Conference misery::feline

         We've got 3 felines:
    
         Loki - now 10, orange tabby, a little overweight ;-) , diabetic
    (controlled by diet at the moment).  I've had him since he was a 6 week
    old kitten; he's seen me through college, a location change (NY to MA),
    two companies and a current marriage.  He always purrs up a storm and
    is the most lap-cattish of the crew.
    
         Bigfoot - now 13, mackeral tabby, our "miracle kitty".  Survived a
    pancreatic cyst - surgeons removed his spleen and part of his pancreas. 
    Amazingly enough, he hasn't become diabetic!  He still plays like a
    kitten, running and jumping.  He's a "lady's man" - he loves women
    visitors but steers clear of gentleman visitors!
    
         Midnight - now 1�, black with gold eyes, short-haired in the
    front, long-haired in the back (especially the tail).  Found abandoned
    in a boat, brought up from when she was 3 weeks old.  Lovable, always
    chirping and talking, but can't sit still long enough to stay on a lap
    8-) !
    
         That's our feline crew (of course we have chickens, rabbits,
    turkeys, pheasants, peacocks ... too 8-) )!
    
    					- Andrea

Our two "boys"...

	Thor -- (aka "The Maniac", "DunderCat", "PoohCat" (being of very 
		little brain))  now 2, orange tiger.  Generally seen in one
		of two states -- a high speed orange blur that chirps, purr-ups,
		and chatters as it goes speeding by, or curled up on
		my wife Beth, purring madly and licking her hand, or nose,
		or whatever.  Has a definition passion for string, shoelaces,
		and cords of any kind (and we have the vet bills to prove it!).

	Loki --	(aka "The LoveSlut") now 2, mackerel tabby.  A 14-lb bundle of
		purrs.  Seldom seen in motion except when pursued by The Maniac,
		or when in pursuit of mousies. This cat loves people, and 
		demands their attention -- even at 3 a.m.  

	

				-Todd

    MacBlue is a Maine Coon who became the most important member of our
    household in September.  Our dearly-loved, 14-year old black Angora,
    Patachou (Chou Chou) died in July.  We continue to miss her greatly,
    but it didn't take long for MacBlue to win us over.  He is a blue
    mackerel tabby (hence his name) with a healthy appetite and a nose for
    fun.  He weighed in at 4 pounds when we adopted him at about 12 weeks
    of age; five weeks later, he was 6.8 pounds, and today at 24 weeks, I'm
    sure he's at least 8 pounds.  He seems to be growing bigger by the
    minute!  Since it takes Maine Coons two to three years to reach their
    full size, I guess he's a good candidate for becoming a BIG GUY when he
    gets to that age.  He's already the proud possessor of an enormous,
    beautiful, fluffy tail.
    
    MacBlue loves to play fetch with paper balls and his proudest
    accomplishment to date is getting into high clerestory windows in our
    two-story space livingroom.  He does this by jumping onto the knee wall
    in our bedroom (which is a loft space overlooking the livingroom),
    getting on the ledge in the nearest windows, and then jumping onto the
    ledge in the far windows where no one can reach him.  He had been
    attempting the maneuver practically from day one with us, and managed
    to execute it successfully about a month ago.  It was one of Chou
    Chou's favorite perches too.
    
    Among his favorite quiet-time activities, long naps rate at the very
    top of the list, but getting his belly rubbed while sprawled on his
    back is a close second.  He takes over pillows, too, and on many
    occasions, my husband and I have found our head way over in the
    corner of the pillow, while MacBlue is comfortably stretched out across
    the middle of it.  Eating is a favorite activity--he gets both canned
    food and Hill's Feline Growth Formula.  He quickly learned that the humans
    often have delicious things to eat, and has wheedled bits of meat,
    broccoli and a newly discovered treat, turkey, out of me at dinnertime.
    
    One of the breeder's requirements is that he remain an indoor-only cat,
    but this will be a tough feat to pull off.  He makes mad dashes for the
    door everytime he hears it opening or closing and will sit by the door
    and cry after one of us leaves.  He has gone out briefly under close
    supervision and loves being outdoors.   He has the characteristic Maine
    Coon chirp, which is delightful to hear, since he's quiet (in voice) most
    of the time.  He's earned the nickname, Thunderpaws, by the incredible
    noise he makes jumping down from high places and running at full steam
    over carpeting or wood floor (even when he weighed only four pounds).
    
    As you can see, I'm only a little enamored of him--I could go on
    forever, but my lunch break is nearly over....We are so taken with him 
    that we're ready to adopt another Maine Coon sibling for MacBlue.  He 
    enjoys the company of other cats and likes dogs too (discoveries made 
    while we were on vacation and MacBlue was being cared for by two humans, 
    four cats, and a dog).  If anyone is thinking about being owned by a 
    Maine Coon, I would heartily encourage them to take the step!
    
    
    
    

    Well, I have some cats too.  I usually list them alphabetically, it is
    easier. :'D
    
    Joui - seal point female Birman of 5 1/2 years.  She is the matriarch
    of the family, our first Birman queen.  She is very close to becoming
    the first seal point Birman DM. Wish us luck!  Joui is currently
    spending her time raising a litter of 6 kittens, 1 girl and 5 boys. 
    They are about 2 1/2 weeks old right now so they keep her very busy.
    
    Kaisha - seal point female Birman of 5 years.  Kaisha has only been
    with us for a couple of years.  Her owner, my friend Sheri, was
    transfered to Hawaii and Kaisha moved in with me.  The transition was
    tough on her at first but she has settled in nicely.  She will be
    joining Sheri when she moves back to Monterey CA in February 92.
    
    Laci - seal point female Birman Grand Champion.  Laci was let out of
    our house last year during an attempted break-in and one of my
    neighbors actually shot her with a pellet gun!!  Her recovery was a
    long slow process.  She is still not quite 100%.  The pellet did some
    kidney damage.  But she is happy as a clam and as sweet as can be. 
    Just a little less trusting of people.
    
    Limoges - seal point female Birman Grand Champion.  Limoges was born
    with a silver spoon in her mouth only she would have prefered it to be
    the inside of a dog food can! :'D  This is clearly a case of mistaken
    identity.  She is an elegant looking cat, attained high honors in the
    show ring, but she thinks she is a feral cat.  I come home every day to
    find my trash can tipped and Limoges face and ears sticky from getting
    into cat food and dog food cans and licking the insides.  She travels
    in a pack with her two daughters.
    
    Mirabel - blue point female Birman.  Mirabel is a bit of a whiner but
    we love her anyway.  Right now she is busy raising three very
    boisterous male kittens.  Nice thing about Mirabel is that she doesn't
    get into any trouble. She is a rule follower.  We like that. :')
    
    Night Dreams (AKA Dream) - blue point female Birman.  Dream is
    Mirabel's daughter by my beloved Kalliste.  She has the most incredible
    eyes.  I am certain I kept her because of her eyes.  I lose myself in
    them.  She looks at me and sees straight to my soul.
    
    Nights In White Satin (AKA Satin) - blue point female Birman Grand
    Champion.  Don't let the fancy name fool you, this one is wild!  She is
    the daughter of Limoges and my Moody Blue.  She is a clone of Limoges
    except for the her color.  She is part of the gang "Brat Pack".
    
    No Surrender (AKA Surrey) - seal point female Birman.  The other
    Limoges daughter and vice president of the Brat Pack.  Chief dog food
    can licker, etc.  This cat doesn't mess around.  She and the gang walk
    around the house creating terror in the hearts of the other cats. ;') 
    They always seem to travel in this pack.  Bread products run for your
    lives!!!!
    
    Nepenthe - seal point male Birman.  Julie sent me this wonderful boy
    after I lost Kalliste last January.  He is a love, but it is obvious
    that his affections are mostly reserved for Ken.  He is a year old now
    and I think he may be finally figuring out that he is a boy. :')
    
    Orestes - seal point male Birman.  When it dawned on me that Nepenthe
    liked Ken better than me, I was like a woman possessed.  I had to find
    another male cat that I could share love with like I did with Kalliste. 
    I was lucky enough to find Reste.  He is 12 pounds of utter affection
    and love (and he is only 9 months old so it may get better!).
    
    Okalani Kekona - blue point female Birman kitten.  Lani and I are still
    getting to know one another.  I brought her back from Dallas with me. 
    She is my kitten back from a show quality female I sold to another
    breeder.  She is a love.  One thing I know for sure, someone turned on
    her purr motor and then lost the key!  She hasn't stopped purring since
    we got her.  She even purred throughout a very exciting plane ride home
    from Dallas.  I was trying to sneak her on the plane in a special sneak
    bag, but she had other ideas.  I was drifting off to sleep when the
    lady in the seat behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said "excuse
    me, but is that *your* cat??"  I looked up and there was Lani, trotting
    up the aisle with a look of delight on her face.  I guess she didn't
    like the carrier too much. :^D  
    
    Winston is my household pet.  He is a blue tabby and white neuter with
    gold eyes and longhair.  He is great.  Very laid back.  We adopted him
    when we got home form our honeymoon seven years ago September.  He was
    a Santa Clara Humane Society inmate before that.  Winston loves to
    fetch, but he is also a gentleman.  He will back off fetching if one of
    the girls wants to play.
    
    Tilly is my husband's household pet.  Tilly is still holding it against
    me that I was the one to medicate all her various health problems 5
    years ago when we found her.  She carries a looooonnnnngggg grudge. 
    She talks back to you when you try to reprimand her, and she eats like
    a horse.  Very beautiful cat though.  She is a cream and white longhair
    with gold eyes.  Very striking.
    
    Okay, did I forget anybody?  I hope not.  Does anyone know how many
    cats that is?  
    
    Jo
    

    And a brief (re)introduction from us...
    
    Honey is my 9-year-old seal point Himalayan.  He's the best cat on the
    planet and he's my very first cat to call my own.  
    
    Chauncey is my 6-year-old cream point Himmy.  He's addicted to Gerber's
    baby food and he's madly in love with Honey.
    
    Julie is my 3-year-old red tabby.  She's the daughter of a pregnant
    stray I took in a few years ago.  She gets along with no one!
    
    Robin is about 2 1/2 and is a former feral kitty I adopted 2 years ago. 
    She's just starting to let me love her, but she still thinks she's
    wild.  She's mostly white with black patches.
    
    Biff is about 1 1/2 and is a full brother of Robin's and was also feral
    till I took him in as a 2 month old kitten.  He'd make a great Marine
    and wants Julie dead.
    
    Mikey is 1 and is a full brother to Robin and Biff, and he's a close
    twin to Robin in appearance.  He's still pretty feral and doesn't like
    to be touched by me.  He loves Biff and Robin, however.
    
    And then there's Beth...she's 7 months old, and is half sister to
    the other three.  She's a tortie.  She's also totally blind, having
    just had her eyes removed due to disease.  I found her at about 4 weeks
    suffering with eye infections.  Anyway, she's handicapped, but she
    doesn't seem to know it...
    
    That's it!  Seven cats is TOO MANY!!
    Mary
    

	This is great!  Let me introduce our 6 babies:

	Smudge - our only non-Siamese, Smudge is a 4 1/2-year-old calico
	that we adopted from the Goffstown Animal Rescue League.  She's a
	big fat lovable tub of a cat, but she's not really happy that we
	have so many other cats.  She spends most of her time in our
	cellar where she isn't bothered much.  She definitely makes it
	upstairs at breakfast and dinner time.

	Tas (Tasmanian Devil) - 3 year old Sealpoint Siamese neutered male.  
	Also somewhat overweight (about 11 lbs.), but we hardly ever see 
	him eat!  He's a real mushball in the morning when we first get up, 
	and once more before we go to bed at night.  The rest of the time 
	he hangs out trying to be the superior cat and pretending he doesn't 
	need to be made a fuss of.

	Jenny (Jennifur) - 3 year old Bluepoint spayed female.  We got
	Jenny about 2 months after Tas had come home, primarly because
	he had bonded to me, and Andy wanted a kitten of his own.  She's
	turned out exactly that way too, although she sleeps on my pillow
	at night.  We sometimes call her 'Marilyn' because her meows are
	always kind of soft and breathless.

	C.C. (Compact Cat) - 3 year old Bluepoint spayed female.  C.C. is
	Jenny's littermate, and was born with one eye smaller than the
	other.  The breeder was contemplating having her put down, but
	called us first and asked us if we wanted to take her.  We promptly
	took the afternoon off and brought her home, about 3 weeks after
	Jenny had arrived.  She's turned into the most loving cat I've ever
	known, and she's definitely attached herself to me.  We had a scare
	with her last year, as her kidneys shut down for a still-undetermined
	reason.  The vet kept her on an IV all weekend, and she recovered
	beautifully.  She sleeps on my face at night - my baby.

	Beau (Beau-dacious) - adopted out of this notesfile, Beau is a
	2 year old chocolate lynx-point neutered male.  He was very sick 
	as a baby and is still very timid and unsure of people.  If you 
	try to approach him too quickly he'll run away, but having him 
	has been tremendously rewarding.  He needs lots of love, but is
	afraid to accept it, so whenever he comes to us for strokes it's
	very gratifying.

	Spike - 5-month old male lilac-point, and the runt of his litter.
	At five months, he's about the size of a 3 month old kitten, but
	he's totally unafraid of anything that gets in his way.  He was
	so small when we adopted him that he fit into Andy's t-shirt
	pocket quite comfortably, and had so little fur that he looked
	quite pink.  He's a real purrpot that needs to be held and petted
	almost all the time.

	Sandy

I know my two were introduced in the earlier version, but I can always talk 
about them some more...

Miss Marple and Wizard are littermates who recently turned 10 years old. 
They came to me at 6 wks and we've been through an awful lot together.
Though no distinct breed, they are the loves of my life.

Miss Marple, a.k.a. Missy, is somewhat of a tortie with medium long hair. 
She is the brave one who explores everything first then shows her brother. 
She can open any cabinet or drawer. She's great at catch, but not so good 
at fetch. Loves to chase paper, chew on plastic and sleep in the sunshine. 
She won't tolerate being laughed at and is great at the 'I meant to do that' 
look. Though I cared for and fed her for many years before I married, her 
loyalties switched to her Daddy almost immediately. Traitor! She can be sound 
asleep in my lap, but will go running to her Daddy if he calls. He can carry 
her around and make her do silly things. And this is a man who said he 
didn't like cats when we first met. That changed quickly,too.

Now, Wizard (The Wiz, Boo-Boo Kitty) is a mama's boy. The sweetest guy you'd 
ever want to meet. Loves to be rubbed, snuggles close in bed at night, likes to 
be under under things like afghans and blankets. He's always close by. 
Purrs like crazy and loves catnip. Wiz is black with a little white on 
his chest and on 3 of his feet. Sometimes the way he poses makes me believe 
there's some Siamese in him. He rarely talks unless there's something wrong.
He's my baby and wants nothing to do with my husband. Tummy rubs and sleeping 
in the sunshine are his favorite activities. 

Don't get the wrong idea, even at 10 years old, there's lots of kitty relay 
races, search and destroy missions and other terrorist activities going on. 
I hope they will be with me forever. 

By the way, there's a dog around, too. Rusty is a stray we took in a couple of 
years ago. He and the cats keep their distance. 

         

    Here are the stats on my furry brood:
    
    Nikki is an all black longhair with gold eyes.  He was a feral cat, so
    spends a lot of his time acting neurotic and skittish.  He is best
    buddies with TK and they are seldom separated from one another.  Nikki
    is very loving when he wants to be and enjoys being scratched hard on
    the behind.  He will walk up to me and squat down on his front paws
    with his butt high in the air waiting to be rubbed.  Nikki has been
    with us for 4 years.
    
    TK is also a formal feral but a lot less skittish than Nikki.  TK is a
    bruiser of a cat; 16 lbs of pure love.  He has a loud purr and uses it
    often.  Every night, he can be found in bed with us purring away.  We
    call him "Baseball Head" because he has a huge, round head.  TK is very
    grateful that we rescued him from the dregs of humanity and we are
    happy to have him with us for the past 3 years.
    
    Kelsey is a 3 year old sealpoint Ragdoll cat.  His formal name is CH
    Purrlin's Kelsey.  We went all the way to southern New Jersey to
    purchase him and now tease him about what a waste of a trip it was
    (smile!).  Kelsey is loud, whiney, a major wimp, and a vet shredder.  He
    hates to be handled and spends a lot of his time alone.  Despite his
    pitfalls, he is definitely "my" cat and we share a very close bond.  I
    could never give him up, but often threaten him with that thought. 
    Kelsey is a beautiful cat and looks most elegant in the winter when he
    grows a thick, luxurious coat with a long, flowing ruff.
    
    Taja.  Taja, Taja, Taja.  AKA "Meatloaf" or "Meatball".  Taja was an
    inmate of the Humane Society of Southern New Hampshire, dumped off by a
    woman who decided she didn't want him anymore.  Enter Roberta; the sap,
    taken in by a beautiful face and rich, chocolate point color.  Taja is
    a maniac; a demon possessed in a cat's body.  Nothing is safe when Taja
    enters a room and he makes enemies wherever he goes.  If he were a
    person he'd have a list of offenses a mile long.  He'd be wanted in all
    fifty states and his adorable face would grace the walls of police
    stations nationwide.  He and Herbie, our Himalayan, are partners in
    crime.  Together they stalk Kelsey relentlessly then look at each other
    with utmost satisfaction when Kelsey runs away hissing and crying. 
    Their mission in life is to drive Kelsey insane, and it is working.
    Despite all this, Taja is a love; extremely devoted to his human pets
    and never spends a moment out of our sights when we come home from
    work.  He aims to please, and we love him.  Taja is half Siamese and
    his loud cry and intelligent nature are indicative of this.
    
    Herbie is a blue, lynxpoint Himalayan cat named after Herbie the
    Lovebug.  He is absolutely gorgeous, and everyone who meets him wants
    to take him home.  He has a very docile disposition and purrs
    endlessly.  His eyes are huge and very expressive.  I am madly in love
    with this cat!  Herbie has so much fur between his toes that when his
    feet touch the linoleum floors he literally skids and bumps into
    things.  He is extremely playful and anything is fair game as far as he
    is concerned.  His favorite pasttime is eating, followed by eating and
    then eating some more.  He is nonstop!  Purchasing Herbie was not a
    mutual decision between my husband and I but it hasn't come back to
    haunt me yet!  Like I said, this cat is hard to resist!!
    
    Well, those are my five furry terrorists.  For now anyway.  Who knows
    what the future has in store for us!!
     
    --Roberta
    
    
    
    
    

    Current headcount at Copper Penny Farm:
    
    Casey - 4 yr old neutered male Korat.  Also called toad,
    lardbutt, chubbles, or porky due to his overweight problem.
    Always wants to sit in your lap, or on whatever it is you
    may currently be doing. I.e. on your book, newspaper, and
    look out, here he comes if you have a blanket! (-8  
    He charms visitors because they are so used to cats disappearing
    when company comes over.  Not Casey! (or B.K. either!)
    He loves to play "chase mummy all over the house", and will grab
    your ankle when you walk by in the hallway.
    
    B.K. - 4 yr old neutered male brother to above Korat. a.k.a
    the "Buffalo Killer" hence B.K. since he was the kitten that
    my husband chose because he kept attacking "killing" the stuffed 
    toy buffalo at the breeders.  Very vocal, for a Korat.  Also
    always ready to sit in your lap.  Very people oriented.  Likes
    men, and children.  Charms the heck out of visitors, who want to
    take him home.  He is the "dirty litter box alarm."  He will yell
    his head off in the basement, if the litterbox doesn't meet his
    cleanliness standards.
    
    Rusty - 2 yr old Red tabby w/white neutered male domestic long hair.  
    One of two barn kittens that I rescued.  He is large, kind of on
    the dumb side, very friendly, and likes people.  He has this goofy
    habit of lying on your clothing that you have just removed.  He
    will even pull your jacket off the back of the chair so he can
    lay on it.  He does this with the grocery bags when I'm unpacking
    the food, too.  He is the "feed me" alarm.  Even though there is
    dry down all the time, he bugs you until you open a can.  He likes
    to be carried around on your shoulders.  He hangs out on the cat
    tree, and when you pass by, he reaches out a paw to get your attention.   
    
    Pepper - 2 yr old Mackerel tabby w/white, brother to Rusty.  Has
    the prettiest markings on his face.  Very fastidious cat, you would
    think he was a female.  Not a lapcat, doesn't like to be held, or
    patted much.  He greets you in the morning, drives you nuts until
    he gets that one or two pats on the head (while your in the bathroom)
    and then disappears.  But, wherever you are, he is.  Ditto with the
    guys above.
    
    Moochie - red tabby female.  Neighbors didn't take care of her, and she
    showed up on my back porch, scrawny and begging for food about a year
    ago.  Lynne's Cat Rest. must be good, because she chose us as her home, 
    and hasn't been home since.  She is an outdoor only cat, and won't even
    stay in the barn.
    
    Lynne  

     This is as much an update as it is an introduction; updating our
     adoption of Brettina (mispelled by me in the old FELINE file).
     
     Background:
     
     Mimie was our diabetic part Maine Coon who lived 16+ years until
     complications of the disease took him from us last month.  Mim (it 
     sounded more masculine than Mimie, who fooled everyone but the vet
     when my wife brought "her" to be spayed.  He performed a slightly
     different operation...) went 11-12 lbs. in his prime and was one of 
     those cats who thought he was a short human; very affectionate and 
     *very* intelligent.  A tough act to follow.
     
     [Again I'd like to thank then words of sympathy received from some
     CAT Conf. users; it did help.  Civilians (and I used to be one) just
     don't understand the attachment some of us have for our pets.]
     
     Brettina (named after my wife's two favorite Europeans--she explained 
     it to me when she saw "Bertina" on the URI perscription I'd got for 
     her) is a 1 - 1� year-old part Maine Coon, spayed and front-declawed.  
     Brown & grey w/black, white rear stockings.  Runs about 14 lbs. Pretty 
     face.  A lady's face; she's obviously female: looks, voice (dainty), 
     mannerisms, walk (very dainty), rarely uses her rear claws, and stands 
     her ground (she "met" a neighbor's cat through the sliding door last 
     weekend).  Knows what "No!" means.
     
     She's been with us almost two weeks now, and is slowly settling in.
     We got her from Baypath Humane in Hopkinton (story in old FELINE),
     who were having a bout with URI.  (Despite what the vet said about
     not taking home a sick cat, we wanted to, and now I realize we "had"
     to.)  She got worse, so I doubled up on the amoxicillen (sp), which
     helped.  One night I stopped by the vet to get some more; she had 
     heard we'd adopted Brettina and laughed when I started out by saying
     "I know what you said about sick cats, but...).  The liquid we brought
     home worked and Brettina's now in the last stages of her "cold", which
     made her "mother" much happier.
     
     The last few days she's been more perky (the cat, not my wife--come to
     think of it, they both are), helping my wife wrap Christmas presents,
     playing with toys, and chasing belts & things.  And now eats like a
     pig.  (A well-mannered pig, that is.)
     
     Last night I brought the Christmas trees in, and she helped me cut the 
     bases and afix the stands.  *After* she cuffed one of them to show them 
     who was in charge, of course.  She finds them fascinating.
     
     She's not a face-licker like Mim was (she's a lady), but is a kisser.
     She'll put her muzzle against your mouth and leave it there for a few
     seconds.  Unlike Mim, you don't have to worry about her slipping you
     the tongue.  (She's a lady.)  Brettina is very dainty and light on her 
     feet.  We watched her walk across one on our Chistmas scenes (after 
     which we explained to her that was on the "Do not" list) and didn't 
     knock over a thing.  You could hardly see her footprints in the 
     artificial snow.  (Mim liked to knock over the little figures, but 
     Brettina is a lady.)
     
     The only problem we have with her is she goes anywhere she wants to
     and we'd like her to stay off all tables & countertops.  We've had a 
     fatality--a Christmas glass.  Fortunately I was not around for the 
     chase and ensuing battle.  I got the whole story when I'd gotten back 
     from the store; Brettina (I call her "B" when my wife isn't around) 
     was nowhere to be seen.  We went out for supper, and she greeted us 
     when we returned.  She let us pet her, forgiving us for punishing her 
     for the "misunderstanding" because, after all, she's a lady.
     
          					Don (& Kaetrya 

    
    Bailey (a Cattyshack kid) aka The Bales, Expand-o Cat
    -----------------------------------------------------
    Vitals:  2 yr. old classic red tabby Exotic Shorthair neuter
    
    Words/Phrases that describe him: Aloof, yet emotionally connected with
    me, has a definate attitude, well behaved, pensive, expressive,
    Calzone's big brother, the love of my life. 
    
    Callandre aka Calzone, Cal, Callie
    ----------------------------------
    Vitals: 9 mos. old bluecream Exotic Shorthair female (breeder)
    
    Words/Phrases that describe her: affectionate, social, cuddley, plush,
    devilish, sweet, spunky, beautiful eyes, The Bales baby sister, my
    little girlie-girl.
    

    Well, last time I did an introduction (100 or more years ago it seems)
    I only had 2 fur-faces.  Now there are 4.  Starting at the beginning:
    
    Bailey's Irish Cream (AKA Bailey or Bay-Cat) - My very first cat and
    the one responsible for converting me to a cat person (Jo Ann must 
    also take responsibility for this since it all her fault I came home
    with this cat.)  Bailey is a blue-cream shorthair with green eyes.  In 
    the right light she actually has a bit of a pink caste to her coat due 
    to the large amount of cream color (would actually be considered a 
    cream-blue if there was such a color class).  Bailey is like a candy bar; 
    50% sweetness and 50% nuts.  You just never know what you're going to get
    with her...love and affection or leave-me-alone growls.
    
    Amelia Earhart (AKA Amelia or Mee-Cat) - My second kitty and the one
    that showed me that cats are not always standoffish.  One of the most
    affectionate cats I've ever seen.  Amelia a is brown-tabby with white
    shorthair with gold eyes.  She used to be my favorite show kitty but 
    due to her affinity to the food bowl and the fact that she looks like a 
    seal pup when laying on her side, her showing days are over.  One of 
    these days she may be pulled out of retirement if I can get her to use 
    the new kitty gym Onxy has asked me to install.
    
    Carrie Nation (AKA Carrie or Care-Cat) - Found this little waif
    (actually, she's huge now...till bathed, that's when you find out she's
    all fur) wandering the apartment parking lot crying her lungs out.  Took 
    her home and she blossomed into a beautiful blue maine-coon type cat with
    white chin, chest and feet.  Carrie is on the wrong side of every door,
    even open ones.  Carrie doesn't just shed, she has kamikazi hair clumps
    that fling themselves into every corner of the house.  I'm convinced
    that my asthma appeared after taking this cat in but I wouldn't part
    with her for the world.  In fact, a couple of months after I got her
    mom thought she had a person to take her in and I couldn't part with
    her.  I must've been nuts.  If I knew then what a rabble-rouser she
    was...maybe I would've...nah, it'd never happen.
    
    Onxy O'Kitty (AKA Onz or Little Guy) - One of the ferals I took in
    from the patio (remember Paddy O'Kitty).  He was the last one from the
    litter that I was able to sneak up on and pull into the house.  He's
    turned out to be a gorgeous shiney black shorthaired cat with copper
    eyes.  Onxy is a fetchin' fool.  He loves to fetch the nerf golf balls
    I bought.  He brings them to me no matter what I'm doing and talks to
    me till I throw them.  I often wake up with him dropping the ball in
    bed with me at 6:00am for me to throw.  Onxy is also the first
    "shoulder cat" I've ever had.  He loves to sit on my shoulder.  I love
    it when he wants to sit up there but I'm having a problem teaching him
    to jump up when I'm facing him and not surprise me by landing on my
    back when I'm not expecting him.
    
    Well, that's everyone in the feline family...for now.
    
    Jan                  

    It's been a long time since I introduced my kitties, and now the family
    is quite abbreviated.
    
    The current residents are:
    
    Bob - also called Bob Cat, Mr. B, and Bebes.  He is a 4 year old long
    haired cat - black with white bib, socks, and face.  He has this great
    purrsonality - he is loved my everyone in the neighborhood and all
    their friends.  He spends his times sitting on each front porch for an
    hour a day, makng sure that no one is shirked.  Now that the weather is
    cold, he comes in more.  Then he just flops on my son's bed and purrs
    load enough to scare the ghosts away.  He will talk when he wants to go
    out or wants food.  I swear he smiles....
    
    Zelda - also called Z Cat or Z's.  She is a 4 year old short hair all
    black.  She is a grump.  She HATES to be held and will grumble the
    whole time.  She will never swat at us or put out her claws or even
    try to squirm away - just grumble.  She loves to lie on top of one
    of us when watching TV - but that is on HER terms.  
    
    My Grand-kitties (the ones my daughter took with her when she moved to
    Colorado) are:
    
    Esmarelda - 3 year old grey short hair.  Very aloof, very loving to
    her mistress.  She would just as soon that she was back in NH - the
    mountains of Colorado are MUCH too cold.
    
    Madison - 2 year old buff and white long hair.  My daughter now claims
    that Maddy weighs 8 pounds - 4 lbs. of cat and 4 lbs. of fur.  She
    loves Colorado and romps through the snow with glee.
    
    I miss them both.
    
    Ellen 

    Here are my babies:
    
    Pussycat -- my first cat, an orange tabby feral who was with me for 8
    years before sucumbing to feline leukemia.  Love you, Pussycat.
    
    Sweetie -- a black/grey/white tabby, totally gentle and sweet, and
    extremely intelligent.  A person in fur.  Actually, nicer than a
    person.  Now about 11 and a bit "robust."
    
    Holly -- the Czarina of All the Russias.  a black/grey/white tabby who
    tolerates Sweetie, but generally wishes Little Bit were far, far away.
    A 9 year old shoulder rider who likes to sleep on my chest.
    
    Little Bit -- a black/grey/white tabby (do I see a pattern here?).  The
    newest addition.  A high-energy one year old who wonders why the three
    couch potatoes he lives with are such slugs.
    

       The membership of the "gang" is always changing and growing.  I like
    it when it grows and grows.  I always say "one can never have enough
    cats!"  I should get one of those tee-shirts!  The original members of
    the gang have passed on to kitty heaven, but here is the current group:
    
    Cleo or Queen Cleo adopted from Kitty Angels is truly a queen. She is a
    very beautiful part-coon brown/black tabby with a honey colored breast
    and belly.  She has double paws all around - 26 little toes to clip!
    She loves her balls more than any other game.  She will find one of her 
    foam balls and bring it and drop it at your feet chirping loudly that 
    she wishes to play.  She loves the sun and if she is in my favorite
    chair at lunch looking so sweet in the sun, then I'll just have to find
    another chair to sit in.  Who could possibly disturb her?  She is the
    dominant female and keeps everybody in line.
    Max or Maxwell J. Smart, was adopted from the MSPCA. He is a coontype
    brown tabby with perfectly marked white trim.  He is the lap cat of the
    house, a true love-cat, always kneeding my lap,leaving little prickle
    marks on my thighs.  He is always right there, no matter what is going
    on. He wants to help.  He is fat, but he wears it well.
    Sheba is a black half-siamese.  She is very small and shiny and quick.
    She plays rough and hard.  She used to be a bird-killer, but not any
    more.  We don't let her out like her previous owners, so she can't
    hunt.  She purrs up a storm, and likes to drape her tubular body across
    my hubbies shoulders while he reads the paper.
    Cooki is a huge, very fluffy DLH, he is gorgeous, all black except for
    a little pendant on his chest.  He is shy and quiet and absolutely will
    not be held, but like to be close by.  We got him at the MSPCA also.
    Pepper is a small, muscly girl black with white trim that came to us
    abandoned and of course, prego.  She had 6 kittens.  She is a very
    sweet little cat, very affectionate, and hunts moles in the yard.
    Moles are a terrible problem in our clay soil, but she does a great
    job.  She hardly ever goes out though, she is very appreciative to have
    a home.
    Chief Kitty is retired from DEC.  He was the rodent control officer
    here at TWO for 3 years.  He is a double-pawed, very tall black with 
    white trim cat.  Extremely intelligent, loves games like hide and seek.
    That's his favorite.  Before his arthritis got really bad, he would
    go on hikes in the woods behind our house with us.
    Brownie adopted from Kitty Angels is a butterball of a tortie.  She
    has slimmed down a little since we got her, but her favorite activity
    is definately eating, followed closely by purring and sleeping.
    Mitties is an enormous calico, with the grouchiest personality I have
    ever seen.  We adopted her from this file.  Her favorite activity is
    hissing and growling, she doesn't really mean any of it, she just
    enjoys it.  She is very old, so I guess she's entitled.
    Pumpkin is a bright orange tabby, with sparkling long flowing fur. We
    got her in this file too.  She is an acrobat, and can throw her body
    into the air to catch catnip mice, twisting and sumersaulting in the
    most spectacular ways.  She sleeps late every day, and I have to hold
    her breakfast for her until she is ready.
    Silvy Poo, we just call him Poo is, well, a Poo.  He is a perennial
    kitten.  I don't think he will ever look like is not a kitten.  He
    loves to snuggle under my sweatshirt and stay warm when we're watching
    tv.  He is very playful and he and Sheba tumble and roll across the
    floor, their soft bodies making bump sounds as they tumble.  It is so
    funny to watch.  They charge through the house at warp speed chasing
    each other.  Got him at the MSPCA too.  He is brilliant blue, with long
    flowing fur and "wings" of fur behind his forelegs.  He is unbelievable
    solid and heavy for his small size.  He wants breakfast first of them
    all!
    Fluffy is a stray cat who has been hanging out at our door for almost
    a year now.  He absolutely will not be domesticated. he is deathly 
    afraid of everybody but my hubby and I.  We can feed him, but don't
    get any closer or you'll get lashed at.  We have got him to come just
    inside the door to eat his food, but if you close it, he'll smash
    himself against the glass to get out, and panic.
    
    Well, that's 11 cats....got writer's cramp now.
    
    Denise 

    We're here!
    
    Katie is a seal-point Siamese and is 4 years old.  She is timid and is
    the scapegoat around here.  She is a love though and loves to curl up
    in my lap.
    
    Skeeter is another seal-point.  She got her name because she squeaks
    when she is picked up, her registered name is Squeaky Skeet.  She loves
    me to roll her over on her back and attack my arm, it's her favorite
    morning game.  She also love to play with the yarn and is forever
    bringing it to me.
    
    Alex is the red-point.  He is my protector and if he thinks anyone else
    has hurt me he runs them off.  He is very vocal about everything.  He
    also loves to play fetch and he has "his" toy which no one else is
    allowed to play with.  I wish I'd shown him, I think he could have been
    a grand champion.  He is beautiful.
    
    And last, but not least is Cleo, the light of my life.  Cleo is the
    mother of the other three.  She has got personality plus.  She is my
    buddy and has been with me through some very trying times.  I have a
    bond with her that I've never experienced with another animal.  She is
    getting old, she will be 6 in January.  Well, maybe not old.  She is
    still very feisty and I love watching her play.  She is wonderful!  She
    is a tortie point Siamese.  
    
    So here's my gang.  We all enjoy this conference.
    
    Karen, Cleo, Alex, Skeeter and Katie

    Let me proudly introduce my "babies"...
    
    First, my two are sisters, given to me by my veterinarian.  They were
    mistreated as newborns, but are now happy and healthly!
    
    Tawny is my curious baby.  She's a beautiful calico (tawny brown, black
    and white).  She loves to snoop.  There's been many occasions where I
    haven't been able to find her because she's managed to follow at your
    heels into a room that usually closed off - when I find her she always
    gives me this "but mom...I was just looking around" look!
    
    Tigger is my cuddly baby.  She's a torty kitten - mostly black, with
    some brown and white tortoiseshell markings.  Tigger is shy and doesn't
    much care for socializing except with my husband and I.  She sleeps
    between us every night and cuddles so close that you can't move!
    Whenever you hold Tigger, she wraps her front paws around your neck
    and hugs - it's the cutest thing!!
    
    My husband and I have been married for almost three years.  We've
    been the proud "parents" of Tawny and Tigger for a year.  Our lives
    are so much brighter since they came into our lives!
    
    Diana, Joe, Tawny and Tigger
    

    And My Three:
    
    Pippin:  my little lady - long black silky fur - gigantic gold eyes and
    the most wonderful disposition I could ask for.  She's the kind of cat
    who is always at your side, loves to give head butts and kisses, loves
    to talk and is always busy taking care of her two brothers and making
    sure that your ok as well.  I think she might have a little Maine Coon
    in her - neat tufts of fur between the toes and this beautiful collar
    that is fringed with smokey grey and a touch of red.  She loves to play
    with Q-tips and gro-grane paper ribbon.  She was my healing kitty after
    the loss of Ting who I had for 16 years.  She's very very special.
    
    Gino:  A large seal point siamese is the big baby of the house.  He's a
    gentle as they come despite his imposing appearance.  Scares easily,
    likes to hide under the bed when the door bell rings and then quietly
    comes out after a bit to introduce himself.  Absolutely loves to be
    brushed (for hours if you can hold on that long) has full blown out
    conversations with me and my husband and likes high places.  A very
    undemanding boy who lets his brother get away with murder.  Loves to
    sit on the tolite seat and talk to you while your taking a shower and
    gets mesmerized by bubble bath bubbles.
    
    Stitch:  My bandit tuxedo cat - has a perfect zoro mask and big green
    eyes and a pink nose.  He was abandoned by his feral mom and was
    rescued and hand reared along with his 4 brothers by me and a friend. 
    He's the terror of the house (neighborhood) - has gotten himself and us
    into more situations than there's time to mention.  He loves to suck on
    my nightshirt at bedtime, stands on my chest in the  morning and drools
    on my face and will eat anything you put in front of him.  He runs his
    brother and sister ragged (not to mention mom and dad). If you extend
    your hand toward his, like up a ways toward him, he will walk over to
    you on his hind legs and do a buck right into the plam of your hand.
    
    Giudi

    .... And another trio ... 
    
    Dogger - the older male - father to the younger male - 2 1/2 years old
    and doesn't act a day over 8 or 9 months ... he is definately MY cat!! 
    He has decided that he owns me and can do whatever he wants to with me.
    Dogger is part Siamese and part tabby - he has blue eyes (that cross
    when he is tired or freaking out on catnip) and has dark greyish brown
    and dark cream colored stripes.  Talk about your scardy cats - if
    someone new comes into the house (new meaning anyone who is not in the
    house for at least 18 hours a day) he dives for the couch or the
    waterbed and doesn't come out until they are gone.  Bring a new piece
    of furniture into the house and he does a little side-shuffle around it
    (nothing closer than 3 feet) looking at it like it is going to jump on
    him.  
    
    Pisces - the only female - after mated w/Dogger and gave birth to 
    Killer and 2 females which were given to people I work with) - 
    1 year and 9 months old - Seal/Tortie point Siamese w/big, sad blue
    eyes.  Pisces is the most mischevious of the three - She and I rule the
    roost, so to speak.  
    
    Killer - the younger male - son of both of the other cats - 9 months
    old - flame point Siamese coloring w/big blue eyes (just like mom and
    dad) - his points have some tabby striping, a whole bunch of different
    shades of red on cream.  
    
    The "family's" favorite activity seems to be following the provider,
    me, into every room in the house (do you how difficult it is to go to
    the bathroom w/3 cats playing World Wrestling Federation in the
    bathtub - at 6 in the morning !?!?! )
    
    Well, that's our clan ... 
    
    -Wendy, Dogger, Pisces, and Killer (my husband calls him Worf)-  

    HI!  I've finally broken down and decided to join.
    
    I have 2 little furballs:
    
    Our eldest is Ricardo Martin, called Rico.  He is a 5 year old, 10
    pound, purebred-flawed Burmese.  He's dark, dark, dark, dark, dark,
    etc. brown with golden eyes.  He's shy, and a "mama's boy", but warms
    up once he gets to know you.  He comes when I call him.  His flaw is a
    crick about an inch from the tip of his tail, and too-long fangs.
    
    Our newest is Alexandra Lynn, called Alex or Alf.  She is a 4 month old
    greying-brownish-striped-spotted-Tiger-Tabby-dustbunny.  Her eyes
    exactly match her fur (tan or grey - depending on how she's feeling or
    what kind of day it is).  She's "her daddy's little girl" and knows no
    fear.  She plays fetch with a bell-ball and has a purr like you
    wouldn't believe.
    
    We got Alex the day our eldest, Tiki Sylvester Fahel II, died of liver
    failure at the age of 9, on September 3, 1991 (on our 6th anniversary). 
    Rico was completely lost without his "big brother" (and so was my
    husband) so we got Alex...not as a replacement, but a successor.
    
    Tiki II was a black and white domestic, whose top weight reached 25
    pounds (but he had gotten down to 20, and then 14 right before he
    died).  He had "thumbs" and knew how to use them.  He was extremely
    intelligent...it was HE and not us who trained Rico on leaving nicknack
    and Christmas trees alone.  He was even at our wedding.
    
