TBT:   I had to take a few days off because I was feeling unimaginative, didn't have pictures, needed to get some house and yardwork done, but MOSTLY I was getting all warped up about IF and WHEN 'New Kitty' was finally going to arrive.  I even stopped visiting favorite discussion forums.

I spoke to the breeder (who has had a difficult year herself) yesterday.  It seems we have a firm delivery date Sunday Oct 31st.  Aside from the fact that it has been over a year since I first asked about adopting a female Tonkinese kitten with colors "generally" like Iza's (there was a waiting list and some discussion of my qualifications as a "Cat-Daddy"), there were some breeding problems.  

One Queen miscarried, there was a failed mating (I think), another litter was all Burmese chocolate colored.  I was tempted by the Burmese color Tonkie kitten.  It would be an interesting color, but I wasn't sure the "Iza" personality would be there.

The Gotcha Date is (as Spock might say" "fascinating".  I got Skeeter as a kitten on Halloween Day 1992 and LC the same date in 1993.  It wasn't deliberate and neither is this new arrival the same date.  Sometimes things "just happen".

I should explain why I sought a kitten who would look and maybe act like Iza.  I have gone beyond the idea of a "single" heart-cat .  Skeeter was for sure and I will never forget him.  LC became one, after she missed Skeeter and turned to me for comfort after.  It was only a year, but time doesn't define love.

The truth is that all mine are Heart-Cats in their own ways.  If one leaves a hole in my heart, another heals it.

When Skeeter and LC went Over The Bridge, Ayla healed me.  She had a hard start, needing 3 spay operations before things got right (the first two by the breeders vet). Many were the nights we struggled with her in heat while she set her claws in me "needing" something she did not understand.  When my OWN vet finally fixed her she became a lovey heart cat.  She seeks my attention.  She is aging. She went from "crazy" to "loving.  She is nearing 15 and when she crosses The Bridge, she will become a heart cat as an equal to Skeeter and LC...

Marley is going to be a legitimate Heart Cat someday.  He is special.  The friendliest cat I have ever had.  He puts up with anything and eats whatever I offer.  He loves to sleep under the covers with me at night (but not pushing against me).

We will see about Laz.  He needed a LOT of comforting and socializing for nearly a year after he first arrived and I almost gave up a few times.  He is still healing from the bad first home, but getting better every month.  He is STILL kinda of nuts sometimes.  But he is only 4 and has time to develop into a Heart Cat.  He has some promising traits (he loves Under The Blankets pressed against me).  I sometimes wonder what he will be like at 10.   

I'm not saying every cat is a Heart Cat.  When I was younger, I had a couple who were just plain MEAN.  I've been luckier since the 80s.  

But to end, I am SO looking forward to the new female Tonkie kitten arriving Sunday.  Laz came from a harsh home.  Lorelei Lee will be from a happy positive home and I can give her love and attention that Laz was cheated of in his early years.

And I'll continue to give Laz, Ayla, and Marley all the attention they can take...  'Mark's Mews' will continue to be of Happy Cats...

New Kitty Update

TBT:  The new female Tonkinese kitty was supposed to be available Oct 12th, but a family medical issue required the breeder to return home out-of-state the week before.  She emailed saying she would be back to deliver it here Oct 30-31.  I do appreciate being spared a 3 hour round trip... 

The kittens are being cared for by a partner, but I am sure she wants to meet me personally before handing one over.  And if she wants to check out the living conditions, I wouldn't blame her for that either.

I just wanted to let everyone know the status...

She sent some pictures:

Twofur Tuesday

Actually, a Threefur...  Its good fer US lately.  

TBT says that anyday we are all around happy together, it is a GOOD day.  And we are getting better at that.  An he says there will be a new MEW joining us here in a few weeks and we better be all good together or we will get crummy food fer a week!

He says it will be a little Tonkie girlcat...

We'll see how that works after she arrives.  She better be polite!

Tonkinese Kitten Update

TBT HERE:  I spoke to the Tonkinese breeder I contacted last Summer and send a deposit check to for a female kitten "basically looking like Iza"  I wasn't TOO specific about it, as I know Tonkinese can vary between Siamese and Burmese colors.  The personality and  soft fur were important.

 Even though I've lived longer than any cat, there will always more distinctive appearances and personalties than I can experience in my lifetime (and that doesn't mean I didn't love the series of grey tabby females of my younger years - wonderful companions all).

But I decided in 1992 that I was missing out on other types with different personalities and furs.  I have generally preferred cats that looked different from previous ones since.  So I went looking at local pet stores for a Siamese.  I didn't find one, but I found mostly orange male Skeeter.  Then I found black&white female LC a year later.  Then I found my female Siamese Ayla.  The variety was wonderful and each one was distinct in personality and appearance.

