Is that a bit of a tongue on Cosby’s picture?
It certainly is!
And is it just me or is Jake gaining weight? He’s starting to get the Elwood shape…
Actually, no – Jake hit 11 pounds in 2012, and has stayed there ever since. He might look a little tubbier than he is because… I don’t know quite how to say this… don’t tell him I told y’all: Jake has short legs. It’s especially noticeable when he’s standing next to another cat. They’re not, like, SUPER short, they’re just a bit shorter than the average cat. It’s part of his loony charm.
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Mr. Fancypants reminds me of the song by Jonathan Coulton.
Ha – I love that! Mister Fancypants (the original Fancypants, not the one who has started coming around here; I think I might need to change the current Fancypants’s name so as not to confuse others and myself) got his name from Army of Darkness:
Mister Fancypants walked across the back yard one day, his long furs waving in the breeze. We had recently watched the movie, and I said “Well hell-O, Mister Fancypants!”, Fred laughed, and the name stuck.
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The new black cat is beautiful! I’m curious about how you would go about brushing him. I have a cat who looks very much like this one. He fights me about gettimg brushed (combed), so he ends up going to the vet for a lion cut so he doesn’t have to deal with matted fur and such. Do you and Fred have any suggestions?
I have to admit that my plan was just to go after him with the Furminator. Which doesn’t always work, I know, some cats HATE that brush – and for that matter, Mister Fancypants (the original, not the stray who has started showing up around here) had so many knots in his fur that we took him to a groomer and had him shaved.
How about it – anyone out there have tips on brushing a long-haired cat and making it so that they like it?
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GD said: Ok, this is for everyone out there. I have been working on a Secret Santa thingy with a friend here in FL for the shelter we volunteer at. I recommend this to anyone. What we did was make a FaceBook Event page and invited people and they invite people and so on. SO, with a list of all the shelter Animals with their ID#, age, breed and date arrived at shelter, people sign up to be a Secret Santa. They pick dog(s) or cat(s) or both. We assign them with their picture and info right in their request post/comment. They go shopping for the pet and can drop it off or mail it into the shelter with the animal’s name and FOJA (Friend’s of Jacksonville Animals) written on it. We have listed in our Event what is suggested as gifts. We did have a disclaimer that if an animal is adopted (best Christmas gift ever) or transferred, their gift would be adored and loved by another dog/cat that is just entering the “system”. Anyway, we have had tremendous success. We have kept a spreadsheet of who is Santa for which pet so we can send thank yous and we plan on posting pictures of the pets and gifts. There is also an option to just mail in a cash/check donation. We even had someone from Ontario send a check. It is probably a bit late to start it for this year, but keep it in your bonnets for next year. I would be happy to answer any questions (and warn about pitfalls). Just ask!!!
The excitement for the people that it generates is outstanding. It is soooo different than saying, “Hey, donate please.” Go check out our event for ideas. We have about 300 “going”, 56 “maybe” and 3.9 K “invited”. Now, I sure would love a bigger piece of that 3.9K, but more people are “going” every day!!!
This is such a great idea!!!
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This is as good a post to leave this, a series of conversations between the author and “Oldman Cat.” The first post in this series is from October 28.
Do note that this is a left-wing website (not that I don’t think the conservative kitty-lovers among you can’t handle it, just FYI), and that there is a wee bit of swearing. Still, the conversations themselves are absurdist rather than political, and I think anyone who’s ever lost an argument with a cat can enjoy these.
THAT is awesome! Thanks for the link.
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Guess who no longer has an empty foster room?
Guess, guess!
Give up?
It’s me! (Somehow, I suspect y’all figured that out.) Meet the new foster:
“Hello… It’s me…”
“I was wondering if perhaps you’d like to give me tasty treats.”
Her name is Adele and she is SUCH an awesome girl. Her story is that she was apparently dumped at the apartment complex where our fosters from this time last year originated. She was approaching people, and lucky for her Sue and Byron spotted her and saved her. She’s got no street smarts and was nearly struck by a car. A canvass of the neighbors didn’t turn up anyone who knew who she was, so she came to Challenger’s House late last week. I picked her up from Winnie yesterday, which was good timing – today’s my last day of physical therapy, and I was planning to let Susan know the foster room was available again this weekend anyway.
Adele’s older than our usual fosters – about 9 months old, maybe a bit younger. She’s still got that kittenish playfulness to her, but she’s not bounce-off-the-walls crazy like the younger ones tend to be. She is a really confident girl – when I let her out of the carrier into the foster room, she walked around with her tail straight up in the air, curious about everything. She got to meet Dennis and wanted to be friends, but he wasn’t sure about her and stomped off in a huff. She doesn’t like to be alone, and she’s a snuggler; we took a nap together, and she purred the entire time. First she snuggled up against me, and then she climbed up onto my stomach and fell fast asleep.
She’ll only be here for a few weeks, she was spayed and got her rabies shot and ID chip on Tuesday. We’re basically waiting out the time for her to have all her vaccinations. She’ll be ready to go, in fact, the day before Christmas.