    K.C.

    K.C. -- my anniversary is September 3rd too!!
    
    --Roberta
    

    Hmm.. well  I have 3 little furfaces.. Happy Hour..( aka
    Happycat,Happster, EL Chubbos,she is a Blue creme Persian,she
    is almost 10 paws old, and she still loves to play, she likes nothing
    better than to sit in her paperbag collection and she talks
    a"bluestreak".. well that is not true she likes nothing better than
    to eat and talk a "bluestreak", and about the only thing that
    that interrupts her eating is naptime .
    Cattyshacks Precious Gem AKA MS PRESCHIE.. she is a brown tabby and
    white exotic longhair.. she is 2 paws old. Currently she is busily
    preparing for the upcoming holiday season, and is putting the finishing
    touches on this years Christmas list and starting next years!!!!!
    she looks like a little owl and she is currently a Supreme Grand
    Champion for TICA(she told me I had to mention this)
    Cattyshacks AngelKiss Kachina,, AKA Kissy.. is a Tortie exotic
    shorthair, she is 10 monthes old and is an absolute terror ..she
    pseand most of her days harrassing Preschie..she just loves to 
    play.. 
    Kate, Happy..Preschie, Kissy

    Again, a re-introduction...At 19 years old, I believe my two are among 
    the oldest (if not the oldest) residents of this notesfile.
    
    Munchkin, chocolate-point Siamese (14 pounds), half-Indian, half-American 
    (My mother-in-law started breeding while they were living in Bombay, India
    in the early 60's.).  Munch, like all elderly folks, has some chronic
    problems.  He's been diabetic for about 5 years, and has beginning
    nephritis (kidney failure), which usually is the killer for old cats,
    and has arthritis in his hip joints. He's very well controlled, thanks 
    in part to the care we give him (my husband is in health care), and thanks 
    in part because he tells us when something's wrong.  My vet calls him her 
    "tough guy".  He's a total love, and as I always, say, "All males (all 
    species! ;-) ) turn into love-bugs when they're neutered". As he's gotten 
    older, he's become quite vocal (actually whiney!), but he does have a 
    vocabulary.  I honestly don't know how I will fall asleep without him 
    curled up on either my head or in my arms.
    
    Kali Mutu (Kali is the Indian goddess of destruction, Mutu is Tamal, an
    Indian language, which means black-faced), half blue-point, half
    seal-point, very dainty (at 7 pounds), Miss Motor-mouth, the worst
    mother (had 'em; fed 'em; forgot 'em).  Mutu was bought to bring new
    genes into the breeding, since my mother-in-law was experiencing feline
    leukemia in her kittens.  Moo's father was a grand-champion blue-point,
    and her mother was a grand-champion seal.  She was show-cat quality,
    and a very pretty, semi-wedge-headed (not appleheaded like Munch) lady
    (except when she eats).  She is very affectionate, especially when she
    wants attention.  She seems to be in much better health than Munch, and
    only suffers from some arthritis.
    
    I hope they're with us for a lot more years.  At this age, every day is
    a gift!
    
    

    Well, I've only got one.  But she's a good girl, and one's enough.
    
    Snoopy is a tri-color (I'm not sure if that's supposed to be called
    calico or toroiseshell) mutt--uh, domestic short-hair (so writes the
    vet on her records.)  I adopted her in 1982 while I was selling candy
    for a school fund-raiser, because it was snowing, and the people in the
    house she was hanging around said she had been there for a few days,
    but they wouldn't take her in because they were afraid she would beat
    up their Pekinese dogs.  I think she would have.  My father fortunately
    permitted me to take her home, and my parents supported her (and me, of
    course) through high school and college.  My mom took care of her while
    I was in college on the condition that I take her with me when I
    graduated.  At that point we moved to California (San Diego) from
    Massachusetts and lived there for one year.
    
    I think I have the second oldest cat in the notesfile, perhaps.  When
    we had Snoopy spayed, the veterinarian estimated her age from her teeth
    to be seven or eight, so she would be seventeen or eighteen now.  Her 
    favorite hobbies are sleeping (when I'm looking) and chasing dingle
    balls or watches or combs around the floor (when I'm not looking.)
    
    Lisa Dean and Snoopy

    
    Brandi - 7 years old.  I'm really her adopted mom as she was my
    hubby's cat before we met.  She's brown tabby with partial white
    face, full white chest and legs and 95% of her belly.  I have no
    idea what she weighs, but I call her Lardbutt so that should tell
    you something.  Doesn't like much to be bothered by the other
    three and heaven forbid you catch her playing with the catnip 
    bag, that's just not dignified!  We call her our halfa-Scottish
    Fold as one ear folds over.  She had a hematoma removed and that
    was the result.  Her favorite activities include sleeping and eating.
    Her favorite spot is our bed, if the door is open.  Other nicknames
    include Fatso and Daddy's Babygirl.
    
    Sasha - Maine Coon and brown tabby.  Has a dash of white just under
    her chin.  Was my very first kitten.  Is mama's baby and knows it.
    She has the tufted ears and the Maine Coon tail and beautiful
    green eyes.  Her eyes changed color three times. Blue as a baby,
    then gold, now green.  She talks to me all the time and after
    hitting about a year and a half old, figured out how to purr. 
    She's 3.  She terrorizes the beejeezus out of Chloe and will
    attack Audrey for no apparent reason.  She loves people, loves
    to have her head rubbed and her back scratched.  Has no interest
    at all in catnip.  Loves to walk on whatever it is I may be reading
    and park herself down for a nap.  She's taught Audrey this trick
    very well.  Nicknames are Momma's Baby, Peeper, Pouffy Tail.
    
    Chloe - We adopted her from Cary's brother when she was about
    a year old.  She's a blue/cream point himalayan.  The most laid
    back cat you ever want to meet.  Hates Sasha and loves to wrestle
    with Audrey.  She sheds ALL over the place ALL the time.  Chirps
    when she purrs.  My mom (hasn't liked cats for a loooong time) says
    Chloe is her favorite and that when it comes time for Mitzi (the
    family doggy) to meet her maker, then maybe they'll get a cat like
    Chloe.  Dad's pleased.  =)  It didn't take long for me to turn him
    into a cat person.  She likes to take her food out of her dish
    and put it on the floor, *then* eat it.  Nicknames are Smooshface,
    The Abominable Snowcat, Fuzzy.  Oh, she's just a few months younger
    than Sasha
    
    Audrey - Audrey is our little terrorcat.  We adopted her from the
    Humane Society in Nashua (where Roberta got Taja) at 12 weeks old.
    She's a chocolate lynx point siamese with crystal blue eyes (Chloe
    does too).  When she was a kitten she loved to sit on our shoulders.
    She just turned a year old and now will curl up on your chest or
    right against your neck if you're lying down.  My dad says she's
    his cat.  (he wanted her but mom said no)  You say her name and she
    purrs, you look at her and she purrs, touch her when she's sleeping
    and she purrs.  She has claws like razorblades and I have the scars
    to prove it.  She's the instigator of 90% of the fights, wrestling
    matches and chases up the stairs.  We named her Audrey after a
    character on Twin Peaks who had pale skin but dark hair and light
    eyes.  She agreed that this was a good name for her.  She loves
    to burrow under things and will "bury" her food and anyone else's
    if they haven't finished it.  She adores closets.  Nicknames include
    Pain in the A@@, Munchkinface, Pumpkinhead, The Worm (she does it
    with her tail).  She's the biggest pest but also the biggest love.
    
    	Whew!
    
    JJ
    

                              Now mine.....
    
    Tabitha is almost two now. She's a beautiful gray tiger kitty. Her
    colors are very soft & she's got the most adorable little kitten face
    you've ever seen!! Her nose is sort of "scrunchy" & her markings are
    just lovely! Everytime we take her to the vet people (including the 
    dr's & the techs) point & stare & coo at her. We just LOVE that! She's
    a teeny, little, 5 pound, dainty, polite, sweet, baby girl!
    
    We adopted Tabitha from a pet store where she was left in a dirty
    flea ridden cage. We rescued her. Once we got her to the vet for a 
    flea dip, shots, mite control, and the whole 9 yards, we were all set.
    
    Tab is kind of shy. I think she was a ferral kitten, because she NEVER
    makes a noise. Well, almost never. SOMETIMES, you can hear her purr, 
    and once in a great while she'll try to squeak out a mew. "They" say
    that ferrals are taught to be quiet so other animals won't hear them.
    so who knows????? She's not really shy w/ Dave & I, but when we have
    company she's HISTORY! When Tab is being playful, her nickname changes
    from, "Momma's little muffin" to "Momma's NUT muffin!" And she IS a nut!
    
    Callie is almost a year old. We got her from a woman I work w/ her at
    DEC when she was about 8 weeks old. She's been a bold one since the
    word GO! She makes me angry sometimes w/ the way she stocks Tabitha,
    but I feel bad telling her to stop it, cuz she's only playing, but
    Tab's just doesn't like to play so ruff! They really do love each
    other tho. They don't know I know it. Sometimes (mostly on sat &
    sundays) I'll wake up, but not get out of bed, cuz the girls are at my
    feet, cleaning each other!! It's so sweet, I just pretend I'm sleeping
    so that I can watch. It's SO sweet!

    Callie's a 9 pound torbie. She's mostly black w/ gold & peach flecks &
    stripes. Her paws are black except for one. All of the pads on three feet
    (the black feet) are black, but the peach foot has pink pads. It's so
    cute!! :*) SHe has a peach stripe running smack dab down the middle of her
    face. It starts at her forehead & comes down to her mouth.

    Callie is a TOTAL love bug, but she's also as whacky as a barrel full of
    monkeys! She's a curtain climbing, plant munching, knick knack knocking,
    playful, VERBAL, SMART, devious, little fatso! And I LOVE her! ;*) She's
    SO smart!! She knows WHAT she wants, HOW she wants it, WHERE to get it, and
    she can usually get her point across to us by meowing in front of doors,
    running from me to where ever it is she wants to go, back & forth, back &
    forth, til I get up & figure it out. If she stumps us, she looks at us like,
    "What are you?!?! STUPID!! I WANT THE CATNIP, MOM!"

    Callie LOVES pounce. Tabitha hates it. Callie likes raw veggies!! Really!
    She eats broccoli and raw potatoe. She hates cooked potatoe, which suits
    Tabitha just fine, cuz Tab LOVES potatoe chip bits. Tab's faves are Lamb
    dinner by Whiskas, and people food chicken & turkey. Callie eat's ANYTHING!

    Well enuf about my girls, huh!? Maybe I should save some disk space for the
    other members of this conference!! ;^) Gee.....I don't talk about my cats
    much, do I?!  %^)

    Bonnie, Tabitha, and Callie

The Wilde household checking in (important occupants first):

Missy Hannah - or, when she is sweet, "Hana" (flower)....however, she is
a pretty bossy cat, so most of the time, she is Missy Hannah.  At 5, she
is the senior female of the family.  Hana is a....er, well, she has the
most beautiful deep turquoise eyes that I've ever seen - but, she isn't
a pure bred anything and the eye color is not like any purebred color
I've seen - she is flame-pointed...and she is just a cream colored cat.
So, she and I've decided she is a:

	Flame-point domestic shorthair

No, you won't find this one in the books....but she is a beauty, and
she has 3 freckles on her pink nose to add character.  And she IS
a character.  Hana walks down the hall mumbling to herself, she "talks"
back to me when I reprimand her, and she is devoted to me...with certain
reservations about the rest of the world.  She does seem to be mellowing
a bit with age -- at least she lets guests into the bathroom now.  She
sits just outside the door and occasionally calls to them if they stay
too LONG, but she lets them in.  She didn't used to.

Ondile - or, Dilly, my most adorable, blue-point Birman...now, I know
why every Birman owner in the world has a herd of these cats....they
cannot resist a Birman.  Dilly is a sweet, adorable, loving cat, comming
onto her first birthday in January.  Her nickname is "vicegrips"...
when she nips the end of Sadie's tail (our dog), Sadie yelps and goes
straight up -- and Dilly sits there looking SOOOO adorable....Sadie
just puts her huge head next to Dilly and lets Dilly groom her...yes,
Dilly has adopted Sadie, lab/chow mix, as her, um...well, anyway, Dilly
"takes care" of Sadie.  She grooms any part of Sadie she can reach,
she naps with Sadie IN HER DOG BED...and, except for moments of pure
devilment when she nips the tail, she is very loving to the dog.  She
is also a companion/playmate/competitor to...

The Jersey Flash - or The Flash or Amanda, or "Amanda, Dammit!"....the
flame-point Javanese we bought a year ago last Sept.  The flash sounds
just like Edward G. Robinson...she always says, "Nyeah", and she has
taken up mumbling to herself as she scampers from place to place (she
takes after Hana in this respect)...and she is always scampering.
The Flash is a very bad influence on Dilly, who, I'm sure, would be
a perfect darling were it not for Amanda....they are into everything,
and they are CLEVER about it.  Amanda has taught Dilly how to turn
over trashcans, open kitchen drawers, open bathroom cabinets and empty
them onto the bathroom floor....oh yes, Dilly has many non-Birman-like
skills now...The Flash is very proud.  They both have a passion for
the busy box and the tracker toys.... Dilly puts toys into the busy
box for Amanda to take them out again.  They also like to pull sneak
attacks on Hana, hitting her from the side, and watching the roly
poly girl roll down the hall....Hana is not amused.  The two terrorists
are greatly amused.

Samson - the venerable old gentleman of the house.  All black, maybe
some Maine Coon in his lineage.  He is very dignified (he avoids the
girls and remains with dignity intact...most of the time).  Sam is
the family hermit - he sees only us. and only in the evening.  Nobody
sneak attacks Sam....they just seem to know better.

	The inn is full....the inn is full....

    My turn......

    Nippa - My very first, and favorite kitty!  She's a beautiful pleasingly 
            plump torti with the stereotyped multiple personalities.  She was 
            headed to the shelter when I took her, at a mere 6 weeks.  My 
            fiance thinks she has a deranged brain ;^) but I think that's 
            because she's always taking `sneak attack' swipes at him, and 
            probably has something to do with recently losing his 23 yr. old 
            favorite friend awhile ago.  While she's not very affectionate, 
            her favorite place to be at night is on my dad's lap. Nippa will 
            be 6 this August (8/30/86).


    My special adopted kitties are:

    Buster - The second male barn cat my friend and I neutered and feed.
            He came into our lives in the summer of `90.  Buster is a huge, 
            regal looking black and white tom cat.  He loves eating foal 
            vitamins and then running around like a maniac.  He will follow 
            us around like a big puppy, wanting us to pat him, and if we 
            dare ignore him, he'll climb all over us and give us head butts.
            He always sits in the middle of the riding-ring and watches me
            when I ride.  I really think he was a dog in a former life!
            Age unknown, but estimated at 5 or older. 

    Nike -  Nike is a beautiful gray mac-tabby who is finally living the life
            of leisure.  She had many litters before finally getting spayed,
            and it's a good thing too, as the vet said her health was poor.
            The surgery was very tough on her and it took a good week for her
            to start acting normal.  She's now very plump barn kitty who still
            catches her daily rodent, despite the fact that there aren't any    
            more kitties to teach.  Age unknown, but estimated to be somewhere
            between 2 and 5.
        

    LA Gear - Nike's last kitten on the premises, who's probably about 8 months 
            old.  We had her spayed a couple of months ago, and she bounced
            back like it never happened.  She's somewhat skittish, and scarce
            at times, but I think she'll be around more now the cold weather
            is setting in.



    To date we haven't had any more barn kitty additions.  There are some
    who have been neutered that are still very feral and may start coming around
    again.  Only time will tell........
            

    I've got to little girls at home whom I adore with all my heart.
    
    First there is Morgan Renee.  We only use her middle name when she's
    really in trouble.  She's about two years old and she weighs about 13
    pounds.  She's a big girl.  She is a mutt with a lot of different color
    in her coat and she has short hair.  She is the investigator in our
    house and especially now that it is Christmas time and we have been
    coming home with numerous boxes and bags she loves to check everything
    out.  She also likes to lick any plastic bag she can get her tongue on. 
    I have to watch her close so that she doesn't stick her head inside
    them.
    
    Next there's Alexus (Lexi for short).  She's about a year and a half
    weighing in at about 9 pounds.  She's got a long beautiful black coat
    with bright gold eyes.  She's our little scaredy cat and will run away
    from everything, except, the Christmas tree.  She loves it and I can't
    keep her away from it.  We'll be watching TV and all of the sudden
    we'll notice the whole tree swaying back and forth.  This is a seven
    foot tall five foot wide tree mind you!  All we have to say is "Lexi!" 
    and the tree abrutly stops swaying and she tears out from underneath it
    into the bedroom and under the bed, only to have a repeat performance
    20 minutes later.  I have yet to come home from work with our Christmas
    tree tipped over.

    			INTRODUCING THE STORM-TROOPERS
    
    White Lightning - First and the Queen of the house.  She is a 10-year
    old Turkish Angora.  She has beautiful long white fur and amazing green
    eyes.  When she was a kitten, she had a streak of grey on her forehead
    AKA the name White Lightning.  She is my cat!!!  The only other person
    she will tolerate is my daughter.  Anyone else gets reminded that she
    is *ROYALTY* with the Lightning Fast Paws (declawed, thank goodness).  
    Her tail is a puff ball and she usually helps with the house-cleaning
    by leaving her fur all over the place for me to clean up.
    
    DejaVu - Second in line and the timidist cat I have ever had (except 
    when it comes to mice).  She is a 5-year old short-haired calico with
    legs that go on forever.  When she doesn't want to be touched, she can
    squirm out from under your hand just like a snake.  She is the
    Protector of the House and no mouse or mole gets past her even though
    she is declawed.
    
    Black Thunder the Wonder Kitty.  She is an all-black, long-haired ball
    of love.  She is my *show kitty* because she was entered in one show
    before she became sick.  She is also my kitty with a Degree.  She has
    attended Tufts University and studied Laser Surgery.  She is the one
    that runs to me and gives me hugs and kisses.  She is 3 years old now 
    and wasn't supposed to go past 2 years.  Yea Thunder !!!!  She is my
    BABY of the House.
    
    Patches - formerly Patches the Stray.  She is a black and white, very 
    chubby female kitty.  She came to us in a snow storm and has stayed
    ever since.  She is the sweetest cat and waits patiently for anyone to
    pet her.  We have no idea how old she is but I am guessing she is
    around 10 years old.  I'm glad that Patches never found another home.
    
    Black Beauty is the one and only male in the house (neutered).  He was
    a feral cat for the first 9 (at least) years of his life.  He would
    come to my porch for food but we couldn't touch him.  He finally came
    to me when he was hurt and I took him to the vet to be fixed up and
    *fixed*.  He had to stay in the house while recuperating and decided
    we were OK people.  He is a beautiful short-haired all-black cat with
    the Siamese cry.  Due to being a feral cat for so long, he is
    fascinated by the most mundane things (the ticking of a clock).  He 
    talks to us with his Siamese cry and also with GRRRS which he doesn't
    really mean.  He is very protective of the household, including me.
    
    
    Storm is the Dog of the House.  She is a 4 year old tri-color collie.
    She is fantastic with the cats and does pretty bows for them.  The only
    one she is wary of if Beauty (I wonder why??).
    
    These are my *children*.  Each is special is his/her own way....
    
    Sandi, mom to the StormTroopers.
    

    
    
    Tykey - 10yrs old, pretty little black/golden eyed, 7lb girl (mommie's
            girl) so she and my Fiance' claim, i've had her since someone 
            dumped her at a bank, in the wintertime when she was a kitten.  
            She loves to be patted & brushed, but ONLY at her convience.  She
            is a cross between a pretty little lady and a hisser...
    
    Domino - Approx 5yrs old, black & white, with white evening gloves and
             scottish fold ears (due to a very bad case of mites, which are
             gone now) and a 15lb devil on wheels, he is a real sweetheart, 
             adopted about 8mos ago from Pat Brody shelter.  He absolutely 
             LOVES attention at ALL times, follows you everywhere and is
             completely self entertained, whether it's with his toys or a
             box 1/2 his size squished into it or throwing things off the 
             headboard while your sleeping, he will always amuse himself
             and anyone else around.
    
    My two furry loves......
    Diana, Tykey & Domino
                   

We've been away too long, but when I saw the note that FELINE moved,
well, re-introducing my eight masters (in order of arrive):

Klaus
8 yrs old, gray and white. Slightly cranky master of all he sees.  Growls
like a dog at anything he doesn't like.  Knocks my arm when I pour
cream into my coffee to get a spill to clean up.  *HATES* the orange
juice container because it *should* contain MILK.  Always sits on my lap
when I note from home.  Was a gift from my wife's brother, got us hooked
on cats.

Katrina
7 yrs old, from a shelter to keep Klaus Company.  She's a striking
tricolor tiger, black, brown, and a little white.  I should take her
to a household show, I bet she's a winner.  She's my baby, and she
used to be very shy, until I made an extra effort to spend a lot of
time with her.  Now she even comes out when we have company!

Phantom, also Bags or Baggy
Wandered up to us on the street as a kitten.  He's a longhair gray and
white, and his cute face, charm, and long hair make him the instant
favorite with visitors.  Make no mistake, though...the stray in him
comes out when a piece of meat in in his mouth...he treats every meal
as if it might be his last, so don't take it away from him!  He's about
6 yrs old.

Nutmeg
Rescued from a pet store cause we couldn't resist.  She's a calico
cutie, very petite (everyone thinks she's a kitten, but she's 5 yrs old.)
She also spends much of her time alone, but when she wants to socialize,
you'd better socialize!  She has that demanding calico temperment. 
She's also developed a touch of arthritis in one paw, and hobbles around
whenever the weather is changing.

Coconut
Another street stray, she's about 4 yrs old.  She's a BIG girl, black
and white, but has a dinosaur's pea-sized brain.  Nevertheless, this
gives her the most happy-go-lucky personality of them all.

Georgina
age unknown, she showed up in the back yard, malnourished but very friendly.
We called her George until we realized kittens were coming... She had the
litter under a neighbor's pool deck.  Two survived (Algernon and Bailey.)
We got her and the kittens to be tamer, and tried to catch her to get her
spayed, but were too late.  In a box on our porch another four were born 
(Bosco, Cherry, Charley, Chauncey.)  Now she is spayed, fat, happy, and
comes and goes as she pleases. She spends cold nights in the basement by
in her own private room, because she can't stand to be forced to be around
other cats.

Bailey
A very pretty gray/white tiger stripe, 3 yrs old.  He was once the wildest
of all the cats. We couldn't get him indoors.  He would come by to get
a meal and that was it.  One day I saw that he'd been seriously injured,
and got him to the vet to be rehydrated, un-infected, and to have his
jaw wired back into place.  While he rehabilitated I spent nights in 
his room with him to make sure he knew everything was OK.  Now he's the 
$500 cat that can't appreciate people enough.  He stays inside and drools
all over me all night.  I wrote about this story here once before...maybe
I'll get it published some day.

Bosco
2-1/2 year old black and white who comes and goes as he pleases.  Very
friendly as he was handled from birth.  He likes all other cats, too,
even if they cuff him he still go back to make up with them!

Others...
Algernon was moved with us but dissapeared one day.
Cherry died instantly when hit by a car.
Charley and Chauncey went to live with my sister.  Charley ran away during
a house fire at her apartment.  Chauncey survivied the smoke and lives
still there happily.

Bill

GRC Cherie Amour Fusci (I think that's her whole name) or "boom box".
This HORRIBLY spoiled 2 year old unaltered natural mink tonk is a little
beauty queen and she knows it.  As I said in her previous introduction, Erica
Kane has nothing on this cat.  She loves to get into any kind of trouble so
that daddy will have to come save her.  She has a very expressive face and 
loves to glare at me.  One of her favorite tricks is the old cry wolf gag. 
She'll get into some "terrible" trouble like getting stuck in an open box. 
Then she will cry at the top of her lungs like she is being slowly savoured
by a large bird of prey, thus the name "boom box". She'll continue in this
manner until I come and rescue her.  Then she will pace around in front of me
with that look.. "You don't love me.. you hate me.. if you cared at all you
would have come faster.. I could have DIED in that box and you wouldn't have 
cared.  I hate you.. ALL of you.. you rotten human you."  After a few minutes
of this I all of a sudden become the love of her life.  She runs over and wraps
her arms around my leg and demands to be held.  Then she head butts me into
submission.  She also loves to clean my beard..  don't ask me.. I don't know.. 

Betty.
She is a 9 month old slightly cross eyed choclate pointed aov tonk NUT.  She is
beyond discipline.  When squirted she simply looks at you like, "like.. whas
the prob bra..  chill and clock dis.. I am gonna ann-eye-oh-late this most
costly vase."  Squirt bottles, isolation, gentle taps on the nose, foot stomping
loud shouts of "NO!", hissing, mean nothing to her..  We are simply neurotic
humans who are constantly making a fuss about nothing.  She also loves to play 
fetch after we've gotten into bed.   If we refuse to play fetch with her, what
better place is there to wrestle with a toy mouse than on daddy's face?  
And she is definately a great excuse for Cherie give us her "I hate you" act. 
Any attention that is lavished on Betty enables Cherie to run off and sulk in 
a corner.. pretending that she never gets any attention because she is unloved. 

I'd like add another one to this evil brood, but between screaming "NO" until 
I'm hoarse, running around the basement in my bare feet after a "you can't catch
me" attitude, keeping the house spottless so nothing unsavoury will be eaten -
sand paper? why would a cat eat sand paper - playing "which closet am I stuck
in", scambling after the "I bet you'll stop me before I get in the burning 
fire place" motion, playing fetch for an hour every night when I have to do
half the fetching, etc. etc. etc....  I don't know if I could take another one.

-Rob

	The Browns' Home for Wayward Cats currently has the following
	residents:

1.  Curious George:  the patriarch at a robust 14 yrs., he is a very large 
    pure white cat with beautiful blue eyes (and no, he is not deaf).  
    Double-pawed front and back, they really look like snowshoes in the front.  
    He was the first cat and has always been a bit arrogrant about that -- 
    aloof and elegant, he never hurries and rarely gets excited.  He has a 
    heart murmur due to his advancing years but with his slow and deliberate 
    lifestyle we expect him to be around for quite some time.  Loves to 
    snuggle up next to me when I take a nap, although otherwise he prefers 
    my husband for cuddling.

2.  Boss Tweed:  until recently the undisputed head of the feline members of 
    our household (we also have 4 dogs).  Tweed is a ticked tabby I think, 
    with white on his chest and tummy.  Originally abandoned by his mom when
    only a few days old in a junkyard in the South Bronx he was hand-raised by 
    my parents' neighbors, who had to give him away to prevent his demise by 
    their other cats.  He is my "best boy", delights in being held so he can 
    kiss my face, walks around on my shoulders (at 12 lbs.+ balancing can be 
    a little tricky), jumps into my arms after mrrrping to let me know he's 
    coming (usually), and knows how to withhold his affection if I have 
    offended him.  Can be quite tempermental with petsitters and screams
    bloody murder at the vets.  Now that he is getting older, 10 years old, 
    he is being challenged for head cat status by Jaspar (see below) but is 
    winning so far.

3.  Maxwell:  our psycho cat, 15 lbs. of pure black "fake fur" -- really, he 
    feels like the acrylic fake fur you find on stuffed animals.  He talks 
    when bugs fly out of reach, has been known to hide on top of the kitchen 
    cabinets, chases flashlight beams and actually purrs blissfully while 
    having his claws trimmed.  He likes to be held and will walk up and DEMAND 
    to be picked up when feeling lonesome, gets very jealous if my husband 
    pets any of the others and can be counted on to sleep between my feet 
    when I nap.

4.  Pipsqueak:  what can I say, a delicate dilute calico with the personality 
    of Atilla the Hun.  She takes no argument from ANYBODY and gets soooo 
    excited when any of the others get into spats -- she starts bopping 
    anybody in reach just to be part of the fun!  Has the most innocent face 
    I've ever seen on an adult cat, very big eyes and just the sweetest 
    expression; she looks that way even after attempting to remove all of 
    Jennifur's fur, you can hear her saying "who, moi, starting trouble?"
    Our second double-pawed cat, she screams at the top of her lungs while
    having claws trimmed.

5.  Punkin Head:  found through this notesfile, from Pat Murphy as I remember, 
    a golden orange tabby who is probably the world's friendliest cat -- he 
    loves everyone on sight (well, except maybe Rudy, see below).  He became 
    quite thin shortly after we moved into our current house (3 yrs. ago) but 
    the vets couldn't find anything wrong; after getting his teeth cleaned
    (two of which 'fell out'), feeding him tidbits every night and trying to 
    find ways to make him finish his breakfast, he has decided he LIKES 
    catfood and it's worthwhile eating to the bottom of the bowl.  Usually 
    the first one to meet new family members due to his sunny nature; loves 
    to "make bread" on tender body parts and goes absolutely spastic on catnip.

6.  Bailey:  the first cream colored cat I ever saw, a tabby with white on 
    his chest and toes.  Also found through this notesfile, a stray that 
    someone was trying to place (they called him "Crybaby" because he stood 
    outside their door crying).  Very serious expression, always looks a bit 
    sad.  Is just starting to enjoy being held, 3-4 years after we got him!  
    Loves to rub up against you and purrs LOTS.  Might like to be head cat 
    some day but isn't too good at fighting and will have trouble enforcing 
    discipline.

7.  Spider:  a lovely gray ("blue"?) cat, she has the thickest coat of any of 
    the cats.  She isn't a real affectionate cat but will show up for petting 
    when it suits her and always purrs loudly to show she's enjoying it.  Her 
    favorite activity is wandering off into an empty room and yowling, trying 
    to hear her echo I guess!  She was quite petite when she first arrived
    but now she tends towards resembling a butterball turkey, with a lovely 
    small head and ears.

8.  Jaspar:  another notesfile find (maybe I better stop reading Feline before 
    the house overflows), thanks to Roberta Kagno.  A big 15lb.+ gray and 
    white bruiser, definitely wants to be head cat and is currently challenging 
    Tweed at every opportunity.  He is a big mush with his people, loves to 
    be held and gives me a kiss on the cheek every morning when I feed them!  
    Plays a lot and rolls around on his back looking silly.  Gave me quite
    a scare when we first got him, I couldn't get him to eat/drink/eliminate 
    for nearly one week!  So shy at first, now he's outgoing and thinks he's 
    a real stud -- what a change!

9.  Scooter:  adopted through Feline from Mary Tamir, a white cat with a 
    tiger-stripe tail and two patches of tiger around his ears.  Also a short, 
    kinked tail due to some accident as a kitten (is that right Mary?). 
    Definitely the clown of the family, just watching him learn to drink from 
    the faucet without having it all run in his ears established that!  Loves 
    water in any form, has tried to jump into the toilet and thinks people
    who take bubblebaths are fascinating (look, what's that, a TOE!).  VERY 
    playful, really blossoming into an affectionate goofy cat, the one who 
    runs in front of the West Highland White terrier to rub his face and stop 
    him from bothering any of the other cats.  Loves to wrestle and play-fight 
    with everybody, but never seems to take it very seriously.  He is also
    double-pawed and really has separate "thumbs" on the front paws.

10. Stripe:  our formerly feral cat, adopted through Feline from Carol Weston 
    (one of the Dudley Rd. gang).  A slim, elegant tuxedo cat with a faint 
    white stripe down his nose and a silky coat.  Still not used to people -- 
    when he is in the cattery and it's feeding time he is my best friend, 
    rubbing around my ankles and trying to steal everybody else's food.  If 
    I pick him up he'll purr lightly and try to lick my hand, but won't stay 
    for long.  When brought upstairs into the house, you can't get near him --
    if you just say his name as he runs by it terrifies him!  We love him 
    anyway and will accept his personality as it is, while trying to build 
    on the "normal" behavior he displays at food time.

11. Jennifur:  one of Pat Brody's cats, adopted during the Feliner trip to 
    the shelter this summer (thanks to Sandy Merritt).  She is also a tuxedo 
    cat, with white toes in the front and white boots on the back, coat a 
    little coarser than Stripe's.  She is my love, even though she is currently 
    quite ticked off at me for administering medicine twice a day for her
    gingivitis (sp?).  Unfortunately she doesn't seem to like ANY of the other 
    animals, and she and Pipsqueak have had two knockdown-drag out fights.  
    She has also had quite a bit of dental work lately, having broken off both 
    lower canines and having four others removed during cleaning.  She is our 
    "sleeping cat", meaning she gets to sleep with us while the others are in 
    the cattery; preferred location is on my right hip with my arm holding her 
    in place!  

12. Prince Rudolph (Rudy):  our latest arrival, found through Feline, our 
    second cat from Roberta!  He is a grayish-brown with black swirl classic 
    tabby, the most beautiful cat.  He is double-pawed with feet that should 
    belong to a small dog,  they're HUGE!  He is quite skinny and although 
    we expect to fatten him up somewhat with regular meals of good quality,
    it looks like he'll have the general build of a Siamese, slim and elegant 
    as befits his new name.  He also has the longest tail I have ever seen on 
    a cat (a full 12", I measured!), and watch out for countertops when he 
    stands up and stretches -- he's TALL!  So far he hasn't made any friends 
    except for my husband and me, but he did think Cleo the greyhound smelled 
    pretty interesting.  I neglected to keep him totally isolated from the
    rest of the menagerie (he had been tested for most things already), so 
    I am currently treating EVERYBODY for roundworms -- thanks to Rudy.

Phew, that's all folks!

Jan and her feline furry dozen

    I'm a one kitty/one dog (he's really a sorry excuse for a dog)/two bird
    family.. my little monster is Haplo.. a.k.a. Happycat, Goob, Wee-beasty.. 
    a 5 month old (approximately, she adopted us).. spayed, petite, orange
    tabby who likes nothing better than to attack the dog (who happens to
    be afraid of his own shadow) by running at him on her hind legs waving
    her front paws madly which of course causes him to run screaming 
    (literally) from the room.. she thinks this is great sport!!  She isn't 
    sure if the Christmas tree is a threat yet or not (which is fine by me) 
    she'll rush right up to it but a the last moment change her mind and go 
    tearing out of the room like her tail is on fire.. she loves to be 
    loved but only when she's in the mood..
    
    Michaela

We have five cats:

  SLY		A big, black and white tuxedo kitty, the only male of 
		the group. He's the boss kitty, and everyone knows it.
		If another cat has a good thing (toy, food, sun spot),
		he will "loom" over her until she gives it up. He's 
		affectionate when it suits him to be, mostly in the 
		evening, when he loves to cuddle up in a comfy lap and 
		veg out watching television.

  ADRIENNE	A little grey tabby. She has the tiniest paws I've 
		ever seen on a cat. She's very loving, and will 
		throw herself at your feet and yell until you pick her 
		up and pet her. She'll also keep you company while you 
		get dressed, cook dinner, take a bath, watch television, 
		talk on the phone . . .

  SPRINGER	Another grey tabby, with a small, dime-sized patch of 
		white on her chest. She is sensitive and reserved, and 
		very cautious of new things. Every once in a while, 
		when something spooks her, she fluffs up her tail, runs 
		up the side of the doorway, and hangs there. In the
		evening, she likes to find a person-leg to stretch out 
		on, and let her feet dangle to either side, as if the
		person-leg is a tree branch, and she is a wild cat
		surveying her realm.

  PAWS		Another grey tabby, with full white chest and white paws. 
		She is the brat of the bunch. She takes great pleasure in 
		getting the other cats all riled up. If she can get 
		another cat to chase her through the house, she is in her 
		glory. Once she's running fast enough, she can run right
		up the side of the wall. Sometimes she almost makes it
		to the ceiling.

  MIDWAY 	Another grey tabby. Midway is just a little bit 
		cross-eyed, which gives her a confused look sometimes. 
		She loves to have her head or back petted. Watch out if 
		you hang your hand over the side of a chair; you're
		likely to get the top of Midway's head in the palm of 
		your hand. She's surprised more than one guest in our
		house by doing this.		

Marleen

     Here's my crew from Kitty City:  I never planned on having this
     many...but at this point I wouldn't give anyone of them up.  They
     are our kids...are spoiled rotten..and give us so much love in return.

 o Tamba - may he rest in peace.  He was a 2 1/2 year old gray/white
   tiger who just recently passed away due to heart problems.  He
   was my love, my baby, and we miss him terribly.   He was a very
   smart boy...and I swear we understood each other completely!
   Tamba was born in a litter from a stray my sister took in.
   To this day...Tamba is still included in introductions and
   when I'm doing headcounts....I can't let go!  

 o Poco - His my 2 year old female tortie and white. She has the
   funniest face...because half of it is "orange" and the other half
   is black with a speckled look!!   Poco was 8 weeks old when we
   brought her home from the vets.  She is the loner of the crew
   and will only play or sit on you when she wants.   Even though
   she is small...she has total respect from all other cats.  
   Poco is named after the group "poco" because when we got her
   the group was making a come back...and we use to love their
   music.

 o Barkley - well we guess his age abound 7.  Barkley is a big black
   brut of a boy that has a white locket and a bit of white on his
   belly.   Barkley walked into my house with Tamba and Poco one day...
   and never left.  We did try to find his home...but received a response
   to our AD stating "Barkley has been a stray cat in the neighborhood
   for over two years."   Barkley was named after Charles Barkley who 
   plays pro basketball.   

 o Angus and Chloe - are brother/sister and are about 1 1/2 years old.
   Angus is a gray mackerel tabby (I think) and Chloe is a white/gray
   tabby.  Angus and Chloe were born in the back of our woods by a
   little cat named EMMY who's owner did not believe in getting the
   cat fixed or letting her in the house.  Once Angus and Chloe found
   my porch and knew where to get fed...they never left.  We are 
   considered their "adoptive parents" and the little boy always
   comes down to visit them.   Angus is the hunter and loves to roam
   and Chloe is our little dainty "china doll"...she is so sweet!
   both of these two do not purr...but chirp alot!!

 o Dewey - aka Dewhead - is an orange tabby male who is about 1 1/2 years old.
   Dewey is our Worcester junkyard cat and came to us on his deathbed.  He 
   almost didn't make it...he had worms, a virus, was undernourished, and
   we originally thought he was gray because of all the car grease
   on him.  He is a love and is Mom/Dads baby...he loves to be cuddled
   and is truly grateful for being alive.   Not many brains...but alot
   of love.  Dewey was named from the Street we found him on!

 o Abby - Abby is our Marlboro kitty I found outside in the DLB parking
   lot.  Abby is about 1 1/2 years old female who was pregnant when we took
   her in....but within one month she lost her babies.   Abby loves to
   have her bum whacked hard...she purrs and squints her eyes in pleasure.
   She is a very small kitty...but does not take SH** from anyone!  She
   was named after Abigal Adams. 

 o Bogart  aka Bogie - is a Maine Coon look-alike male...who is about 3
   years old.  Bogie joined our family last summer after he spent
   2 months just sitting on my porch waiting for us!  Bogie is the
   clown of the house....he loves to scare the other cats by jumping
   at them with his front legs stretched in the air.  He also is one
   cat that can have a heck of a good time by himself with nothing!!
   He literally chases "nothing" around the house...but has a riot!!
   Bogie was named after Humprey Bogart...because of his sexy eyes
   and attitude!

 o Van Gogh - just recently joined our house after being a wild
   feral for years.  It took my 1 whole year to finally get to this
   guy.  He is estimated to be about 7-8 years old.  He is a very big
   black cat with a white bib, white booties in front and white high
   tops on his back legs.   He is a very big baby....who loves to give
   bear hugs!!!  He was quite the warrior and would come each night with
   new battle scars.   Van Fold Gogh was named because it appears he was
   missing an ear and because of the rough life he led.

 o J.C.  - is the last of the feral cats in my neighborhood. (I hope)
   We have been trying to get to J.C for over a year...but have yet
   to win his heart!   He still comes nightly for his feeding....and
   will let us pat him....but that is as close as we can get.  for
   months we tried to find an appropriate name for J.C.  but couldn't...
   until one day I was watching him out my window...and noticed he
   has a very strange pattern on his back...which looks just like
   a cross.  So we named him after Jesus...with alot of hope and prayers
   that he will trust us some day.  The day we win his heart...will be
   the day I will do a real formal introduction in the file.

    Here are my kids, the sweetest, most loving, and friendliest cats. ;-)
    
    Misty - she will be 9 in Feb. (we think). She is a dilute tortie,
    American Shorthair mix, ruler of the house, (with a velvet paw).  I'm
    proud to say that I'm her special person.  Bob, (my husband) says Misty
    and I have a special bond.  She comes when I call her, she really seems
    to understand what I say to her, and she is almost always on my lap.  In
    fact, the only time she leaves my lap is when Bob brings bowls of ice
    cream for us, Misty goes right to his lap, until he's finished and she
    licks the bowl, then she leaves him and comes back to me.  She does
    give Bob kisses, though.  She settles down on my pillow around my head
    every night and pats my hair and purrs me to sleep.  Then she goes to
    the foot of the bed and sleeps on Bob's legs, 11 pounds of cat is a bit
    much for his poor legs.  She is a great ball catcher and she fetches,
    also.  Bob nicknamed her Mystical because of her uncanny rapport with
    me.
    
