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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Our 'family of cats'...

This is another post that probably should have been written on  my *Cats, Coffee, and Chocolate* site... but the problem is that I never know exactly what is going to flow from my head into my fingertips when I start writing. And even though I try to 'categorize' the subjects into different blog sites, let's face it,  they are all part of our life...

Walked around the house today taking pictures of our 'family of cats' in their various places.  Thinking about it, they could probably take pictures of DH and I in our favorites spots also...



Molly



Going by age, Molly is the oldest... around 19-20 years. My son found her in an apartment parking lot when she was about 6 - 8 weeks old and brought her over to us.  She is a DSH Tortie, very friendly, and relatively healthy for her age.



Rose

Rose is next oldest... also about 19.  She showed up in our backyard rose garden (hence the name) in 2001.  The Vet said that she was about 7 at the time (had 2 broken eye-teeth - looked like she's been kicked?).  She has a strange disposition. We don't know if her disposition is due to the 'alleged' abuse or if the 'alleged' abuse was due to her disposition.  But whatever the reason, she found a home with us and even though she is not the friendliest cat, she has gotten better over time. I think she's mellowing with age.



Jack

Jack, as I've mentioned before, is the 'heart' of the house-hold.  He is the sweetest most intelligent cat we've ever had (and we've had a lot of cats over the years). His disposition is loving - to all people - and all other critters.  He accepts all and has never met another person or animal he didn't like. He's extremely curious and will follow us or workmen around and watch closely as to what we or they are doing.

He loves to play whether with the other cats or grand kids... or at least he did.  Jack is 9 now, but he was diagnosed with a form of Feline Leukemia when he was 4.  He and his siblings were born in our backyard and taken in when their mama left them on my patio at about 3 weeks old. So he was born outside, but has never set foot out since.  We had them all vaccinated and tested before adding them to our house-hold.  So when he was diagnosed with Leukemia, we were shocked. The only conclusion was that he inherited it from his mom.  The others were all tested again.  All tested negative. He has episodes where his blood count drops dramatically and the Vet tells us that he will not make it.  But he always does.  I am convinced that he pulls through because he knows we all need him. But he doesn't have much energy... so he doesn't play as much as he used to...


Tux (Jack's sibling)


Tux is basically a mama's boy. He spends a lot of time in my lap.  Actually gets very upset if I don't take some time to either sit with him or nap during the day.  He will follow me around crying.   He and Jack are very close... spend a lot of time lying together cleaning each other. Poor Tux has no whiskers because Jack 'cleans' them right off.



Julie (Jack's other sibling)


Julie is a 'little Jack' look alike.  Markings are similar, but she is female and half Jack's size.  Julie has been called many names since her birth, "Monkey Mouse", "Squeaky Toy", and "Julie".  Squeaky Toy is most appropriate as the cat actually squeaks when you pick her up. And she talks non-stop!



Ghost


And last, but by no mean least is Ghost.  Ghost was also born outside and abandoned on my back patio when she was a few weeks old.  She had other siblings that took off when danger approached... loud noises, other animals, etc. But Ghost was obviously a bit 'handicapped'.... she never ran off... just sat there looking around when the others disappeared. DH and I figured that we 'd better take her in or she wouldn't survive.

The Vet agreed that she had some 'problems' as a kitten.  At first he thought she had a form of diabetes... and later decided that she had a genetic kidney problem that wouldn't allow her to live too long. He said for us to make sure that she always had access to water as without it, she would die. She urinates a tremendous amount, but it is very dilute.

We decided to give her free access to water and lots of love.  She is now 5 and although her kidney problem persists, she has done really well.  She is a sweet loving cat.  The reason we named her Ghost is because we have 'shades of gray' slate floors and as a kitten (and sometimes even now), it was difficult to see her.

So that's it - the story of our family of cats. Sometimes I wonder how much simpler life would be  (and the house so much easier to keep clean and fresh) without them, but then I know how much we would miss them.  They give us joy and laughter... and sometimes tears.  But they are a part of our life and we love them.  What else can I say...









18 comments:

  1. Aw, they are all lovely. What lucky cats to have found a home with your family. Our lives, of course, would be less messy but wouldn't it be sad to think of life without them. I have often thought about all the cats that came into my life and how each and every one of them was a gift.

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    1. True, Deb, I've often wondered how people live without children or pets... (and many people do of course). Like everything else, it's a choice. But some of us need the 'mess' in our lives. It challenges us, fulfills us, and in some ways, helps us to grow.

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  2. You have a wonderful menagerie of cats, all different but all precious. Thank you for the introduction, since I don't follow your other blog and had heard of them but didn't know much more. :-)

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    1. Then I guess it was a serendipitous mistake to introduce them in this retirement blog instead of the other. Know me, know my cats... :)

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  3. You have a terrific kitty clan, and I think they're all blessed to have ended up with such a wonderful forever home, no matter what their health issues or prognosis.

    I often wonder what I'd do with all the extra time I'd have if I didn't have any fur family. LOL. I do know one thing: I would NOT be up at 4AM every morning!

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    1. ... and there would be a lot more room in the bed at night.

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  4. We're down to one indoor cat and I'm a little sorry for him with no buddy. But even his box is a problem to place with every square inch of house occupied. Maybe when we get a spare bedroom back--in about ten years--we can think about another.

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    1. Well, there is one good thing about being the 'only' cat. He doesn't have to share the attention.

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  5. We are without a cat or a dog at the present time. We enjoy pets vicariously through other people's now. It does make it easier to clean the house, but seeing your cat pictures...

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    1. Olga, one can enjoy things vicariously. I know I enjoy other people's traveling through their blogs and pictures.

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  6. Enjoy every minute, with your lovely family of cats!

    We used to have cats.

    But I never could have them in my house now.

    This Non-Allergic Rhinitis developed in me, over time, with age.

    Enjoy your kitties.

    One never knows, what might come along.

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    1. Yes, Auntie... for every thing there is a season. I don't consider myself as having allergies, but my eyes itch occasionally and I tend to sneeze a lot more lately. It could be the cats, but hopefully not. If so, I'm afraid we're already committed, so I would have to live with it.

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  7. Yes, my house would be so much cleaner without our Golden Retriever and the Golden we're fostering (he was 13 and his owners moved away and left him to fend for himself), but our hearts would not be as full...

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    1. I love Golden Retrievers. My brother had a huge blonde one named Willy... sweetest dog ever. He looked like a lion. Yes, there's something about kids and animals - they may be a lot of trouble, but they tend to expand your heart.

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  8. Lucky cats to have found such a loving home with you. They are each adorable...especially Ghost :)

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  9. Cats are truly wonderful and fascinating creatures. I can't imagine living without at least one in my household.

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    1. I didn't grow up with cats, Vic. My mom didn't trust them. DH is the one who brought them into my life. It didn't take much since I loved all critters, but cats do seem to have something 'special' about them. And I'm not saying that they are better than dogs, just *different*. I would love to have a dog (or dogs - had an Irish Setter once that I loved dearly), but DH is not a dog person.

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