Anyone in the North Alabama area (or within driving distance) want to adopt a super-sweet, friendly, confident, friendly, cat-loving, people-loving, friendly young medium-hair calitabby who has a FABULOUS tail and is friendly? Let me know (email is over there in the sidebar), and I’ll hook you up with an application.
Adele and her “baby.”
Look at those eyes!
Silly girl.
PS: Did I mention that she’s friendly?
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Alice Mo’s take on the new foster?
I really hate her
I’ll think of a reason later
It’s okay, Mo. SHE doesn’t have her own theme song (yet)!
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Previously
2014: Throwback Thursday: Sookie
2013: “Hallo, lady, there is a SECOND treat this morning, perhaps?”
2012: Stripey believes he can flyyyyyyy.
2011: When Gracie wants to play, George has no choice.
2010: No entry.
2009: I! HAZ! A! COMPLAINT!
2008: Lem gets very excited at snack time.
2007: Some time later, I was awakened by the sound of an angry screaming wildcat.
2006: Catie and her kittens.
2005: No entry.
Hello, Adele! I think that this GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS (did I say GORGEOUS?) foster is going to be snatched up in an instant. Let me put it this way, I would drive all the way from FL for her…like NOW…if I wasn’t at my limit. OH my…..I have a weakness for GORGEOUS Calicos. *sigh*
Did I mention that she’s also friendly? I might have forgotten to mention that. 😉
I want her!!! WHHHHAAAAA!!!
I do too – Shes a lovely cat and I like the way she curls up with Ribyn and just purrs – I would get her too but am in the UK 🙁
Hi Robyn, I didn’t know you got Mr. Fancypants tamed enough to try to brush him, and then to take him to a groomer. Did I miss a post? All cats look silly with the lion cut but he is gorgeous anyway. And walking around inside your house? Way to go with the making friends! (high five)
No, sorry – I just went and reread that, it wasn’t very clear, was it? The Fancypants we tried to brush and who we took to a groomer was the original Fancypants, who was ours 10+ years ago. The stray Fancypants is still running at the first sign of a human.
I might need to change the current Fancypants’s name, because I’m confusing even myself. 🙂
I looked up synonyms for “fancy”. One was interesting: Rococo. Perhaps you could name him Coco for short?
Good idea.
I like this! I’ll float it by Fred and see what he says. 🙂
Oh…I am soooo excited. I would be sooooo honored!!!
Oh like Fred would even use the name you pick..
No, Rococo.
He’s so manly he doesn’t need to share the same name as a 5′ petite designer.
Look up the word’s definition. In the thesaurus, also, type in the word Fancy and it comes up. Breath….no one with think of Rococo (as I have never even heard of him…LOL)
I think Kar meant we need to call him Rococo instead of Coco (Coco Chanel being the 5′ designer).
Rococo would also be a good name for a rapper! 🙂
I like the little rubber brush called a ZoomGroom. It has very soft rubbery bristles that do not scrape delicate skin, and it gets out LOTS and LOTS of hair. Also they’re not that expensive, unlike Furminators. I first ran across this brush in the cat room at PetSmart and almost every cat at least tolerated it.
I can’t believe I didn’t think of that – I have one of those, and I used it on Lucy while she was percolating her babies because she was shedding like crazy, and she LOVED it.
percolating – *snort*!
Lol 🙂
I was thinking earlier today about how much Gilly’s (Lucy) coat has changed since we adopted her. She almost felt naked at first–of course she had just had all those kittens and been spayed–and now she feels like plush silk velvet 🙂 And btw, she is still such a funny, sweet girl! (Except when she wants us to do something, You know–make it stop raining, let her out to catch the birds, turn the water on in the sink–things like that!)
I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen a cat shed as much as she was shedding before she had those kittens. It was amazing to see so much fur come off her – also, kind of deeply satisfying, too. 🙂
The majority of my cats also think I’m to blame when it’s raining, even though I’ve repeatedly told them “Hey, I don’t like the rain either!” 🙂
Most of mine like to be brushed, but they prefer a slicker brush to the Furminator, I think because the Furminator can be sharp, even though I do try to be very gentle with it. Also, for those with very skittish kittehs, perhaps some treats or catnip might go a long way towards making brushing more fun?
Treats are always a good thing (if you ask the cats, anyway!)
Mine tell me, the more treats the better. 🙂
Basically anything that gets them associating brushing with happy stuff.
You could call the new Fancypants “Fancypants 2.0” (two point oh). It sounds cool! The original could be Fancypants™.
I love the second picture of Fancypants™! Tubby is looking at him all “What. The. F*ck.”
Miss Adele is gorgeous. As I was reading, I was hoping you would say she’s pregnant.
Oh, that’s a good idea!
When I got her from Winnie yesterday, I said “I’m glad she’s not pregnant, but can you imagine how beautiful her babies would be??”