    Lizette - our Grand Premier Seal Point Birman.  She'll be 4 in January. 
    She is our delicate little beauty, who believes in loads of beauty
    sleep.  Bob calls her our 'dumb blond' because she bumps her head on
    the cabinets.  We're not sure if she's knocking sense in or out.  She
    always there to greet us when we come home, and wants attention on her
    terms.  She is incredibly graceful when she leaps up on furniture, etc. 
    She was a wonderful mother with her 1 litter.
    
    Misha - Lizette's son, named for my favorite dancer, Baryschnikov.  He
    is a 2 1/2 yr old seal point Birman with an incredible coat thanks to his 
    father, Kalliste.  He acts more like a puppy dog than a cat at times,
    the way he follows us around, and flops in front of us to have his
    tummy rubbed.  He has a melancholy face (befitting his Russian name),
    and a sweet personality.  He can be a brat to his mother.  The Birmans
    sometimes go tearing though the house.  He pushes Lizette around.  He
    loves to have Bob hold him like a baby.  He hates closed doors, and
    wails if he encounters one.  When I throw a ball to him, he bounces
    along with it, with a stiff legged jump.  It has to be seen to be truly
    appreciated.
    
    Marnie - our white and red classic tabby Scottish Fold.  His full name
    is Ears 2 U Grand Marnier.  So named because his coloring is so much
    like a glas of Grand Marnier.  He will be 2 in April, still looks and
    acts like a kitten.  He is Mr. Personality and we refer to him as
    terminally cute.  He's always happy, and playful with the other cats,
    especially Misha.  He and Misha love to wrestle and groom each other. 
    Even when he does something to irriate one of the other cats, he always
    looks like 'who me, I didn't do anything.'  He's our real purr baby. 
    He loves to play hockey with his dry food in the kitchen.  If he's
    typical of Scottish Folds, I want more.
    
    That's it for now.
    
    Steffi  

    I have introducted my two in the other version, but feel I need to
    re-introduct them again. 
    
    MISKEY - Small, mostly black, short-hair. She is very lovable and
             sweet. We got her from one of the local shelters, here in
             Maine. She was our New Year's kitty, we got her the day after
             New Year. Miskey is about 2 years old. Miskey is short for
             Miss Kitty. She is my husband's kitty.
    
    BeeGee - She is Miskey kitty. Small, but very long, grey and tan mix,
             and has a medium coat. We got from a family that was giving
             them away. We name her after Dad (Bob Goding) and I am very
             proud of that. :-)   You see, my dad past away the day before 
             we got her. BeeGee is about 8 months, she was born on April
             27th. She is MY kitty.
    
    
                      Crys  (Owned by two very special Kitties)
    

Well, I guess it is time that I introduce the felines that comprise
Pussycat, Pussycat, Pussycat, Pussycat, Pussycat, Pussycat, Pussycat, Pussycat, 
Pussycat, Pussycat & Pussycat, aka THE FIRM.

The Lovely MS Pip S. Pussycat, Esq, aka "Her Loveliness" is the senior partner
and top cat in THE FIRM, with a speciality in FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. Her 
Loveliness is very petite (only 5 lbs) but extremely gorgeous Tortishell and
White with super long hair, and beautiful almond shaped green eyes. She is 11
years young, and still very playful for her age, and goes regularly to the
beauty parlor (for form's sake). I adopted Pip about 9 years ago. While I won't
go so far as to say she was abused, I'll say it wasn't  the  happiest of home
environments. It took a lot of work and patience, but after almost 8 months,
she let me pat he and began trusting me.  She has turned into one of the
sweetest purr-pots I've ever met.

Argus J. Pussycat, Esq., aka "Gus", aka "Big Gus" aka "Audrey II" is about 10
years old. He is a solid colored cat in an unusual shade of  dilute red (he
likes to refer to his coat color as "golden"). He is a *very* large boy, and is
constantly fighting the "battle of the bulge". He currently weighs in at
about 17 lbs, but has tipped the scales at 22 pounds at one point. While AJP,
Esq is the son of Pip's Littermate, he is a *lot* bigger than she is in all
direction's (height, length, girth...). And he is a polydaetyl, triple pawed
in the front, double pawed in the back. He also suffered from such frequent
FUS problems that he had to have a PU (i.e., the replumbed his urinary tract).
And despite his size, and his reputation as an "aggressive attorney", he has
been an excellent Daddy-cat, raising Panther and Eirene from kittenhood,
including litterbox training, grooming, wacking them then they scratched
anywhere except the cat tree... His favorite hobby is eating. 

That brings us to "the twins", Eirene and Panther, aka the "Siamese twins".
Eirene S. Pussycat, Esq and Panther S. Pussycat, Esq are about 6 years old,
solid black, inseparable littermates. They seem to have some oriental in them,
as they have the Siamese body style/angular_head/kinked_tails, and
especially the Siamese voice. They are very talkative, and spend a lot of
time conversing with each other. You can tell them apart by the color of
their collar (Eirene wears pink, and her brother Panther wears blue). They 
have been with me since they were infants (they and two striped littermates were
born in the wild. I bottle fed them, but Argus raised them.) Oh, and Panther is
a polydactyle. They are kind of shy around others but VERY intelligent.Both of
these cats seem to have springs in their legs as they can do a stationary jump
from the floor to the top of the cat tree, the top of the refrigerator, etc.
The term "Mutual admiration society" seems to best fit these two.

Alexandra "the Greatest" S. Pussycat, Esq is about 6 years old. She is a fluffy 
gray and white tuxedo cat that I found crying outside of my office window when
I was at PK2. In spite of the fact that she is declawed in the front (I found
he that way), she can hold her own against all of the boys. Her speciality is
in watching squirrels. Alex is the biggest of the girls. She is also the
most communicative with humans (the twins talk more but prefer to converse
with them selves).

Nikoloas S. Pussycat, Esq. is a big solid back longhair with a white locket
and a cauliflower ear. He was one of the ferals living in my backyard and
was my first capture. (He got the name Nikoloas since the day I finally managed
to capture him was Dec 6, St. Nikoloas's feastday). Niky has turned into a
real big handsome gentle-tom that gets along with everyone. 

Spiro S. Pussycat, Esq is a shot hair mackerel tabby. He and Panther are my
smallest males, and weighs about 11 lbs. He is also a former feral and has
turned into a real charmer. He will let you pick him up and hold him in any
contortion you want and purr all the way through it (across your shoulders,
over your shoulder, on his back, etc). One note about Spiro's name. He was NOT
named after a former US Vice President; he was named after a guy I knew when I
was growing up that always wore vertical stripes (to make himself look taller).
Warning to female cats: Spiro is the Tom your mother warned you about...

Kostas S. Pussycat, Esq, aka "Little Gus" is a solid black handsome devil that I 
adopted from  Kitty Angeles. I saw him at the Boxboro show right around Easter
and fell in love with him. He is a short hair with a little white locket on his
chest, and is a real sweetheart. He is a lot like "Big Gus", in personality,
temperament and, uh, slightly overweight. He also has a recurring FUS problem.
After eating, he enjoys watching the bird and squirrels. 

Haralambos S. Pussycat, Esq, aka "Harry" is a longhaired boy with rather
unusual markings. He is sort of a gray and white bicolor, but when you look at
his face, you will see the tabby M, and a few splotches of peach from his
green eyes to his cheeks. He is very tall and very long. He was also a
feral and I had a difficult time capturing him because he was so smart. He
has turned into a super-lovable pet, and now that he is getting regular
meals, his coat has filled out so that his markings now look striking rather
than funny. He is also the most intelligent cat I have as he knows how to
open doors and how to wake me up (by pulling open the draperies and snapping
the shade open). He is sort of timid, so he and Pip dine togeather. Dispite the
difference in their size, he never tries to take advantage and eat the food
out of her plate.

Demetrios S. Pussycat, Esq or "Jimmycat" is a gray cat with the classic
tabby bulls-eyes. Jimmy was the first feral I tried to capture almost 5
years ago and I finally got him on Dec 5, 1990. According to neighbors he was
feral and living in the neighborhood for over 7 years before I got him. He
needed a lot of patching up, and a lot of work to get him to trust me, now
he is one of the cats that won't leave me alone for a second. He has a purr
that you can hear across the room.

Last, but not least is Vasillios S. Pussycat, Esq, known to his friends as
"Billy". Billy is mostly white with a little orange on his head and a ringed
orange tail and is probably just about a year old. I first noticed Billy
hanging around in late May. My father took sick on Memorial Day weekend and
when I left to go visit him, Billy scooted into the house. After three
iterations of this, I decided to just lock him in a room and deal with him
when I got home that night. For two weeks this kept up, so I gave up and
decided to keep him in while I found his human (since he was wearing a
collar). On Monday, July 15, still looking for his human, I made arrangements to
get him fixed on Thursday. Minutes after doing this, I got word that my father
died and that the funeral was tentatively scheduled for Thursday. I realized
at that point that Billy's appeared when he did for a reason, and THE FIRM
decided to immediate offer him a named partnership. Anyhow, this little guy
is a real sweetie, and he is a playmate for Kostas and Argus is happy to be 
stepping into a paternal role again (you should hear the two of them purr
when AJP, Esq washes his ears!).

Deb

Mrs. Beal (but you can call her Baby Dee) runs our house.

She, like all of the others in our house, is a Persian.

It's been several years since she was originally introduced to the
conference, so she asked me to make a cameo appearance here.

Her real name is Grand Premier Poonanilam Tatiana Dee of Beaudee.
She's Molly's oldest, first, and favorite cat.  (more about Molly
in 15.41)

Like many breeders, we have an unknown number of cats.  It's somewhere
between 1 and 2 dozen.  And it fluctuates frequently.  They pretty much
all live in the cattery downstairs, though.

Baby Dee is sharing the upstairs and the people-part-of-the-house with
a kitten, Mary Mac, who joined us about 2 months ago.  Mary Mac is a devil
and, if nothing else, she has enlivened Mrs. Beal's existence by pouncing
at unexpected moments.  Mary Mac also likes to play "fur stole" around
my neck when I'm sitting in the easy chair.  Makes it kind of tough to
sip one's drink without getting a mouthful of fur!

Maybe someday we'll get a shorthair.  ;^)

Karl B.

Sabrina
    -----------------------------------------------------
    Vitals: 12 year old Tonkinese Female neuter    
    Words/Phrases that describe her: Easily spooked, affectionate in her own
    way, shy, beautiful with delicate features and really slinky.

Kabuki Dickens aka Buki
    ----------------------------------
    Vitals: 2 year old Lynxpoint Siamese Male Neuter, declawed    
    Words/Phrases that describe her: affectionate, social, devilish, 
    beautiful eyes, a biter, a bully with Sabrina.

    

I never reallky introduced Tasha in the old file so I might as well do it
here and now.

Tasha the Terrorist -- She's a golden colored average house cat with tiger
	stripes and a white bib with white boots.  Her coat is unusually
	fluffy.  She favorite activities:  jumping in the shower with me in 
	the mornings, attacking my long hair, waking me up by licking my 
	face, attacking small objects that she thought might have moved.
	Her best friend is a mini-dachshund named Heidi who she loves to 
	try and groom (unfortunately, Heidi isn't too thrilled with receiving
	an unwanted bath).  Her absolute favorite is to conduct terrorist
	acts on "Mom" when I least expect it, and purring extremely loudly!

    
    Now a permanent addition....
    
    Dominique, the Black w/white female cat dumped off
    at DLB.  She is "Queen of the Barn!"
    
    L-

Peaches - 2-1/2 year old dilute calico tabby shorthair.  Peaches is top cat
and makes sure that everyone knows it!  Peaches loves to talk and carries
on many conversations with Mom and Dad, but she always has to get the last
word in!  Peaches favorite toy is her sparkler.  Usually we drag it all
over for her to chase, but a couple times we've dropped it on the floor to
see what she'd do.  She picks it up by the middle with her teeth.  Then
when she sees the sparkly end out of the corner of her eye, she chases it. 
So we have a crazy cat running around in a circle trying to catch the toy
she has in her mouth! 

Snuggles - 2-1/2 year old female blue and white domestic shorthair.  She
and Peaches are littermates and were adopted together at 8 weeks of age
from the Lowell Humane Society.  Snuggles lives up to her name as she is
constantly snuggling!  She likes to stand on her hind legs and stretch up
so she can give and receive kisses.  We call her our little star because
she was judged fourth best household pet out of 28 cats in a local show
when she was 9 months old.  But she hated the experience so much she made
us promise her we wouldn't show her again. 

Bandit - 4 month old female, black and white tuxedo domestic shorthair.
Bandit is our handicapped kitty.  We've been through a lot with this little
girl.  We got her at two weeks of age, bottle fed her, and had to make some
tough decisions as she had two badly deformed front legs.  We decided to
give her a chance and are very glad we did.  She's healthy and happy and
totally oblivious to her handicap.  She runs around as best as she can,
terrorizing her two big sisters, and even climbs to the top of our 4 foot
cat tree.  I'll be adding more details about her in the handicapped cats
note. 

    
    
    Pandora- She was my first kitty. She will be 3 in September. She is
    a brown and white mackeral tabby. She is 100% ally cat. She was found
    next to a dumpster in Brockton by one of my friends. She is very loving
    to my husband and I, but pretty much hates the rest of the human 
    population (especially women). She loves sleeping with us at night and
    of course she has to have her own pillow to perch on. She takes no guff
    from the greyhound, the day he walked in the house she showed him who
    was boss (several quick whacks to the nose).
    
    Thor- Thor is a red and white mackeral tabby with copper eyes. He will
    be two in March. If he were a human, he would be Dennis the Menace.
    He likes to get into everything..... especially my yarn. He will grab
    a ball of yarn and run like crazy. He looks like a fox with his long 
    red tail floating in the breeze. He loves to ride on my husbands 
    shoulders, and try to jump on doors. Thor will be an eternal kitten.
    
    Harley- We believe Harley is a Turkish Van, least that is what they
    told us the Milton pound. He has every characteristic of a Turkish Van.
    Harley will be 8 this year. If we did not take Harley (July 14th,
    Bastile day) they were going to put him to sleep that day. The pound 
    attendant said he was viscious! Harley is not the least bit viscious.
    I think he was a bit stir crazy after being caged for 3 months. He is
    by and far my most intelligent cat. He has many techniques to get us to 
    feed him in the morning. First he licks the blankets next to your head,
    then he chases his tail full speed, then he walks on your head, then 
    he'll get on my dresser and knock off one article at a time until you
    go crazy. If none of these techniques work he just gets on you bladder
    and kneads.
    
    Angus- Angus is one of NDC's straight earred Scottish Fold. I think
    he is the biggest fold she has bred so far. He is almost 14 lbs and 
    looks a lot like a Britsh shorthair. Harley is his big brother. Angus
    insist that Harley bath him several times a day. He loves to torment 
    Thor. Frequently, I hear them thundering up and down the hall chasing 
    each other. Angus loves to eat. He does not understand why I don't set
    a place for him at the supper table. He needs to go on a diet, but his 
    brothers and sister will hate having their food restricted.
    

    
    Hi,
    
    I'm Tao.
    
    I am small and black and incredibly slinky....
    
    I am also exceptionally intelligent and can do anything I want when I want.
    
    My favourite hobby is finding chasing killing and eating anything I can
    find that is smaller than me. If I can't find anything I will
    halucinate something and try to kill it.
    
    Even tho' I have been in this life for 5 years I still havn't worked
    out where that black hairy snake that follows me comes from so I try to
    kill that as well but it involves a tremendous ammount of spinning
    energy that does not always achieve the desired result....however
    spinning in the bathtub so you go up the sides and slide back down
    again is quite fun.....
    
    So is catnip .... what a way to spend a sunny day.........
    
    Better go... I can hear my person coming home and there is a large moth
    I will have to protect her from... she is such a useless hunter..... 
    no claws  !!!!!!
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Well we have 2 new additions at the barn

    Cleo:

    Cleo is a beautiful long haired calico female.  Her owners left her 
    behind when they moved, and she had been waiting on the steps for them 
    to come back.  A fire then burnt the house down, and she still waited.  
    We've finally convinced her to stay up at the barn, but I'm sure that's 
    easier since the house was leveled.  She's a sweetie!  She was already
    spayed and is probably around 5 or so.
    
    Chester:
    
    Chester is proabably one of Buster's sons.  He is going under the knife
    as we speak.  He showed up about a month ago, and he's very friendly,
    so we're guessing that someone probably took him and then returned him
    when he matured.  His age is about a year or so.  I like Chester as he
    has Buster's purrsonality and then some.  He's a big time talker and
    won't hesitate to let you know he's around.  He is still trying to 
    find his niche in the pecking order, but it should settle down now that
    he'll be neutered.
    
    
                                                                           

    Since it's been a while since I made my cat intros, as well as adding a
    new member to the feline family, thought I'd talk about my kids!
    
    Charlie
    
    Charlie was/is my first cat. I got him 6 years ago at the SPCA. He's
    black and white, and weighs about 14 pounds. He's very long and sleek,
    so holds his weight well. He's very quiet, and owns my husband most
    exclusively! He understands "human" talk very well. He knows what "go
    to bed" means, as well as the most important, "Do you want to eat?"
    
    Shanti
    
    Shanti was my second shelter cat. I've had her for 5 years (she's 6
    years old as well). She's blue and white, short and chubby, weighing in
    at about 11 pounds. She rubs and rubs and rubs and loves to sleep under
    the covers with us! She's also very neurotic, and doesn't like change. 
    
    Gracie
    
    I've had Gracie a little over a year, and she's 1-1/2 years old. She is
    my first pedigree -- a Korat.  She is silver-tipped blue, green eyes --
    standard Korat - weighing in at 7-1/2 pounds. She had her first litter
    in October, 4 kittens, 1 already in her new home, and 2 leaving this
    Thursday for their new homes. Gracie is very smart, and loves to
    constantly test us -- like by being in heat every 4 days since she
    stopped nursing! 
    
    P.A.
    
    P.A. is one of Gracie's kittens that we will be showing. She'll be 4
    months old on February 8 -- also the weekend of her first cat show!
    She's a typical kitten -- pouncing, attacking, chewing everything! She
    and Gracie are identical, except that P.A. is more of a show quality
    cat than Gracie. But I love them both the same!
    
    And that's my family!
    

    I lost contact with this conference for a while but now that I've found
    it again I thought I'd share a story about our second cat (Vince) that
    we acquired last May (91).
    
    My son had went with some friends on a camping trip for a week-end and
    when they were packing up getting ready to head home he heard a "mew!"
    (not really a MEOW!) right at his feet!  There was a small (and I do
    mean small) gray kitten that had blindly crawled up to his sleeping bag
    and had evidently decided this was a warm spot to sleep.  The kitten's
    eyes were still closed so he picked it up and brought it home.  (He had
    no idea where the kitten came from and searched the area for others but
    couldn't find any.  Evidently this one had been abandoned nearby the
    campsite and had just managed to crawl to the sounds hoping to find its
    mother).
    
    Anyway, he rushes into the house with this kitten in his hand and we
    immediately headed for the vet's office.  Our vet examined the kitten
    and after I said I'd try to keep it alive, he provided a small nursing
    bottle and the proper formula.  After that I began to see what it was 
    like to be a mother cat!  My wife thought I was crazy, but I wasn't
    going to give up on this kitten.  I even got a friend's help to watch
    the kitten during the day (and feed it) while I was at work.
    
    I can't describe the feelings of holding a small bundle of fur in one
    hand and feeding it from a bottle.  There were times when the kitten
    (now known as Vince) would actually hold and balance the tiny bottle in
    his paws and feed himself.  
    
    After about seven days I was rewarded with those little eyes opening up
    and seeing me for the first time.  As the weeks went by Vince continued
    to grow and had regular vet check-ups and became acquainted with my
    other cat (Brandy).  
    
    Now Vince is approaching his first birthday.  He's a very healthy 12
    pound cat that thinks he's human (can't imagine why).  ALthough I know
    I'm probably no substitute for a real momma cat, raising Vince was a
    lot of fun.  
    
    Cheers,
    
    Cody

    Don't kid yourself Cody, your his "mom" and a lot more.  I have one
    from similar experience - it's something so special that it's hard to
    put into words.  Vince sounds wonderful.  Congratulations!
    
    Giudi

    
    	Cody, I went through this last summer with Punkin, who is
    	now seven months old and absolutely *beautiful*. He also
    	thinks he's a person (more so than your average cat does!)
    	and would rather be with me than his three housemates...
    
    	Sherry
    

    Cody,
    
    What a wonderful story.  Thanks for the warm fuzzy feeling I have right
    now.
    
    Karen

Cody,

You ARE his MOMMY!  I don't want to tell the long saga of Beth again, but here's
the Reader's Digest version...I found a 4 week old kitten suffering badly from
eye infections.  She was blind, tiny, and helpless.  I became her foster Mom
with the intent of finding a new home for her when she got better.  When she
was about 2 months old, she was to have emergency surgery on her eyes, but
the vet decided just before the surgery that she was too small and she called
me to come pick her up.  I went to the vet and they brought out my hungry,
frightened kitten and when she heard my voice, she struggled to get into my arms
and clung to me.  Someone in the waiting room said "Well, she knows who her
Mommy is, doesn't she?"....yup, I'm her Mommy and after what you've been thru,
you are Vince's Mommy too!!  Happy Mommy's Day a little early and welcome back
to Feline!!

Mary

    Two kitties wish to make their debut here -- WUMPKIN and HARRY (THE
    RAT).
    
         WUMPKIN (ladies first):  I'm a petite long-haired black cat with
    white bib and botties, and just a little bit of a white chin.  My
    whiskers are white, and my goodness, I'm beautiful!  I'm ten years old,
    and I was adopted from a pet store in Acton when my person was lonely
    for a second kitty.  I'm very temperamental, and because I'm small and
    timid, the second cat in my house always pushes me around -- and I have
    to admit I let them (but I maintain a very passive-aggressive attitude
    about it).  I love getting groomed -- and I make sure I get a
    professional grooming once a year by letting my "under-fur" mat up into
    tight knots and then not permitting my person to comb me.  I had a bad
    accident when I was small -- I chewed through a power cord, and nearly
    lost my 9 lives all at once.  Now I have to be pampered, because of the
    pulmonary damage.  That suits me fine, because in my mature
    wonderfulness, I detest chasing toys, romping, or otherwise behaving
    like that little snot that came to live with us a few years ago.  (See
    next paragraph.)
    
        HARRY (THE RAT):  Hello, nice to meet you.  Got any food?  Anything
    I can play with?  (Can't be anything you want back, either.)  My name's
    really only Harry, but my person adds the epithet in parentheses above. 
    Can't imagine why.  I'm just a year and a half, and although I'm proud
    of my trim physique, they tell me I'm just a bit HUGE -- 22 pounds at
    last weigh-in ... but not an ounce of flab, mind you!  Now, I don't
    know what the ruckus is about 22 pounds, but my person wails piteously
    when I climb the screens (don't you just love that soft ripping sound
    of those new fiberglass screens?).  I get bored easily, and because
    WUMPKIN's no fun, despite my attempts to get her to wrestle, I have to
    resort to search-and-destroy missions to work off my energy -- things
    like emptying the wall curio cabinet, swinging pictures and mirrors,
    etc.  When I see an open door, I like to leap up on the open top and
    swing back and forth by pushing against the wall behind the door.  My
    fur is mostly white, and I have several huge silver-gray spots on and
    about my body, with one particularly lovely charcoal "beauty mark" on
    my cheek below my nose.  The vet loves to see me, 'cause I'm still a
    playful kitten at heart, and I love to play "capture the stethoscope"
    and then "hide and seek" .... Nice to meet'cha!

	 Well, I  suppose  I should finally get around to introducing my
     current 2...


	 Hannah, aka  Dimmie  (as  in  Dim Bulb), Dwarf Kitty, or Button
     Girl,  is  currently  2.5 years old.  She is basically a white cat,
     with  a  grey  spot over each shoulder blade, over her right kidney
     and  on her right heel.  Her tail is grey except for the tip, which
     is  white.   She  also  sports  a grey mask, kind of like Batman's,
     except  for  the  white stripe up between the eyes.  Her nose has a
     grey  dot in each cornet of the triangle.  With her yellow eyes and
     the  mask, she always has a crazed expression on her face.  She was
     born a stray, but had already had 3 homes by the time I adopted her
     as  a  3  month  old.   One person returned her because she was too
     active.   Another  returned  her  because she wasn't active enough.
     She fell asleep in my arms the first time I held her.

	 Missy Hannah  tipped the scales at a mere 7 pounds last spring.
     Quite a change from Josh and Becky who had weighed in at 12 and 15.
     She  was  very  sssssllllllloooooooooooooooowwwwwwwww to figure out
     how  to do anything a normal kitty knows how to do.  She was a full
     year in figuring out that she was physically capable of jumping all
     the  way  to the kitchen counter.  Bay window sills took a a good 9
     months.   She is not a socialite and will disappear to one of those
     places  that  only  cats know how to get to whenever company comes.
     Hannah tries to make me think she hates her new baby brother, but I
     think  she's  coming around (she actually cleaned his face a couple
     weeks ago!!! and she now participates in the games of tag.)

	 Hannah also  likes  to  talk/complain a lot.  She almost always
     has something to say, especially in the morning - she needs to give
     me  a  blow-by-blow  of  everything that happened during the night.
     She  specializes  in  head-baps  and kneading with her nose pressed
     right  between  her  front  paws.   She  is also the self-appointed
     guard-cat.   She  has  been  known  to attack intruder cats through
     plate glass sliders.


	 Simon, aka  Black  Boy  or Monkey Boy (as in siMON KittY), is 6
     months  old.   He is also a shelter kitty, although he was not born
     feral.  He is a black polydactyl puss.  He has an extra toe on each
     foot.   His eyes match Hannah's.  He still occasionally wakes me up
     in  the  middle  of  the night by licking my eyelids.  I suppose it
     could be worse - he used to try to *nurse* from my ear or eyelid...

	 Simon is  going to be bigger than Hannah.  At 10 weeks he was 2
     pounds.   At  14  weeks  he  was 5, and at 17 weeks he was 7.  At 6
     months  he  is  now  tipping the scales at 8 pounds.  Hannah better
     watch  out.   Master  Simon has the lightning speed of a kitten and
     *loves*  to  tackle from behind.  He is the athelete that Hannah is
     not.   He  does  backflips  when  he  plays.  He *loves* to help me
     cross-stitch  -  he  attacks the thread, the needle and the fabric.
     As  I'm trying to find the hole to push the needle up from below, I
     can almost always count on 7-8 lbs of kitten to come crashing down,
     loosening the fabric in the hoop!! Cross-stitching with his help is
     very slow indeed!!!

	 Simon is  also  an  escape artist.  Twice now he has dashed out
     the  front door without being seen.  Luckily, I saw him dash across
     the  front  walk  the  first  time.   The second time, he was stuck
     outside  in the rain for a good 20 minutes before I realized he was
     AWOL.   Both times were at night.  I'm sure those of you with black
     kitties  can understand the trouble with trying to find a black cat
     outside at night!


	 

Introducing the "Kaskitayo" clan: 

Long intro:

Lucky   13 yr black neutered British type DSH tuxedo cat with white gloves and 
	trousers. Lucky is aptly named.  Born in a barn in the UK, 1 of 5.  
	Mother cat said four is quite enough and abandoned him at 3 weeks.  
	Tried to reunite them and she promptly tried to rip his stomach out.
  	Charming. Took him home.  
	My landlady, who was very strange (that is another story in itself), 
	had a cat who had a litter a week younger, we introduced him, and he 
	was accepted.  He looked very odd, all the others were white and black
	patched and he was almost solid.
	My landlady believed in indoor/outdoor cats, (I didn't) so Lucky and
	his buddy were in and out.  Lucky was hit by a car, I took him to the
	vet. He survived and while he was recuperating from this he dislocated h
	is hip!  Unfortunately, his buddy was also hit at a later date but 
	didn't survive.
	He and his pal Ginger then moved to Montreal for six months and
	then out to Vancouver.
	Then after we moved to Canada, he got a bad case of FUS, it was touch
	and go for a week.  At this time we also noticed he was spraying
	(he did this in the UK but we didn't recognize it).  He was put on 
	Ovaban, which worked wonders, until he got diabetes from it.  It
	was reversed when medication stopped.  Tried Valium, that worked
	for a while. He then developed an allergy to Amoxil. 
	Last year he started to have siezures, very scary, he was checked out
	but no problems could be found.  Conclusion: it is a very slow tumour?
	He was put on prednesone, which worked for a while.  As his siezures
	became more frequent, we decided to put him on phenobarbitol. It worked,
	he has not had a fit (touch wood) for almost a year.  It was fun 
	getting	his dose right!  The 3lb kitten could knock him over (he is
	about 12lb), it even stopped his spraying for a while.  Now he only
	picks my husband's things.  Now we are in wait mode, the vet says
	he may live a very long time.  Sigh.  Then we can paint the house! 
	
Ginger	12 yr black spay DSH tuxedo cat with white gloves and shoes.  Siamese
	somewhere.  Very heavy cat, not overweight, just solid, about 12lb,
	but small in stature. Terrible voice.  Also from the UK.  The 
	RSPCA would not let us have a kitten, as we lived in an apartment!  
	So this was a private adoption.  We got her at 6 months, she had been 
	abused, consequently only trusts me, husband and in-laws.  
	Our poor neighbour who cat sits, has quite a hard time to find her and
	make sure she is still alive.  All I can say is if she is running away 
	and squawking she is probably okay.
	Why Ginger, you ask ?  She is named after Ginger Rodgers, as she 
	dances everywhere, closets, bookshelves, banisters.  She is also
	nicked named Bed Cat, she nearly always sleeps with us, usually
	on me, and is a constant companion for the sick bed. She snores
	as loud as my husband. (She always has).  She also has the ability
	to open most doors and hide in the most awkward places (silently).

Rosie   8 yr white and tabby (brown/with ticking and a silver tabby tail!) 
	spay DSH.  Our only Canadian cat.  We found her and her siblings at a 
	barn being menaced by a boxer dog, who was contemplating a snack.  
	They were about 4 weeks old.  I took them all home, we kept Rosie and
	gave the other 2 to the SPCA.  She was our first plant wrecker. Fell
	in love with Lucky, who then transplanted his affections from Ginger
	to Rosie. (Aren't men fickle!). Loves to drape herself across keyboard
	when logged in remotely!
	She has a chronic mouth problem (ulcerative stomatitis/trench mouth)
	One vet says it's an auto-immune problem, another says not
	but she has consistantly tested negative for FelV, so she gets 
	a cortisone shot about every 5 weeks.  The pills are not as effective.
	She loves to sit on your chest and tread, lick and drool (ugh).

Maggie aka Porteous Perfidia
	18 month British Shorthair silver tabby still whole - soon to be
	spay or bred.  Imported from the UK.  As she is still whole, she comes
	into heat and bugs everyone else.  Rosie will get extremely cross and
	pound on her head, Ginger will take so much and then squabble especially
	over bed rights and Lucky can't figure out anything.  She has tried
	to climb our 8 ft yucca, removed all lower ornaments from the Xmas
	tree (and hidden them), incited the others to do the same and appears
	to eat almost anything (melon, bananna, spag. w/o sauce).  Loves to
	bat the cursor when playing computer games at home. She also
	will chase anything that runs, which can be a trifle noisy and
	is the only cat, that actually doesn't mind the vet
	She is too small to be a real show ring winner, only 6.5 lb, she
	should be about 9, however she has good colour and markings.  Her show
	career has come to an end last week when she bit two judges (no blood).

	They are inside with supervised jaunts in the garden during summer.
	Maggie is semi-leash trained.  The rest just lie down and bump on the
	ground.

	The cats have travelled and stayed in various combinations, from UK 
	to Montreal, to Vancouver, to Bismarck N.D., to Vancouver and now 
	to Edmonton.
    

	I don't think I ever got around to this in the old Feline file.

	Introducing: THE WRECKING CREW  8^)

	Jesse - Tabby and white, short hair, neutered, Big cat, former
		feral, rescued, nursed back to health, and trained to pull
		the person on the other end of his leash all over the lawn 
	        by Nancy DC. ( he has one surgically "folded" ear )  He came to
                live with me 19-Jan-1990.

	Cinderella - a.k.a. Cindy - Tabby and white, long hair, spayed
		tiny cat, Abandoned kitten I rescued 1-Apr-1990.

		( the following are Cindys contribution to the household. 
		  6-June-1990 )

	Flannel cat - Gray, medium hair, neutered, has loud meow, is the 
		only "talker" in the bunch, has a LOUD purr. Loves the other
		cats, walks around purring and head butting them. They all
		seem to love it, except Jesse, who steps aside and ducks.
		Jesse wants nothing to do with shows of affection from other
		cats.

	Patch - Gray, short hair, neutered. Lifts a forepaw and waves
		when wanting attention or food. Also waves back to people.
		He won't go near kitty treats of any kind or catnip, but Loves
		any kind of empty small package. Also loves to push things to
		the edge of a table or shelf, and then ease the object,
		along a little at a time until it falls. He keeps the floors
		in my house looking like the grounds of an amusement park
		after a big summer holiday.

	Kimba - White, short hair, neutered, When I say "Kimba
		roll_over_kitty" he puts the top of his head on the floor,
		drops down, and rolls over.

	Sparkie - White, short hair, spayed, wants only dry food, likes
		  to eat alone.

	Little Jesse - aka Little, Tabby and white, short hair, neutered,
		small cat. He's a little timid, a little smaller than his
		litter mates, eats a little less, sleeps a little less, etc.
		

    
    And my cats --
    
    	Rascal -- Medium-haired black and white male, neutered, indoor/
    	outdoor cat.  I bought Rascal at 8 weeks old at a pet store coming
    	up on 3 years ago, when I was going through cat withdrawal and had
    	to have one that day!  I was fostering my sister's cat Kitty (real
    	name Sundance) and I had gone on a business trip.  While I was
    	gone, Kitty stayed with my sister (illegally, her complex didn't
    	allow pets).  And she liked having him there so much, she wanted to
    	keep him for a little while (although she was risking being
    	caught).  My apartment was so empty without any cat!  That
    	Saturday, I just had to get a kitten that day, or I'd go crazy!! 
    	So I popped down to Doctor pet center and picked me up a kitten.
    
    	That first year, while he was a kitten was quite an experience.  I
    	hadn't had a kitten of my own before, and Kitty was very low-
    	maintenance (no litter box, didn't scratch the furniture, didn't
    	jump up on things, didn't knock things over, didn't pee/poop on the
    	rugs, didn't get sick, etc.).  Taking care of a kitten was quite a
    	change: frequent visits to the vet (ear mites, fleas, coccidia),
    	toys, litter box, very energetic (jumped up on everything as soon
    	as he was big enough to reach it, knocked over anything he could
    	get his paws on, etc.), and the little "accidents" on the rug while
    	he was still little.
    
    
    	Sasha -- (Very) short haired blue-cream female, spayed, indoor/
    	outdoor cat.  I adopted Sasha via this notes file (thank you!). 
    	After my experience with Rascal as a kitten, I didn't want to deal
    	with another, so I got Sasha at 1� years old, already spayed, etc.
    	Sasha is not very affectionate (not a lap cat), but she is friendly
    	and likes to sleep with me.  She adapted to the new home and feline
    	and human roommates very easily.  She and Rascal have lots of fun
    	wrestling and chasing each other around.  It is sooo.. cute when
    	she goes over to him and starts grooming his head!!
    
    
    	Valerie

    The cat I'm owned by, is Smokey, a was-she Korat/Russian blue mixture
    of about five years. An abandoned, straying poor creature she was who
    came thin and bleeding to me one day in a dark alley in Budapest.
    
    We had a hard time to make through... but we won. She sleeps on my
    blanket. I cannot sleep without...
    
    I cannot tell too much. You all know how it is with a cat... one could
    speak hours and more about.
    
    	Nat

    My name is Pearl.  I am sometimes called Pearlie Girlie, Girlie,
    Squirrelie...I was born in Nashville,Tn where my mommy grew up.  My
    owners mommy is the owner of *my* mommy, Minnie Mae.  My owners mommys
    best friend is the owner of my grandmommy, Minnie Pearl.  Are you
    confused yet?  I left Nashville at 8 wks and rode in a car all the way
    back to Maryland.  When I was 4 months old I had to be given away
    because "no pets" were allowed in my apartment.  After I turned 1 year
    old I moved back to my original owner/mommy, and I brought along my pal
    who I had been living with, Zeno. 
    
    
    My name is Zeno. Also known as Zeen, Big Zeen, Big Boy, Zeno
    Bandino.....I am a seal-point siamese with a very round face and eyes.
    I have a crook in my tail.  I am very loving and always let Pearl eat
    first before I get any(if there is any left over-that little piglet).
    I talk alot to my mommy and daddy.
    
    
    Hey!  I forgot! (this is Pearl again) I am a very small grey tabby with
    white paws and chest.  I am very cute and was the runt of the litter.
    
    Just thought you'd like to know.:-)
    

Well, I'll finally bite the bullet and introduce our kids, even though I still
don't know what color to call the little ones! :-)  Maybe if we have a New
England get-together at my place, y'all will come up with an answer!

Tigger: Almost 9 year old male large size red mackerel tabby (got that color
	right!)  Birthday defined as April 15 :-).  Not real sociable, but
        sometimes will curl up on a lap.  Knows how to make his demands known
        (food, going out, leaving him alone...) He's our first child, adopted
        (inherited?) 4 years ago from Bill's mom with no advance warning :-),
        probably still wishes he was an only child :-)  Nicknames include Tiggy,
        Tiggs, and RC (for Resident Cat, when we got the babies :-))

Hemi:	1 year old (today!) female grayish brownish mackerel tabby with white
	belly, bib, paws, and a few highlights.  Adopted from the Nashua humane
	society; we defined her birth date as April 1 :-).  Won't curl up on
	your lap, won't let you hold her--goes straight for the shoulders,
	ever since we met her at the shelter.  Quietest of the bunch, only
	makes chirping sounds on occasion, sits at the door rather than
	scratching or climbing, sits on the food mat while I'm making a meal,
	rather than bugging me like the others.  Fascinated by water, loves and
	claims the top perch on the cat tree.  Has these weird habits of doing
	twisty jumps in the air, and "cleaning the windows" with her paws.
	Softer than her younger sisters	(makes it easier to identify her in
	the dark), latest fad is sleeping at the foot of the bed under the
	covers.  She loves the sparkler toys, and does wild and crazy jumps
	to try and get it!

	Her real name is Hemigray, nicknames are Hemlock, Hemmifer, Hemily.
	Hemigray is named for Hemingray, the glass company that made the
	glass insulators that we collect as our (other) hobby.  "Hemigray"
	is one of the embossing errors that occurred. :-)

CJ:	11 month old female grayish brownish mackerel tabby.  We adopted her and
        Penny from the Pat Brody Shelter in June, when the Feliners visited en
        masse, and defined their birthday to be May 2.  CJ has a small dot on
        each of her cheeks, which allows us to distinguish her from Penny (see
        below). She loves to go outside, and drives us crazy sometimes with her
        "revolving door" behavior.  She's the one who walks over our pillows and
        sticks her paws in our mouths when we're trying to sleep, purring all
        the while.  She'll curl up in a lap sometimes, but she loves to climb
        onto the dining room table (used as a work surface) and do kissies and
        rubbies :-)

        CJ stands for Crown Jewel, or Crown Jewel of the Wire, which is a
        "romantic" nickname for a glass insulator; the latter is the name of a
        long-time insulator magazine.  Nicknames include CJ-Muffin and
        CJ-McMuffin.

Penny:	littermate and twin sister to CJ.  No small dots on her cheeks :-)
	and a little darker on the head and top body stripe.  I think she's
	low cat on the totem pole, and is much more a lap cat than any of the
	others.  She curls up on my lap (after giving me lots of kisses, hugs,
	and rubs) when I'm working at the dining room table. Somehow she always
	manages to stick her tail end in Tigger's face :-) and seems to get
	along better with him than the others; maybe cuz she knows her place!
	They have even curled up together, actually touching each other!

	Penny is short for Pennycuick, who was one of the many people who
	patented an insulator idea.  He just happened to have a name that
	converted well into a kitty name :-)  Nicknames include Pennifer and
	Penny-baby.

