Hello, TCS! I stumbled across this community in the course of my internet research about cats this year. I've always been more comfortable with animals than with people, and I've always thought cats were wonderful, beautiful creatures. When I was a child, I spent time with my dog and horses, but not cats, and I treated the cats I met correspondingly - like the animals I was familiar with. The cats did not approve!
Oh, good, I think that worked. Here's another of her face.
Dandy was my first rescue - she was a tiny puppy in a box, and I was five years old. My parents weren't thrilled, but they wanted me to be happy. They were relieved when my mutt puppy stopped growing at 20 pounds. She's the best dog ever, and she instantly allied me with all forgotten and unwanted companion animals. Thanks to this tough little dog, I will likely always be involved in animal rescue in one way or another, even if it's simply by adopting someone who needs me.
Dandy will likely be leaving us by the end of the summer. If she is a lucky little girl, her new medicine will allow her to make it to 17 years on September 15th. Cancer is a sneaking thing that creeps up, and it has crept up on Dandy. But she is still her happy, bouncy self, so I will continue giving her all the loving I can until it's time to let her rest.
But this is a cat forum, so let me tell you about the cats now.
Warbear is bold and curious, and quite the hunter. She likes to catch flies, and she loves to go outside on her Kitty Holster harness. (Which, by the way, I strongly recommend!) Here she is strolling this past spring with Mr. CatByTheSea.
We decided that it was unfair to have only one cat, but two laps. Also, Warbear is such a lively little lady that it seemed unfair to her not to have a full-time play buddy for her. So we adopted Brenna from the same shelter in May. Brenna is great! But Warbear doesn't think so. We introduced them slowly, and did every thing "right," but Warbear just gets upset whenever there's another cat in her line of sight. Then she tries to hunt Brenna, and will not stop this behavior. (Brenna doesn't enjoy it.) Clearly, we weren't doing what Warbear needed, as she seems very insecure whenever she's not sequestered in her room. What to do, what to do? While reading on TCS, I saw someone's posted door design for a see-through door. Bingo! We are building Warbear a beautiful folding door. This will allow her access to three rooms upstairs, and she will be able to see the other cats if she so chooses, or hide from them. Eventually, perhaps she will realize that they are nice and fun rather than scary and nasty. I can't for the life of me remember who posted the door design, because I was so instantly excited by the idea that I jumped up and told my fiancee about it. Oops. Thank you, whoever you are! I will have to post pictures when we are finished building it.
Brenna is beautiful in a different way than Warbear. Brenna's fur is four inches long in places, and she's stockily built rather than long. Her feet are gorgeous snowshoes, but she doesn't have extra toes. It took me days to figure out that she's not polydactyl when we brought her home, because her feet are so furry. In the end, I had to count her claws. Here she is:
Brenna is the sort of cat who takes time to process new things. She'll run away from new people and new noises, but we see her watching from a safe place right away. If the new item/person doesn't exhibit any scary attributes, she comes back confident and curious - in a few days. That's ok, I do the same thing.
These photos are recent; she's grooming herself again, and it turns out her fur is spectacularly soft. I love her chestnut nose. No one else wants her because she is blind and a little wobbly when she walks... but she is so loving, and she deserves a home. She's only 8... in rescue terms, ancient, but in household cat terms, not so old at all!
So those are my creatures. I'm joining this forum because I see so many members who are knowledgeable and caring. I see healthy disagreements and discussions with multiple perspectives, yet unethical things like declawing are treated like the unfortunate and inappropriate choices they are. This seems like a really good community, and I'd like to take part! I hope to get to know you better, TCS.
Oh, good, I think that worked. Here's another of her face.
Dandy was my first rescue - she was a tiny puppy in a box, and I was five years old. My parents weren't thrilled, but they wanted me to be happy. They were relieved when my mutt puppy stopped growing at 20 pounds. She's the best dog ever, and she instantly allied me with all forgotten and unwanted companion animals. Thanks to this tough little dog, I will likely always be involved in animal rescue in one way or another, even if it's simply by adopting someone who needs me.
Dandy will likely be leaving us by the end of the summer. If she is a lucky little girl, her new medicine will allow her to make it to 17 years on September 15th. Cancer is a sneaking thing that creeps up, and it has crept up on Dandy. But she is still her happy, bouncy self, so I will continue giving her all the loving I can until it's time to let her rest.
But this is a cat forum, so let me tell you about the cats now.
Warbear is bold and curious, and quite the hunter. She likes to catch flies, and she loves to go outside on her Kitty Holster harness. (Which, by the way, I strongly recommend!) Here she is strolling this past spring with Mr. CatByTheSea.
We decided that it was unfair to have only one cat, but two laps. Also, Warbear is such a lively little lady that it seemed unfair to her not to have a full-time play buddy for her. So we adopted Brenna from the same shelter in May. Brenna is great! But Warbear doesn't think so. We introduced them slowly, and did every thing "right," but Warbear just gets upset whenever there's another cat in her line of sight. Then she tries to hunt Brenna, and will not stop this behavior. (Brenna doesn't enjoy it.) Clearly, we weren't doing what Warbear needed, as she seems very insecure whenever she's not sequestered in her room. What to do, what to do? While reading on TCS, I saw someone's posted door design for a see-through door. Bingo! We are building Warbear a beautiful folding door. This will allow her access to three rooms upstairs, and she will be able to see the other cats if she so chooses, or hide from them. Eventually, perhaps she will realize that they are nice and fun rather than scary and nasty. I can't for the life of me remember who posted the door design, because I was so instantly excited by the idea that I jumped up and told my fiancee about it. Oops. Thank you, whoever you are! I will have to post pictures when we are finished building it.
Brenna is beautiful in a different way than Warbear. Brenna's fur is four inches long in places, and she's stockily built rather than long. Her feet are gorgeous snowshoes, but she doesn't have extra toes. It took me days to figure out that she's not polydactyl when we brought her home, because her feet are so furry. In the end, I had to count her claws. Here she is:
Brenna is the sort of cat who takes time to process new things. She'll run away from new people and new noises, but we see her watching from a safe place right away. If the new item/person doesn't exhibit any scary attributes, she comes back confident and curious - in a few days. That's ok, I do the same thing.
These photos are recent; she's grooming herself again, and it turns out her fur is spectacularly soft. I love her chestnut nose. No one else wants her because she is blind and a little wobbly when she walks... but she is so loving, and she deserves a home. She's only 8... in rescue terms, ancient, but in household cat terms, not so old at all!
So those are my creatures. I'm joining this forum because I see so many members who are knowledgeable and caring. I see healthy disagreements and discussions with multiple perspectives, yet unethical things like declawing are treated like the unfortunate and inappropriate choices they are. This seems like a really good community, and I'd like to take part! I hope to get to know you better, TCS.