Sadly, Skeeter went Over The Bridge.  I asked the Siamese breeder about any "unwanted" Siamese kittens (as in unsuitable for breeding).  She offerred Ayla as "too small to breed".  She was a beautiful kitten.   I drove an hour to the breeder, Ayla crawled up on my lap and I took her home.  She is a dear one, my "Princess".

My initial reaction when LC left us a year later was to find another male orange kitten.  But the Siamese breeder had a "smudged colored" female Siamese and was able to deliver as she had business in my town, and I took her sight unseen.  I mean, she offerred to send pictures, but I thought I knew enough about Siamese so I said "surprise me".

The breeder had gotten her equally sight-unseen, but had pedigreed papers, but thought she was a poorly-colored Siamese.  Turned out she was a Tonkinese (Thank you forever again Tonk's Tail) and was perfect for the breed.  

After Iza and Ayla weren't getting along great (nothing serious likely Laz) I was guided to Marley.  Marley is a loving peacemaker as orange/white males seem to be in general.  

Iza left too soon and while Ayla and Marley got along great, it felt right to have a 3rd cat in the house.  Wondering about another Tonkinese, I asked the Siamese breeder about one and she said that Iza was a confusion and she had no connection to any Tonkinese breeders.  

So I did an internet search and found one 60 miles+ away and asked.  There was a long waiting list and to even get on it required a $100 deposit.  Well, we all know that $100 is minor in cat costs, LOL!  So I sent the check.

The breeder asked for preferences in color, and that is where things got confusing.  The possibilities (according to one site) are: 

• Natural mink
• Champagne mink
• Blue mink
• Platinum mink
• Natural solid
• Champagne solid
• Blue solid
• Platinum solid
• Natural point
• Champagne point
• Blue point
• Platinum point

I had not the slightest idea how to describe Iza, and for once, I DID want a similar appearance.  But I also knew that with so many possibilities, I could have to wait a decade for an exact one and I can't wait a decade.  I sent a picture of Iza and said "one something like that"?

The breeder replied that kittens like that were expected to be available in Feb/March.  Sadly, there were problems with miscarriage.  The next kittens generally like Iza were expected for June adoption.  And apparently they were and healthy.  But I wasn't high enough on the waiting list...

And so we come to the present.  Apparently, the breeders deliberately breed kittens of varying adult colors by the mating.  Some customers want different shades of furs from Siamese to Burmese and the breeders naturally alternate among them.  For "Iza-like", I am next on the list.

It sounds horribly "retail" I know.  And it sounds like I want "Iza The 2nd".  But there are personality differences among Tonkinese and I want one that is "like" Iza without having to BE Iza.  It will be a mutual learning experience between a new kitten and I, and there will be some differences.  I will cherish both the differences and the similarities.

Skeeter was the cat he was because of his horrid experience as a kitten in a small pet store being renovated loudly.  He was terrified of plastic trash bags (maybe where dead cats went?) and thrived in the calm of my house.  LC fought being removed from the large cage she was accustomed to (the owner and I had to push her claws off the cage one-by-one).

If I had had Skeeter cloned, the new one would not have been "Skeeter" even if it looked like him in every way.  The cloned Skeeter2nd would not have had the same terrifying kittenhood, the same pet store renovations, the same "plastic bags are where dead kittens go".  Skeeter2nd would have been raised without fears like that.

I read about cloning at the time.  It was possible.  I had money.  I was very tempted to see what Skeeter might have been in a different upbringing.  Not doing it was actually hard.

Thankfully Ayla and Iza were brought in PTUs without my knowing much about their past.  And Marley crawled up on my lap at the previous owner's home and he and she knew I was "The Right Person".

So back to "someday new Tonkinese female kitten"...  

The Tonkie breeder sent a picture of a female kitten last week, saying it was loving and playful and to reply "if I was interested".   She sent a picture.

I'm not a breeder, but that sure looks like a regular Siamese to me.  Much like Ayla who I adore, but not a Tonkinese.

I called the breeder and said she sure looked like a regular Siamese to me and not a Tonkinese.  She swears it is a Tonkie, and who am I do argue with a breeder.  But I declined.

She said she was looking at the picture of Iza and that the next litter of kittens that would look like her were available in August (assuming good birth and health).  I explained that I wanted an Iza-like kitten and would wait, and she understood.  

Some things about this "waiting for the right kitten" bother me.  I should not be so specific.  Almost any kitten/cat that arrives here is happy with me and I am happy with them.  Well, Laz is a special case and still needs more time and attention.