	See, Hemi, I told you I'd enter your intro's for your birthday! :-)


Jill

TD-  
	I feel compelled to put TD (for Tasmanian Devil) in here even though
	he's gone.  He was my best friend.  We got him as a kitten back in
	1976, one week after I was married, the first cat to ever own me.
	I was strictly a dog person before.  He survived the marriage by 
	about five months.  An all black cat with Siamese traits, he was
	really something, into everything.  But he chose me very early on.
	He'd be with me constantly while I was home.  He became ill last
	fall, and I finally had to say goodbye to him in November.  I was
	devastated.  He had seen me though so much, and was a comfort
	after the divorce, especially when my daughter wasn't with me.
	Right or wrong, I couldn't bear to be alone after I had him put
	to sleep, so the next day my daughter and I acquired:

Chester-

	Aka, Doofus, Stupid, Buddy.  Chester is a black and white six-month
	old.  Originally named Boots because of his white feet, I renamed
	him, because the name just didn't fit.  He was about five weeks old
	when I got him.  He's a lot like TD was in his earlier years, into 
	everything,  likes to play fetch, will never let you tie your shoes
	without a struggle.  I also have to set all the trash cans in the 
	house upright every evening when I get home.  He's very sleek, with 
	a panther-like saunter.  As you may gather from his nicknames, we 
	have volatile relationship.  He's never dull, that's for sure.

and

Farley-

	Aka, Waddles, Fatso, Weeble.  Farley is an orange longhair with
	tabby markings.  He's sweet and affectionate.  A face licker, which
	can be irritating.  Farley is nine months old, and currently 
	unrecognizable from the cat I adopted five months ago.  It turned out
	he was very sick with some sort of viral infection that gave him
	diarrhea and toungue ulcers.  He was thin as a rail.  I managed
	to get him through that without Chester getting sick, and he really...
	blossomed.  He doesn't like his tummy rubbed, but I find it 
	irresistable.  As soon as Chester gets a little older, I'll go with
	a diet formula, although I suppose I could do that now, and leave
	other food on the counter for Chester.  There's no way Farley could
	make that jump!

Adjusting to kittens again is a real challenge after so many years of having
a sedate, older cat.  But it's been fun.  I grow closer to them daily, and
the pain of losing TD is finally starting to lessen.

    This an introduction of the newest member of my 'cat' family. 
    
    This weekend I got Robbie (real name is Dagneau's Throb Bleu), who is a
    4-1/2 month old male Korat. He's going to be my 'stud'. Sort a funny --
    a 4 month old stud! He's a real sweetheart! The first Korat I've seen
    that DOESN'T complain in the show ring! He LOVES to cuddle! And right
    now, he's trying to be friends with P.A., my 6 month old Korat, who
    just DOESn"T want a brother yet!
    
    Cheryl & crew

      
       I almost couldn't believe it when my wife, Julie, approached me last
    week with ANOTHER plaintive case of a cat in distress. Seems she got a
    call from Ann Mantha,(sp?) of "Friends of Animals" about a couple who
    had moved from the house that they'd recently sold, into an apartment,
    and THEN discovered that it was a "NO ANIMALS" apartment. Not having
    won "megabucks" yet, the couple cannot afford to move again, so their
    8-year old spayed, declawed totally Black, shorthaired cat was either
    forced to find a new home or face euthanasia. I copped out on this one,
    and told Julie that it was her decision. I've never resisted a new
    animal, and our 11 dogs and now 4 cats are proof of this. 
    
      What I DID do was point out the facts as I saw them in this
    situation. I explained that no matter HOW laid-back, affectionate and
    docile this cat was advertised to be, there is only 1 "Cookie" in the
    world. (Cookie is one f our other cats, who, as a 2.5lb kitten, moved
    in with our friendly but boisterous dogs, and literally took over in
    less than 4 seconds. She never flinched...just moved right in..) This
    new girl though, being 8 years old, an "only child", and having to
    adapt to a new environment that is totally out of touch with her sense
    of reality, COULD present some difficulties......
    
      But anyway, Sunday around noontime the couple and their son arrived
    with "Midnight" and her luggage. Midnight was very calm...I held her
    and she snuggled against me, and I was beginning to think things were
    going to be very smooth and easy... Then her people left........and
    within 5 minutes sweet, docile "Midnight" turned into "THE BLACK BEAST
    FROM FELINE HELL!!" Hissing at anything that came near, lunging at
    everyone, and when Julie and I attempted to approach her to calm her,
    we both received a rather emphatic bite..Julie is sporting a bruise
    with four distinct spots on her wrist, and I have a neat four-hole
    'reward' on may forearm... THe poor creature finally realized that she
    was being 'abandoned' by her original owners, and prpbably believed
    that she was scheduled as 'dinner' for one of these large, fast-moving
    and funny smelling creatures that were within her vision. She was not
    about to go calmly, if that's what was in store for her...
    
     I simply told Julie that we had to leave her be and let her adjust.
    The dogs do not bother her...they've learned a long time ago that cats
    are neat, but they are to be ignored. The other three cats all came
    near to Midnight the first day, layed down about 4 feet from her, and
    simply 'observed' her...probably wondering "Why's she so upset?? We
    ain't gonna HURT her??" None hissed at her, just looked in obvious
    curiosity. Midnight sat on the table in one spot for 8 solid
    hours...hissing and spitting at anyone who came near. We were able to
    get a bowl with food and water on the table with her, and I was very
    surprised to see her eat and drink.
    
      That evening, after we went to bed, she moved to the bathroom and has
    taken up residence in the corner under the tub. (We've got one of those
    old cast-iron tubs with legs..) She stayed skrunched into the corner
    all of lst evening, but ate agains last night and this morning didn't
    hiss at us when we brought her food and water. I also noticed that she
    is no longer squished into the corned in terror,but is lieing on her
    side in a more normal cat pose. She has not hissed at the two or three
    dogs (My Beagles are VERY curious and concerned looking..) that have
    approached within 5 feet, and she ate this morning while we were still
    thre talking to her.  So....I am very optimistic... I think she's
    slowly coming around, and actually she's surprising me at how fast
    she'd gotten this far. I expected her to stay hidden for a week or
    more, only venturing out at night. We place a litterbox in the bathroom
    with her, and there's a 'baby-gate' on the door way that she can jump
    over but which keeps the dogs out of there...so I'd expect that she
    will use the box today after all she'd eaten.
    
    
      I'm pretty sure she'll be out exploring in the next day or so, and
    within a month will be plopping down on our laps in the evening...
    
      I guess in her place I'd be a bit overwhelmed too...but I think she
    realizes now that nobody or thing will harm her in this house.. Time is
    all she'll need, and she'll get as much as she needs..
    
    
      John McD 

    Home is complete again.  Thanks to a lot of help from a lot of people.
    
    Morticia - a solid black persian with copper eyes.  She's 1 1/2 years
    	       old.  I adopted her from Beudee's Cattery.  She's too
    	       skittish to breed.  She's coming along great.  I was able
       	       to hold her last night for 1/2 hour before she went back
    	       into hiding.
    
    Alpo - (my mom and my boyfriend named him not me) a 5 week old grey and
    	   white kitten who thinks he's a dog.  He loves Alpo dog food
           hence his name, and follows you everywhere you go.  I've also
    	   remembered why I usually adopt adult cats.  Sleep what's that?
    
    
    Kim
    

    You folks are something else, John and Julie.  Midnight is another
    lucky kitty to end up in such a wonderful home.
    
    Pat (who also has a Midnight and who's dog, Cookie, is now in a
    permanent home with a wonderful lady named "Stella").
    

    Once Midnight realizes how lucky she really is...I'm sure she
    will settle down nicely.
    
    Gee John...I think you got the record in this file of the number 
    of needed animals you have taken in.  (and they say I'm the bad one!!)
    
    Both you and Julie are wonderful....
    
    Sandy

    Kim, you probably know that a diet of dog food lacks nutrients a cat
    needs, but I thought I ought to mention it.
    
    John:  glad to hear Midnight is in good hands, but didn't those folks
    read their lease before they signed it?
    

    Yes I know I tried to get him to eat the Alpo cat food but he doesn't
    like it.  However does LOVE the IAMS kitten food I bought for him. 
    Along with banana bread, pizza, crackers, etc. etc.  It's interesting
    trying to eat in my house.  You never know when you might get dive
    bombed.

Hi,

	I have been reading this notes conference for a while so I 
        thought I would introduce my two.

        Tallin -   9 month old blue mackeral (sp?) tabby (according to NancyDC)
                   I called her a gray shorthair.
                   She was adopted from the Dog Orphans Shelter in Upton, MA
                   which is a no-kill shelter.  Her mother and littermates
                   were just dropped on the doorstep of this shelter.

                   Tallin rules the roost at our house.  It is her house and 
                   she makes the rules like when she wants water in the sink
                   or she wants to be pet.

                   When you think she just does not care about you, you pick
                   her up and she kisses your face.  She is the first pet
                   my husband and I have had since we were married.  Even
                   though she is so independent and does not want to deal with
                   humans sometimes, I just look at that little face and smile.

        Lucky Buc -about a year old and is a solid black cat with huge gold
                   eyes.  He is very timid with people and is considered a
                   feral.

                   We adopted him from a friend who was moving to California
                   and could not take him.  Her only other option was 
                   euthanasia.  He was just too beautiful for that.  That is
                   how he got his name.

                   Tallin and Lucky Buc do get along and play with each other
                   at night.  But Lucky Buc knows his role is subordinate to
                   Tallin.  

                   Lucky Buc spends a lot of time hiding under the beds.  But
                   he lets my husband and I crawl under the bed to pet him.
                   We do this daily, and we usually get him to start purring.
                   Since we have only had him about a month, I think this is
                   good progress.  

Donna        

    Well, I've been reading this conference for a long time, but never
    introduced my gang properly:
    
    Smokey: The "grand dame" of the house.  She is 9+ years old, and very,
    uh, shall we say robust.  (The vet keeps asking "can't you get the
    weight off this cat?!"  I have a friend who calls her "Smokey-link",
    'cause she's fat like a sausage.)  I got Smokey when she was about 4
    months old - her previous owners had redecorated their house and didn't
    want Smokey to redecorate their redecorations.  She got her name
    because she's gray (and white - like a gray "tuxedo cat"), and she got
    into the (unlit) fireplace the fist night she came home.  She's a
    fiesty girl, does what she wants when she wants, and generally
    supervises the running of the house.  She allows me to live with her as
    long as I keep up on the mortgage.
    
    The boys:
    
    Spike:  Spike is the meekest, shyest orange tabby boy I've ever met. 
    He was rescued from a NYC alley by my vet who treated him for the whole
    list - mites, URI, intestinal and external  parasites, etc. - I picked
    him up when he was about 11 weeks old.  I figured he was a tough alley
    cat, hence the name Spike.  He is definitely not tough - but very
    sweet.  In the morning, to wake me up, he pats me in the face, and
    every now and then hooks his claw in my nose to pull me out of bed if I
    don't respond.  He is scared to death of strangers and heads for under
    the bed at any knock on the door. He's been having trouble with his
    eyes (entropion and corneal sequestrum - a note in here somewhere about
    it), and it looks we'll be fighting another round on that soon.  He
    also was operated on last year for intestinal blockage when he ate a
    cat toy string.  Despite all that, he's very loving (to me only! -
    everyone else he hides from).
    
    Trouble:  Trouble is a crazy teenager.  He's an all black, affectionate
    little guy, part Siamese I think (from his talking).  He was rescued
    from the shelter where I volunteer - he had a belly full of a bead
    necklace, and a lady wanted to "trade him in for a good one".  I took
    him, had him operated on (two cats operated on for intestinal blockage
    in 1 year - my vet loves my checkbook). He came home with me about 13
    months ago - he's now about 20 months old.  He was named because he has
    a tendency to get into trouble (ate bead necklace, pulled stitches out,
    scratched cornea within 2 weeks of each other), and just generally
    likes to cause a ruckus and pick fights with Spike.  He couldn't be a
    nicer guy, and cuddles up with me every night.
    
    and last but not least...
    
    Earthling:  Earthling (RIP) was my first cat of my adult life (there
    were several when I was younger too, but Earthling has a special place
    in my heart).  She was a brown tabby, a really gorgeous little girl,
    who I loved fiercely.  She died of a liver disease when she was only
    eight.  She had had vestibular syndrome at one point, and it made her
    cock her head all the time, like she was always curious.  
    
    Sue B. + 3

	The Dutch Bunch
		
	I've got 3 full-breed Maine Coons (so far) who are into shows and
	my breeding-program. 
	These felines makes up my cattery 'Gentle Giants'

	Kathy Beauty of Starbushway :
	This female brown-tabby classic is the 'oldest' MC (2 and a half
	years old) i've got. She is the first female Maine Coon in the
	Netherlands to be European Champion (within the FiFe).
	She is the BOSS and is nagging our boy if he get's to close.
	She's not the kind to sit on your lap and is actually *allowing*
	us to live with her, but is still a very sweet girl. She weights
	about 4.5 kilos (approx. 10 lbs.). She's into whipped cream.
	Genetic code : Aa B Dd TbTb
	

	Yankee Pearl's Lucky Lance:
	This black smoke male (almost 2 years) is our smooch cat.
	Het is the stud, but is really the underdug of the bunch.
	He is very sweet and loves to roll over on his back and get's cuddled.
	He is trained to lay down when ordered (handy at shows).
	He knows that when the alarm-clock goes off, I've got to get out.
	If I don't, he knocks things over to get me up my feet.
	He and our other little girl Andromeda are best friends. They
	chase each other around the living-room and outside. He's
	gasping like a horse after a wild chase, like he's 80 years old.
	He now weights about 12 lbs. and is still gaining.
	Genetic-code : aa B Dd Ii tt


	Andromeda Spirit of Maine:
	she's a female black tortie-tabby of 7 months, (FiFe) World Champion
	1992 3 - 6 Months Kitten (Semi-Long hair).
	She is the wildest of them all, very swift. Once you see her,
	next thing she's gone. Loves to run around and do all kinds
	of things she isn't allowed to. She's into feet and shoes. Attacking
	them is her way of letting us know that she's eager to get fed or
	to play with. She likes to drink from the watertap and eat out of
	the litterbox (from which she snitches the cheese-crums).
	Very fond of chocolate and breadcrums (she doesn't get those
	things of course).
	Likes to fetch and carry paper balls and chase Lance around the place.
	Genetic-code : Aa(?) B Dd(?) Oo TbTb	


	They are more or less indoor-cats but as soon as I get home,
	they want to go outside into our yard (grated). Watching birds and
	attacking flies are their favourites. 

	Compared to the regular writers in this note, not a lot of cats
	but we're very happy with them. Still, there is space left for
	1 or 2 more.


	Last year's off-spring (October 1991):
	Gentle Giants' Laverne : Black female, build like her father
	but acting like her mother. She is sold to another breeder.
	
	
	Gentle Giants' Leroy   : Black smoke male, looks like his father
	but is more mommy's boy. He is sold to a fancier who's into showing
	him, now she's got a full-breed MC.


	Erwin.

    
    It's about time I introduced my two babies....
    
    	Harley and Smokie
    
    	Both females from the same litter (spayed as soon as they were old
    	enough).  They are grey, calico medium length hair, barn cats.  
    	Smokie has a large gold triangle patch over her left eye, and 
    	Harley has a blonde triangle patch over her right eye.  I call 
    	them my mirror images.  
    
    	I believe their mom is partly (if that's possible) feral.  They'll 
    	be two this June.  I don't know the exact date although I think 
    	it's around the 18th.  My husband brought them home for me on my 
    	birthday and they were so small.   The vet didn't think they were 
    	quite 5 weeks old (if I remember correctly, Smokie weighed around 
    	3.25lbs and Harley 2.5lbs).
    
    	Poor Harley had no idea where to do her "business".  I set Smokie
    	in the litter box and she knew what to do but not Harley (she just
     	cried, never messed on the floor though).  After Smoke did her
    	thing I set Harley in the box and fortunately, that was that. 
    	From then on Harley would follow Smokie's lead.  Smoke is
    	definately the big sister.  If Smokie would venture out of "their"
    	room (they definatley did not want anything to do with us for quite
    	a while so they would hide in one room) and Harley cried, Smoke
    	would go running back for her.
    
    	They have such distinct personalities (don't they all!) but I
    	thought that being sisters they'd be more alike.  But, where Harley
    	never shuts her mouth (unless she's sleeping!) Smokie rarely makes
    	a peep.  Harley is a fresh girl and Smokie is such a lady.  Smokie
    	likes to sleep by herself in her own room and on her own chair
    	while Harley wants to cuddle on the bed.
    
    	I could go on and on but I think I'd better end here.
    
    	Laurie

Well, I guess it's time I de-lurked and introduced She who runs my house.

Basia is a 3 year old pound critter, mostly Maine Coon. Her markings are
classic grey tabby up top, with 50% white underneath. And that fur....
She currently weighs in at 13 pounds, which has not diminished her love of
being a lap cat one bit. I just need a stronger lap.

Her sister, Suki, unfortunately was lost about 1.5 years ago, probably
to a coyote. Like Basia, Suki was a true lap potato, only with jet black
fur on top. I got them both from the Methuen MSPCA, where they had been
left by their owners who got transferred to florida and couldn't/wouldn't
take them along. Who could resist a matching pair of 9-month old Maine
Coon kitties who purred loud enough to wake the dead?

As an aside, the pound folx were overjoyed that I was taking two "adult"
cats, since almost everyone wants kittens. They were afraid that no one
would take them, and they might have to bee put down. So, if you want a
pound-pet, and aren't dead set on kittens, please consider an adult.

Basia's favorite hobbies are: annoying me, chasing mice, eating, and annoying
me. Did I mention eating?

    I have two new additions to the family, one temporary (I can dream,
    can't I?) and one permanent.  Despite protestations that we have
    too many cats already (four) I managed to run into Sophie on a lonely
    road in back of MRO1 where she was wandering along, close to death,
    hungry and alone.  Through the help of many of the Feliners, Sophie
    is now fattening up nicely, is terribly affectionate to myself and my
    fiance, and has been spayed.  Though I hope to find her a home with a
    loving family, she now resides with me and therefore, I will introduce
    her as part of mine (so she won't feel left out).
    
    Sophie is a tortie, with a cream stripe down the center of her nose,
    making her striking, if not Gremlin-y looking.  She loves people, and
    HATES all other cats.  Since her arrival she has managed to grab the
    scepter in our home and no other cat in the WORLD can clear a room
    faster than Sophie ... which can be good at dinner time when one is
    usually hounded by cats, but which is bad, when one WANTS to be hounded
    by cats.  Still, everyone else who is feline is miserable in my house
    now that she is here, and Sophie is miserable in that she, like Greta
    Garbo, "vants to be alone...".
    
    And then there is Dancer, or in full -- Putiputs Shadow Dancer
    "bisquit", who has taken the home by storm with his loving ways, and
    his mischivious character.  He came to us from Nancy DC's cattery, and
    is going to be the one cat in the house who has literally "wrapped" my
    fiance around his little paws.  Affectionate, a clown, he picks his
    food up with his paws and shovels it into his mouth.  I just couldn't
    believe it!  And he is terribly brave, if not terribly smart when it
    comes to Sophie.  He is the only cat who continues to run blithely into
    her territory and, after being hissed and chased, comes right on back
    for more!  Almost as if he "dares" her not to love him.  He just
    couldn't stand that!  
    
    So anyway, now the Cross household is up to six. 
    
    And to think only a year ago I was getting my first kitten.........
    
    will it end?
    
    Nancy
    
    (and Cyrano, Suki, Zuzu Petals, Marty Bear, Sophie and Dancer)

Here's Scotch and Soda....

They are two orange females soon to be 6 months old.  They look exactly alike 
except Scotch has a white spot on her nose and 4 white ankle stockings on her 
feet.  If they are all curled up sleeping you can't tell one from the other.

They came from a home with lots of playmates and went to a very large house 
that echoed when they cried.  Scotch was very shy and nervous and Soda was the 
more adventurous.  It took them about a week of adjusting and then they 
claimed the WHOLE house as theirs.  Nothing is sacred. 

Scotch is the bigger of the two by 1 lb.  Soda is friendlier towards 
strangers.  Both are very loving to Frank and myself.  Soda literally gives 
you kisses while Scotch will head butt you to death.  Soda will suck on your 
eyelids at 3:00am to play and Scotch amuses herself trying to catch dust motes 
in the air.  While Frank and I are getting ready for work S/S play at being 
wrestlers for our early morning entertainment.

Today is the day of the Big Operation.  They cried so loud on the way to the 
Vets you would think they knew what was going to happen.  

They are a joy and they do have us wrapped around their little paws. 

    
    I've been a read-only so far, but I HAVE to introduce my two
    "kids."
    
    Ronin is a grey tabby we got from Palm Beach County Animal
    Control.  My husband (a former cat-hater) named her.  The
    name means (sort of) a "Samurai without a master."  I agreed
    to it since she was a "kitty without a home."  Close enough.
    
    She fears nothing, is kind to all, and appreciates everything.
    One day she shall make it to Kitty Martyrdom.  Hopefully, not
    for a LONG time.  She's only 4 years old.  
    
    Ronin is responsible for converting my husband to a cat-lover.  
    One day I came home to find my husband "pinned" to the couch, 
    not moving a muscle, with this teeny kitty asleep on his chest.  
    "She's killing me," he wailed.  Ronin woke up and looked at him.  
    "See that!  She tried to bite me!"  Ronin put her head back 
    down and went to sleep.  After that, my husband thought she was 
    cool.  He'd buy her all kinds of cat toys and gourmet cat foods.  
    
    My other "kid" is Bandit.  Bandit is another grey tabby who
    was found wandering around Cobb County (Kennesaw Mountain),
    Georgia by a spouse of a person who worked at our vet's. 
    She was in a large wire crate in the front of the vet's office, 
    and talked to everyone who came in.  My husband went gaga over
    her (and him a former cat-hater, remember) and made plans. 
    A few days later, and a couple weeks before my birthday, 
    my husband came home with a surprise.  An early birthday
    present.  I wasn't even out of bed yet and he plopped this
    teeny kitty with a teeny red bow around her neck on my chest.
    She looked at me.  I looked at her.  I said, "Who are you?"
    And she said, "What's it to ya?"  And we both fell in love.
    
    Bandit earned her name from the way she would dart out from
    doorways and hang on your leg/arm/appendage as you walked by.
    We figured she was trying to mug us but couldn't get a good
    enough hold. 
    
    Having our two cats has added SO much to our lives.  They're
    also great stress relievers -- watching them play could make
    ANYONE laugh.  
    
    Cats are great!
    
    -EG

    I have been reading this file for a while and have not introduced my
    family.  I guess, like my little Bilbo Baggins, it takes me a while to
    get used to strangers.
    
    I will list my cats in the order in which they chose me.
    
    Calvin	Calvin was due to be put down the day I went to the Humane
    		Society.  Oh!  Just the thought makes me sad.  He was in a
    		cage by himself and by far the biggest cat there.  He took
    		took to me right away.  I picked him up, put his front paws
    		over my shoulder to cuddle, and I fell in love.
    
    		He weighs about 11 pounds.  He is light orange with tiger 
    		markings.  His tail looks like a raccoon tail, the rings
    		are incredible!  He is neutered, declawed and when I got
    		him, he was at least 4 years old.  The people at the H.S.
    		tried to convince me he was less than a year, but I knew
    		better.
    
    		He sleeps with me almost every night, wrapped up in my
    		arms.  He does not have the tolerance to withstand tossing
    		and turning, so I only have the privledge of his company if
    		I can hold still.
    
    Moses	He looks a lot like Calvin, but is not nuetered, has claws
    		and much longer hair.  Moses is an outside cat who looks
    		like he fights with coons (and wins!).  I have not seen
    		Moses for almost a year, but I can not give up hope.
    
    Mrs.	Mrs. was Moses' "wife".  Moses would not let anyone near
    		his food (cat or human or whatever) except Mrs.  Truly a 
    		sight to see.  She is a black/grey tiger, timid as can be.
    		Sometimes it seemed Moses had to force her to take his
    		food.  She is also an outside cat.  Shortly after Moses
    		went on "vacation" we tried to bring her inside.  She could
    		not, would not get used to the idea of litter boxes.  Out
    		she went!
    
    Fat Grey Kitty	This is another outside cat who tried to get food
    		from Mrs. while Moses was around.  Ha!  When Moses left,
    		she dominated the yard and ate Mrs.'s food.  Some tom had
    		his way with her, and she gave birth to 7 kittens!  Imagine
    		a cat with 7 kittens inside of her.  Hence the name Fat
    		Grey Kitty.  She died recently, apparently healthy, no
    		wounds, her coat was healthy, I do not know.
    
    Bilbo Baggins	This is one of Fat Grey's kittens.  His name came
    		from the book The Hobbit.  He looks a lot like Mrs.  In
    		fact, before we could determine the sex, we called him
    		Little Mrs.  Poor guy.  Baggins (Bags of Bones, Bags,
    		idiot) is an inside cat.  He and Calvin are regular
    		contestants in Wrestlemania!  They seem to be the best of
    		friends.  Although, the fact that Baggins has claws seems
    		to confuse Calvin.  He is a year old this week!
    
    Catherine

    Monday we aquired another cat (now we have four).  It's a male of 
    uncertain breed--very thin face and long spindly legs.  He's white 
    with a black tail and two black spots on his head.  About 3 months 
    old.
    
    We took him because the guy who found him (he's a lost kitty) 
    hasn't been able to find out who his family is.  He arrived with
    a collar on, but we haven't seen any signs in the area or notices
    in the papers about him.
    
    We call him Prancer because he prances (and because Angel likes
    reindeer and Christmas, etc.).  He is small, but it doesn't stop
    him from attacking the bigger cats.  Tiger won't have anything to
    do with him, and Shadow will play with him and is fairly gentle.
    Kiana won't have anything to do with him, but she won't have
    anything to do with the regulars, either.  
    
    But now Tiger, Shadow and Kiana are all mad at Angel and also
    won't have anything to do with her.  They seem to know that the
    kitten idea was hers and not mine.  Hopefully, they'll all get
    over it soon and we'll be back to normal--plus one.
    
    Ellen

Bacardi, turning 15 in human years in September, has been
my constant companion since I picked her up at the Humane
Society during my junior year of college.  She was 6 weeks
old, and part of a litter of 6 that had been dropped off
the day before.  

She's a Siamese-Tabby mix - mostly white, also brown, black
and tan, with a black ringed tail.  Sporting pale blue
Siamese eyes, her meow becomes more Siamesey as she gets
older.

Joining me at a mobile time of my life, she loves riding in
a car - even purrs.  When she was smaller, she'd ride on
my shoulder, to the delight of any kids passing by in other
cars.  As she got bigger, she still insisted on perching
there - I still haven't a clue how her back legs were 
hanging.  She was a bit miffed when I went to high-backed
seats.  Being older and wiser now (both of us), she is secured in a
carrier strapped in with a safety belt at all times.

Four years ago she became extremely ill and was diagnosed
with diabetes.  The stand-in for my vet that day explained
in a ruthless manner that the odds of her survival were practically
nil as it was difficult to stabilize insulin levels for cats
because of their metabolism and size.  I could barely drive home, 
clutching the skin and bones of my sick kitty.  

The symptoms hit rapidly - increased water consumption, indiscriminant
urination and increasing lassitude.  I was suspecting a behavioral
problem, not a physical one, because of recent changes in her 
environment.  I know more now.

She was hospitalized for 10 days, then came home with instructions for
two insulin shots daily at 12-hour intervals after being feed.  She
curled up inside my armpit that night, with a rattling purr shaking
her 7 lb frame (down from 11 lbs).

I kept a diary of her eating habits - setting the food out until she stopped
eating, then giving her a shot.  Oh yes, and the twice daily urine 
tests for sugar level were also logged.  Over a four-month period, her
insulin need declined, but my life had changed drastically to meet
the schedule for feeding and monitoring her.  With close vet supervision,
the injections dwindled to one-per-day, then one-per-week, to none at all.
The explanation offered by the vet was that a prescription diet was
helping control the problem, but somehow or another her pancreas
began producing insulin again - something unheard of in humans or dogs.

Bacardi still eats prescription food - which I leave out for her at all
times.  I watch her weight carefully and her water consumption.

Basically, I've lost her once (curse that insensitive fill-in vet for
some of that anguish), and feel I've been blessed by the additional
years we've had together.  As she grows older, I appreciate the time
even more.  Even the annoying paw in my nostril at 5 am when she 
feels it's time for breakfast.

Didn't mean to rattle on about her illness, I thought that was out
of my system.  Moderators:  Perhaps this should be cross-posted or
moved to the Diabetes topic?

Lori
Who-just-discovered-this-topic-last-week

        Well I've been out of this notesfile for several years now. Glad to
    see the policey changes as I'll definitely stay.
    
         I've currently got 9 cats provided kittens some of which will soon
    be placed count.
    
        Kabam is a 14 year old tiger. She's fairly aloof and keeps to
    herself. Finally starting to accept my kids. FWIW my oldest is 12!!
    Her name was based on my getting her from some old friends Kathy and
    Pam with my name being Bob...
    
        Tigeristic Tiger Chung Lee (Tiger for short) is a dark brown 
    manx. She's extremely friendly and loves to talk. Will only drink
    water out of the bathroom sink. She's our little tub which kinda looks
    funny on a manx body. She's a picky eater and though she's never been a
    lap cat loves to sleep with my kids. When we're in the living room
    she'll sit at your feet and stare at you till you get down on the floor
    and play with her.
    
        Patches is Tiger's sister. She's got a nice long tail which Tiger
    likes to bite. She resembles a syborg <SP> with most of her coloring
    being greay and white. The syborg label comes from a peach colored
    patch over her the left side of her face with tiger markings within it.
    She loves the out of doors and makes you chase her when you want her 
    to come in. Unlike her sister she's a lap cat. Even during heatwaves in
    the summer. Her and Tiger to this day still wrestle like a couple of
    kittens.
    
         Prinecton is a cat that was abandoned in Webster. We went camoing
    there last July and he sort of adopted my kids. ie: my wife and I would
    wake up in the A.M. and he'd be sleeping on the outside of my kids tent
    on their feet. We asked the campground owner if we could take him. He 
    seemed incredulous that we'd want such a "WILD" cat. Well he's a
    perfect gentleman. Loves our year old black lab. As a matter of fact
    they sleep together. He gets along fairly well with Kabam,Tiger and
    Patches. He's a lap cat and a face nuzzler. Will walk with you and the
    dog.. Maybe he thinks he's a dog?? He's got the type of disposition
    and personality that would melt the heart of any cat hater.
    
         Ragamuffin is a recent ,probably temporary, addition. She's a
    furry calico with double paws. She was abandoned and we somehow
    managed to inherit her after she became pregnant. She acts as if
    she's been abused and we've had to keep her segregated from our
    other cats when she gets into one of her moods. She's in the adoption
    note....
    
        Kittens: Dusty,Monkey Face (you'd agree if you saw her
    face),PAW-PAW (a double pawed tiger) and Brown Sugar (a light yellow
    tiger) we've placed Brown sugar and depending on how we manage trying
    to find Mom a home may end up keeping 1 or all of the remaining
    kittens. Heck 7 isn't too many right!!
    
             Bob

    Hi!
    
    Sooz, ex-Yank living in Australia here.
    
    I have two GORGEOUS cats!  Sasha, 13, Tonkinese (Burmese Brown/Seal
    Points - are they a recognised breed in US?), a totally regal cat until SHE
    wants cuddles.  They are compulsory after the shower taps gets turned off, 
    she's sitting there
    waiting to be picked up and rubbed for 5 minutes.  While I'm doing this
    the other, Cho Cho San, 2.5, Half Siamese Half Black & White (HUGE eyes,
    white face but looks like she stuck her nose in a stamp pad skewiff),
    sits in the sink suckling herself!  (Can be embarassing, can this be
    stopped?) She follows me constantly, talks
    constantly, but disappears when more than 1 person visits.  Silly girl! 
    If she only knew all the cuddles she is missing!  All my friends are
    cat-lovers....  I'll ALWAYS have cats, they are WONDERFUL company for a
    person living on their own.  Oh yes, they have always lived indoors and
    are quite small 3 & 4 kgs respectively, any truth to the rumours their
    environment has something to do with their size?
    
    Ciao!
    
    

    Well, since I am now "officially approved" to rent the apartment I
    applied for last week, I suppose it's safe to introduce my new kitties.
    Nicodemus and Lasher will be moving in with me on the 18th; they
    currently reside with a friend who found them this past April.  They
    were abandoned along with their mother and 3 brother and 1 sister (I
    wrote about the kittens in the "Cats Looking for Homes" note).
    
    Nicky and Lasher are two cute, approx. 3 months old, little boys.
    
    Nicodemus, alias Nicky, is black with single white hairs here and
    there.  He has gold eyes, and is very rambunctious, but is also a
    little purring lovebug.  He gets his name, after several test names in
    one day, from Lady Marian's black cat in the Kevin Costner "Robin
    Hood" movie.
    
    We originally thought that Lasher was going to be the rambunctious one,
    but he's not -- he's Mr. COOL.  He's a black and white tuxedo style
    kitten with the cutest little white feet:  white mittens in front, but
    the entire leg is white in the back.  He also has a funky white stripe 
    running up his nose between his eyes; it's not a solid white, but rather
    a few white hairs in the black. I'm not quite sure about his eye
    color; it's kind of a dark slate grey that's almost green?? I think it
    might be greener as he grows older.  His favorite place to sleep is on
    my chest just under my chin but not quite in the crook of my neck.  He
    gets his name from a character in Anne Rice's book _The Witching Hour_. 
    The character Lasher is a well-dressed gentleman spirit/demon who
    appears to select people and who drove his "master" insane (hopefully
    this part will not turn out to be the appropriate part of his name!:^).
    
    Finally, I get to have cats back in my life.  It's really not the same
    without them!
    
    Best,
    Michelle

    I have two wonderful little children!
    
    Ebony (alias ebmiester, eboneezer, ebby) is a gorgeous long haired
    black kitty.  I got her in an animal shelter and she'll be two years
    old next month.  She's very aloof, but when she wants attention...well
    let me put it this way, her other nickname is The Rub Queen.  She loves
    having her belly rubbed.....for hours (or so it seems).  
    
    Boo Boo Kitty (alias boo berry, boobenhiemer) is a short haired black
    kitty.  He was abandoned and I took him in.  He is one and a half years
    old.  He is MY cat.  I don't know why, but whenever anyone else comes
    around, he runs and hides.  Some people don't belive I have two cats!
    He is very affectionate and follows me around constantly.  At night
    he has this ritual of kneeding and sucking on my arm before he goes
    to sleep.
    
    These two beautiful creatures of the loves of my life.  I don't know
    how I survived so many years without them.

    I have a new kitty to introduce.  He is a seal point Birman male, 6 1/2
    months old.  His name is Birbop Piano Man of Mysinhs and with any luck
    he will be my new stud cat.  There was a time when I wouldn't have
    thought that luck would be needed when talking about stud cats, but
    Nepenthe has forever changed my attitude about that.  It is because of
    Nepenthe that I now have Piano Man.  Nepenthe, at 21 months old, has
    yet to breed any of my girls.  He has the desire and the equipment, but
    seems to be lacking in his follow through, if you know what I mean.
    
    Anyway, Piano Man is a doll.  One of the nicest looking Birmans I have
    laid eyes on in a long time and I am very pleased to have him.  We are
    still looking for a good nickname for him.  So far we have come up with
    P-man, Chunky Monkey, Ian, B.J., and Billy.  He is named for a Billy
    Joel song.  If anyone has any ideas of a good nickname, let me know.
    
    Jo
                                         

    re: 87
    
    Since I'm an avid Billy Joel fan and I love cats just as much, if not
    more, I'm all for any one of the names you picked.  I do however like
    BJ the best!  And may I add, from one STUD (Billy Joel) to another
    (YOUR CAT) may he bring you many, many litters!  Good Luck!
    
    B.

well, maybe the new guy can show nepenthe what he has been missing...

			I like BJ too -

				D

    I like BJ...but how about Joel!
    
    Sandy

    .87 congrads, Jo.
    
    I have 2 kittens to introduce.
    
    One is a 5 month old female brown/grey tabby and white, with the
    biggest hazel eyes.  She's very energetic, skittish and playful.  Her
    name is Cassie.  We got her from an animal rights group at a cat show
    recently.  
    
    The other is a 3 month old orange tabby.  We named him Rusty; not very
    original, but it fits him pretty well.   He's really lay back, and
    purrs an awful lot.  He likes to sleep on my husband's neck at night
    and is quite a sweetheart.
    
    So now we are up to 3 cats, and it's pretty funny to watch them all
    play together. It's like watching a game of tag... 8)
    
    -Stella + Tetris + Cassie + Rusty  

    Congrats, Stella!  I am happy to hear you have adopted two new
    kitties!!  Love their names too.
    
    Enjoy them!  The baby stage is over before you know it.
    
    -Roberta

Two males, adopted from our local vet:

Spike, an orange tabby, so named as his first 2 acts in the house were
 1) to attempt to assault our 75# Doberman Pinscher
    (ginger a real sweetheart)
 2) to drive said doberman away from her food and start
    eating it.
truly a cat with more guts than brains. He's also 
sometimes refered to as Hangbelly as he seems to have
aquired a paunch in his 5 months of life.

Hurricane (Hurri for short) a buff tabby male, named so
 because he always is in a hurry, and wherever he goes
 he leaves destruction in his wake.

I forgotten just how much fun kittens can be (and how much
of a nuisance the Crazies can be at 2 in the morning).

Thanks,
Keith

    I'm brand new to FELINE but since I'd already gotton some great advice
    from past notes I thought I ought to introduce my purr-boxes.
    
    I got Samantha and Muffin at my local pet store at the end of May. 
    they were a birthday present for my daughter's 8th birthday.  I'd only
    intended to get Muffin, the male that Emily, liked but when the pet
    store attendant opened the door to the kitty cage, Samantha launched
    herself out talking up a storm.  I fell like a ton of bricks.  She's a
    seal-point Himalayan and Muffin is your garden variety black and white
    mix.  Both are charmers.
    
    On Tuesday I took them into the vet to have Muffin neutered and to have
    both of them declawed.  When I went in on Wednesday to get them this
    little white kitten cam running out of the examining room and
    practically leapt into my arms.  His owner had brought him in to have
    him tested for deafness.  The tests were positive and the owner lives
    in the mountains and was afraid he'd get hurt.  I offered to take him
    and, to make a long story short, we took little Beethoven home last
    night!
    
    Hopefully Muffin and Samantha will adjust fairly soon.  Of course,
    Beethoven doesn't hear them hissing and growling at him so it doesn't
    bother him at all, but my daughter was really upset about them "not
    being nice" to the new kitty.
    
    Nanci

    I got Bumble Bea through the old Notes file about 2-1/2 years ago.
    Someone in Nashua had entered the note. A friend of hers had found
    a paperbag in the back of someone's pickup truck. A note attached said
    "kitten inside". I'm told her eyes were not opened at that time.
    
    She was so tiny when we brought her home, but it became evident why
    she survived her ordeal. The very next morning she climbed the stairs
    to our bedroom!
    
    
                                         Susan

    I am sorry.... I almost burst out laughing.  "hangbelly" sounds just
    like my "tubba".  It is the purrfect description... just picturing it
    is making me laugh!  I might name one of my new kitties after him!  
    
    O fcourse on the serious side heh,heh, usually, I mean USUALLY they
    lose this type of belly as they get older.  Tubba never did!
    
    Karen and her 13

    I am please to announce that we have added Sasquatch (Sassy) to our
    household.   Sassy is a huge neutered long-hair male...and is
    a real sweetheart.   He is still a little nervous around us...but 
    everyday he gets to know us better!!! 
    
    Sasquatch is the stray cat that we found in our neighborhood...and 
    the poor big guy has an inoperable malignant tumor on his face.  We 
    have been to two different vets...and all of them say Sassy is not
    suffering yet...but he will be visiting kitty heaven sometime in
    the near future.   He is such a gorgeous cat...even with the tumor!!
    
    We will give Sass much love that he deserves...and hopefully he will
    find comfort in our home and we can spoil him rotten.  So far we
    found out he does NOT like Shrimp, Crab, or Sardines...but he does
    love Sliced Chicken and Tuna!! His favorite treat is CATNIP....so
    we give him a little every day!!!
    
    This will be very hard for us...but it is something both Ernie and
    I feel we need to do for him!!    I am still struggling with hope...
    that maybe somebody can do something......but that is my heart talking
    not my head!!
    
    Welcome Sasquatch to the Merritt Clan!!!  May you find alot of love
    at our home!!
    
    Sandy/Ernie (Poco, Barkley, Angus, Chloe, Dewey, Abby, 
                 Bogie, Van Gogh, JC)
                          

    Sandy, you and your husband are just wonderful.  Sasquatch is one very
    lucky cat.  Give him some hugs for me, too.  I hope by some miracle
    that tumor won't grow and he'll have many happy years with you.  But if
    not, at least his last months will be VERY happy with you.
    