Yeah, Adele was so hard to catch. We opened the door and she was outside the door. We called to her and she ran in. Obviously she was recently dumped. Don’t want to make those other posters jealous but Cosby LOVES to be combed. He will lay there and when you are done, he’ll head butt you for more. He is one great boy.
I’m glad you were able to catch her, even though she made it difficult! 😉
lol
All mine (4) love to be brushed. I just have to tap the brush on the floor and they all come running. They will, actually, push the others out of the way to be groomed. I would suggest starting with a soft brush (the ones that look like old fashioned human brushes). I do have the square headed wire one as I have three long haired cats (one short haired) and it gets out tangles. For the arm pits, stomach and groin I actually use a human (small head) teasing comb. Mine is old so I couldn’t find one like it, but mine is sorta like this one, but the head is 1/2 the length: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Diane-Teasing-Tail-Comb-Dozen-8-Inch-Black-/272012566027?hash=item3f55365e0b:g:HdgAAOSwAYtWGYt~
When combing/brushing, try scratching his cheeks at the same time. Or take the soft brush and hold it (bristles facing the ceiling) and let him rub his cheeks on it. This will show him that the brush is “good”. Brush him gently, but don’t attack knots/matts yet. After a minute, stop and give him a treat. Do it again the next day…brush more areas but for a very short amount of time. Repeat… slowly get more aggressive on mats etc. Then work up to a stiffer brush/tool. Repeat. Always be sure that you do not pull the skin when working on mats. Grasp the hair by the roots and begin combing the mat out from the end of the hair, it relieves some of the pain of tugging and allows you to get the mat out a little bit at a time. If there is a tough mat, snip into it with scissors and then pick it apart with your fingers. Snipping (with your fingers between the area you are snipping and kitty’s skin) into it allows some of the fur to come out of the mat which in turn allows the mat to be broken apart (without leaving a bald spot). I do feel all their friction spots (arm pits etc) daily, as I pet them, and work out any tiny tiny mats with my fingers then so they don’t become big. Pick pick pick at the mat, stop and pet/scratch. Repeat. Don’t make it one big session.
This might work well, too:
http://greyhoundcomb.com/about.html
Poor Jake – he isn’t over weight, he is under tall (Ivy is told this about her shape all the time here).
Adele is adorable and we hope she gets adopted ASAP!
He is, indeed, under tall! He’s like the cat version of a dachshund. 😀
LOL!! Those last two pictures cracked me up. Adele is very pretty and I already love her personality based on your description! I hope she finds someone soon otherwise I’m going to want YOU to keep her. (Don’t worry, I KNOW that’s a no-no, but let’s be honest, I think all kitties deserve to live at Crooked Acres, heehee).
I love the name Adele–it is perfect. She’s a beauty and will be snatched up quickly.
My first thought was that she reminds me of Tabitha!
The first thing Connie said when I sent her a picture yesterday was “A money cat!”
🙂 well she is
Gorgeous Adele!
That picture of the original Mr. Fancypants shaved is cracking me up. It’s the look of horror on Tubby’s face! You could have a caption contest on that photo. 😉
“I really hate her
I’ll think of a reason later”
I just loudly snorted at my desk at work… thanks… LOL
I love that song, and it seems like a good theme tune for any cat who doesn’t much like other cats too 😉
For anyone who doesn’t know the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4KtrId7Y-g
Adele is so pretty! She should find a new home very soon. And Alice shouldn’t be jealous; she’s a pretty girl too.
That she is!!!
Have you seen this, yet? http://www.explodingkittens.com/kittyconvict
What a great idea for those with indoor-only kitties. (Like mine.)
Yes! I have one escape artist in my bunch, and I ordered him a custom orange collar a couple of days ago. That is a terrific idea!
I wish Alabama wasn’t so far from Pennsylvania or I would adopt her in a hot second! She is ADORABLE and I love the name!
it’s not THAT far..
Robyn-In case you and the other people reading here have been living under a rock this past month or so, Adele DOES have a theme song. It’s a very famous one that has already sold LOTS of copies. She even referenced it in the post, um “Hello”. 😛
I’ll let YOU tell Alice that particular bit of news. 🙂
Adele is SO pretty! And I’m sure she’ll find a home fast, which is a good thing, so I don’t get in my car and drive to Alabama to get her.
And to follow up on GD’s suggestion – Pantalones Rococo!
I like it even better with your Pantaloons in the front!
My long-haired black cat likes a slicker brush with fine bristles. She won’t hold still for grooming so I have to take swipes at her while she’s circling around. Don’t brush too hard at first. Once they are used to the slicker brush, they’ll tolerate deeper brushing.
Hello Adele! If I say ‘hello from the other side’, I’ll have to clarify that I mean ‘of the country’, won’t I? 🙂 What a doll. I only wish I could adopt her. Friendly friendly purry snuggerler of a mediumhair calico with a fabulous tail… love! Alas, I’m in Wisconsin.
It is nice that Alice Mo hasn’t changed a bit 🙂