I was expecting July.  Now I am expecting August (different litters).  The delay of a month month will go by quickly enough.  But I have never had to anticipate a future kitten this way.  It is frustrating and rather uncertain.

August will arrive eventually...

New Caturday Saturday

MARLEY:  There is a new cat in the house!  Ya dont have ta be a MIGHTY HUNTER ta tell that.  Ive known for several days. 

But I figured that iffen there was, TBT brought it in, so it is gonna be part of the fambly.  So thats OK.  And the smell on the mat outside the door made it pretty obvious too!

I sat there and talked to it, but got no answer meow.

I wish I could open this door, but the secret of the metal opener still eludes me.

Sniff, sniff...  Hey, its a mancat!  That could be inneresting.  I wonder what a brofur is like?  Ive neffer had one before.  Its probably a good sign that it isnt hissing at me under the door.  That would be worrisome.

Well, I'll just sit here and talk.  Mebbe will come to the door  and I'll learn more about him. 

I kinna miss getting in the room and sleeping on the platform, but I DO remember being closed in there when I was new.  TBT sneaks in and out of our room hourly.  So I guess that does mean it is new. 

Ayla is paying it no attention at ALL.  I not sure if that means she is just ignoring it, doesnt quite realize it is there, or just waiting patiently to meet him.   Sometimes, I never know WHAT she is thinking!

Flashback Friday

Todays flashback isn't from this week, but from Ayla's first days in honor of Laz's arrival.

This is a pre-arrival picture.

These are post-arrival...  Sorry, copying pictures directly from old posts really makes the spacing weird!

Thankful Thursday

TBT Here:  Yes, there is a new cat here.  Let's just say Iza led me to him.  Looking for a Tonkinese to replace her loving attention, I found a Siamese lynx seal point male from a private home.  He needed a Forever Home.  Iza said the female Tonkie is "in the future".  OK...

I am Thankful today.

Meet Lapis Lazuli!  It means "blue", and he has deep blue eyes and amazing paw markings.  His short name will be "Laz", but I know the "Lap" part of the name will be a part of his life too.

The name comes from a series of Robert Heinlein books about a character named Lazarus Long.  In his long-lived life in the future, he has 2 female clones created without his knowledge.  One is named Lorelei Lee; the other is Lapis Lazuli (Lori and Lapi, twins of course).

I originally expected to use them for 2 Tonkie female kittens, but "Laz" is good for a male and I will keep the Lorelei Lee name for the future.

Laz is a a 2.5 year old Lynx seal point half siamese half tabby.  He is spending a few days in The Mews Room (closed door) adjusting to his Forever Home.  He had some problems with pit bulls and children previously, so it is going to take him a while to destress.

I brought him in Monday.  All Monday, he hissed and hid.  Tuesday, he hissed and hid, but he allowed me to touch him in the morning and be picked up in the afternoon.  In the evening, he allowed stroking and chin scritchies and kneaded the carpet of the platform while I did so.

Once an hour, I've gone in to talk to him quietly, telling him he is in his Forever Home.  He isn't sure of that yet, but he will.  I'll give him all the time it takes.

He is still too stressed by this latest change of place to eat or poop, but nature will demand that.  He came with his accustomed food and litter.

Yesterdays pictures were from the temporary Foster (and very nice ones showing off his colors I will add).  So far, mine are poor, since he can barely sit free without wanting to hide.

But each time I visit him, he is a BIT more relaxed.  Like a computer bit at a time.  But progress is progress.  I got a first purr Tuesday evening.

Here are the pictures I have gotten of him here so far...

I already have the first whisker to add to the "Little Green Bottle". 

And the Foster pictures again.  Why not?  Look at those front legs!

And blue eyes...

I am going to be thankful for this one for many years...

Sometimes what you think you want is not what you actually need.  Laz needed me, and I realized I needed to help him.  I sought a replacement for Iza too quickly.  There will come a time for a beloved female Tonkie sometime and hopefully, not too long.  But today is not that day.  This is the time for THIS guy.  You can either experience the same comfortable thing over and over, or try something new.

For now, 2 mancats and 1 womancat as "The Mews" is new.  A half Siamese half tabby is new.  Changes in the future of The Mews will be decided in the future... 

Mark

Wordless Wensday

4 hours to next post.  Hang in there!

Marley Updates

THE BIG THING:  First, Ayla and Iza are satisfied if I write about Marley for a FEW days.  They understand "new".  And Marley is learnin about the computer and "Being language" from Iza (who is really good with it).  Iza says that, from his progress, it might only take a week.  That's good news to me; I want the cats to take back their blog as soon as possible.  It's THEIR blog, not mine.  I am just an occasional visitor.