    Steffi

    Sandy,
    
    It's so wonderful that you have taken Sassy into your hearts!  He
    deserves all the love and attention he'll get from you and your hubby
    before he must leave this world.   It will be difficult when the time
    comes that he is suffering too much, but you'll just have to remember
    the joy of having him in your life for even a short time.
    
    Best,
    Michelle

    Sandy,
    
    I am so impressed!  Not only of your generosity and compassion
    for adopting Sasquatch but of your strength.  Knowing that you
    will have a short time with him ... you are still willing to
    share your love.  He is one VERY lucky cat, and you are very
    lucky as well ... I know how cats who are 'saved' tend to be 
    very grateful and extremely loving.
    
    Although your time together will be limited I know it will be
    a very special time for all of you.
    
    Good luck and keep us posted as to his progress.
    
    Marilyn & Otis
    

    Sandy,
    
    Having recently experienced a similar relationship, I know this.....
    
    he will make you laugh, and make you cry, and then you will cry
    again...
    
    and then you will laugh again......   but much later.
    
    God bless you and Ernie and Sass...
    
    N

I'm only a temporary employee, and won't be here for very long but when I saw 
this I couldn't help but respond. I have only one (an amateur to some of you, I 
know) but I love her almost as much as life itself.

Cheetara (AKA Chi or Pooka) is a huge 4 year old black and grey with white bib
and paws, neutered domestic short hair.  She is 19 lbs. of pure love/fun/purrs , 
in short everything good that life has to offer. She's had me since she was 
7 weeks old and I haven't regretted (well maybe once or twice, I am after all, 
only human) answering that "free-to-good-home" ad.  
She loves to be held, cuddled, scratched, even bathed but unless you want major 
surgery keep the blow-dryer away!  She grabs anything that moves, feet, flies, 
scarves caught in a breeze.  This now the main reason I refuse to see Stephen
King's Pet Semetary, because I live with a cat possessed!  Her favorite pasttime 
is seeing how many ways she can get away with eating cellophane,just because the 
vet (just another human element to ignore) told her not to.  
I swear she's psychic!  I suffer from migraines and she seems to know 
when one has me in its grip because she climbs into the bed or onto the sofa 
or wherever I might collapse, and gives my head a massage that would rival the 
best accupuncturist or masseuse in town!    
She is definitely a house cat, even shying away from open doors, and on the rare 
occasions when I take her outside to try to convince her of a slightly different 
way of life, she doesn't speak to me for the rest of the day, even shooting me 
looks of death whenever I glance over to where she may be perched.
Our single disagreement is children.  I have none of my own but love them and
almost always have them around.  Chi doesn't!  Every single child that has been 
to my home has left scarred and 99% of the time without provocation because all 
have been warned.  

Well, I've rambled long enough.  Thank you for having a section for me to share
my feelings about "the love of my life".
 

Lisa

    
	
	We have a new addition to our family. She, Scatter, actually belongs to 
Kai. He has been wanting a playmate for a long time and Teddy has lost touch 
with his ancestry. His mentor is Morris and he would rather be admired and 
pampered than lower him self and act like a cat.
	She's a calico and wears her colors like a badge of honor. She's about 
8 weeks old, fits in the palm of your hand and has more energy than Seabrook.
She has made her self at home and is not the least bit timid or shy, one of 
the most out going kittens I've ever seen. She will play for hours and then 
seek out Diane's lap for a nap.
	For now she is confined to the upstairs bathroom when we are not home
because of her intestinal parasites. This will have to continue for another 5 
weeks. Other than that, she is very healthy and I would recommend her litter 
mates to anyone looking for another kitty. She is people orientated, 
tolerates a bath, having her nails clipped and brushed/combed with out a 
fuss. 
	We had another name picked out, but after having her for a few days, 
Diane and I realized that it just didn't fit. You can't name a cat before you 
even see it, which is what we tried. Anyway, Scatter fits MUCH better.
	Kai has been acting like a big brother. We knew he would. Some times 
he will lay on the floor twitching his tail back and forth letting Scatter 
play with it. They chase each other around the house and play "tag". The only 
thing that gets Kai upset is when Scatter runs under the furniture and comes 
out behind him and bats him in the rear. He gives her a dirty look, walks away 
only to resume the chase later.
	So, Scatter makes three. And you know, we feel good about giving this 
"throw away" a home. I just feel bad about her brothers and sister still out 
there. You should see the little blue cream. When I held her, she snuggled up 
in my hands and closed her eyes. Now, wouldn't somebody out love to own a 
kitten like this?

Diane and Mike
    

    Congrats Diane and Mike!  I love the name Scatter!  That is truly a
    classic!!
    
    I am not surprised that Teddy feels he is of royal blood.  With a face
    like that I would too!
    
    Welcome, Scatter!
    
    -Roberta
    

    Well, they have been officially named (mostly!) so it is time for their
    coming out party!
    
    Introducing: Moonsta's Cosmo Topper - white oriental male
    		 Moonsta's Cassandra - white oriental female (jim's name)
    		 Moonsta's Astor Linxus - seal lynx point female
    	and 	 Moonsta's Travis Quebec - (waiting for the final word from
    new mom on this one) seal point male.
    
    Date of birth is July 16, 1992. 
    

    
    	Well she's not really mine but I'm fostering her for a month
    	so I'm put her in here anyway!  =)
    
    	Say hello to Kiki.  A siamese cross who is all white except for
    	a gray smudge between her ears (like DWeeBs!).  She's 11 weeks
    	old and your typical kitten.  I'm taking care of her for my best
    	friend till she moves into her new apartment.  Right now she's
    	locked in my bathroom till after her FeLV test today.  Wanna make
    	sure before she starts running around with my monsters.  Though
    	she is getting impatient and escaped this morning.  =)  Sasha
    	knows there's something in there she doesn't like and hisses
    	every time I come out of the bathroom.  Audrey is really curious
    	as to what this little white thing is.
    
    	She loves to get underfoot.  She's going to be a hand full, I 
    	can tell.  =)
    
    	JJ
    

    Good morning!  
    
    My son (Todd) and his girlfriend adopted a kitten from a litter
    at the local shelter.  She is now 2 months old - all white with a 
    streak of gray at the top of her head and a gray tail.  After having 
    her checked at Central Animal Hospital - Dr. Mulcahy said she's in 
    good health - was tested for FelV and Aids (both negative) and will 
    be getting her shots this week.
    
    Todd (my son) said that she is SO good.  At first they were
    contemplating having her de-clawed (after she climbed his leg
    like a tree-trunk) but the vet explained that if they keep her
    claws constantly clipped - it would be better - which it is!
    Todd also said her favorite pastime is kissing you...she LOVES
    to kiss.  She watches television (he has a picture of her watching
    "The Simpsons") and has to be near the both of them all the time.
    
    I haven't seen her yet - but I cannot wait to hold her.  Her name
    is Abigail .... and my daughter said she is BEAUTIFUL!
    
    

    
    I would like to take a moment to introduce a baby that has taken
    "permanent residence" in my household.  I sent her CFA registration
    in this a.m. so I guess it is official!
    
    CALYX Kisa (pronounced kee-sa) is a blue female Exotic Shorthair from
    my first litter with Callie.  Her brother and sister have been placed and 
    I have not been able to find the right home for her so she is staying with 
    mumma and the Bales.  She has an absolutely gorgeous, plush coat and when 
    you look at her you immediately think "blue" (my friend's 10 year old said 
    after seeing her for the first time, "mum, I have never seen a BLUE cat 
    before!").  She takes after her mother with a low, short nose (and looks
    just like her minus the cream), but picked up her dad's heavy boning. It 
    is amazing to me how much this girl talks.  She talks and talks.  If I 
    didn't know better I'd say she has siamese in her!  It has been such a 
    change from Callie (who seldom talks) and the Bales (who NEVER talks).  She
    is a definate cuddler and will start purring if I just look at her. 
    
    8'D
    
    
    
    
    

    Welcome, Blue Girl!
    

    Congrats, Marlene.  I'm so glad you decided to keep Kisa.  (Pretty
    name).  I can't wait to see all your kids.
    
    Hugs,
    Steffi

    Welcome Kisa!  I love her name too.  Hey, does it count if you take an
    Exotic Longhair and then cut her down into a short hair??!!  Plush
    sounds much better (and a little less work to boot)!
    Karen

    
    
    	Update to .106
    
    	Well the little white wonder has gone off to her permanent
    	home.  If nothing else, she has made me understand that I
    	do NOT want to go through kittenhood again.  =)  She is 
    	quite sweet though and I will get to see her quite a bit.
    	It looks like she'll have no problem with my friend's 18
    	month old daugher. Cassidy was following her around constantly
    	last night when I first brought her over.
    
    	Oh, and she has a new name....Harley!  Although to Cassidy it
    	will always be kiki....she can't say kitty!  =)
    
    	JJ
    

     
    re: .111  Karen, you just don't know how many times that I have wished
              I could take an Exotic Longhair and cut them down!!! ;'D
              

    We have a new (temporarily, I think) kitten!
    
    In a nutshell.  My son and girlfriend adopted a 6 week old kitten,
    however Kris (the girlfriend) is epileptic and is in the process
    of modifying her medication, diet and sleep pattern and Abigail
    is interrupting her sleep.  They have tried all ways to deal with
    this problem - but to no avail.
    
    I told them I would be happy to keep her and they have full visiting 
    rights, they will pay for all vet fee's and spay, kitty litter and 
    bring me some food.
    
    We got her Saturday and I didn't do a d@mn thing all week-end
    long.  My house is not "kitten" proofed and I was a nervous
    wreck for two days.  She is a long-haired, 2 pounds, all white
    with a streak of gray on her head and gray (ringed) tail.
    
    Otis took to her immediately - he is such a mellow love!  She
    did intimidate him, however, and would try in vain to get him
    to respond.  She did manage to chase him around in three rooms 
    and I thought - he needs the exercise or he would drop dead of
    a heart attack (that isn't funny) because he hasn't run like
    that in 2 years.
    
    Tiffany came downstairs took one look at Abigail and went right
    back upstairs.  This morning my daughter (Tracey) went to the
    refrigerator to get a glass of orange juice and Tiffany was
    ON TOP of it!  That was funny because she is so fat (we call her
    "fat bertha") and we couldn't figure out HOW she managed to
    get up there.  To think a fat cat and 21 lb Otis can be SO
    intimidated.
    
    Curtains had to be draped (instead of falling to the floor),
    all floors vacuumed and dusted, toilet seat kept down, plants
    put away ... boy, I forgot how many places are traps and
    hazards for little kittens.
    
    My concern, however, is leaving her alone.  I felt so guilty
    leaving for work this morning as I had envisioned in my mind
    all the things that could happen to her.  We thought of
    barricading her - and if she were the only cat that could 
    have been okay - but with the other two (especially Otis)
    trying to open the door to get her out - it could have created
    more havoc.  
    
    Tracey will be gone from 9:45 - 1:30 and promised to call me
    with a full report.  I pray to God they all sleep (is that
    possible)?
    
    Anyway.  Don't know how long we will have her - but she is a
    welcome diversion!
    
    Marilyn, Otis, Tiffany, Abigail and "stray"
    
    P.S.  And, when she goes to bed at night she purrs and curls up
          inside my neck.  God, didn't sleep at all thinking I could
          roll over and seriously hurt her.  Didn't happen, thank
          God.
    
    

    All right Cheryl! You hounded me into it! I'll FINALLY introduce the
    newest member of my family. 
    
    FINNIGAN, aka FOFUM, aka Big Guy came to live with us a few weeks ago.
    We took him home from the shelter. Nick fell in love with him
    instantly, and when he didn't get adopted fast enough for Nick, we took
    him home.
    
    He is a big red cat with a bit of white under his chin, and a couple
    white rings at the end of his tail. He's a pretty big boy, weighing in
    at the vets at almost 14 pounds. 
    
    He's such a big love. He's definitely Daddy's Boy though. He loves me
    too, but Nick can do about anything to him, and he just lays there like
    a rag! It's wonderful to watch. He also tends to sleep on Nick's side
    of the bed. That's fine with me, cause the two girls sleep with me, and
    the few times he's joined them, I've been curled up in a ball all
    night! ;-)
    
    Feendoonie and Furby are getting along all right with him. They aren't
    best friends yet, but they eat side by side, and there are no fights.
    Only a hiss once in a while if they surprise one another.
    
    All in all, he's a great addition to the Colaianni Clan!
    
    Yonee
    
    There, are you happy now Cheryl?!!! ;-)  

    Yonee, you failed to mention where the name FOFUM came from though. 
    Well, I take the honors for giving him these prestigious name.  It's
    short for Fee Fi Fo Fum because yonee described this cat as a giant. 
    We had to use the "F" naming scheme to match the names Feedoonie and
    Furby.  Yonee wanted a different F name that was derogatory.  :^)
    
    Oh oh, this means Yon and I are tied with 3 cats now.  It's a tie for
    who gets BBBlue!

    I thought I had replied here before, but I can't seem to find an
    entry,so I will reply again.
    
    We are PURRQUETT Cattery (Persians and recently started Burmese), in
    Arlington, TX.  We show exclusively in CFA.  I won't try to name all of
    our 'kids' here but will get most of them in.  Many catteries name
    their kitties following some sort of theme.  Our theme for awhile was
    stage phrases/terms as you will notice.  My wife has decided to change
    the theme to wildflower names now, although none of these have reached
    show age as of yet.
    
    GRC, GRP Purquett Glimmer 'O' Hope - A cream & white Persian male,
    AKA 'Bimber' (don't ask), was our first show quality breeding.  He was
    3RD Best Kitten in Gulf Shore Region 1988-89.  He was a two show grand,
    finishing with over 250 points.  He is now showing in Premiership, and
    we are showing him quite often.  He loves to travel, really enjoys hotel
    rooms, and sits in a judging ring with the look of "your toys are really
    childish, so don't bother me".
    
    GRP Purrquett Opening Act - A blue & while Persian male, AKA 'Opie'.
    Opie now lives with one of my co-workers.  He never really out-grew
    being a kitten, as he continually rejected the theory of Persians being
    laid-back.
    
    CH Jenjo's Cyrenthia of Purrquett - A tortie Persian, AKA 'Renthia'.
    Renthia is one of our 'breeder' girls, although she did get a few grand
    points via Best Champion of Division wins.
    
    CH Brannaway Angelique of Purrquett - Another tortie Persian, also one
    of our breeders.  Angelique really did not care for showing, so we
    didn't force it.
    
    Windpegs Spearmint of Purrquett - A copper-eyed white Persian, who is
    deaf.  She has blue-eyed whites in her pedigree, and we are
    experimenting with trying to produce odd-eyed bi-colored Persians.
    
    Purrquett Marquee - Yet another tortie (you see, tortie bred to
    bi-color males has high probability of producing calico, which my wife
    is more than fanatical about).  Marquee is a very stocky girl, a
    characteristic which we hope she passes on.
    
    Purrquett Center Stage - A calico persian, AKA 'Cenny'.  Would have
    been in shows except for a crooked tooth, which causes her to 'tip' her
    tongue.
    
    Purrquett Critique's Choice - Another calico, AKA 'Critty'.  Daughter
    of Angelique, shared her mother's dislike of shows.
    
    Purrquett Frick 'N - (she has a sister named 'Frack') Still another
    calico (I said my wife was crazy about them), purely a breeder.
    
    Kristles Waltz Across Texas - (Couldn't get Purrquett on the end, it
    was too long for CFA registry)  A blue-cream Persian, daughter of
    Glimmer.  We haven't shown her (yet), although she might do well later.
    
    Purrquett Applause - Cream & white male, AKA 'Pause'.  Wonderful type,
    but has a minor color fault.  One of our 'studs'.
    
    Brannaway Hot Rod of Purrquett - Black & white male, another of our
    'studs'.
    
    CH Escada's The Majestic of Purrquett - Blue & white male, became a
    'boy' at a much too early age.  Cut his show career early, he sprayed
    everywhere.  A kitten at heart, but physically a stud.
    
    CH Karibe's Nukomer of Purrquett - (pronounced 'New comer') Sable Burmese,
    AKA 'Nuko'.  First Burmese in a Persian household, the burms have
    really livened up the place.  I was showing her until she popped a
    'cherry-eye' (Burmese people will know what I'm talking about).  She
    has had one litter, and I going to have her spayed, since the
    'cherry-eye' can be hereditary.
    
    Purrquett Chess - Sable burmese female, the first Purrquett Burmese. 
    She was too small to show until recently.  She finally filled out, her
    color came in, and unfortunately, is a tussle with her sister, she
    sustained a nick in one of her ears.  So, alas, I still can't show her.
    
    Well this has gone on long enough, I will formally introduce myself in
    note 15.
    

    On Friday, my hubby went to visit his cousin in Phoenix.  When I got
    home from work, he (my husband) greeted me in the garage and said he
    had something to tell me before I went into the house.  
    
    What he said was "we have a new addition to the family".  Well, he went
    on and on with this story about this abandoned kitten his cousin had
    found and how his cousin couldn't afford to keep it and how the kitty
    was to be taken to "the Pound" on Saturday!  Well, "how could I just
    leave it there", he said to me!!!!
    
    Although we were not looking for more pets (we already have more than
    most people  would consider reasonable) but when one sort of falls in
    your lap, what's a person to do?
    
    We kept the kitty separated for the night and brought her to the vet on
    Saturday for her feline leukemia test which turned out negative.  So it
    looks like we do have another member to the family.  I paid for the
    kitten package which my vet offers and saves me about 20% for all her
    shots, tests and spay.  
    
    Kitty has been named Gypsy.  She is about 3 and 1/2 months old and is
    mostly white with a little grey patch on the top of her head and two or
    three very faint grey rings on the tip of her tail.  She crys quite
    loudly and has a somewhat pointed face which leads me to believe she
    may have a little siamese in her.  And, she is "Oh so lovealbe".  She
    will purr and sit in our laps for hours.
    
    Gypsy has already made friends with Sam (the snowshoe) but the other
    two cats, Cali and Sweety are not so agreable with this new situation
    although I feel they will adjust within a short time.  The dogs are
    curious but this too is going well.  
    
    I'm so glad John brought Gypsy home.  Not only did he save the life of
    a kitten but the next time he points at me and says "NO MORE PETS, JEANNE" 
    I will kindly remind him of the day Gypsy came into our lives.
    
    Jeanne
     

Oh, I love these happy kitten stories!!  And tell Sweety that her Grandma Mary
says to take care of her new little sister!!

And what would most people consider reasonable????  Most people groan when
I tell them I have 8.......

Good luck with Gypsy and keep those cute kitten stories coming!!!

Grandma Mary

    I would like to introduce my newest addition.  Actually he won't get
    here until Sunday nite but with all the excitement and planning...
    Fentra's (Eclipse)of Moonsta!  He is a blue point male born on Sept.
    14th of 1992. Siamese of course!!! I have not even seen him yet but I
    have seen his duplicate of a previous mating. According to his present
    owner (after we picked him apart) he is as good and in some ways better
    than his four show grand brother.  This will be wonderful for our
    cattery.  We will be able to use him with all the other kitties/breeds
    I have, but he will also be my first true Siamese and this can now open
    up that option for me if I wish.
    
    Best of all he is about the same age as the kittens I now have and we
    hope to acclimate him right in with the gang, after a little quarantine
    of course.  From what I understand he is a little love bug. It will be
    very wonderful to have a blue point boy around!
    (hopefully I won't be changing his new name to much)
    Karen
    and her ten at the moment!

    Karen,
    
        Congratulations on the anticipated new addition! It's always
    exciting to have a new kid join the cattery and it sounds as though
    this is an extra special one for you.
    
       The name is perfect so I hope it is accepted just as it is! :^)  I'll
    be looking forward to meeting you and Eclipse at the shows. A new 
    Siamese is no small event in a person's life! :^)  I hope he brings you
    lots of pleasure ...and fulfills all your dreams for him.
    
       Keep us posted on him. I have a feeling your going to have some
    stories to tell about this one!  :^)
    
    Linda
                   

    I guess I was a little quick on reply 120! I have been waiting since
    the "Big Storm" for this little guy!!!  He will come home on thursday,
    Christmas Eve.  WE are driving to Brookefield CT. in the morning to get
    him.  
    
    It is going to be a VERY busy holiday and new year for the Moonsta
    Clan.  WE will be taking delivery on a very prestigious little man on
    Sunday.  He is coming to pay suit to Josette.  He is GC Glor-Ees Road
    Warrior aka Willy.  A national best colorpoint in the CFA 87-88 year. 
    His mom is sending him with his little "pants" so he can come out and
    play with us!  We may also be getting a new female silver spotted
    oriental.  We saw her at the Rhode Island show a couple of months back
    and she sure is pretty!  We will keep you up to date as life goes on!
    Karen who thouhght the head count was getting low, well you know!

pants?

and while we're at it, what is a moonsta? Short for Moon Station?

Oh. Does he need the pants so he doesn't 'moon' anyone?


                                    seh

    Lots for you to look forward to in the year ahead, Karen. What a great
    way to spend Christmas eve ..getting to know your new little guy. Best
    of luck with him ...and your prospective litter.
    
    There's no denying things aren't always perfect in the world of cat
    breeding and showing ...but ...Ah, ...such dreams we have!
    
    
    Happy Holidays to all you Feliners  ...and to those you care about...
    
    Linda  :^)
                     

    I don't think I have an entry in here so I'll introduce our gang.  I
    remember when 2 was a really good number of cats to own.  I don't know
    how we got to 5.  It just happened.  No more.
    
    1.  Curie - (short for Madame Curie) - She's a calico and about 3 years
                old.  She is the ruler of the household and the smartest.
                She's always into something.  She doesn't talk very often.
                She'll give a little meow of content when she is loved.
                She is the wood-stove tester.  A fire is not perfect until
                Curie is stretched out smiling in front of it.
    
    2.  Darwin - Darwin, like Curie is 3 years old.  He is a long-haired
                 gray tiger.  We found him out in the desert one day after
                 ballooning.  Someone had taken the entire litter, 3 cats,
                 placed them in a cardboard box, duct-taped it closed and
                 left it in the desert.  All three cats found good homes.
                 I don't know what abuses Darwin endured prior to being
                 with us.  He is very stand-offish.  He wants occasional
                 petting but not holding.  If he wants attention and no
                 one is noticing, he walks through the house with a meow
                 that sounds like he's dying.  He loves sleeping on feet.
                 He's a little wary of everything but seems pretty happy.
    
    3.  Flynx -  Flynx belonged to my housemate's daughter.  The cat was
                 dropped off and daughter didn't visit it for a year.  Her
                 Mom became very attached and said that after a year
                 without a visit, she was claiming the cat.  A family
                 feud ensued.  Gail, my housemate's daughter, is in college
                 and Flynx had moved around a lot and was very skittish.
                 He's really calmed down a lot.  He's marked like a pinto
                 and is part siamese with beautiful blue eyes.  He's a
                 one-person cat and adores Marsha, my housemate.  He's
                 about 5 years old.
    
    4.  Linus - (named after Linus Pauling).  Linus is 6 months old and is
                an orange tabby just like Morris.  Our cat, Amber, died
                of a kidney infection last summer.  I didn't realize
                how much I missed her until I found myself reading the
                papers looking for someone to take her place.  I contend
                that I was only looking - Marsha claims that she brought
                Linus home because she was afraid of what I might show
                with.  I've always wanted an orange tabby and my little
                buddy Linus has a great personality.  I think he and Curie
                are going to be into everything together.
    
    5.  Abby -  Abby is named for the abbysinian [sp?] look she has.  One
                of Marsha's coworkers has been feeding this little cat for
                several weeks.  She was trying to find a home but all else
                fell through and she was headed for the pound.  Here in
                Albuquerque, we have the Animal Humane Society and the
                pound.  The pound doesn't care what happens to the animal
                but animal humane interviews owners and won't let a pet
                go to a home they think is a mismatch.  Anyway, Animal
                Humane is full so Abby was headed for the pound and an
                almost certain death.  We couldn't let that happen.  She
                is a tortoise shell with mostly tiger markings.  She's
                small and the vet says she's about 2 or 3 years old.
                She was spayed yesterday and had a gum infection which
                was cleaned up.  The woman that was feeding her says
                she had been eating from only one side of her mouth
                (the cat, not the woman).  Anyway, she must have been
                in pain and still, the one night she spent at the house,
                showed her to have such a gentle nature.  With fixed teeth
                and a clean bill of health, she comes home tomorrow to
                a great house to be a cat in.

    re: 14.56 -- Update.  
    
        Wumpkin has gone to Kitty Heaven (last August).
    
        Harry (the Rat) is still 22 lbs of long, lean kittenhood!
    
        _____________________ has just arrived from the Pat Brody Shelter.
           (name goes here)
    
        She's a black-and-white domestic shorthair, and she's a LOVE.  She
    doesn't like to be picked up, but will crawl over to have her belly
    tickled, and is very good with her paws (no claws unless absolutely
    necessary).
    
         Her former shelter name was "Bugeyes," but (as mentioned in the
    PBS note) her eyes definitely do not pop out -- they merely get big and
    round in amazement.
    
         She's the coolest cat I've ever seen in terms of meeting new cats
    -- I think that's because she lived at the shelter for about 6 months,
    and was used to lots of cats coming and going.
    
         More tales as her personality reveals itself.  I've got friends
    coming over for New Year's Eve and we will ponder names -- but I'm
    content to let her reveal her true name to me, and for the moment call
    her anything and everything as the mood strikes me.
    
    Happy New Year, feliners everywhere!

Bumble Bea's eyes do that under certain circumstances, and it
is the most precious sight I ever saw! Most recently, we were
decorating the Christmad tree, and I leaned around the tree to
see her staring at me in the most wide-eyed amazement. Several
neighbors and visitors have said she was 'sweet' and I think
this is one reason they think that. The other reason people
think she is sweet is they have never seen her taking swipes
at us from the highest perch of her 'tree'.


                                  seh

    How 'bout naming 'bugeyes' Sally?

    Michelle, I had the very same thought!  :^)

	Ok, these aren't my cats, but I wanted to introduce them anyway.
	My sister lost her old dog Zelda on New Year's day, and when she
	and her husband brought down the leftover dog food to the shelter
	the next day, they returned with not one, but two kittens!  These
	two babies have certainly filled a big hole in their home:

	Gabriella (Gabby) is a 4-month-old tortie who is absolutely
	amazing!  Within an hour, she had taken over the house, and every
	lap in it.  She purrs constantly and follows you everywhere.  One
	side of her face is lighter in color than the other side - a very
	interesting effect!  Gabby was found abandoned in an apartment
	complex, and may be part Siamese - at least her mouth is :^}

	Sophie is 5 months old, and all black with yellow eyes.  She's a
	bit more shy than Gabby, but loves to be held.  Her purr is much
	louder than Gabby's, but you have to work a little bit harder for
	it.  She looks like she's going to be a *big* cat.  Both have
	short hair and yellow eyes, but Sophie has an enormous tail.

	Welcome to the family from your cousins:

	Smudge, Tas, Jenny, C.C., Beau, Spike, and Jaco, the dog...

                   
    	New to the confernece so I guess I should first introduce the
    cats.
    	A little background....my fiancee just started a cattery.  We
    had several barnyard cats before now.
    	First in the house...Calipso...a torti point Himmi.  This cat
    I like alot.  Sort of a mistake Jeane made by getting her.  Calipso
    just turned a year old on January 1 and just came out of heat today.
    She is the witch of the family.  Doesn't want much to do with the 
    other cats until she went into heat.  She changed alot then.  She
    is CFA registered but doesn't have the best of lines.
    	Second in the house was Jezibell (not sure if this is the way
    Jeane spells it but its the way we say it).  She is the real Queen
    of the house.  From the day we got her, she acted like she owned the
    house.  She didn't care what Calipso thought at all.  She just took 
    over.  She is, I think, about 7 months old.  We got her from a cattery
    in N.H..  She is a yellow tabby with the uglyest face you ever saw.
    Her nose is so far shoved into her face that she has trouble breathing
    and eating at times.  She is so ugly that you just have to feel sorry
    for her.  She has both show and breader qualities.  Comes from great
    lines.  Just the way she walks around, you can tell she will do good
    at shows.  Whenever she walks, her tail is straight up in the air
    except for the very end which sort of curls towards her head.  I call
    her pig face.  She eats like a pig and makes just as much a mess.
    	Last in the house is Simon.  A purebread too.  Great lines.  He
    is a moosehead and he looks like a moose too.  He is about a year and 
    a half old.  We got him from a breeder/show coordinator.  He is a 
    quiet cat but has both great show and breed qualities.  He is already
    a champion in his class.  Should be easy to grand.  The only problem
    is that the previous owner had cut his backend up so bad that it will
    take 6 months for his hair to grow back.  She said that she didn't have
    the time to take care of him anymore and was gettng out of breeding.
    We got a good deal on him.  He is all black.  Only problem is that he
    wanted nothing to do with Colipso the last week...at least while we
    were home.  Jeane is getting worried and now wants to get another male.
    	All the cats are alowd to roam the house at their free will.  BTW,
    Jezzi and Simon both are CFA and the other one, registered.  Both are
    Purrsions....
    
    		Hal

    
    	Well, we have another baby on the way.....will arrive US AIR on
    Saturday.  She will come from Florida.  A calico van female Persian.
    Breader only.  Now the problem is.......a name!
    
    		I like   Marbles
    
    
    		Jeane & Hal

    What's a "calico van" persian?

    I believe he's talking about the same thing that CFF calls a Harlequin.
    In this case, a tortie harlequin.
    
    It means that it's basically a calico cat with markings only on it's
    head, tail, and feet.  In this case, a white cat with black/red
    markings on it's head, feet, and tail.  In CFF they can also have up to
    two spots of color on their body, no bigger than a silver dollar.
    
    Holly
    

    
    	I think Holly is right...we haven't seen the cat yet but from what
    Jeane told me.....it is mostly white with black and red on the back.
    The thing here is....now Jeane can make babies that will be three
    colors....the rarest from what she told me.  This whole gene thing
    is hard to understand....like...mix a red female and a black male
    and you get NO black cats at all...?  Doesn't make sence to me......
    Someone ought to start a note telling what you get if you mix this 
    with that...etc...interesting stuff.
    
    		Hal

    Hal,
    
    Check out 64.99.  That has a LOT Of information in it.
    
    Holly
    

    
    
    	Well, the new member of the family arrived last Saturday.  It was
    not an easy task.  The new cat was to be her at 2pm on a flight from
    Miami Florida.  Well, two dogs were brought out and nothing else.  We
    asked where the cat was and they said that the dogs were the only pets
    on the plane.  After doing some digging, the cat was found on a flight
    to Chicago.  They told us that they could get the cat here by 11 pm.
    Well, we were quite upset by all this.  First off the ticket we bought
    for the cat was PDQ guarenteed and now we had to drive home, drive back
    they back home again.  This is no hop, skip and a jump from where we
    live.  We told the airline person and she said that her supervisor
    would call us when we got home.  Well, we got the call and it ends up
    that they gave us the money back for the airline ticket and then had
    a taxi drive the cat to our house.  The cat finally arrived at about 
    12:45 am.  
    	She is mostly white with torte tail and back legs.  There is a
    patch of black and red on her back going from one side to the other.
    Her face is mostly white with one black ear and and one red ear.  Her
    nose is not as far back as Simon's or Jezabell's but her parents both
    are so hopefully she will end up throwing a show cat.
    	The name Marbels doesn't seem to fit her with all she's gone 
    through to get her so a new name is in order...
    
    	something like   LeChatt's Unknown Destany of Jeaneans
    
    
    	Hal

 
 Merlin found us November 3rd, 1992. After calling my former vet to find 
 out where to look for kittens (an excellent resource by the way), the 
 receptionist suggested The Grain Store in Hollis. I called ahead to make 
 sure they had kittens and drove out with my son. 

 We were shown the cage where the kittens were and as my son opened the 
 door, Merlin (one of the two kittens) practically leaped into Graham's 
 arms. It was as though he was throwing himself at us. He began to purr 
 up a storm. I remember how totally relaxed he was. He just sort of melted
 into Graham's arms. I have to admit, I was a bit leary and wanted to make
 sure this kitty was OK (We had just returned one to the H.S. in Lowell
 after a VERY bad experience).

 We let him down on the floor to run around, but he stayed right with us...
 purring and rubbing against our legs and hands. I thought his motor was
 going to overheat as loudly as he was purring! Needless to say, it didn't
 take him as long as it did us to decide that we were his choice. 

 I can get pretty teary-eyed talking about this kitty. In all my years of
 having cats, this is the first time ever that I've experienced being 
 totally accepted and loved by an animal. Merlin is not like any other cat 
 I've had. What most of you have noted is *REALLY* true: We are adopted by 
 them, not the other way around.

 Talk about unconditional love! Whoa! Sometimes it's as though he just 
 can't get enough lovin'. He sleeps with me or with Graham...right on the
 pillow, or with his head on my cheek and his body flung around my neck.
 He has really won his way into our hearts. I don't know how we got so 
 lucky. I hope he outlives me!

 Well, before I get totally out of control, here's his description.

 He was born ~1 September 1992, so he's about 21 weeks old, short-haired 
 and black (absolutely) from his nose to the tip of his *very* long tail. 
 Even his whiskers and toenails are black. His eyes are golden-green. His 
 face is Siamese-shaped -- long and narrow. In direct sunlight one can see 
 faint tabby markings in his fur. His coat is ultra soft and has a real 
 lustrous sheen to it. His legs are elegantly long, narrow and tapered to 
 his toes. He looks regal and in charge!  Yes, he smiles too. 

 I've been saying good-by to him when I go out, and he's beginning to greet
 me at the door now when I return. Neat.  :o)  He's a talker...which I'm
 a sucker for, so we have some pretty long and intriguing conversations 
 about all sorts of stuff. He's very knowledgeable!

 He's teaching me to play tag with him (I'm "it" most of the time) and he
 keeps the sink warm for me in the morning while I put on my make up. I
 guess there is a difference between bathroom and kitchen water after all!

 He travels well. I drove 1400 miles over Christmas and he was content with
 the ride and all the new surroundings. He even got along with my sister's 
 Lab at their house. What a guy!

 Well, that's my intro...Guess I sort of went beyond the 25-words-or-less 
 limit, huh?  I love him. Does it show???   ;o)                   -Karren

    
    	Well, we got another one.....this persian was flown here Saturday
    night from Texas.  No problems this time (if you read about the last
    kitty that was flow in).  Her name....is....Ethel.  Don't look Ethel,
    actually.  She is a calaco, mostly black and red with a little white
    under her chin and on the tips of every foot.  Her pedigree matches
    well with Simon and we hope to get some very nice show cats.  Short
    tale, short ears which are wide apart and a very square face.  Her
    nose is a little down but she is just a breeder.  How she got her name
    you may ask...well, we were told that Ethel was to be sold to this
    woman in Virgina who's name is Ethel, but the deal fell through for
    some reason.  So, don't look Ethel...who ever you are...because Ethel
    is now our little Queen.  At any rate, Ethel is a very loving girl and
    needed so much assurance the first night that we didn't get but a
    couple of hours sleep.  She wouldn't leave us alone.  Then, when we 
    got up in the morning, Ethel split and hid under the dresser, I guess
    we were lots bigger standing up than laying down... ;-)  The rest of
    the house has accepted her with no questions asked.  She is the same
    age as our other Queen, Jezzabell, and they played all day long
    yesterday.
    
    	Hal & Jeane
    		along with Simon, Calipso, Jezzabell, Destany (who's
    offical name was changed to "Destanation Unknown") and now
    			Ethel.....
    

    I would like to introduce our latest "little ones"!
    Ferret proudly gave birth on March 2, 1993 starting at 3:30 AM.
    
    We now have to lynx points (probably seal), an Ebony Silver Tabby, and 
    a Chestnut Silver Tabby.  Mom and babes are doing quite well.
    Karen for Ferret :')

    Congratulations to Ferret and Karen!  We'll be waiting to hear those
    babies stories...
    
    Linda  :^)

    Thanks Linda!
    The note should actually read "two" lynx points!
    I love to watch them nurse, they are so cute!
    Karen
    PS, I thought the show hall was very nice!

    re: -1
    
    Gee, Karen. I checked the show catalog and saw you weren't listed
    so I didn't think you were there.  We'll connect at one of these
    shows yet!
    
    ..Course being my first time helping to put on a show I was in kind
    of a daze anyway... ;^}
    
    Enjoy those babes!
    
    Linda :^)

    Well it's time to introduce #11.  Yes, the GANG is back up to
    11.  The new member is Garfunkle, a cat adopted from this file
    last week.  We call him Uncle Funkle.  He is an enormous, tall cat,
    white/w gray longhair, with a huge plume tail.  He has to be the
    easiest going cat on earth.  Nothing bothers him,  he just walked in
    to our home, figured out where everything is and what he was supposed
    to do and where, and just went about his business.  He is very playful
    and sweet too.  The rest of the GANG didn't mind at all.
    Hubby didn't mind either. Once he saw how sweet and easy Funkle is,
    he couldn't think of any way to complain even if he wanted to.
    
    Denise and the gang of 11

    Introducing Shadow and Sammi.
    
    Shadow adopted us a few months after we moved to Georgia.  He was
    always in the parking lot at our apartment complex, and it turns out,
    was left behind when his owner moved to Florida, and no one adopted him
    - he'd been on his own a year or more. We can't imagine anyone leaving 
    this wonderful fellow.  He's a tuxedo cat, with one of the most
    beautiful faces I've ever seen. His face is all black, except where the
    white creeps up over his chin, and even there he has a black spot on his
    chin.  He has the longest white whiskers and eyebrows and sweet sweet
    green eyes. His front paws, belly and back paws are white as can be,
    except for oblong black patches on his back legs. He's very smart. When
    we first let him in, he was extremely wary and tense - every muscle was
    alert even when he appeared to be sleeping. He also made sure we knew
    who the boss was, swatting us and nipping us to keep us in line (which
    may be why no one else had adopted him) and insisting he be allowed
    outside. Now he's so relaxed he falls off the furniture when he's sleeping,
    and is mainly indoor only, (except when my husband sneaks him out - but
    he comes right back). Nothing phases him, including the vet. Except
    maybe Sammi.
    
    We found Sammi at Six Flags a year ago in May. She was two - three
    weeks old and part of a nest of kittens who had been abandoned and were
    wandering about near the edge of a high stone wall. A huge thunderstorm
    was threatening, all of the kittens but Sammi had been picked up by
    someone, so off she went with us.  She was tiny, and the next few weeks
    consisted of tiny claws, cries and bottles; heating formula at two in
    the morning, checking to make sure she was breathing - you know, the
    usual mom stuff. The vet said the most important thing next to getting
    the proper nutrients, was keeping her warm, so her bed consisted of a
    full size blanket and five towels, which I also carried her about in -
    this big bundle with this teeny tiny kitten tucked down inside. But not 
    for long. She was soon up and about and walking without a wobble. 
    She's now a small, shimmery, gunmetal gray cat with gray green eyes and
    long legs. She has a birth defect - cleft eyelids - evidently her upper
    eyelids did not fully form, but her lower lids seem to compensate and
    she hasn't had any problems.  She loves to give head butts and is very 
    independent. She's a talker, and gives us a piece of her mind if we dare 
    to reprimand her. She loves to play chase with Shadow and we suspect he's 
    slightly fond of her, although he hasn't admitted it yet.
    
    Those are my two! Sorry so long - but they're our sweethearts - and I
    could go on and on!
    
    Rebecca 
                                                                   

    Welcome Shadow and Sammi!!  They sound like wonderful kitties, and 
    I loved your stories about them (especialy Sammi's).  Glad to have you
    aboard!
    Karen 
    and,
    Stinky, Wing, Ruby, Tubba, Josette, Cassie, Lynxette, Smeadge, Goldie,
    Ferret, Willie (visitor), Evvie, Drak, and the four new babies!!

    Well, I should introduce Spunky.
    
    Spunky is a 9-month old (as far as the vet can tell) male cat (we just
    had him neutered) that had been living in the dumpster at a condo
    complex in our town.  A kind-hearted lady there took him into her
    garage, then her basement, but since she already had 3 cats and was
    planning to move, she didn't feel she could keep him.  So she put up a
    notice in the post office...
    
    Now I should probably also introduce the late Sherry, our first cat who
    adopted my roomate 20 years ago (yes, that's right) and died this past
    summer at the age of 26 or so.  We miss Sherry terribly - he was a
    special, special boy - a handsome maine coon cat with this incredible
    personality.  It took us a while to get to the point where we could
    consider another feline member of the family, but when we saw the sign
    in the post office, we knew we were ready.
    
    So we went to meet Spunk - and decided to adopt him.  You can read
    about the introduction process to our dog in CANINE - it was pretty
    rough for all concerned for a week or so, but finally it was Spunky who
    took control of the situation and now everyone is fine.  
    
    Spunky is left-pawed, and about the fastest thing on the face of the
    earth.  He has a *lot* of energy, and loves to play with a string. 
    Believe me, we were used to a 26 year old who slept 23.5 hours out of
    the day - Spunky is a whole new experience.  He's a chow-hound, very
    sweet, and quite bold.  He's not really a lap-cat yet, but he likes to
    be close, especially so he can watch you.  He's a very smart cat too.
    
    We've only had him since Valentines Day, but he's a real joy.
    
    Dana and Spunky

    Dirce is a Siamese female kitten, currently 6 month old, that was
    adopted by my parents and sister household last October.  She came into
    the house as a birthday present for my 13th old niece Rita. She was
    only a month old at the time and I could keep her at the palm of my
    hand.

    Her story is as follows:  My sister spotted a woman selling kittens in
    an open air market where she usually shops on Saturday morning and she
    couldn't resist having a peep at the litter.  She took one of the
    little ones into her lap, she curled herself and fell asleep in her
    arms and my sister couldn't bring herself to return her to the woman... 
    So she brought her home, despite the reluctance from my mother, who is
    a rather ill woman and was worried about problems in house caused by
    the little one.  Needless to say, she is now the most enthusiastic
    caretaker from Dirce, that meanwhile has turned into a beautiful
    Siamese.

    She is very playful and loves to climb all the curtains at home and sit
    on top of the highest cupboards in the kitchen...  She also loves warm
    and her favorite place is by the heating or on top of it.  Not to
    mention windows: she stares at the birds and mumbles at them.  She is
    also absolutely crazy and a couple of weeks ago jumped from the kitchen
    window and fell two floors below! (My parents live on a second floor
    flat).  It caused an uproar at home, but she was very lucky and didn't
    break anything or had any major injury.  She's now back to her usual
    self, playful, crazy and absolutely spoiled by all the family members,
    including me! 
    
    Eduarda for Dirce, on behalf of the Coelho household :-)
    

Hi! I'm Harley.  My mom and dad are Doug and Lisa Walters.  
Mom works at Digital and we live in Palo Alto California.
I'm 18 months old and I've just grown up to the point where I have
a daily "routine" (I guess I used to be a bit of a loose cannon!)... 

Promptly at 7:15AM I go in and wake mom up by pouncing on her
side of the bed.  She gets up and we have breakfast together.  
At 7:45 I am out the door!  I don't like to be inside, unless mom or
dad are in there with me...other times I play outside in my big back
yard, or across the street with my friend the rabbit.  We've just
recently become friends...we like to chase each other around the
neighborhood and we love to wrestle (I think we're tied!)  Sometimes,
when my dad goes on fishing trips (oh how I wish he'd take me!), 
I'll sleep on my mom's head to keep her company.  But when dad's around,
well he's allergic, so he doesn't like me to sleep with them.  But I
know he loves me because once when I was lost for a couple of days, he 
let me sleep with them until I wasn't afraid of getting lost again!
I guess I'm a difficult teenager - I've been in jail once, but mom
bailed me out.  Once, I went to look for mom and dad, they were gone
for two whole days and I was getting worried about them...well, I
got hooked up with a tough crowd; those mean boys didn't really want
to play with me at all, they wanted to beat me up!  Boy was dad mad at
them!  They didn't hurt me too bad, just a few bruises, but I've learned
my lesson.

Oh and, I hate hate hate liver!  And I love love love to have my tummy
rubbed!  Mom says I purr too loud (especially when I'm on her pillow),
but hey -- that's how I got my name!  I've got to live up to it, right?!

Well it's been real nice meeting you all.  I'll tell mom to introduce
herself next!  I'm sure she'll have lots of stories to tell about me
(I am one funny dude!) and she'll get lots of good advice and information
from all of you!

Happy Noting,

Harley

    Well, I may be jumping the gun on this as the little guy has
    only been in the house since 11pm last night and I don't know
    yet if Onyx is going to let him stay, but, here goes.
    
    I'd like to introduce you to MacGuyver.  MacGuyver is a brown
    tabby and white Maine Coon look-alike that Jo rescued several weeks 
    ago.  He's approx. 10-11 months old and comes complete with all
    vaccinations, neutering, mats and abcesses already taken care off.  
    Great deal!  Now I get the fun part instead of the work.  He's a real 
    love bug.  He just begs for attention and right now, when you stop 
    giving it to him, he grabs you and tries to hold on.  He's even gone 
    so far as to bite the new hand that feeds him when I've tried to
    stop petting him and put him back in his temporary living quarters
    (okay, so I have some work still to do).
    
    He's already got some nicknames; Mac, Guy, Guy-kitty, and My-Guy.
    
    I'm hoping that Mac will work into the household reasonably quickly.
    I'd like to see him stay for a very, very, very long time.
    
    Jan
    

    Just a quick addendum to note 14.150.  My new kitty's full name
    is Angus MacGyver.  I I didn't spell it right in the last note
    and I hadn't found the first name yet.  
    
    Jan

    
    Hi,
    
      My name is Fool's Gold, Goldie for short, and I'm a female fawn
    colored abbysinian. I'm only 10.5 months old and my new mom and dad
    think I act like a 5 month old. Last night was my first night at the
    new home stead and I was pleased to find out a had a new brother and
    sister too come home too. The problem is that they weren't too happy
    to see me. They still let me play with all their toys though. 8^)
    
      Bogey and Bijou hissed at me a bunch but I was able to ignore them
    and go on orientation anyway. I have two nice big cat trees to play
    and scratch on and a nice big waterbed to sleep on when I want to.
    I found the litter box a the bottom of the cellar stars and am having
    a little problem with the cat door but I'm sure I'll get the hang of
    it. I just hope that Bijou and Bogey stop hiding on the other side of
    it to scare me. Mom and dad left the cellar door open today so I don't
    have to worry about the sneaks.
    
      Last night I went up stairs and stayed on the water bed. It was fun
    but I had to calm myself down now and then because I was told it was
    time to sleep. So I just layed there and didn't pester mom and dad
    to much. I was able to occupy myself listening to the distant hisses
    in the night.
    
      Morning came and I played under water bed covers for a bit. Hunting
    wild toes sure is fun !!! My brother and sister were still hissing a
    little but it was hard to hear them over my crunching of yummy Max Cat.
    Today I'll be alone until later when mom comes home from work and I
    hope to check out the rest of my new house providing sis and bro
    allow me.
    
      Bye for now !!!
    
    Goldie

Time to introduce my three little furfaces!

Midnight is my all black kitty, except for the little patch of white on her 
tummy.  She'll be 10 years old on July 4th this year.  She has a beautiful 
shinny black coat and an unusual tail - she keeps it curled up tight by her 
side almost all the time.  Only when she is totally relaxed does she uncurl 
it.  She wanted to be my one and only baby, but I love cats too much.  I 
decided I need a white cat to compliment her!

MoonBeam is her sister.  She's now seven years old.  She's my little 
princess; at least she thinks she is.  She's all white, except for a small 
patch of light grey on the top of her head and the tip of her fluffy tail
and her fur is exceptionally soft like rabbit fur.

Well, two wasn't guite enough ...

Misty joined our family about  2 1/2 years ago.  She is a persian and is 
mostly grey in color with some white and tan mixed in.  I've read somewhere 
where the persians are quiet and docile - my sister has her half brother and 
he's just that.  That's what I thought I was getting... ha!  Misty is a 
talker and loves to run around and play games with you, especially tag!  
She's my little trouble-maker!

All are indoor only cats (occassionally MoonBeam & Misty get to go out
on the back deck if supervised!)  Midnight used to be a part-timer outdoors
years ago and I'm too chicken to try her on the deck.

And that's my crew!

Pat

   Since this is the FELINE notesfile, I'll concentrate here on that
   species of animal in our household - read my intro in CANINE if you're
   interested in the *rest* of the animal population at our home !!......

   In reading this today, I realized that I've never "officially"
   introduced our household in this file !!  And since we have some new
   additions (thanks to a couple visits to the PB Shelter over the last 
   three weeks !), I guess now's as good a time as any 8^)

   I have vacation next week and will be spending a good deal of it getting
   everyone introduced and acclimated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I also called in
   an order to R.C.Steele this morning !!!!  Others may think we're NUTS
   (FIVE DOGS AND FIVE CATS ?!?!?!?!?!?) but what can I say ????  I know the
   folks here will understand if no one else does !!!!!!!!!!!!!

	----------------------------------------------------------

   We started off the household when my housemate, Ginny, moved in awhile
   ago and brought along her now-almost-16 year old cat Neely.  Ginny's been
   a "cat person" just about all her life, but now she knows the wonders
   of owning other animals as well and has introduced me to the wonders
   of CATS !

   Neely's believed to be Burmese (sp?) and, other than being on the thin 
   side, doing quite well for an "old girl"....hopefully, the new diet the 
   vet has her on is fattening her up some.  Neely has always been a lone 
   miss and, as far as she's concerned, things would have been just fine to 
   stay that way !  Since we've added to the family over the last 3 years,
   she still is the only *female* animal (well, up until last night anyway !)
   and still a loner, preferring to ignore the others unless they come to 
   bother/play with her, then she hisses and spits at them, each equally !!!!

   Last spring, I got my first cat, Peanut.....Peanut was so named because
   he was one of the two premature births by the mother and was the smallest
   of the litter......my, how he has grown !!  He's a beautiful, warm, loving
   tiger cat, and the best part of it all is that he DOES NOT BOTHER my
   allergies at all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I AM allergic to Neely, so Peanut's showed
   me it's not *all* cats, I just have to find the ***right ones*** for me!!! 
   He's a wonderful addition to the family and thinks he's part DOG along with 
   cat - chases the dogs around the house, plays with their toys, eats their 
   food, and just generally harasses them - good-naturedly, of course !!!

   Just last week, we added to this troop, thanks to a visit to the PB Shelter !
   As my housemate says, "but Deb, how could I walk away when he stuck his
   paw out through the door/gate to ask me to stay ???!?!?!?!" - yup, she was
   an easy mark !!  This little guy (Priscilla originally told us He was a 
   SHE but that changed on closer inspection !!) is about 5-1/2 months old,
   and came with the name Lipton.....he's starting to join the rest of the
   family, coming down to explore, playing "stalk Peanut", and eating like
   a horse !!!!!!!!!!!!  He's very loving, loves to be held, stroked, cuddled -
   he even sleeps with his head against Ginny's up on her pillow !!  Priscilla
   said he was well-loved in his previous home but they just couldn't keep him.

   And just Tuesday night, we brought the gang up to even numbers (dog vs 
   cat-wise !!) and added TWO KITTENS to my side of the brood !!!!!  I had been 
   calling the shelter to ask Priscilla about Midget and in talking with her, 
   Priscilla told me that there were 3 or 4 sets of kittens just WAITING to be 
   adopted and would I be interested ?  WRONG QUESTION !!!!!!!!!!
   Well, we went to see them Tuesday night and I just fell in love with a pair 
   of short-haired black & white tigers (if you've seen them at the shelter, 
   they're known as the "Tracy Paul kittens).  The sisters (oh, boy, FEMALES 
   instead of more boys !!!!) I've named PATCHES (because of the way the black 
   kinda "splotches" on the sides of her body and the little black spot on the
   end of her nose !) and MISSY (she has a "stole" of white that drapes her 
   neck and shoulders that just looks like a little girl who "borrowed" her 
   mommy's fur stole !!). The "girls" stayed in my bedroom with me the last 
   two nights and were angels and lots of fun to watch tumbling and playing - 
   the rest of the brood was restricted but hopefully that won't last too long.

   Well, that's the feline gang ..... briefly, in addition to them, I have
   an 8 year old son Matt, my housemate Ginny (who my son says is still a
   "kid" since she hasn't had kids of her own), Cocoa the Toy Poodle, Topper
   and Spike the Cairn Terriers, Kain the Bichon Frise and the latest
   canine arrival is Roscoe, a silky terrier that was intended as a gift but
   has ended up as part of the clan !!!!!!!  Makes for lots of fun and lots
   of work at the homestead, but with all the loving, who can knock it ?!?!?!?!

    Well it has been quite awhile since I announced a new family
    member...but we rescued this kitty and he gave us an offer we
    couldn't refuse. "Take care of me PLEASE...I hate the street
    life...and I will give you lots of love and affection!!"
    
    Meet Moses...(aka Maniac Moses).  Moses is an adorable male who 
    is approximately 2 years old.  He is a brown tabby with white...
    and looks very similar to my X-feral, J.C.  (we swear he must
    be one of J.C's offsprings when J.C. ran the streets)   Both
    J.C. and Moses are not your common "striped" tabby...but they have
    swirls and very weird but similar markings!!   
    
    Moses knows how to play the game very well.  He came to us as this
    very depressed kitty who lived under my car for two weeks.  He
    ate, slept and pooped under the car...and was petrified of the
    outside world.   He would cry day and night....but yet wouldn't
    come near us when we tried to help him.  Once we took Moses in...
    he has now turned into "maniac man".  This cat is CRAZY and he acts
    like a 4 month old kitten!!
    
    We have started the introductions to the rest of the crew...and
    Moses has everyone up and running!!   Even though he has been
    neutered...his hormoses are still running wild and he still 
    attempts to "do it"...but mostly with my males. (go figure!!)
    He will not let any cat sleep peacefully...and everyone else
    is on RED ALERT!!   But overall...everyone has kind of accepted
    him very easily....and Moses is not intimadated by any of the
    others!! (I keep threatening him that if he doesn't behave
    he will meet his big brother, Van Gogh)
    
    Welcome Moses to Kitty City!!!! We have claimed to be at our
    cat maximum for the last year...but somehow you won our hearts!!
    
    Sandy (up to 10 cats...with 5 more strays to go..sigh!)
    
    

    He sounds beautiful Sandi!  A classic tabby perhaps?!  I had a cat once
    that I named Moses.  I couldn't keep him poor thing.  I felt awful!!
    My hubby at the time came home with him from the pound as a gift.  
    The problem was that he had long hair and with my allergies, well, you
    know.  Anyway, after naming him within the first minute of seeing him I
    decided I would trade him in for a short hair.  At least a kitty had
    found a home.  I always felt bad for my Moses tho.   Congrtulations!
    Karen

    Thanks Karen...he is a little doll.   Part of both Moses and
    J.C's weird markings is a white criss-cross stripes down the middle 
    of their backs which resemble a cross...but the stripes on the side are 
    swirls.  Would that still be considered a classic Tabby???
    
    J.c. was named that because of the cross...so we thought it would
    be appropriate for Moses to have a biblical name too! 
    
    Introductions are going real well consider he is such a pain in
    the BUTT!!!   
    
    Sandy 

    Mitzu- Mitzu is a 2-year-old calico that I adopted from the Buddy Dog
            Animal Shelter.  She was a little under weight when I adopted
    	    her but has started gaining very quickly.  I got her when my
            husband and I separated.  She won't go near my boys, when she 
            sees them coming she runs.  When I get home from work she will 
            jump on the couch with me and rub her face against mine until I 
            give her a treat.
            She is declawed and would love to go outside but it is not
            allowed where I live. When my husband moved back home she will 
            not go anywhere near him.  I think she is a little jealous of him. 
            She use to sleep with me but stopped when he moved back home.  I 
    	    think if my husband had his choice the cat would go.  But I told 
            him if he wants to move back home the cat stays. A few of her
    	    favorite things is to play with my yarn while I'm working on
            something and drag it across the room.  Chase a piece of paper 
    	    around, what I do is crumble paper and throw and she will chase 
            after it.  It has been a joy having her around.  She also love
    	    to hiss at other cats that come near our windows. 
    	    Well I'm sure I'm going to have alot of questions about cats
            as time goes on since I've only had her since November.
    
    Diane
    

     
           
         Hi...I want to introduce Merlin.  He's 2 yrs. old and neutered, 
         although it doesn't seem to matter.  He still gets very aggressive
         at times, although he's affectionate most of the time.  He's
         orange/white striped and long-haired.  He lives alone with us,
         although I plan on getting him a siamese kitten to play with soon.
         I don't know how he will adjust, because he's very possessive.
         He's definitely an outside cat, but he likes to sleep on the
         windowsill above my bed at night and then jump down and sleep
         next to me and hog the bed.  He does this about ten times in one
         night, back and forth between the windowsill and bed all night
         long!!!
         Also, he can open the screen door with his paw, but if you don't
         know him, he acts helpless and meows until you let him in!! :-)
         I don't think we should have named him Merlin, because he's too
         smart.  He also likes to jump in the tiny space between the top
         of a stack of crates of albums (in between the albums and the top
         of the crate) nearly knocking all the albums down.
         He has a fondness for ribbon, especially expensive ribbon.
         The only thing I don't understand about him (which may be because
         he's male - I've always had female cats) is how he gets so 
         wound up sometimes and will climb my leg like a tree!  I just
         spray water on him, but so far I haven't totally broken the habit.
         I hope it's not because we named him Merlin that he thinks he
         has some kind of position of royalty!!  
      
                                        -Merlin's subject, Beth
        
         
          
             
              
               
                
                 

    The hunt was successful, and surprisingly short.
    
    Last Tuesday I ventured into the Humane Society of New England (on
    Ferry Road in Nashua) to see what they had to offer, and later that
    afternoon I had three female kittens.  Turns out the shelter had gotten
    a pregnant female, who gave birth to two boys and two girls.  They also
    had a stray kitten who was raised by the mother.  Thea is pure black,
    Zoe is pure grey, and Valentina is a brown tiger.  They're eleven weeks
    old now and full of energy.

    
    
    	Oooh!  3 babies can be so much fun!
    

    
    re .160-.161
    
    As Merlin and I so well know (see note 509).
    
    len and Merlin and Rocky and Blueberry and Robin.
    

    
      Howdy all,
    
       I guess I'll introduce by buddy. I'm somewhat hesitant to tell
    people her name being a macho guy and all. Anyhow, I picked her
    out at the North Shore Animal Shelter in Port Washington, Long Island
    this past February. She was barely 6 weeks old at the time but she
    seemed like a pretty mellow kitten...as far as kittens go. For some
    reason when I first saw her, she reminded me of a girl I knew that I
    was really in love with at the time. Our nickname for her was Luscious,
    so It seems like a natural to name my cat Luscious. Of course nothing
    ever developed with the original Luscious, but that's life.
    
    
      Anyway, Luscious is a gray and black Tabby with an incredible
    striping scheme. I've never seen anything like it. Her face sort
    of reminds me of how a clowns would be painted up. She's the prettiest
    cat I've ever seen. I just dare someone to argue that. :^)
    
      The only complaints that I have is she likes to head-butt me at
    5:00am for playtime. She never uses her claws which is good, but when
    I get her wound-up she likes to use my arms to bite on. Eventually,
    I'll have stumps hanging from my shoulders. It's not that bad. 
    A thing which is funny about her, is she likes belly rubs. When I get
    home from work, there she is right by the door on her back waiting for
    her daily home from work belly rub....strange cat.
    
    
    -Tony

    
    Hi all, I'd like to introduce our two new additions....
    We live not too far from Newburry port and they are
    remodeling/rebuilding the shelter there. In the meantime,  one nice 
    lady has offerred her home to the animals, (nokill btw) However, she
    obviously does not have the founds or the volunteers needed to manage
    the place as these lovely creatures deserve. Cats our stacked up high
    as four levels, it does not appear as they have enough food either. 
    Anyways, my girlfreind went there just to check and these two moggies
    grabbed on to her and begged to go with her. She could not resist and
    brought them home. 
    
    Racheal - Yesterday I finally got her history. Racheal was a one person
    cat with this young lady and was loved and apparently fed more poeple
    food than cat food, as she recognizes all the aromas of the kitchen.
    This young lady took in a boyfriend that hated cats and forced her to
    take Racheal to the Shelter. This totaly broke Racheal's heart the
    shelter poeple said she was always keeping to herself eating only
    enough food to sorvive. She is black and white with most adorable big
    green eyes. Poor baby was so starved her head was big and round but 
    her body the size of a kitten (she is two btw) you can feel all her
    bones. She came to us with a cold, she is currently under medication
    and special high protein diet. She is already in a few days that we
    have had her come a long way. From sleeping all the time, she is
    roaming the house. Follows me everywhere. sleeps next to me on the bed
    and purrs, she is very special to me and I love her. 
    Ziba - a 19 month old tiger tan and beige(sp) tiger kitty with real 
    big gold eyes, medium length hair, big ears kind of like an Abby. 
    She was also a victim of abuse. skinny as can be.  In her young life 
    she has already gone through two household both times she was brought
    back to the shelter 'cause the previous owners could not stand their 
    personality, so they said. I can't figure out why, this little skinny
    baby took to our house right away, she felt immediately at home,
    Discovered all the closets, windows, hideouts. She eats like a pig,
    stills Racheal's food every chance she gets, but does not recognise 
    people food. We gave her a peice of chicken breast the other day and
    she just played with it as if it were a mouse. 
    These two cats deserve and will get all the love we have to offer. They
    will be the healtheist, fatest most loved cats and will have more toys
    than all the cats in the neighborhood. My mission is to make them as
    spoilt as possible to make up for the lousy begginings....
    
    Shaw
    

    Shaw,
    
    You are wonderful to take in these two cats, especially Racheal.  If
    there is one thing that makes me want to wring another woman's neck it
    is when she gives away a much loved pet for a boyfriend.  Any person who 
    gives up a beloved pet to accommodate "love" (ownership?) in their lives
    is a person I would like to place on a leaky boat and ship out to sea.
    
    Of course this is JMHO!!
    
    Good thing there are people like Shaw in the world who reaffirm my
    faith in humankind!
    
    -Roberta
    
    
    

    
    It works both ways.  I would no more take up with a woman who disliked
    cats than I would with someone who smoked or drank to excess or lied or
    stole or whatever.
    
    I just can't imagine letting someone make me give up my cats.
    
    len.
     

�    I just can't imagine letting someone make me give up my cats.

Me neither.  I have to bite my toungue every time I read a note in here about
a person who has an SO that doesn't like cats and makes life miserable for
all parties.  I just don't have anything constructive to say in those
matters, so I just keep quiet.

BTW, I realized I never introduced the most recent addition to my family:

Jeremiah is about 5 years old and is a Siamese/Longhair orange tabby mix, and
he came into the family in April.  He's quite gorgeous.  He has long white
fur with smatterings of orange here and there, mostly on his back and face. 
He has the most beautiful blue eyes, but his face looks perpetually sad...  
When he came into the house, he was properly deferrential to my other boys,
which was good, since we had recently had an unsuccessful introduction of an
older Siamese female...I probably need say no more about that.

Jeremiah was aloof for quite a while, but a lot of that aloofness probably
came from the fact that I had to treat his feline acne, but that seems to be
finally taken care of.  He's now very affectionate, and loves to play with
wadded up pieces of paper.  He and the other guys get into tussles and those
crazy chases cats are famous for (you know, where one cat chases another down
the stairs, and when they come back up, the roles are reversed).

Being single, I find my cats to be great companions, especially when my
daughter is at her mom's.

Patrick and the boys (Chester, Farley, and Jeremiah)

    Hi folks,
    
    Could we please take the replies about people "making" someone give
    up a cat to the Rathole or Whine topics.  The introduction topic
    is really not the place to discuss this.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Jan
    Moderator, FELINE

    What a great notes file!  I've enjoyed reading many of the entries, and
    relate to all of the cat crazies!  I've particulary enjoyed reading the
    notes about show cats and life on the circuit!
    
    When my daughter came home to stay with me for a few months she
    brought with her 3 wonderful fur balls -- my grandcats! When she moved
    to her new home she took two of the boys and left one with me .... after 
    much begging and pleading on my part.
    
    Weederman is a 2 year old male, neutered, brown tiger -- he is so polite, 
    loving and gentle.  Poor Weedie was quite lonely without his two 
    brothers, so we adopted a baby for him -- Tiki.  She is a female, grey 
    tiger and is Weedie's biological niece.  Tiki is now 14 weeks old and is 
    driving her uncle Weedie CRAZY.  We also call Tiki 'kamikaze kitty' - as
    anyone with a kitten can appreciate. This little piece of sassy fluff
    has Weederman and I well trained, and in only 6 short weeks!    
    
    This last year I lost my dearly beloved Tiffin -- a 19 year old
    Siamese, and Blinkers, a 15 year old domestic short hair.  I thought my 
    heart would break, losing them within weeks of each other.  But Weederman 
    and Tiki have filled the empty places in my heart and life.
    
    Our 'pet' peeves - never to be mentioned again, except in the whine
    file:
    	- people who do not neuter their animals and contribute to the
    	  horrible over-population of animals.
    	- people who declaw their cats and then let them go outside.
        - people who abandon animals.
        - people who abuse their animals and call it discipline.
    	- ... and yeah people who give up their animals 'cause a boy/girl
    	  friend doesn't like cats.  Yech!
    
    
    Carel 

    Len,
    I know I am missing something :'}  What are all these new names I see?
    Karen

    
    
    Hi Karen, great to hear from you again.
    
    New names?  Which ones?  Here's the current roster:
    
    Living with me:
    
    	Merlin - 18 year old, looks like a Russian Blue (green eyes, grey
    	coat), but mom was Siamese and dad was a travelin' man; given to me
    	by Peter and Donna Conklin as a 12 week old kitten. 
    
    	Rocky, formerly (briefly) Gandalf, 5 months, all grey with an angora
    	like coat, bronze eyes, foxy little face, stocky body, adopted from
    	Pat Brody Shelter as an 8 week old kitten 
    
    	Robin, formerly (briefly) Bandit, 5 months, off white with pale
    	brown to charcoal brown siamese-like markings, robins-egg-blue
    	eyes, lanky not quite siamese body, small wedgey head. Rocky's
    	sister.
    
    	Blueberry, formerly (briefly) Snowflake, 5 months, off white with
    	pale brown to charcoal brown tabby/siamese markings, caribbean-blue
    	eyes, classic American shorthair body/head. Robin's sister.
    
    Living with Sandy:
    
    	Chunky - 15 year old solid grey Maine Coon, yellow eyes; showed up
    	on Sandy's sister's doorstep at roughly 6 months old and adopted
    	on the spot by Sandy
    
    	Caspar Kelly - 4 year old shaded Chinchilla Persian, green eyes,
    	pedigreed anD acquired from Suttonian Cattery (no comment) as a
    	16 week old kitten by Sandy and I jointly.
    
    The tale of Rocky/Robin/Blueberry's adoption begins at 509.16.
    
    len.
    
     

    Hello,
    
    Just wanted to share the news that I have adopted two new feline
    friends.
    
    August 23rd/24th, I adopted Pooh, a regular 12lb shorthair grey body w/
    coon stripes on the tail, a white chin, bib and feet cat. I
    adopted Pooh from the Salem Rescue League. He is very skitterish and
    does nothing but hide under the bureau, in the closet, in cabinets, on
    shelves, in SILVERWARE draw and in the wall!  He is still skitterish,
    and untrusting... but once you can catch him, (which isn't easy) then
    he purrs and loves to be massaged.  It will a while before he is 100%
    affectionate.  Salem Rescue League were wonderful and made sure he was
    all up to date on shots and everything.  They were terrific!
    
    Yesterday, I adopted S.R. Koko Little Foot, a pure Himilayan-Persian
    whos is a BIG big love bug... he is a chocolate seal point w/ BIG BLUE
    eyes!  VERY handsome!  Koko is having urinary problems, which I've been
    through before, but Kittys Angels (where I adopted him) had him in the
    Amherst Animal Hospital. I'll be keeping an eye on him but for now he
    just wants to roam and investigate so he is not to thrilled on being
    isolated to one room (he knows that their are others in the house).
    
    Coco (yup, I now have 2 Coco-Koko's) my Persian, is a little confused.
    All in one month he lost his step Brother Fluffy, gained this
    ghostly-cat named Pooh who wants nothing to do with him, and now this
    new Koko w/ the same name who is living in Mums room... 
    
    Koko and Coco did briefly meet, with hissing on the new Koko's part,
    but I think once things calm down, all will be well.  My Coco just
    wants someone to chum with and can't understand all the fuss, but in
    time.. all will be well.
    
    And the reason for adopting two is... I lost Fluffy, another Persian, 
    August 19, 1993. Giving him a bath he had a heart attack.  So we are
    building a bigger family now!
    
    Thanx for sharing my new news!
    
    lisa
    
    
    
    
    

    Lisa,
    
    Congrats on your new additions!  I was toying with the idea of adopting
    Koko from Kitty Angels, but decided against it since I am already owned
    by a Himalayan-Persian (also a big love bug, hence his registered
    name... "Herbie the Love Bug").
    
    Glad to hear Koko went to a great home!
    
    -Roberta
    

   update to .154 (the Burrage Ave. "zoo") - I got tired of the "unlucky
   number" at the house (13 total, 5 cats ages 6 month to 16 yrs, 5 dogs
   ages 9 months to 3 yrs, 1 boy-child almost 9 yrs and 2 adults [I won't
   TELL Years !!] all added up to the unlucky THIRTEEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!  
   And my son was asking for a pet "all his own" - so last week, thanks to
   another writer in this file, we upped the number to FOURTEEN in the
   house, adding "Cuddles" (formerly known as "Daisy) to the menagerie !!!!!
   So ar, she and Matt (my son) are doing fine and we're SLOWLY introducing
   her to the rest of the gang !!

   Yup, we're a fun house !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   IN decending order of "who's oldest" .........
	Debbi & Virginia & Matt (humans)
	  Neely, Peanut, Lipton, Missy, Patches & Cuddles (felines)
	    Coca, Spike, Topper, Kain & Roscoe (canines)

    
    Well if anyone read the Newburyport alert note, you know by now that
    we have a new addition, and I am so excited I did not sleep a wink 
    last night stayed up all night and played with MY very OWN special
    CAT!!!
    I have always wanted a Main Coon Cat.  Keesha, is 13 weeks old. 
    She is already bigger than most six month old cats that I've seen
    she is going to be BIG. If she is not a true main coon, then she is 
    very similar. She has huge gold eyes, dark grey tiger with some 
    shades of orange in the background. two orange hallos around her eyes
    a splat of orange on her nose and a little whit on her chin. beautiful
    tiger markings on her legs, bushy tail, and her paws are black on the
    bottom  (a main coon marking). 
    We were a little concerned bringing her home and introducing her to the
    other two that have already established themselves. But no problem.
    I put her down, the three of them did a little kissing and smelling
    and off we go. the three musketeers ;-)  She purrs lauder than a grown
    up cat. her coat is so soft and beautilful. This one's my special 
    kitty that I've always wanted.
    
    Shaw

    Hello:
    
    This is Carl from note 15.99, introducing you to our little furry
    family.  My wife, Marie, and I are owned by five cats.  Here they are
    from oldest to youngest:
    
    Cally is a calico/tortie-and-white we rescued from one of those mall
    pet stores.  I took one look at that face and I was sold!  She is
    5 years old now and still loves to ride on my shoulders.  We refer to
    her as our Picasso kitty because her face has a different color on each
    side, reminding us of a Picasso painting.
    
    Chowder (her registered name is Deluxe Clam Chowder) is the furriest
    Maine Coon Cat on the planet!  She is a classic brown tabby and is also
    5 years old, but 2 months younger that Cally.  Chowder likes to lap-sit
    above all else except eating stuffed olives (she leaves most of the
    pimiento, however).  Underneath all that fur, she is the skinniest
    kitty, but her paws are like snowshoes.
    
    Mocha (her registered name is Deluxe Mocha) is a Havana Brown and is
    5 years old, but 3 months younger than Chowder.  Mocha has a very load
    voice and never hesitates to tell you what she thinks.  No matter what
    the topic is, she has something to say about it.  Mocha floows Marie
    around like a dog, talking the whole time.  She is also a good catch.
    When you throw something to her, she rises on her hind legs and traps
    it between her front paws.  She has also figured how to open cabinets
    and frequently hides there to escape the other kitties.
    
    Mai Buri (registered name) is a sealpoint Siamese kitten.  We just got
    her in June and she is 9 months old now.  What a smart kitty she is.
    She saw Mocha opening cabinets and within a few minutes was going in
    and out freely.  She also saw Mocha catching and can duplicate her
    technique.  Mai loves to fetch her socky toy.  She'll continue to
    bring it back as long as you care to throw it.  In the morning when
    I'm at the batchroom sink, she'll lay the sock on my foot and meow a
    few times to let me know she's waiting.  If I don't respond quickly
    enough, she'll bite my leg until I finally play with her.
    
    Joe Mao (registered name) is litter brother to Mai Buri.  Mao, by the
    way, is Mandarin Chinese for cat.  Joe's a little underdeveloped
    because he was born with an abcess on his head.  He had an operation
    to remove it and there is no apparent scarring.  But for a few months
    he had to be kept isolated from other kitties so he could heal.  As a
    result, he didn't get to run and play like his littermates.  He also
    was very shy when we first got him.  Poor little guy!  Every time he
    got some attention, it was to poke or prod him or give him medicine.
    But Joe has turned out to be the friendliest we've ever had.  He loves
    to be in close contact with us.  At night when we finally sit down to
    watch a little TV, Joe's right there purring and looking up at us with
    those "pet me right now" eyes.
    
    Five is enough for the moment (famous last words).  They provide us
    with so much joy and love, not to mention stress reduction.  Can't
    live without those kitties!
    
    Carl

    Hello,
    
    Thought I introduce my old man - Abby - which we got 18 years ago this
    very day!   I know, I know, Abby is a female name but when I went to
    pick him out of the litter, the woman who gave him to me told me he was
    a girl!  Well, he was such a little fluff-ball who could tell ;-)
    
    Anyway, Abby is mostly gray with a pink nose and white face, chest and
    paws.  He has probably lived at least 7 of his 9 lives from broken
    legs, abscesses, arthritis, being attack by a golden retreiver, and so 
    on and so on.  We were suppose to "give" him away 10 years ago after 
    my son was diagnosed with extremely bad allergies and asthma, but we 
    thought that seeing he was 8 years old how many more years did he have?  
    So we kept him and luckily my son's allergist said that it was okay as 
    long as we kept the cat out of his bedroom and a few other rules.  
    So, anyway,
    
        Happy Anniversary Abby....I wish you many more good years to come!
    
    
    Faith
    

    
    
    	Since I'm now owned by two youngsters I guess I'd better make
    	an official intro:
    
    	JEBB: 1-1/2 year old neutered male. Basic white with buff/tan
    	colored jacket and hood. VERY affectionate, loves tummy rubs,
    	and chewing on fingers. Talks when he has something to say,
    	but is basically quiet, happy little fellow. Former resident
    	of Pat Brody's Shelter.
    
    	WHITNEY: 1 (?) year old spayed female. BLACK with not a spec
    	of white. Becoming affectionate gradually, does not like
    	tummy rubs or having her tail touched! VORACIOUS appetite
    	(as long as it's canned). Got her name cause she's black,
    	aggressive, and VERY vocal. Former resident of Fallon
    	Animal Clinic - she was taken in as a stray wandering the
    	woods of Lancaster.
    
    	Heidi

    Where to begin, where to begin?????
    
    I'm M-L Belforti.... I occasional drop in here to catch up on the newest
    news of the Digital Feliners.... a couple months ago, I saw a topic
    about Pat Brody's Shelter for Cats.... I'm sure I had read something
    before about it, but for some reason it really caught my eye this time. 
    I sent Sandy Merritt mail and she told me a little more (prices, phone
    numbers... etc) and offered to meet me there to show me the "kids". 
    Well, my husband wasn't up to adding to the family just yet, so I told
    Sandy I would keep the info on file.
    
    Last Sunday, out of the blue, Steven (my best half) told me to call the 
    shelter (I didn't have Sandy's number at home) and see if we could drop 
    in.  Pricilla meet us at 6:00 that night... and we scritched, stroked
    and cuddle almost every cat there.  The "babies" (they are ALL babies
    to me) were so happy to have people pay attention to them (even Smudge
    who is half feral).
    
    BUT... there were 3 we really fell in love with.  Daisy's #1, #2, and
    #3, a litter of one boy and 2 girls.  What sweethearts they are!!! 
    Steven really didn't want to get 2 and leave 1 behind (as he said, "We
    can't break up the set"... but he wasn't ready to commit himself to 3. 
    He also has said NO to males.... he prefers females, even in cats! ;^}
    So, we ended up coming home minus the babies!!!  "To think about it"!!!

    This Saturday, we got up and were making plans for the day.  Steven 
    normally works nights, and that includes Saturday and Sunday... he just 
    happened to be filling in for someone else these past 2 weeks, so had 
    both weekends off.  He suggested I call Pricilla again, and see when we 
    could come back down to see the kids again.  She said "Today at 1:00 would 
    be ideal".  So, off we went... the cat carrier was still in the car from 
    the last week, "Just in case" heeheeheehee! 

    We arrived, to a full house.  People falling over people.  Unfortunately, 
    one cat was being brought in... the others were there as looky-loos (as we 
    had been the week before), and one woman and her daughter took home Wooly 
    Mittens, a black and white female... with wooly mittens, and a BIG purr.  
    I immediately went looking for Daisy's #1, 2 and 3.... found 1 and 2, but 
    no 3... Oh no, someone adopted her and broke up the set, how could they???  
    I went out and looked on the wall, her name was still there (not sure what 
    that list of names is for, but in my warped mind it meant she was still 
    there).. sure enough, there she was, out in the kennel sunning herself!!!!  
    WOW, all 3... and still there!!!  I went out to talk to Pricilla, and 
    Steven wandered around some more, just to spread his cat loving as far as 
    he could, in a limited amount of time.  As he appeared by my side, I said, 
    "Well, can I tell Pricilla to wrap them for us?", and he just nodded his 
    head... Pricilla and I both looked at him and said, "All 3???".. again, 
    just a nod of the head!!!  YES!!!!!!!!!  While I filled out all the 
    paperwork, including the matching gift (don't forget this form when you go 
    to adopt... thanks to Sandy, Pricilla has some), Steven went wandering 
    again.  Hummmm, I wonder if I had waited.. would we have brought home even 
    more???  Don't push it M-L....

    We got home, took them into the bathroom where the litter box is set up 
    for the big kids, took a bowl of food and water in, and opened the 
    carrier.  Daisy's #1 was out like a shot!!!!  She wanted to see her new 
    home.  Daisy's #2 was a little slower, and he stayed in the bathroom for 
    a while, before venturing out, Daisy's #3 wanted no parts of getting out 
    of the carrier (I finally dragged her out about half an hour later.)  

    Now came the naming process!!!  This should be fun!  Yeah, sure!!!  Steven 
    works for the railroad, and our hobby is model railroading.  We currently 
    have Casey Jones (an almost 10 year old dog), Hotrail (it means a train 
    moving on a track; a black Siamese, 10 1/2 years old) and Chessie (for the 
    Chessie System RR; a silver tabby/tiger, 9 1/2 years old) living with us.  
    In the past we have had:

		Katy, for the MKT RR, cat
		Santa Fe, cat
		Zephyr, bird
		Amtrak, cat
		Petey, for the Uncle Pete (Union Pacific RR)
		Denver and Rio Grande, 2 parakeets

    So, they had to have good RR names, but the names had to fit either their 
    personality or markings.

    Daisy's #1: little tiny gray tiger, with muted markings, she is obviously 
    the runt of this litter.  And VERY VERY *V*E*R*Y* curious!  She was the 
    first out of the carrier, the first out of the bathroom, and the first all 
    over the house.  Nothing phased her!  And I mean NOTHING!  She scampered 
    here, there, everywhere, including under the 45 lb. dog, in the way of 
    hissing growling big cats, she has absolutely no fear.  And she never 
    walks... she is always running.  Her name came the easiest.  Have you ever 
    seen any of those little track-cars that scurry all over, from work-site 
    to work-site??  They are called Doodlebugs!  Well, it fits her to a "T".

    Daisy's #2: male, gray tabby, not quite classic (his swirls aren't in 
    complete bullseyes), again with muted markings; he has very well defined 
    "thumbs", and he uses them as thumbs, just like a human would.  He is 
    afraid of the dog, but ignores the big girls.  And is a terror with his 
    poor sisters, and with anything under covers (look out feet, knees, and 
    backsides).  He was almost called Alco.... Alco engines have a habit of 
    sounding like they are going to stall when they sit idling, and when he 
    purrs he sounds like his engine is getting ready to die.  BUT, we are 
    members of the Bedford Boomers, a model RR club, and Boomer is a name for 
    the guys who use to follow the building of the railroading empire, back 
    in the 1800.... and with him being the only male (other than the dog), 
    Boomer just fit.

    Daisy's #3: female, gray/brown tiger, very distinct markings; and again, 
    well defined thumbs, that she uses almost as well at her brother.  She is 
    afraid of everything, even us when we first walk in the room.  All she has 
    to do is hear Casey's collar and she is either up the cat pole or under 
    the dresser.  But, once she settles down she is nothing but a bowl of 
    jelly, with music attached!  Her name was harder to come up with.  I 
    wanted something simple, but elegant.... and the only thing that kept 
    coming to mind was VIA Canada.  I have no idea why, but that was it... so 
    she is being called Via... and she is the FIRST to respond to her name, 
    so I guess it fits!