I have some glamor shots for Marley already.  He loves the camera (or is it that the camera loves him?) but he is certainly photogenic!

Glamor Shots...

We had the first whole day without any growls or hissing yesterday.  Ayla seems to have calmed down.  Iza and Marley were already getting along well.  The Ayla test came last night when Marley was nappin behind me on the chair as I watched TV.  Ayla hopped up on the arm of the chair and was surprised to see Marley there.  But she didn't hiss this time.  And she stayed there a few minutes.

That's not to say that anyone will be curled up with Marley real soon, but that WILL happen.  I look forward with confidence to getting a picture of all 3 curled up together some day.

They all ate close together last night at dinnertime.  Pictures of that tomorrow.

About Marley

IZA:  OK, I wasnt sure about this new boycat at first, but we are gettin along pretty good.  He is playful like me!  Ayla isnt so happy about him, but thats HER problem.

Me, I like him.  We have tried out wrasslin.  He isnt anny good at it, but he'll learn.  He taps me on the side or back sometimes.  He isnt big enuf yet ta make a fair game of it.  TBT says "maybe a year".  But he is cute an he tries.  I could use some competition.  Ayla is just too small.  And he DID pounce me from the ottoman yesserday, so hes got potential.

I love the way he plays wif toys a lot like I do, an we did bat a ball back an forth a bit today.  The new kid is a "comer".  I'll know more over the next few weeks.

And I am happy to report that Ayla didn't hiss at him a single time today!

THE BIG THING:  I don't know a lot about Marley's past, and I probably never will know the details.  I know that he grew up in a shelter and seems to have gotten good vet treatment.  He seems to have been born about August 16th and first received shelter vet care in October.  He was adopted out about Christmas Day as a gift at a PetsMart.

My own vet gave him a A+ on his physical condition.  He's been neutered.  He has had only dry food all his life, but is adjusting to our premium canned foods both well (digestically) and enthusiastically.  I've been giving him the poultry stuff Ayla and Iza love, but I have fishie flavors left over from LC's days and I will start trying him on those next week.  If he likes them, he will get more.  If not, we will stick to poultry flavors and the other cans will go to a shelter.

He went from the shelter to a very nice and loving lady here in my small town.  He was her first cat and she discovered (sadly) that she was VERY allergic.  So she sought a better home for him.  There were 2 interested parties for adopting him.  I'm sure the other one would have been good too, but I convinced her I was the better place.  I AM persuasive...  ;)

He is named after Bob Marley, a musician.  I don't know him well, but I know "of" him.  But it's a nice name regardless.  I might change it after some discussions with him, but probably not.  "Marley" sounds cool.  And there are good possiblities with the name.  "Gnarly-Marley".  Or if eating cat grass. "Barley-Marley",  Or if riding a motorcycle, "Harley-Marley".  LOL!    Ok, I'm lame with names...

Good thing, too.  Ayla and Iza got their names from the book 'Clan of the Cave Bear'.  The male names sound too weird.  "Creb".  "Brun".  "Durc".  Time to find better names.  I think "Marley" is a good one.

Sorry I couldn't get any pictures that applied to the post.  I used up all the vet pictures yesterday.  Some tomorrow on the cat tree...

REMINDER!  Hugo The Traveling Hippo needs a new place to visit. 

He comes with a note/photo book, souvenir pouch to add too, and toys and treats for the hosts...  Contact us if you are interested in having Hugo visit you.  He is a great visitor and converses well with both kitties and Beins!

Marley Meets Ayla and Iza

THE BIG THING:  Well, I decided it was time for everyone to meet this afternoon.  I'm continuing to write for everyone today; Marley can't and Ayla and Iza are pretty upset.  I don't know WHAT they might say!

So, I opened the Mewsroom door.  Instead of Marley coming out, Iza ran IN!  She stared at him, flattened her ears, and gave him a low growl... 

Marley reacted calmly.  I guess growing up in a shelter, he was prepared for that sort of thing.  More about that tomorrow.  After that, Iza jumped up on the old cat platform and glared at him.

Marley sauntered into the bedroom, then into the bathroom where Ayla was at her usual perch on the windowsill.  She didn't growl at him, she HISSED angrily!  Several times...

He sniffed around a few seconds, then wandered back out into the bedroom, only to come face to face with Iza suddenly.  She did a full POOF!

She backed up and decided to play Door Warden, one of her favorite tricks to annoy another cat... 