    They all 3 have huge ears.... almost like bats ears.  And I have never 
    seen a cat bend their ears at the base, to listen to something below them; 
    but these 3 do.  They will be on the top of the cat pole, that is floor 
    to ceiling, and when we talk to them, just their ears bend down... like a 
    bats again!

    Doodlebug took a liking to Hotrails favorite toy... it's a stuffed fish on 
    an elastic string, attached to a real fishing pole.  She would grab the 
    fish and start down the hall, ears flat back, growling as she went... when 
    she got to the end of the stretched string, it would fly back and she 
    would run like mad to catch it again.  Yesterday she got hold of it and 
    refused to take "I'm not going to stretch anymore" for an answer.  She dug 
    her paws in, her teeth in, laid the ears back and just started to pull 
    (like a dog playing tug-o-war), all of a sudden the string let loose... 
    and she went bounding down the hall with the fish in her mouth.  We still 
    can't find the darn thing!!!!

    Boomer has bruised my knee, by chasing it under the blanket.  I forgot 
    what it was like to have babies in the house... Now I remember... you go 
    to bed, get comfortable before they come to bed, and then freeze in that 
    position for the remainder of the night!!!!  Because, if you move, you are 
    fair game!!!!

    Via has decided the best place to sleep in in between Steven and I.... 
    flat on her back, with the motor running!!!  She is just a little sweet 
    baby!

    That is it for now... I am getting ready to head home to see if the house 
    is still standing.  Oh yes,  Chessie refuses to accept the new kids as 
    family.  As far as she is concerned, they are there threatening her life 
    and limb.  She hates them, and Hotrail, and Casey, and Sarah my daughter, 
    and Brent my son, and Steven... and especially me!!!  Oh well, she'll live! 
    Hotrail has NEVER spent the night away from my face (aren't all faces for 
    sleeping on????), except when she went in to be spayed.  Saturday night 
    she refused to sleep in the bedroom, but claimed a sweater I had laying on 
    the couch, as her own.  last night she slept on the corner of the bed, by 
    my head... every once in a while she would pick her head up and hiss or 
    growl, then lay back down and purr at me.  Ahhhhhhh, yes, I have been 
    forgiven.... almost!  She will probably be running around playing with 
    the little ones by the end of the week.  It is only Chessie I worry about..
    I hope someday to be forgiven!!!!

    More stories to come... I'm sure!


    M-L, with Hotrail, Chessie, Casey Jones, Doodlebug, Boomer and Via! 
			(oh yes, the human family too!!!!!)

    Congrats M-L you have quite the family and I'm sure we'll be 
    hearing many stories from your household.
    
    I just love when feliners adopt some of our shelter babies and that
    way I can stay in touch!!!  I always share Len's stories with the
    other volunteers and I can do the same for the Daisy crew!!!!
    
    Sandy

    
    We're accumulating evidence that the best way to adopt kittens is in
    three-packs...
    
    len (servant to Rocky, Blueberry and Robin, 6 months old, from the PBS,
    and Merlin, 18 years old).
    

    Nice note...congrats on your new babies.
    
    Angel Kitty's mother...alias Donna
    

    
    I'd like to introduce the newest member of my clan.  I went to the 
    Pat Brody shelter yesterday looking for a male kitten and came 
    home with Mumsey.  She's a dilute calico/tortie who is missing
    a paw - apparently it was chewed off by a dog before she came to
    the shelter (poor thing) - she was a bit shy at the shelter and I 
    was a little hesitant to take here home only because she didn't
    seem to like me a bit.  I sat out there for a while and she
    eventually wandered over to me of her own accord and then 
    hopped up on one of the cat perches and stared outside so 
    mournfully that I couldn't resist.  I talked to her all the way
    home and when we got there I gave her some food and milk and
    let her wander around a bit.  Her personality changed instantly. 
    She comes to me (slowly and cautiously) when I call for her and
    she'll hop on the bed while I watch TV and sit with me.  She purrs
    like there's no tomorrow and she just loves it by the woodstove.
    I brushed her fur out as she'd been rolling on the ground at the
    shelter.  I was watching her groom herself and it looks like because
    she's missing a paw, she can't reach all the parts of her back, etc.
    (You know how cats contort themselves using their legs/paws
    as stabilizers to groom themselves) - Her fur is absolutely 
    beautiful now and she seems so happy.  My little kitty Spooks 
    attacks her instantly given the opportunity so she's spending 
    a bit more time on the screen-porch or curled up in my sewing room
    while Mumsie gets acclimated to her surroundings.  It looks as though
    she gets cornered easily as she's still not mastered jumping 
    with only 3 paws and she doesn't know her way around.  I was 
    so pleased to be able to give her a home though.  I know it's 
    hard to place older cats, much less one without a paw.  I just 
    can't wait to go home and see her :-) :-) 

    I'm SO happy you decided on Mumsey...she is so beautiful and
    sweet and deserves a wonderful home!!!!   Some people might
    consider her handicapped....but my guess is that she will 
    bring you so much joy, fun, and laughter you will never know
    she is missing her little paw.
    
    What a wonderful choice...and I'm sure your other kitty will get
    use to her!!!!  
    
    Sandy

    Mumsey is a lucky kitty to have such a wonderful and caring new
    friend like you.  Kitties give their love and affection to us freely
    without regard to how we look or how many appendages we have or don't
    have.  It's heartwarming to know that there's someone like you who can
    give love and affection to Mumsey and not let her unique problem get
    in your way.  Maybe there's hope for this world yet.
    
    Carl

    I suppose it's time to introduce Cain and (Miss) Abel.  
    
    Cain is the kitten who got a *little* carried away with chasing the
    mouse on my computer and fell off the top of the monitor. 
    
    Well, anyway, he and his sister are about 4.5 months old.
    They are both tiger patterned, tho Cain looks likes he jumped into a
    pan of white paint, as his front paws and chest are completely white,
    wrapping around to the back of his neck and continuing along his
    underside to cover most of his back paws.  Miss Abel (ok, my family has
    a tradition of misidentifying the gender of kittens.  Cain is the only
    one of the last four we've gotten right :-) is white on her chest -
    almost like she is wearing a vest or bib or something, or one of those
    puffy scarves.  The tips of her paws are white, more so in the back than
    the front.  
    
    They have distinct personalities, Cain being more noisy, skittish, into
    watching the computer screen, and sitting at my feet while I cook,
    while Abel is more  into being held and petted and sitting contedly in
    my lap while I work on the computer.  She has been more bold and
    curious.  Right now she's busy chasing her tail, first on the chair
    and now on the floor.  All bets are off when they go into the kitten
    crazies, which fortunately they sometimes take turns at.
    
    Their favorate activities include inspecting the shower (they've
    learned to *not* fall in while I'm using it, waking me at 3 or 4 in the
    morning to alert me they emptied the food bowl about an hour ago, and
    are hungry again (tho they do this by acting more crazy, not by meowing
    or anything obvious), chasing various balls around the apartment,
    trying to eat my food, trying to act innocent when they knock something
    off the table/desk, and watching the night go by.  
    So, all in all, rather normal kittens! :-)
    
    There's also Tiger, Bitsy, and Mr. Mestopholese (all male) at my parents in
    Houston (I claim Tiger as mine, but noone else listens to me and he
    might not like moving up here at 17.:-) oh and he's also the most
    awesome cat I know. (Cain and Abel are working on it, but after the
    headphone incident, they've got some work to do :-).
    
    well, I suppose I've used enough of your time.
    
    peace
    phil

    Hi Everyone!
    
    Had to get in to let you know...  Last Friday I had a brutal day.  Very
    long..  After work I forced myself to the grocery store to do the weeks
    shopping.  Finally got that out of the way and headed home.  By now I
    am compeletly exhausted.  The family came out to help me in with the
    bags.  Everyone had a smile on their face (that was a dead give away
    that something was up).  I was the last one to get into the house. 
    Everyone was still smiling, so I thought that I better start looking
    around to see if someone bought something and I was suppose to see it. 
    Well I will cut to the point.  I looked over towards the bathroom door
    and there stood the cutest little kitten.  She looked up at me and
    meowed...  My heart melted.  
    
    Both of my daughters get out of work on Fridays at 11 and I guess that
    they had just made up their minds.  They went to the animal shelter in
    Sterling and picked her up.  She is just 10 weeks old.
    
    It has been a real long time since we have had a kitten in the house.
    
    I had some concerns on Sarturday.  She had not eaten anything since my
    daugters picked her up on Friday afternoon.  I called the shelter and
    they told me that she was probably still transitioning and that if she
    still hadn't eaten anything by Monday to give them a call..
    
    We bought her some kitten formula can food and she takes a few small
    bites of that.  
    
    I was pretty concerned about leaving her at home today all by her self,
    you see we have Sheba there.  Sheba is a 75 pound German Sheperd/Huskie
    mix that thinks the kitten is her baby.
    
    I put the kitty in the bathroom with food,water,blankie,clock that
    ticks,radio playing softly.  I put a baby gate up to the front of the
    door so that the kitty can look out and that Sheba could look in.  Well
    when I was ready to leave Sheba came running to me barking in a way to
    say,"  You can't leave her in there like that!"  I told her that is
    where the kitty had to stay until someone came home.  She ran back to
    the gate and then back to me barking again as if to say that I had to
    let her out.  I sure hope that everything is okay.
    
    It is so nice to have a little purring machine in the house again. 
    Since Tanya and Rockys' passing the house has been to quiet.
    
    
    I'm sorry that this note has been so long...  I am sure that I will be
    writing again about our new arrival.
    
    *joyce
    
    ps:  The family wants to call her Abby, cuz I talked about the Abby
    that was in the notesfile that was so sick.  I hope that its okay that
    we call her that ...
    
    
    
    
    

    Joyce,
    What a wonderful story!  I am very happy for you all :'}
    Karen

    Joyce,
    
    Please don't worry about your note being too long!  We all love to
    read stories just like yours.  Please keep us updated with notes of
    any length!  Continued happiness with your new kitty!
    
    Carl

    Congrats on your new kitten.   I have a small female kitty called
    Abby too!!!  Her real name is Abigail...but we only call her that
    when we're mad!!!!
    
    We love to hear new stories...so please continue to share.
    
    Sandy

    Joyce, I am thrilled for you and your family.  How exciting and so
    much fun!
    
    I may be a bit presumptious ... is Abby for my Abigail who has been
    sick with Lupus?  If so, how wonderfully thoughtful of you to name
    her that.  My Abigail is the sweetest and most loveable little
    thing and doing much much better!
    
    Give your Abby a gentle hug for me and tell her that I'll give
    kisses to Abigail from her ... tonight when I get home!
    
    Congratulations Joyce!
    
    Marilyn
    

    Hi!
    
    She was named after your Abby.  
    
    Our new Abby is so soft and sweet and loves being held.  She just purrs
    and purrs....  
    
    I can't remember because it has been soon long since we have had a
    kitten but, Do they sleep alot???  Abby did an awful lot of that this
    weekend.  She doesn't seem interested in playing....
    
    Maybe I should just be patient.....
    
    Thanks for all the kind wishes I will pass them along to Abbie!!
    
    *joyce
    
    

    Joyce,
    
     I think she might be sleeping a lot because of the transition also.
    It's a pretty stressful time, even for a kitten! 8-) When she finally
    rests up, and gets her second wind, you'll be wishing for the sleepy
    kitten back! 8-) 
    
     Please keep us all informed of her progress, and as has been said,
    never wprry abot a kitty sotry being too long! ;-) We love to hear
    (read?) them!
    
    Love,
    
     Yonee

    I would just keep my eye on her because if she is not eating and
    not playing...I'd be a bit worried that something is wrong and you
    might have to bring her to the vets.   
    
    I do agree that it might be the transition....but kittens normally
    get over this alot quicker then adults. It is my experience that a   
    kitten would play like crazy for 1/2 hour...then sleep for 1/2 hour 
    and so on!!!
    
    Just keep your eyes on her for the next few days...
    
    Sandy
    

    I'm not sure if I should be putting this in another note or not.  If so
    please forgive and move. 
    
    Last night when I went home Abby was on the couch with my daughter. 
    She is still very quiet.  My daughter said that she has her first
    appointment at Central Animal hospital tomorrow. We watched her for the
    rest of the night.  She just lays in the blanket that we have on the
    couch for her.  No crying no nothing.  I am getting worried.
    
    This morning we got up and Abby was on the couch.  I asked my daughter
    if she ate and she said that Abby had no interest.  When it was time
    for my daughters to go off to work they opened the livingroom door and
    were leaving,  Abby jumped off of the couch and headed right for the
    door..  I had to grab her before she could get out.  She seemed pretty
    lively then.  It was an hour later when I was getting ready to leave
    that I put her in the bathroom with all of the things that she would
    need for the day. I put up the baby gate, Sheba laid next to it as if
    to keep her company.  Just before going out the kitchen door I took one
    more look towards the bathroom.  I could see Abby walking around and
    she was heading towards the gate when I went out the door.  I am so
    concerned about her.  My daughter thinks that she is sick.  She is
    going to call the shelter today to let them know what is going on.  We
    only got her on Friday and I am already attached to her.  
    
    I will let you know what the shelter and the vets say...
    
    Thanks for listening.......
    
    
    *joyce 

    Joyce,
    
     I'm glad to hear she has an appointment tomorrow. This length of time
    doesn't sound normal for such a little one. Please let us know what you
    find out. 
    
    Good thoughts coming your way.
    
    Love,
    
     Yonee
    

    Joyce ... what time is your appointment at Central Animal Hospital?
    Let us know, as soon as you can, how she is doing!
    
    My neice got her kitten from the Sterling Shelter and he (7) didn't
    eat for a day.  She went out and bought all sorts of food and he
    finally nibbled on Tender Vittles.  I remember getting Otis and he
    chowed on EVERYTHING ... guess we were lucky and didn't know it.
    
    Hope all is well.  I would assume that as long as she is drinking
    water ... she'll do okay until she sees the vet.
    
    Please let us know how little Abby is doing.
    
    M
    

    
    
    	If all else fails, try some baby food....
    
    
    	Keeping the paws crossed
    
    	Mike

    I have tryed everything.  She still has no interest.  She lays on the
    couch in a big blanket that we have buffed up for her.  We pick her up
    every so often and bring her to her water dish to see if she will take
    some.  Some times she does.  Then she heads to the litterbox and does
    her thing and then heads back to the livingroom..
    
    We have an appointment at 4:45 today for her.   I can't wait for this
    day to pass.
    
    This morning she wanted nothing to do we food at ALL.  As a matter of
    fact when my daughter put her down she ran behind the washing machine
    and wouldn't come out.  I checked her after they went to work and she
    let me pat her and she started to purr, but that was it.  She wanted to
    stay there...
    
    She can not continue to go out refusing food.  There is not much to
    her.  She is very tiny...
    
    I will let you know tomorrow what the vet says..
    
    Please keep your fingers and paws X
    
    Thanks *joyce
    

    Fingers and paws crossed here in CA for both Abbys.  I hope the vet
    will find a simple, easily corrected problem.
    
    Steffi

    Kitty prayers coming your way...and I'm so happy the
    appointment is for today.    
    
    Sandy
    

    You KNOW I am praying for Abby.
    
    Keep your chin up - once you see Dr. Moss/Mulcahy you'll feel much
    better about Abby and perhaps it's only a matter of finding the
    right "food" that she likes.  They can be SO finicky!!
    
    My Abby's a fighter and if she is her namesake ... hopefully she'll
    have the same character and instinct to survive.
    
    My best to you - please let us know (as soon as possible) what the
    results of her examination is.
    
    Marilyn (and Abigail)
    

  Good luck with the vet visit for Abby tonight - kitty & canine paws
  crossed in our house for her !

  Debbi

    Welcome to the newest member of my extended family -
    
    Rhiannon is a beautiful little stray that showed up at my local
    vet's office; when I stopped to refill the medication Maggie (my
    Beagle) takes for epilepsy, I saw this little thing in the cage
    - actually, I heard her before I saw her...she's a vocal one! I
    knew even BEFORE I opened that cage to hold her that I'd be taking
    her home with me. She's jet black with a white triangle on her chest
    and white spots on all four feet; she's also got a white line running
    down her underbelly.
    
    She's affectionate and active and playful and not at all sure yet what
    to make of the girls (Maggie the Beagle and Lucy the Black Lab); they
    both grew up with a cat in the house, so they're not put out in the
    least. Lucy wants so badly to play with this new 'buddy', but keeps
    getting rudely rebuffed. The dogs stay in a pen in the house during the
    day while I'm at work, so maybe this'll give the cat a chance to get
    acquainted on her terms.
    
    She stayed pretty close to me all last evening, and slept with us all
    last night; Lucy has her own bed on the floor, and Maggie and I share
    the king-size. Rhiannon seemed quite content curling up on the spare
    pillow next to my head - I don't think it'll take her long to figure
    out she's found Kitty Heaven. I showed her where her food and water
    were, and the litter box, but I didn't see her use it last night. This
    morning as I was getting ready for work, she came in and started
    padding around on Lucy's (cedar-chip-filled) bed - and then began
    peeing on it!! I picked her up right away and took her directly to her
    litter box (somewhat unceremoniously, I'm sure, from her viewpoint -
    but I was a perfect gentleman about it, and not at all rough). After
    one or two iterations of "Harry pushes her through the door and
    Rhiannon pops right back out again", I finally heard her scratching
    away at the litter inside (it's a covered box) and then finishing her
    business. I'll check it tonight when I get home to make sure she's
    using it and then I can relax.
    
    It's wonderful to have a cat in the house again; I had Grey for almost
    20 years and it's been three years since she died. This little
    sweetheart just curled up on my lap last night and I fell in love all
    over again.

    Congrats...I knew it was just a matter of time until the right
    kitty found you!!!!!   I'm sure she is thrilled to have a wonderful
    home.....and I'm sure she will bring years of laughter and joy to
    you and the pups!!!
    
    Sandy

    I have two to introduce:
    
    1. The Lady Elizabeth, Duchess of Pepper.  Lady actually came to us
       several months ago but she didn't really accept us until quite
       recently.  She is a mushy money cat, long body, long legs and long
       tail.  Her family motto is "I can do it myself".  Fiercely
       independant and just plain cussed. 
    
    2. Miss Emily.  The smallest adult kitty I have ever seen.  Jet black,
       with white bib, paws, and whiskers.  I think she only weighs about
       2.5 or 3 pounds.  That's such a change from the others who average
       about 13 pounds.  Emily has just had six kittens (all found homes). 
       Her paws are the size of a 5 cent piece and her ears are longer and 
       larger than her face. 
    
    They are both precious, much loved and a great addition to our feline
    family.                                                          
    
    

    I just remember that I never FORMERLY introduced Mr. Meow has
    the newest member to Kitty City!!!!!
    
    Mr Meow  (meow-ser)is a 17 year old kitty who has spent his entire 
    life living with my Mother-in-law as an outdoor kitty. (access to
    the cellar).   Mr. Meow was going down hill very fast and had
    stopped eating, stopped washing himself and barely had the
    strength to stand up.....but my mom-in-law insisted the cat
    spend his time outside because she didn't want to deal with 
    a kitty litter. (arrrrggggghhhhh)
    
    One sunday afternoon in July my wonderful hubby came home with
    Mr. Meow because he just couldn't deal with him slowly wiltering
    away and spending his time outside where he could no longer
    take care of himself. Of course this was during that real hot
    spell...so Mr Meow was deteriorating very quickly.  We immediately 
    brought Mr. Meow to the vets and he was diagnosed with Kidney Disease 
    and we were told he is mostly like on his last leg and it was 
    probably just a matter of time.
    
    Well I'm happy to say that was about 4 months ago and Mr. Meow
    has gained atleast 2 pounds, has a beatiful coat again, and can run
    and jump just as good as my other cats.  He has no problem swatting
    my other cats....and I truly believe he is enjoying his life of
    luxury!!!! He don't care for his low protein diet at times...but
    we give him treats once a day. (slice chicken...low in protein!!)  
    
    Like I needed another cat...right...but who could turn this sweet
    loving kitty away to die on his own.  He may not have a real long
    life ahead of him...but we'll make sure he enjoys the time with us!
    And Yonee told me she would KILL me if I even thought about giving
    Mr. Meow back to my mother in law...so he's with us forever!!!
    
    Sandy (who's family continues to grow!!!)
    

    Whatever happened with Abby's visit to the vet on 10/20?  Haven't seen
    any updates.....

    re: -1  See note 633.
    
    Steffi

	I would like to introduce the newest member of the family.

	But first .....

	She is special needs kitty that has been cared for by the
	great people of FAHS (Framingham Animal Humane Society).

	Two weeks ago I contacted Yonee and asked if there was a 
	special needs kitty at the shelter looking for a home.
	Yonee said that their was a beautiful 5 month old female Siamese
	that was in foster care. Yonee said that she would contact 
	Carol the foster mom and arrange for a meeting at FAHS for 
	Sunday October 31. So Sunday came, placed the kitty carrier in
	the car and headed for Framingham from Milford NH. 

	We arrived at FAHS and was greeted by Yonee and her husband.
	Since we arrived before Carol, this gave Yonee a chance to
	introduce the gang (the kitties) to us (myself and Myria). 
	The kitties thought this was great, someone to play with,
	the favor kitty toy is the feather tied to a string.

	Carol the foster mom arrived just before 1 pm. In the kitty
	carrier were two kitties, a brown with some black strips 
	Maine Coon kitty and a dark face, cream	colored body Siamese.
	Here was the special kitty, Carol gently removed "Thumper"
	from the kitty carrier and made the introductions. Yonee 
	now has a smile from ear to ear. After filling out the paper
	work, Myria, Thumper and I got in the car and headed for
	NH. 

	Now if you have been following the notes, Yonee made a referrence
	to Thumper in note 5.162. Yup, Thumper has only three legs. 
	She is missing the rear right leg.

	I should re-introduce the other 2 furfaces at home.

	First we have K.C. who is a handsome 1.7 years old, 12 lbs orange 
	and white male kitty that is for the most part a Maine Coon kitty. 
	K.C. was adopted from the Lincoln County Humane Society near 
	Damerscottia Maine. K.C is short for Kitty Cat....8^). During the 
	summer time we have the camping trailer parked at Lake Pemiquid 
	Campground for 6 month. K.C love to go to the camp. Partly because he 
	get to sit on my shoulder for the 2.5 hour trek and purrrring the whole
	way. K.C was adopted on July 3, 1991

	Next we have B.J who is a 1.3 year old, 8 lbs orange and white
	short hair male. When I brought B.J home he was no bigger than
	my hand, 1.5 - 2.0 lbs. K.C at first was very curious of this 
	little, little furball. K.C would bop bop bap at B.J so we gave
	B.J the run of the bedroom and the connecting bath room. As B.J
	grew, they would play pawies under the door.

	So anyway we arrive home and I brought in Thumper who has been given
	a new name, "Lilac". I place the kitty carrier on the kitchen floor
	and open the door. B.J comes down from up stairs to see if the food
	dish had been filled. Lately he has been a little chow-hound.
	So he walks by the carrier and briefly looks in and then does a 
	double take. He then looks at me and says that their is something
	in there. I take Lilac upstairs to the spare bedroom and make
	it comfortable for her.

	Lilac has been adjusting well to the new environment, she has been
	very content in sitting in my lap while watching some TV. She now
	purrrrs when I pick her up..... She has not had any problems in
	eating or using the kitty box. 

	Last night Lilac come from her room and sat on the stairs.
	Just looking and checking things out. B.J saw her and slowly
	went to her and said "Hi" no hissing, Monday, B.J did hiss a little.

	As all of you have experience the joys of having these little fur
	person in your life, Lilac will bring years of happiness to our
	home.

	Yonee thankyou very much for your help in arranging the meeting
	and the adoption.



	Mike, K.C, B.J, and now Lilac

    Mike,
    
     It was my absolute pleasure, believe me! She is doing great in your
    home too! 
    
     I love it when a plan comes together!!!!! 8-) 8-) 8-)
    
    Yonee

    Well It's about time we see this intro....Congrats Mike on your
    new little girl.  What a special person you are for taking on
    a special needs kitty.  I'm sure Lilac will bring many many years
    of fun, love and enjoyment to the househould.   
         
    Lilac...you don't know how lucky you are to have friends like
    Mike and Yonee!!!!   
    
    Sandy

    Re note .207
                                                               
    We have had to rename Emily.  When she regained her composure after
    her spaying she proved that she was no demure and sweet little kitty.
    Emily just didn't suit her at all.  She is now named Ninja or Madam Nin.  
    She is a little firecracker, but we love her just the same.
    

    Note the date -->			    8/16/93
    
    I have to admit I've been holding out on you guys (the Feliner 
    community, that is)--this past weekend marked the 3rd week of our 
    having been adopted by TWO little black furface delinquent BOYS!
    
    They are sleek hardbody shorthair wedgehead bat-eared guys, now 12 
    weeks old, litter bro's, and they saw us coming at the Farmland Petting 
    Zoo in Sterling, Mass on July 24.  I had seen a "Best Bet" blurb in the 
    Worcester Telegram on the petting zoo, and it lived up to the hype: a 
    working farm on top of a hill with just a huge fenced-in area full of 
    happy friendly animals... even the CHICKENS let you pet them.  There 
    are pens within that area to segregate some of the species (llamas, for 
    instance).  But the folks who run the place are no fools: the very 
    first pen you come upon after gaining admission is the KITTEN PETTING 
    AREA!
    
    Moon is Not at All Amused by the delinquents but, to my astonishment, 
    she *doesn't blame us*.  I thought there'd be no end of the cold 
    shoulder and excremental surprises, but for the first week Moon would 
    just appear periodically at the entrance of the living room and seem to 
    mutter, "Oh, so THEY'RE still here," and stalk off to self-imposed 
    exile.  She was asleep when the boys arrived, hissed uncomfortably at 
    them when our arrival woke her (they weren't even trying to approach 
    her) and walked stiffly off to my daughter's room.
    
                                     *****
    
    Break in the narrative here to explain that (as I plan to recount 
    elsewhere [649.0]) we lost Moon on September 7, at the age of 17 1/3...
    
                                     *****
    
    					    11/9/93
    
    OK, now to describe the delinquents!  My daughter (Alex) claimed the 
    right to name one of them, so his name is Skrufy.  (Alex is adamant on 
    the spelling.)  I've proceeded to degenerate the name further into 
    nicknames: Scrofulous (means "morally corrupt"; he doesn't deserve 
    this!), Skruffer, Skrufadopoulos.  This last one also has led to 
    'kruffadupp and thence to The Dupper.  When the boys first adopted us, 
    Skrufy was a nape-of-the-neck guy (interesting, as "scruff" means 
    nape), but now he's graduated into Lap Man.  If there are several laps 
    available he's thrilled and will divide his time among them; he also 
    has a rather generous definition of "lap"--if you crouch, you have 
    formed a Lap; if you bend over, your back is now a Lap!  Skrufy has a 
    few more brain cells than his brother (though that's not saying much), 
    is slightly more cautious and after 3 months with us still shies if, 
    when you try to pat him, you go directly for the top of his head.  I 
    made a halfhearted attempt to name him Stuart Smalley, after the 
    Saturday Night Live character [whose show is "Daily Affirmations"], but 
    though Alex loves the character she held fast to "Skrufy".  Adding to 
    Skruf's adorableness is his voice: usually we just get the Silent 
    Miaow, but when he does "squeak" up, it's a squeeze-toy sound!  (His 
    purring is normal.)  His favorite toys are the pillows from Alex's doll 
    beds - he holds prolonged daily sessions of pillow-hockey in the 
    kitchen, and often stalks determinedly around the house with a Vicious 
    Pillow clenched in his Mighty Hunter Jaws.
    
    
    I stole the idea for naming Skrufy's brother from friends - they'd 
    tried to name their cat but kept vetoing each other's choices.  A few 
    more rounds of this and - yup - the cat was finally christened "Veto"!
    
    Our Veto's nickname is "Plush Bunny", one that spontaneously arose 
    because of his spongy marshmallowy tummy and extra-high-grade soft, 
    dense fur.  (AKA "Veedly-deet", an insane corruption of "tweedly-deet" 
    from "Rockin' Robin".)  Lots of people ask if his last name is 
    Corleone, and apart from answering to the homonym "Vito", he *does* 
    look like a hood - the vacant stare combined with the swagger: Rebel 
    Without a Clue.  I tell him fondly that he's a victim of testosterone 
    poisoning.  They really don't come much dumber  :-}  but he... looks... 
    MAHvelous, and he has that endearing quality of "bursting into purr" 
    whenever he's touched.
    
    Veto doesn't *get it* if you throw him off your lap; he just bounces 
    back like a superball, repeatedly.   But when he finally realizes he's 
    persona non grata, his reaction is to rocket around the room with that 
    crazed, ears-half-back look on his face.  (Mommy's mad so I'm... 
    gonna... RUUUUUUUNNNNNNNN!!!!!)
    
    When we picked up the boys from Losing the Livestock (fleas) at the 
    vet's, the assistant said "I love the one who sticks out his tongue!"  
    Veto, natch.  It isn't a case of startling him mid-bath, either; he'll 
    leave a good 3/8" of bright pink tongue hanging out for several 
    *minutes*, for no apparent reason, oblivious to all standards of Cat 
    Dignity.  (I hope he never learns!)
    
    We can tell the boys apart by their behavior, certainly, but there are 
    a few subtle physical differences.  Skrufy doesn't have the tummy, or 
    the appetite, that Veto does.  Veto has his gangster's white tie (just 
    a spray of white hairs at the base of his throat) and Skruf has about 7 
    tiny white hairs across the bridge of his nose; also, the toes on 
    Skruf's right rear paw are "powdered with silver dust".  And his eyes 
    are "buttered toast" to Veto's "pea soup".
    
    Sorry this is so long, but I had to write Moon's RIP first, and I've
    been dying to share all the delinquents' antics with you!
    
    Leslie

    
    Great writing! Loved it!
    
    len.
    

    len,
    
    *blush*   Thanks!
    
    Leslie

    
    
The kitty population in my household has just been expanded...

My husband offered to take our three kitties to the vet yesterday 
for their yearly shots and check-ups.   All went well, and he managed to 
get out with only a few scratches.

When I got home here was my husband on the porch with a box.  I walked 
up and heard the tiniest little squeak you could imagine.  I thought maybe 
he caught a mouse in the box or something.

Well, out crawls this ittty bitty little patch tabby kitten!  And to think my
husband insisted #3 would be the last.   Well, the old softie just couldn't 
resist all the babies the vet had been taking care of.    She is only about 
6 weeks old, and is as big as the length from the tip my little finger to 
the tip of my thumb.   Her Mom had the kittens on the vets porch (smart 
move!) and then took off, so the baby has been on her own since the 
beginning.

I just can't believe this baby is so well developed for her age.  Her 
coordination is great!  I of course had to dig out ALL the kitty toys 
and the house now looks like a playschool.  

She actually slept almost through the entire night, tucked under my 
husband's arm!   She is definitely going to be Daddy's little girl!
My allergies have kicked in so it's just as well I got to be on the other 
side of the bed.  This one is a long hair where my other three all have 
short hair.  It may take awhile to build up some immunity.  AAACHOOOOO!

Now to find a name... maybe Sophie 

Adopted again,
Becky

    
    
    	CONGRADS......!!!!! 8^)
    
    
    	Mike

    There is a new baby in our household.  She isn't living with me but
    my daughter and her two roommates adopted her Monday the 15th of
    November.
    
    Central Animal Hospital had two females (both abandoned, I think) one
    looked like tuxedo cat and the other a little cow.  No one wanted the
    little cow so I persuaded my daughter to go down last Sunday morning
    and check her out.  Tracey adopted her and named her is Nellie.
    
    She is a love.  Loves to sleep and eat (they both have a lot in common)
    and is extremely loveable and sweet.  I went down to see her the night
    she brought her home and she purred and loved being held.  When I
    brought Abigail in to visit Dr. Moss last Sunday - she took the little
    one out of the cage ... and put her down next to Abigail.  That is the
    first time I ever saw her hiss.  I would have loved to adopt her myself
    but stress is not good for anyone with Lupus so Dr. Moss and I decided
    against my bringing her home with me.  
    
    She's not living with me - but is still a member of the family and I
    can see her whenever I want.  The next time there is a Feline dinner
    I'll have pictures of her to pass around.
    
    Marilyn
    

    I would like to introduce my newly adopted kitty "Blackie".  We got
    Blackie from the Bay Pathy Humane Society in Hopkinton this past
    Saturday (11/20).  He is a 2 1/2 yr old Black Maine Coon cat and is 
    extremly lovable.  He is fighting a cold just like the rest of my
    family and is on amoxicillan till Thursday.  He has had all his shots
    and tested negative for Feline Lukemia(sp).  They gave us his papers,
    shot records and his rabies certificate to take to the vet when we take
    him to have her look at him after he is finished with the amoxicillan.
    
    Blackie is very good with kids, and my 4 yr old son just loves him.
    
    We are glad that he is part of our family and plan on keeping him
    around for quit awhile.  He is also an indoor cat.
    
    
    Liz

    Liz!
    
     Congratulations on your new friend! Sounds like Blackie is going to be
    spoiled rotten, which is as it should be.
    
     And, thanks so much for adopting an adult kitty! I love hearing
    stories like this! 
    
     Welcome Blackie, and please give him a hug from me! We also expect you
    to keep us informed of all his antics! ;-)
    
    Love,
     Yonee

    YAHOO!  Welcome Blackie and Liz ... I know how much you've wanted to
    get a cat, Liz ... Hope Alex and Blackie become the BEST of friends!!
    
    Holly
    

    
    We met Blackie the day we adopted Rudolf Valentinose - he was my
    personal favorite...
    
    len.
     

    I would like to introduce the newest member of our feline family.
    
    Devin
    
    We adopted him from the San Francisco SPCA. (They are a no-kill
    shelter).  He is 8 months old, was neutered about 10 days before we
    adopted him, was wormed, defleaed, given shots, etc.  The SPCA does a
    great job.  Devin is a gray mackerel tabby with stripes on his front
    shoulders and spots along his flanks and tummy.  He is a very sleek
    shorthair with the longest skinny tail and big green-gray eyes and a
    sweet little face.  He is going to be a big boy, he's already over 7
    pounds and has a great appetite. (Loves plain yogurt, and had some of my
    apple last night.)  As soon as he is petted, he starts purring.  He's a
    real lovebug.  Marnie is enjoying having a playmate again.  And the
    boys are chasing each other, etc.  The girls are less thrilled. 
    Lizette had some choice words when she first met him.  Misty just
    hisses and growls when he is near her.
    
    Devin has been cuddling in bed with us and doesn't disturb me during
    the night.  However, Bob was awaken by Devin walking over him and
    purring. 
    
    BTW, anyone in the SF area, go to Gumps on Post St.  The SPCA with
    Gumps' help sets up windows with cats and kittens for adoption.  The
    furnture is cat size and the windows are so beautiful, and of course,
    the kitties are adorable.  There are SPCA volunteers there to tell you
    about each animal and they will be glad to help with adoption and to
    take a donation for the shelter.  There is always a long line of people
    waiting to view the windows.
    
    Steffi

    Congrats to you and Bob on your new kitty.  I wonder if Devin
    (love the name) knows what a darn lucky kitty he really is to
    find such a wonderful parents and a loving home!!!!!  He'll figure
    that out real soon!!!!!
    
    Love to your new furry child...and I'm sure you'll enjoy him!!!
    
    Sandy

    
    
    
    I would like to introduce the first feline member of our household
    Magic. 
    
    She is an all black short hair stray that we saw around our 
    neighborhood all summer. We got her two weeks ago after unsuccessfully 
    trying to find out (with the help of three neighbors) if she was owned
    by anyone.  I took her to the vet two weeks ago and she was given a clean
    bill of health (thank goodness). The vet estimates she is 6 - 8 months
    old. Next week we are taking her in to get spayed.
    
    She loves to follow us around rubbing up against us, and play with a
    thick piece string that I dangle in her face.  I think she is adjusting
    to living indoors, and I can't belive how relaxing it is to pet her
    while she sits on my lap.
    
    
    Greg

    
    I would like to introduce Shilo.  We call him Shilo's Incredible
    Journey.
    
    Most of you will remember that I have lost 3 cats over this summer.  It
    has been really rough..  My siamese (Tanya) I had for 19 years.
    
    My daughter (who is 27 and still lives at home) said that she wanted a
    cat for Christmas.  Well we tryed the shelter and that didn't work. 
    She expressed that she would like to have a Maine Coon Kittie.  Well we
    searched the Cat Fancy Magazine and made some calls.  My other daughter
    has a friend in North Carolina that works for a vet..  She called her
    and let her know what we were looking for.  The very next day she
    called back and said that there was a breeder down there that had one
    Maine Coon kittie left.  
    
    Well to make a long story short we pooled together all of the money
    that we needed to get the kitty and to have it flown to us.  
    
    We got a call on Saturday night that Shilo would be flying into the
    Worcester airport and would be landing at 6:45 on Sunday.  Sunday was a
    very very looooooooong day.  My daughter went to pick Shilo up and
    someone that works at the airport said that the flight was delayed and
    that it would be there at 10:00.  She came home and went back at 10:00. 
    This time should stood at the gate and as the pilot was getting off she
    said,"Did you happen to have a kitten on that flight?".  He in turn
    said do you mean Felix?  Our Shilo was a big hit with the pilot and the
    flight attendants.  They said that they did not know what his name was
    so they called him Felix.  Shilo rode from North Carolina in the cock
    pit with the pilots.   Everyone said that he is so sweet and they all
    enjoyed him on the plane
    
    
    We were so worried about how he was going to be dealing with his
    journey.
    
    Shilo has adapted very well to his new home...  He loves everyone.... 
    His pur is very loud.  I am sure that you will be hearing more about
    Shilo as he has more adventures.
    
    It is so nice to have a kitten in the house again....
    
    *joyce
    
    

I thought I had introduced my family, but I don't see it in here!  

I now have three beautiful cats (it's a good thing I don't live in San Jose)!

Sabrina, my tonkinese is going on 15.  She's a scaredy cat, hiding when company
comes, and most affectionate in bed! Kabuki Dickens (Buki) is my lynxpoint
siamese, and has finally become affectionate towards me after 4 years!  He still
bites other people though, especially when teased!  Gypsy is my newest addition,
a feral cat you've most likely read about since I caught him.  He loves to hiss
at me whenever he can!  He looks all Siamese, but is in fact a mongrel.  His
mom is a long haired black beauty, and his dad I'm pretty sure must be the male
siamese I see running around outside who lives a few doors down.

I don't write in here often, but do read quite often, and have found this file
to be very helpful!

Hugs,
Laura A.K.A. Lola

    Message from Karen Kolling......Remember little grey kitty who slept
    on her porch and Karen has fed for years...well he now has a name
    and a home!!!

I seem to have acquired a new cat.

A stray ("Little Grey Kitty") I was "working on" showed up minus
his collar and name tag (which I'd managed to get onto him a few
weeks or so ago) and with some blood on his side, so he got
swooped into the vet this morning.  The vet
thinks he was in a fight and that he probably has some puncture
wounds, but should be okay.  So, he's also being neutered etc. since
he's in there.  I dread introducing a new cat into the household,
Holly will go completely ballistic, say something encouraging,
folks :-)

I think I will call him Tommy.  He was very sweet, although
frightened, in at the vet's.  He's a grey/black tabby, like my other
three kitties.  My neighbors think he is the kitty who used to belong
to someone who lived in a cottage nearby, and that that person left
him when he was evicted.  Then he was adopted by the retarded young
man who lived across the street from us, whose sister put him in a
home after their mother died.  Poor kitty;  I have been feeding him
CD for quite awhile, so he is plump and glossy.  I'm also going to
see if anyone knows how to get in touch with the young man, so I
can tell him his kitty is okay.

Karen

Hi all,
    
     I got mail from Karen Kolling giving an update on Tommy, and she said
    I could post it to notes so everyone would know! So, here it is:
    
    
I got several purrs this morning from Tommy!  He really is a
sweet cat.  I think he must have really been a house/people
cat who has been fending for himself in the big world for
a long time :-(  On Tommy's trial runs out of the spare bedroom,
Sweetie is tremendously interested (which alarms Tommy), Holly
is in a major snit (ditto Tommy) and Little Bit decides if
he doesn't move, Tommy won't notice him...

Karen

Please tell Karen I wish her the best of luck introducing Tommy!  At least he
purrs and she can pet him, a major advantage I'd say!

Laura

    Well, we went to the local shelter on 12/27 and picked (were choosen)
    up another kitty. We have named her Abby, and boy is she a
    purr-meister. She is a nine month old Siamise mix with beautiful blue
    eyes (crosseyed no less).  We got her as a companion for Magic our
    other kitty. 
    