Marley had to wait there patiently for her to leave.  I went to the kitchen and rattled the treat jar after a few minutes.  Iza came in and I gave her a few.  Then I went to the bedroom door and rattled it again.  Ayla  came out, stared, hissed, then jumped over Marley.  That's one of HER favorite tricks...

So Marley was free to explore the rest of the house with me following him around.  I don't think Ayla or Iza are going to get physical, but it's good to be careful.  Marley DID stay pretty close to me on his own.   At least HE is reacting calmly...

Later, I was sitting in the chair and noticed he was under it, grabbing at anything within reach.  My shoes got batted a few times.  I waited with the camera aimed at a squiggle.  He found it.  The claws of death dragged it under...

 So I dropped another squiggle.  He found that one right away...

A few minutes afterwards he was on the move again.  He got up into the cat tree for the first time.  I was surprised.  When he was exploring yesterday, he seemed floorbound, not getting up on anything.  I thought maybe he disliked any heights.   But he went right up this time.  Maybe it was the rattle ball I tied there for him (he lady who had him said those were his favorite toys).  He DID go straight for the rattle ball...

He hopped down, wandered the living room, and went back to the tree.  This time he played with a toy at the middle level...

The next time he went up on the tree, Iza was there.  They both just stared for a while.  One low growl from Iza, then they both sat quietly for a few minutes...  

Then both hopped off in separate directions.  Iza and Marley will get along fine.  I just put out dinner and Iza and Marley both ate peacably in the kitchen.  Ayla came in, hissed and went back to the bedroom.  She will be the one Marley has to win over.

I brought her dinner to her in the bedroom.  No sense in giving her anything to feel resentful about.

BTW, Hugo decided to watch everything from the safety of a bookcase shelf.  Wise Hippo...

Marley Update

THE BIG THING:  Well, things aren't going perfectly, but it could be worse.

Marley spent the whole day and night Saturday in the Mewsroom, where Hugo and I joined him for company often.  Marley was quite comfortable with Hugo, but he was unsure about me at first.  So I would bring a book in, sit in the center of the room, and just let him get used to me (and taking pictures).

I was pleased when (after several visits) he came over and rubbed against me.  I stroked him a few times.  Skeeter, LC, Ayla, and Iza simply hid for a couple of days at first.  So this is actually a very positive sign.

He stayed by himself quietly that first night and Sunday morning.  He is handling canned cat food just fine.  Yay!  Sunday afternoon, I noticed that Ayla and Iza were napping in the bedroom, so I quietly closed the door.    That allowed me to carry Marley around the upper floor of the house for a while, so he could see, sniff, and listen.

I would stand in the entrance to a room and let him look around for a few minutes, then move to the next.  That went along about 15 minutes, and I brought him back to the Mewsroom and more food.  Don't want to overwhelm the little guy.  We did that twice more on Sunday.

The last time, I did the tour with Ayla and Iza loose.  I would let him see them from a distance, then a little closer.  Iza offers a low growl, but seems curious.  Ayla hisses and runs!  Sometimes when she passes the closed door, she hisses under it.  My guess is that Iza will accept Marley a lot sooner than Ayla does.

I went back and checked to see how Ayla reacted when Iza first arrived here.  Apparently Ayla hissed for 5 days before accepting that Iza wasn't going away.  So there will be a few more days of that.

This morning, I let him walk around (with Ayla and Iza in the bedroom).  The basement door was closed (way too many places for a worried kitty to hide).  He enjoyed exploring quite a bit...

He seemed fascinated by the plant soil smells...

He enjoyed crawling through tight spaces that were previously Ayla's exclusive domain...

When I spun the ball in the ring toy, he ran right to it and played there almost 10 minutes...

He crawled into Ayla's hidey-hole under the cabinets, but the picture was SO blurry I deleted it.  He will be in there again, and I will get a better picture.

We even sat down for a few minutes.  He's not QUITE comfortable with that yet, but I can tell he liked  it...

Its hard to get pictures of a kitty who doesn't stop moving!

Back in the Mewsroom to calm down.  He ate some more canned food, with Hugo as company...

Hugo reminded him that it may been awkward for a few days, but the other kitties would accept him eventually.  Hugo said "I've talked to both of them for a few days and they are really quite nice.  They are just surprised at your sudden appearance, that's all". 

Marley thanked him and gave him a smooch...

So Hugo tried his hand (um, tongue ) at grooming.  I don't know if he was very good at it, but Marley was appreciative...

Then I introduced him to the electronic squeaky mouse.  He LOVED it!

Tomorrow, I think I will let them all meet freely (under very close supervision).