    We got her spayed last Friday, and to our shock she was pregnant! We
    had no clue. I thought she may have been sick because she did not have
    nearly as much energy as Magic. The vet estimated she about 17 days 
    along, which meant she had to have been bred one or two days before
    foster family brought her to the shelter. I am just glad we did not
    know she was pregnant before we brought her in. She is recovering but
    has caught a slight cold. She has become my wife's little sweethart.
    
    Magic is slowly adapting to having another kitty in the house. She
    stalks Abby and every so often will pounce on her, and they will roll
    around on the floor and play fight until one of them gets mad. I hope they
    will get along better, but we will see.  I really think Magic does not
    like the competition (she was very affectionate, when Abby was in
    overnight to get spayed).
    
    Greg

    Hi Feliners!
    
    I have been checking this conference daily to catch up on everyone's
    furry friends.  I wanted to let you know that I have a new furball
    addition to my family.  Her name is Softy!  She is so beautiful.  Softy
    doesn't like to be held much, but when she does you have to give her
    your undivided attention.  I took her to the vet and she is the picture
    of health for which I am extremely grateful.
    
    Harley is doing awsome!  We finally got over the eye infection (3 weeks
    on antibotics) and he was just newtered on the 3rd of January.  Since I
    brought him home, he is more affectionate now than before (if you can
    believe that!)  I think that he missed me.  Is that possible?
    
    This year is starting off to be wonderful and I'm counting my
    blessings.
    
    Take care.....Dawn
    

    I too have a new kitten in the house to keep my remaining old kitty
    company - not to replace my departed half-Siamese since no other animal
    could be quite like her.  The new addition, as of three weeks ago, is a
    Maine coon kitten named Melody.  She is grey with white feet - actually
    she is the color the cat breeder calls "blue".  She is a cute little
    critter - and knows it.  JFCL is slowly adapting to having a different
    other kitty around to keep her company.  The little one only gets
    hissed at now if she tries to grab the big one's tail, or sits in the
    adult cat's favorite napping spots.  I never had a long-haired kitty
    before, and coon cats are sort of odd anyhow.  This cat isn't much of a
    jumper but she loves to scamper around and is extremely fast.  Also,
    she just barely purrs - if she is sitting on your head, which she likes
    to do while I am trying to sleep (!), you can hear her, but not
    otherwise.  Instead, she "chirps".  Funny little critter.  She ought to
    get to 11-12 lbs., about the same size as JFCL, who is a big kitty
    herself, though the coon kitty will probably look even larger because
    of her fluffy coat.  SHe looked like a fast-moving fuzzy grey cotton
    ball (with white feet and bib) when I first got her, but she is growing
    in adult fur now and is beginning to look more like a kitty.  She loves
    to be combed.  She's not as happy having her claws clipped!  And she
    just loves stealing the "older kitty" food out of her companion's bowl
    instead of eating the high-protein kitten food in her own bowl - I
    don't know if she prefers the flavor, or is just seeing what she can
    get away with.  JFCL knows she isn't to eat the kitten's food, and
    usually she doesn't.  Anyhow, it's fun having a kitten around again!
    
    /Charlotte
     

    
    
    Hello everyone,  its so nice to have our file back on the network ;-)
          We have a new addition to our family, and I'm so proud.
    
          Tomba, is our two year old Maine Coon cat, that was neutered 
          a few days prior to coming to his new home. He is huge, with a 
          very long mane (sp) and huge double paws on both feet. Big eyes, 
          tiger in the front his back is more spoted than striped kinda 
          like a leopard. His big bushy tail is just a couple of inches
          shorter than the normal long tail, (our guess is it must have
          somehow been cut off as there is a little lump at the end of it). 
          This shorter bushy tail gives him the look of a wild cat, 
          he is absolutely beautiful to look at. I find myself staring at
          him for long periods and just enjoying his wild cat look. 
          He is the sweetest, gentlest baby though. He keeps his claws in
          even when we are playing with his feather toy. 
          He follows you around like a dog, loves to be combed and when you
          are combing him he rolls around and gives you the other side. 
          
          I will add more in 'feline behavior' as to how the introduction 
          with the other two girls is going. 
    
          Oddly enough as big as he looks with his huge head, we wieghed 
          him at only 12 lbs. The vet says he still has a lot more growing
          to do especially after his neutering. 
    
         Shaw
                                          

    Greta is a 10 year old bluepoint Himalayan who found me through the
    adoption notes last October.  As a totally impartial observer, I must
    admit that she is extremely beautiful with a sweet baby face &
    enormous blue eyes.  She loves to play & stampedes like a little horse
    up the stairs & around the house.  I think that I'm pretty lucky that
    Greta has come to stay.  

    
    Phoebe is a 'runt' Maine Coon who came to New Mexico with us in the
    fall of 1992.  Phoebe is a beautiful long haired tiger with a white
    nose, bib and four sneekers.  She came to me about 6 months before I
    lost my life long siamese companion of 17 years - so she got some
    early life lessons from E.U. (eustis). Phoebe is an only cat - she
    has ensured (two very sad times over the past 3 years) that she is
    the only cat .. those are for another note.  
    
    Currently Phoebe is 90% recovered from cyro surgery for a 'rodent
    ulcer' - cancer - which she had on her lip under her wiskers.  She has
    one more check up with the vet in 3 weeks and I expect she'll have a
    clean bill of health.  It was quite an experience and I'll see if I
    can find an appropriate note to write about it.

    Andromeda (Andie for short) is my special black beauty that adopted
    me about 2-1/2 years ago.  She is half Manx, all black with no tail.
    I believe the other half is probably some Siamese.  We were introduced
    a few weeks after I lost my first love Cassiopeia (Cassie).  She
    was an all black house cat that at 10 months old, tragically fell 
    victim to FIP, 5 short months after she adopted me.  
    
    Anyway, Andie has all of Cassie's beauty and loving temperment
    plus her own intelligence, spirit and sense of humor that make her
    so unique.  She is an indoor kitty and loves to sit at the sliding
    glass door overlooking the deck and "bark" at birds and any
    small critters that cross her line of sight.  She says "Mom" and
    responds when I ask her questions like "are you hungry?  were you
    a good girl today?"  and never fails to respond when I say hello
    or I love you.  She's the yappiest furrball I've ever seen!  
    She even meows (screams really) for me to come with her and stand
    over and talk to her when she goes for a snack (she's like me - 
    doesn't like eating alone I guess)  or when she wants me
    to open the cellar door so she can go down and "play".  I know I sound
    crazy, but I truly think she thinks I'm a cat!  She loves to cuddle
    and never misses an opportunity to give my face a good cleaning.
    
    I also have 2 parakeets (Spike and Elizabeth) that she thinks
    are interesting to look at from time to time, but has learned
    that they have a right to live in her house too, just like her
    mom does.  
    
    I can remember my best friend (who has 3 cats) hounding me for over 
    2 years to adopt a baby, but I refused.  She kept on me until I
    finally broke down (never really being a cat lover in my prior
    lives) and now I can't imagine my life without Andie!  She's the
    joy of my life and a true companion.  Now my friend is hounding
    me to adopt a friend for Andie - one baby at a time!
    
    Glad to be a part of this GREAT notesfile.  I've outright laughed
    more than a few times reading your notes.
    
    Judie and Andie Groezinger
     
                          

    
    
    	RUSTY is the latest addition to the house hold. He is a handsome
    	orange stripped with white paws, chest and tummy and is about
    	1.5 years old.
    
    	In my search for BJ who is currently AWOL a woman contact me
    	and said that she had a kitty that matched my description of 
    	BJ. After arriving at the woman's house, behind the door was this
    	handsome kitty. He indeed did look like BJ, but this little fur
    	person had more orange in the face and was still whole...
    	Well the woman like the cat but really couldn't keep him and
    	she was planning to go to the Nashua Shelter... Well as many of you
    	know this shelter does not keep pets until they find a home...
    	So I said that I would take RUSTY.
    
    	RUSTY was sooooo happy to have a new home, warm place to sleep
    	and plenty of love and affection. He spent the first night in 
    	the bedroom separated from the other 2, Lilac and KC. The next
    	morning was his first visit to Dr. Paul.
    
    	The one of the first things done was to do the blood work to see
    	if there were any problems, all test came back negative. Next then
    	was to remove certain things from the tail region, and get all the
    	required shots. Dr. Paul gave me a call later in the afternoon and
    	ask to an x-ray. There was something about RUSTY's rear right leg.
    	The x-ray showed that his leg had once been broken but never set.
    	The leg has mended but not properly. His hips and other leg are 
    	fine. Since Rusty's leg did not create any problems for him
    	walking, and he has no real limp, it was decided to leave it alone.
    
    	Rusty has the sweetest personality a person could ask for. He has 
    	adjusted well to his new home and the other 2 Lilac and KC have
    	adjusted and accepted him. Of course their was the hissing from
    	KC to say "I am number 1 here" and Lilac to say " I am the queen
    	bee". I was surprised to see that Lilac took a little longer to
    	totally accept Rusty. Lilac being a shelter kitty (Framingham)
    	she would hiss at him them follow him around the house. This lasted 
    	for about 2 days. In conversion with Yonee, she said that Lilac
    	was just a little un-sure about things.
    
    	Well today after almost a week, the 3 fur-faces are getting along
    	fine. 

    Hello Again,
    
    The Princess Panther Jane would like to let everyone know that she is
    back!  She is a 9 year old Black Siamese look alike.  (A shelter baby,
    but please don't tell her, she thinks the Cat Princess granted us a
    licence to spoil her rotten and indulge her every whim.  Sigh, we
    do...;-)  Some folks will remember her from the old notes file.  She
    had an official coronation party when she took the title of Princess.
    
    Spot is another member of our household.  As different from the
    dignified and stately Princess as night from day.  Spots is a 9 year
    old black and white Maine Coon Apparant, She has the ear tufts and
    size, as well as the laid back and friendly personality.  Spots wears a
    white heart on her chest, for her Daddie.  (She Follows him around like
    a puppy!  It is the cutest thing!)  She also wears a White Bikini, YUP,
    a real white Bikini, a little white bra and panties!  It is a real Hoot
    when she goes belly up for tummie rubs!
    
    AND:
    
    Introducing Cinnamon or the Cinnyman.  A new addition.  This young man,
    age unknown, my guess is between 2-5, most likely closer to 2. adopted
    us this summer.  He is a light (washy) classic red tabby with white
    gloves on his front paws and White boots on his back paws and white
    face with the cutest pink nose and white tummie fur.  He is tall and
    has the longest toes of any cat I have ever seen!  The Princess and
    Spots are adjusting, slowly to this new addition.  But they will figure
    it out, He is ours and they can't run him off!
    
    It is good to be back after two years,  Hello to every one, I am,
    
    Feline Fine and Happy to be Back!
    
    Sue Spingler
    
   

    Welcome back, Sue!  I miss the good old days, and clearly remember the
    Princess Panther Jane's coronation party.  I believe a few of my cats
    received engraved invitations, but they thought New Hampshire was too
    far to travel to attend.
    
    -Roberta
    

    Welcome back too....I didn't even recognize the name...but what
    I did recognize was your catchy phrases...Feline Fine!!!!  I
    use to love reaching those....
    
    Sandy

    Welcome back!  I understand that Princess Panther reccommended the FIRM
    quite highly to "the Cinnyman" and the kitty contract is being refined.
    I'm sure that you will get the bill in the mail!
    
    THE FIRM and Deb

    Hi Everyone!
    
    Thanks for the warm welcome!  Sigh, yes, the Princess Panther Jane uses
    "The Firm" with great regularity.  "Puurrrpppp, Just send the bill to
    my Mummie, she has to pay, it is in the Contract.  Puuurrrpppp.  She
    also recommends them highly.
    
    She has a class in her school for exclusive felines entitled "The Firm
    is your friend.  Or How to use the Law to get your own way for fun and
    profit."  
    
    Feline Fine!
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot & "Cinnyman" (who needs a good Lawyer;-)
    

    
    	I added my newest addition to the household yesterday - a 10 wk
    	old red Aby kitten! He's adorable, and very bold. The first thing
    	he did when he saw the `massive trio' was puff himself up, turn
    	sideways, and hiss at them! He doesn't have a name yet -
    	suggestions?
    
    	Thanks to Holly Ventura for helping me track him down via Meg
    	Preston!
    
    	Sherry

Well, Aby made me think of Abraham, which makes me think "Lincoln".
Kind of a cute name for a cat!

Laura

	Volcano..........all that errupting red larva

	pepper............all that huffing you do after eating a Chilli


	Heather

Well, One of my wifes co-workers had this cat. His girlfriend was allergic
to it, and so was he. It was headed for the Salem (MA) shelter when
Lorrie decided to go take a look at it. As of Friday Hobbes
a 12# brown tabby with a white chest resides in our cellar.

He has had a hard life. His most recent owners loved him and cared for
him, and had gotten him in February from a Lewiston Me. shelter.
He was clearly a house pet before they got him as he is neutered
and declawed. It appears he survived MOST of this winter in Maine
before he was captured. This means either he got lost,
or somebody tossed a beautiful juvenile kitten out into the winter.
If it is the latter I know there is a special place in hell for that
person and their ilk.

I had thought my Spike was affectionate, but Hobbes makes Spike look
standoffish. Hobbes will come up to you, lie his body up the front of yours
and nuzzle your face and ears, purring like a diesel motor the whole while.
Hobbes has been vaccinated and tests clear of FLV and FIV, but we still need
to keep him isolated for a bit and introduce him slowly. He and Hurricane
chat politely (trilling sounds), but Spike hisses and puffs whenever he
passes the cellar door. 

I will be reading the notes on integrating an additional cat into an existing
pride, and will post further there as time permits...

Thanks,
Keith 

    
    There is a *very* special place in hell for someone who would toss a
    declawed kitten out into the winter.
    
    len.
    

    Hobbes is a great name ! I wonder if he will turn into a
    philosopher-cat like Calvin's Hobbes. At least his markings sound the
    same.
    
    Anne

    I think Hobbes is a very nice name!  My neighbors had the most 
    beautiful cat named Hobbes.  Of course they used to let him out
    and he is no longer with us due to that fact.  I am sure you will
    keep your new Hobbes in?!!!
    Karen

Yes, Hobbes will be kept indoors, as all our cats are. We are
very close (300' or less than 100M) from state route
114 in North Andover. Its a busy road with a 50 MPH speed
limit, so it is no place to let kitties roam. I may consider 
rigging up a closed pen some day with cat flap access from
a cellar window. 

And as for the name, I think an orange tiger is more appropriate for
the name Hobbes (spike and hurricane were nearly hobbes and calvin
respectivly due to personality), but he answers to it, and he's
had enough confusion for one life...

Thanks,
Keith

    This note is to introduce the two newest members of our menagerie.
    The cat show in San Mateo this past weekend was too good!!  Lots
    of people, vendors, and cute kitties.  I couldn't resist two of
    them.  My wife and I were thinking of one additional kitty and
    my job was to scout out possibilities at the show.  So I go home
    with two new little ones.
    
    Newton or Newt for short.  He's a five month old Devon Rex sealpoint
    male.  I didn't know they came in pointed colorations.  His eyes are
    so big and vivid grey-blue.  And he's a real fireball.  But when you
    pet him, he falls over on his side and skrunches his eyes up so
    tight and purrs so loud you can hear it from the other side of the
    house.  Devon Rexes have so little fur that they are very warm to
    the touch.  Under the covers at night its like having your own hot
    water bottle that never goes cold!!
    
    Blue Buri or Blue for short (thanks Len for the idea for the name).
    He's a four month old Siamese bluepoint male that likes to rub noses
    and butt heads like Joe Mao did (we still mis you Joey!).  Blue likes
    to cuddle in your lap and get petted.  He looks up at me with those
    blue eyes as if to say "don't ever stop."  Last night he was under
    the covers too.
    
    What sweeties they are.  My wife and I couldn't be happier that we
    found them.  Our existing kitties Cally, Chowder, Mocha, and Mai Buri
    are keeping their distance.  But every now and then when the new little
    ones are not looking, they will try to sneak in a sniff or two.  But
    they are taking the new additions without too much problem so far.
    There's a few hisses and growls, but less than I had expected.  Of
    course we continue to talk to them and pet them and love them as we
    did before, so they don't get their noses out of joint.
    
    Yesterday Mai Buri was playing with a ball of crunched up paper.  She
    had it in front of her, crouched in the ready position.  Out of
    nowhere, Newton ran up, grabbed the paper and took off.  Mai Buri
    looked so crestfallen!!  Her haunches slumped down and she looked up
    at me as if to say "He took my toy, Daddy!"  Newton had run around the
    corner, dropped the paper, and came back to the corner to peer around
    it at Mai Buri.  What a little devil he is!!
    
    This is going to be fun.
    
    Stopping at six,
    Carl

    Carl...Congratulations on your new additions.
    
    I just had to laugh...stopping at six!!!   That's what I said just
    a few years ago.   I can't imagine life with ONLY six...maybe I
    would get my life back!!!
    
    They sound adorable....
    
    Sandy

    
    
    
    Carl,  Congratulations on your new babies.  May they be with you for
    many happy years.
    
    I was lucky enough to see the new babies at the show on Saturday.  They
    are so cute.  They were in their carrier so I couldn't pet as much as I
    wanted, but I know I'll get a chance soon.
    
    Carl, those are great names.  Was Marie surprised when you came home
    with 2?
    
    Looking forward to lots of stories of the new kids and the old kids,
    too.
    
    Steffi

    Carl, your new kitties sound wonderful!!  I have seen pointed Devons
    and Cornish Rex.  Of course I find them attractive ;').
    ( I own one C. Rex and breed Siamese)
    
    This brings up something that I think all new pet owners should be
    aware of.  I am not trying to scare you off, this is something that I
    think a lot of breeders experience because of their exposure. 
    Nonetheless, it applies to people purchasing a cat from a show or
    anyplace.  Luckily, most adoptions go through without a hitch.  It will
    only take once though, for your heart, pocket book or household to
    break.
    
    I would like to reccommend that any person who is planning on taking in
    a new cat/kitten, make provisions to separate it for the first two to
    three weeks from any other kitty in the household.  Breeders usually do
    it for up to six weeks.  It can be a lot of trouble you may be saying.
    But if the new kitty comes in harboring anything (upper resp, fungus or
    god help us anything worse) you can pass it on to the older cat.
    
    This breaks down to vet bills, pilling, bathing and medicating ALL
    cats.  If your cat does come down with something I also don't feel you
    should attack the breeder/shelter whatever, but DO call and ask for
    advice.  During transit things can be caught, there may be a flora and
    fauna in your own house that can trigger something off in a new animal
    too.  Work it out together. \
    
    As they say: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!\
    Karen

Molly is a small, short-haired, black cat with yellowish-green eyes & half a 
tail.  When I first saw her, her eyes were full of pus & her nose was
running;  she was one sick kitty.  As soon as Molly saw me, she stretched
out her little paw & meowed pitifully.  Is it true that cats choose us?  I 
didn't want another cat;  I was adamantly opposed to getting a second cat. 

Now Molly lives with Greg, Greta, and me.  Greta is determined that she will 
never accept that vulgar, dangerous, wild animal that we've let into the house, 
and Molly is equally determined to be best friends with Greta.  My current
dream in life is to come home from work & find my kitties cuddling. 

    
    
    Domingo Diercks
    
    	-- ~3.5 years old (we don't really know because he was a stray)
    	-- missing several teeth (evidently had a rough life on the streets)
    	-- has a bite out of his left ear (see previous)
    	-- loves to, LOVES TO, eat
    	-- talks up a storm, especially when I'm late coming home
    		to feed him
    	-- insists on sleeping right next to me on my pillow (and won't
    		take any other suggestions)
    	-- loves to jump off my headboard onto the bed in the middle
    		of the night (when I'm sleeping, of course)
    	-- loves to be brushed (coupled with lots of very gentle
    		love bites)
    	-- has the most gorgeous white belly and feet
    	-- loves to sleep on his back with his legs splayed out in all
    		directions
    	-- has been known, a couple of times, to get in the shower with
    		me in the morning only to discover (he evidently
    		didn't quite get in the first time) that *THERE'S
    		WATER IN THERE*
        -- is my baby, and I love him
    
                  Greg

    Welcome to Domingo!!!  Does he still come in the shower?!
    Karen

    
    He peers in at me, but doesn't get in.  He just lets me know he's hungry!
    
    
              GJD

    	Hi my name is Navajo, I was born Feb 26th 1994, My Mom was found in
    W. Roxbury just before me and my 3 brothers were born (she was a
    stray). I live with two very nice humans...one of them had to type this
    for me as I'm way to busy chasing cardboard tubes and balled up paper
    bags around the house....they really love me and although it hurt, they
    had me stuck with needles and had me tested for everything under the
    sun, I got a clean bill of health by the way :') they tell me I still
    have to have one more thing done, it begins with a N but I way to busy
    to worry....I do share the king size water bed with my human caretakers
    and although they snore they tell so do I....well I gotta go, I feel a
    nap coming on, I'll talk to you all soon Im sure...
    
    Bye
    
    Navajo Fields
    
    

    I'd like to introduce everyone to Mindy.   Mindy came from the Baypath
    Humane Society in Hopkinton.   She was there with her 7 month old
    mother and another sibling.  As soon as I saw Mindy I fell in love with
    her.  She's a longhaired calico, mostly grey with patches of brown. 
    My other cat, Meisha, didn't take to kindly to her at first.  Meisha
    was used to being the queen of the house and didn't want to share her
    territory or me with anyone.  We'll after 3 exhausting days of hissing, 
    growling, and batting they FINALLY are getting along!
    
    
    Joanne, Meisha & Mindy
    
      

    Well, I know it's two days early, but I can't stand the wait!!!
    I would like to introduce a new addition to the house:
    Thaibo's Calais of Moonsta!  He is a four month old blue lynxpoint.
    He will be arriving by Delta Dash this saturday at approximately 3:00
    pm.  His parents are both blue ticked Orientals.  Mom was best Oriental
    last year as well as 23rd best cat in the southern region.  Dad is
    vying for position in this year's bests.  Let's hope little Cally can
    catch up to his folks!
    Karen

    
    
    Though I mentioned him elsewhere, I'd like to formally introduce Dmitri
    (brother, and bother) to Domingo.  Dmitri is a little over 1 year old,
    gray and white, huge feet, *huge* tale, even larger appetite.  His
    previous owner had him completely declawed and, even as I write this,
    he is being neutered.  He's much different than Domingo.  Domingo isn't
    much of a player -- he just sort of lays around and demands to be
    loved.  Dmitri is always playing.  It's very difficult to tie my shoes
    when he's around because he likes batting at the laces.  I heard a
    ruckus in the middle of the night, went into the living room to find
    that he had shredded the cover of my new Time magazine and had
    scattered the shreds all over the house.  He's very much the climber
    and particularly likes to climb up on the window sill (about 4.5 feet)
    and look out the window.  He's informed me, several times, that when
    the blinds are closed it's particularly difficult to get to the sill.
    
    He also has informed me, in a not so subtle way, that he expects the
    little box to be de-clumped every day.  There was a charming little
    present left for me right outside the entrance to the box (I use
    covered boxes) yesterday.  At least it was on the kitchen floor and not
    on the carpet!
    
       Dmitri and Domingo's Dad (Greg -- who loves his boys!)

    I couldn't find a recent introduction note so I thought I'd start a new
    one.  It's been a very long time since I've been in the notes file and
    I've truly missed it.  I'd like to introduce my baby "Mindy".  We
    adopted her from the SPCA back in March one week after my beautiful cat
    "Mouser" passed away suddenly.  Mindy is a black and white beauty.  She
    looks alot like the the presidential cat "Socks"!  They guess her to be
    a little over a year old and very healthy; thank God!  She's a
    wonderful playful cat that loves to play with everything!  Especially
    any pencils or hairbands she might see.  It doesn't matter where she
    sees them either, she'll watch where you put it and then at a later
    time will go and get it.  Unfortunately it is usually around 4:00 am
    when she decides to do this!  She also loves the water.  She prefers to
    sleep in the sink especially if there is water in it.  She enjoys lying
    on the edge of the bathtub while I'm taking a bath and bat at the
    bubbles.  She even fell in a couple of weeks ago and I was suprised
    that she didn't panic.  She simply gave one of those looks like "I
    don't think this feels right" and jumped out.  She didn't claw me or
    anything and after a quick clean-up she was right back on the edge of
    the tub.  I have to say "Mindy" is the best thing that's happened to me
    since the loss of "Mouser".  Well, thanks for letting me introduce my
    baby and I hope to share more of Mindys life with you.
    
    Barbara

    Bruce is my newest baby.  He is 12 weeks old and is a darling....
    a hellion, but a darling.  I forgot how much fun it is to have a kitten
    in the house!!

    My brother Andy's cats got pregnant before he took them to get fixed. 
    Before he knew it there were four adorable babies running around.  I told
    him I'd take a male kitty.  Well, come to find out that there was only one
    male in the lot and my brother David had already put dibs in on him.  So
    I went away emptied handed :-(

    When Stephen and I came back from our honeymoon, my brother David asked us
    if we wanted a cat.....his cat.  Of course I said sure!!!  So, now I am 
    owned by Bruce (the name David gave him....somehow it fits though).  We've
    been trying to come up with another name (Simba, Spunky, Maui...) but 
    Bruce sounds the best and *feels* the best.  Not to say that we won't 
    eventually find another name for him...

    Bruce is a buff colored tiger cat with white paws and white under his chin.
    He is a *very* smart cat and has already learned to play fetch.  It is
    amazing to see him learn and grow.

    Ebony didn't take to him at first.  We introduced them very slowly (took
    about 1.5 weeks to get them to the point where I felt comfortable giving
    them both the run of the house....without her killing him).  But now they
    are playing together.  The only down fall to all of this was that after
    Mister Boobin died, Ebony became an extremely affectionate and talkative 
    cat, but now with the little one around she has reverted back to her old 
    ways.  We love her just the same, but we do miss her talking and her 
    sleeping with us.

    Bruce is a mischievous one.  He doesn't understand 'no' no matter how loud
    you say it or with what means you say it with (clap of the hands, stomp of
    the foot, squirt of the spray bottle).  He has a couple of bad habits that
    I desperately need to break him of; chewing on cords and scratching the
    carpet, but nothing seems to deter him....I guess this is a topic for 
    another note :-)

    Welcome Bruce.  We love you.

    Lauri

    Welcome to Bruce!!!
    Watch out for those electric cords!
    Karen

    I would like to introduce Charlie. He's the black cat that Susan Kenney
    rescued from Henley-on-Thames.
    We aren't too sure how old he is - he's due for a vet visit. He has
    decided that he is my sister's cat and has spent most of the time
    sleeping on her bed. He's very affectionate and loves a fuss. He's not
    too popular at the moment with my own cats, but they're gradually
    getting used to him. Rosie is very curious and keeps sniffing at him,
    but Jimmy is being aloof and ignoring him.
    My sister loves him, of course. Just as well, seeing as he's taken over
    her bed...:-)

    Thanks, Julie, for adopting my little friend!  It's a great relief to
    know he has a home at last!
    
    I've been a reader of this Notes file ever since I got my cat, Molly
    Caterina.  Until then, I had only had dogs and knew little about cats. 
    I've learned a lot from this file--and of course, Molly has trained
    me, too.
    
    Molly was rescued by a co-worker.  She was six months old and
    either lost or abandoned (!) on a freezing cold January night.  She 
    somehow tumbled into their coal bin.  When she was discovered, she
    was freezing and hungry.  She was also filthy with coal dust.  My
    co-worker thought she was a black cat, but after two baths, discovered
    she's a black/white long-hair.  Her most unique physical characteristic
    is her tail--it's a Persian-like plume--it doesn't match the rest of
    her body, but she carries it with real style!
    
    Molly quickly discovered how to wake me up in the morning. (I'm a heavy
    sleeper).  She puts a soft, gentle paw on my cheek.  If I don't
    respond, she extracts her claws and presses down (she doesn't
    scratch--she just applies pressure).  When I yell, she withdraws her
    paw and stares at me with, I swear, a smug expression.
    
    She'll be three this weekend.  She has been a joy.  And I'm
    appreciative of what I've learned in this file.

    Last Thursday nite I picked up the newest addition to my house:
    Talorien's Blueberry, soon to be of Moonsta!  
    
    She is a blue Oriental and is quite special.  I feel very lucky 
    to have such a nice kitty from very special lines.  She spent this
    morning under the covers cuddling with me and kneading on my chest.  I
    think we are going to get along just fine!
    
    For some of you "older" noters, an interesting point is that Jo
    Cordes-Brown had seen, held and played with her even before I got her
    and had told me how sweet she was.  Just think, I have never physically
    met Jo, altho we have exchanged photos and talked on the phone, but we
    have held the same cat!!!!  What a strange turn of events.
    
    Blueberry was born on March 10 of this year and I will probably bring
    her out to a few shows.  More than anything she will be worked into our
    breeding program and hopefully pass on some of her wonderful traits. 
    Her uncle was this past years 6th best alter nationally.
    
    So far she remains in quarantine most of the time.  When I do take her
    out to play,she performs wonderful gymnastic feats!  Alot of fun to 
    play with!
    Karen

    
    Where did she ever get such a wonderful name?
    
    ;^)
    
    len.
    

    Hi Len!
    
    Well, I have to say that she got her name from her breeder.  I knew
    you would probably ask and should have said something sooner!
    Her grandmother was a National Best Oriental a few years ago and 
    was called Kimeron's Blackberry.  I have not asked Mark yet, but
    I assumed it is derived from her name.
    
    Funny thing tho, the name seems to just roll off the tongue.  ONe
    of my whites (WHitey to be exact), I used to call her Booberry cause
    she had such beautiful "Blueberry eyes".  I guess I never told you
    that either!  Shame on me....
    
    How are your guys all doing?
    take care,
    Karen

    Hi,
    
    We're a "blended family," with a "his," a "hers" and an "ours."
    
    The "his" is Noel, age 10, white and grey shorthair with pale green
    eyes.  She and a littermate were abandoned as kittens; the person who
    found them kept her brother and my fiance Ralph took Noel.  She's very
    much a one-person cat, and I don't think she'll ever forgive me for
    coming into Ralph's life two years ago!  She plays tag (but only with
    Ralph) and mostly likes to move back and forth between the sofa and the
    love seat, trying to find the most comfortable spot. She loves to be
    brushed and combed, and will even purr for me when I groom her.
    
    The "hers" is Max, age 10, white and grey longhair with huge golden
    eyes.  He's a big'un, about 16 pounds, and all of it loves to be hugged
    and cuddled and petted.  If he thinks he's not getting enough loving,
    he'll come over and head-butt, or stand up and pat you with his paw. 
    He was a stray that I took in at age four months; how could I resist,
    when he came over and "walked" his front paws up my leg and wouldn't
    stop meowing until I picked him up??  He's a very brave defender of his
    territory, running from window to window to stare at any cat that
    happens to walk by.  He's known Noel for a year, and she hasn't
    forgiven him, either, for moving in.  
    
    The smallest and youngest is the "ours", Ewok. She's two, and we found
    her in our cellar - we think that her mom brought her in and then
    couldn't get back to her (or maybe abandoned her).  She was four weeks
    old when we found her; we had to teach her how to eat rather than
    nurse.  She's a white and grey longhair (but without a thick
    undercoat, such as Max has), seven pounds of pure energy that never
    stops. I'm convinced she's hyperactive; and in a less sweet animal it
    would be a real pain. She thinks she can fly; her greatest delight is
    performing various distance trials. I once saw her clear a queen-sized
    bed, floor to floor, without touching down once.  She loves and adores
    Max, and very much enjoys wrestling with him (I think she thinks she
    could win :))  ).  He puts up with it, sometimes enthusiastically,
    sometimes with a swat at the ear ("Sit down and shut up!").
    
    They're a wonderful family to have, and fascinating to watch, as
    they're all physically sort of variations on a theme. Noel's grey mark
    on her back is just like Max's; Max and Ewok have the same grey marks
    on their foreheads; all three have grey tails; Ewok's eyes are a mix of
    Noel's green and Max's gold; etc.etc.etc.
    
    Lynn

    Lynn,
    Max, Noel and Ewok all sound very nice!  Welcome to our "notes"
    Karen

 Hi there...I've been reading off and on for a couple weeks..ever since
 I decided it was time for me to get a cat. 

 Anyhow, her name is Tasha, she's about 10-11 weeks old and is a gray "tiger"
 striped kitten.  She is quite affectionate and I must admit that I eagerly
 await her greeting when I get home from work.  I live alone, so she spends
 a lot of time alone (a second cat is not appropriate at this time :-( ) while
 I'm at work and other activities.  She's been sharing her living quarters with
 me for about 2 weeks.

 I'm rather pleased that she seems to be calming down a bit, after several 
 nights of craziness and is allowing me to sleep at least 5 hours per night
 before sticking her nose in my face and "purring" me awake ;-)



 Jim (and Tasha)

    Welcome Jim and Tasha.  I'm sure Tasha will bring many happy
    and fun filled days into your lives!!!   I'm sure you'll get alot
    of helpful information from this file.
    
    Sandy  (+ 12 furfaces)

    Hi,
    
    I've just found this notes conference and thought I ought to introduce
    myself in case I feel the need to reply or write a note.
    
    I live in the UK and have one cat, a male unfortunately called
    "Whiskers" - not my choice of name.  He's 15 now so is a bit of an old
    boy, we got him from an animal rescue place when he was 3 years old. 
    He'd been treated badly and was terrified of brooms, men, hoovers etc. 
    It took him 3 years to sit our lap and about 5 years to even
    purr.  Now he's getting on a bit he's become *very* soft and docile -
    my mum (who me and the cat live with) thinks he's loosing his mind a
    little.  He's given us an awful lot and I'm sure we've returned it. 
    I'll miss him when it's time for him to go.

    Hello!
    
    I've been reading this note for several weeks now--so I guess it's time
    to introduce myself!
    
    I'm currently working in Marlboro, and have two kitty's. (one of which
    I found through this notes file!) The older one is Mandy--she's 2 1/2
    and is very friendly and playful. The baby is named Moxie and is about
    10 weeks old now. Despite an early ear infection she is doing
    wonderfully and is working hard to make sure I don't get any sleep.
    
    They don't get along terribly well yet (the older one is still a little
    miffed at me that I felt the need to add to our household) but it is
    getting better every day. I don't know if they will ever curl up
    together, but they are tentatively playing more and more each day.
    
    I've enjoyed very much the discussions in this file so far--and have
    learned a lot!  Looking forward to more....
    
    Alicia
    
    P.S.  In the recent Rescuers note--what is Betty? (Becky?) a dog? I
    tried to read earlier notes about her and couldn't find them..

    Welcome Alica......
    
    Well since Sarah and I talked about Betty...I have to explain.
    Betty is a dog and the real story is in the Canine file!!  Betty
    was a dog my husband rescued on a very cold day last winter...
    Betty was walking aimlessly ona very BUSY road one morning (6:30AM),
    she was a mess and had icicles hanging from her and was trying to find
    a warm place to lay down.  We brought her to the dog officer...
    who knew who she belonged to because she has been picked up mulitple
    times on the same busy road... dodging traffic.  We all were all very 
    hesitant to give her back to the owners because we knew the dog was 
    not being taken care of, was just thrown outside all the time and 
    we felt the dog was destined to get hit by a car.  Well...that's 
    where Sarah came in..she her my pleas for help and she adopted Betty 
    with the dog officers blessing!!!
    
    Sorry to confuse you....
    
    Sandy

    re:.279
    Hurray! Another Brit! Welcome - they're very nice in here, but I have
    missed Heather since she left.
    What's your name? And where are you? I assume the Reading area from
    your nodename.

    Re. 279 and 280:
    Welcome both of you. But this is the intro note for the FELINES, not
    the felineRs. There is an extra one!
    
    Nat  8^)

Well, we've got a new addition to the family.  Her name is Melanie (Mellie
for short), and she's about 8 weeks old.  She's a longhair gray and white
whirling dervish.  Seems to have gray eyes too.  She is absolutely hilarious
to watch.  When she sleeps, she sleeps _very_ hard.  But, when she's awake...

She gets these fits where it's like she says, "UH-OH, I'M FEELING SPUNKY!"
and starts whirling all over the place like Jim Carey in "The Mask".  She's
obviously brain damaged...  The boys didn't quite know what to make of her,
but after a couple of days of hissing, they seem to have adjusted pretty
well.  She likes to go crazy on my bed, though.  This isn't too much fun in
the middle of the night.  My daughter wanted her to sleep with her, but in
the middle of the first night, called me, crying, saying that she couldn't
sleep with Mellie running all over the place.   So, now she sleeps with her
door closed, and I get all four cats. Hey, what are dads for?  Anyway, Mellie
seems to be handling the litter box ok, which pleases me to no end.

Unfortunately, the last time I went home my poor ficus was lying face down on
the floor.  I can't wait to see what she does with the Christmas tree this
year.

Patrick and the boys (Chester, Farley, and Jeremiah) (and Melanie, too!)

    Patrick,
    
    Mellie sounds a lot like my Ewok! She's two now (coincidentally, white
    and grey), and is constantly in motion, exploring this and that and
    getting into just everything.  She doesn't sleep much, certainly not as
    much as a mature cat ought, and nowhere near as much as our other two
    would like her to! It takes a lot for her to settle down to sleep,
    she's easily distracted during that transition phase, but once she gets
    there she also "sleeps hard."
    
    I can't emphasize enough how much she moves around! Everything is a
    challenge to her - a bureau top cleaned? MUST be to jump on! Now that
    I'm here, let's see how far I can fling myself into the air and land on
    the bed! Sister Noel passing by? Must mean it's time to fling myself
    into the air and land on her! Etc.etc.  
    
    And she has the sweetest, dearest personality, just loves to come over
    to Ralph or me and get some pats and head-scratching...but only for a
    few seconds, then she's off again.  Seems pretty clear she's like a
    hyperactive kid, as everything catches her attention and she literally
    doesn't sit still.  We've gotten real good about ignoring her when she
    wants to romp on the bed and we want to sleep (One of her favorite
    tricks is to climb onto Ralph's back - he sleeps on his stomach - and 
    lie down, get up, lie down for ten minutes or so. He sleeps through it
    now.). I tell so many stories about her antics, here at work, that a
    cube-buddy has said "You guys don't even need to rent videos, do you?"
    :)) 
    
    (Her activity level is only a problem when we try to handle her
    for grooming, and then it's a *real* problem. We're hoping that
    declawing will relieve some of that difficulty. )
    
    Lynn

    
    Len's Principles of Cat Movement:
    
    	1) Chase anything that moves.
    
    	2) If it doesn't move, whack it.
    
    	3) Don't go around anything you can go over.
    
    	4) Never descend when you can jump.
    
    Taught to me by my little ones.  The hard way.
    

    
    Len, do your cats think your legs are climbing posts?
    My Pamuk tries to climb up my legs ;-)
    He is also particularly interested in the hem of my skirt.
    
    Lale

    
    Until I gently disabused them of this notion, yes, they would regularly 
    try to climb up my legs.  I think cats, especially young cats, will climb
    anything that they can.  And they can climb anything their claws can
    get purchase on.  The treed cat requiring rescue by the local fire
    department is a classic image, the orientation of their claws making it
    much easier to climb up things than down.
    
    The real thrillers were the (thankfully) few times they tried to climb
    me when I was bare nekkid.
    
    Blueberry used to jump onto my shoulder if she was unsuccessful telling 
    me to lift her up there.  Sometimes she would do this from behind me,
    with no warning (later she learned to ask verbally rather than just
    look up at me plaintively).  As she got bigger this became an increasingly
    exciting experience.  Of course, I would, uh, twitch, in surprise,
    which would prompt her to firm up her grip by locking her claws in
    my back and shoulders.
    
    I'm sure the neighbors thought the occasional howls from my apartment
    had some exotically sinister significance...
    
    Such incidents usually provoked the admonition "be thankful I love
    you so much".  Which, I hope desperately, the neighbors did not
    overhear.
    
    len.
    

    Hi,
    
    My name is Lee. My husband Rich and I live with the following
    fury kids-I have three grown two legged kids.
    
    According the the hirachy we have Clyde and his sister Bonnie, both
    all black cats. Seven years old. Clyde is a 15 pound moose, loveable 
    and must make sure everyone who comes to visit meets him as he greets 
    one and all. Bonnie, however is a little shy and the only female of the 
    bunch, which is hard sometimes.
    
    Next, we have my son who moved to San Francisco cat Scooter.  Scooter is
    black and very shy. He was slightly abused by my son's roomate, 
    therefore, I have had to spend extra time with him to make him a little
    more loveable. His best treat is to chase Bonnie and watch her react.
    
    Then, there is Mocha my daughter's cat also black.  My daughter went 
    the Paris for a semister last year and had no one to take care of her cat,
    so guess who she called "Mom".  He is a real monkey, very talkative, and 
    loves his friend Scooter, as they love to wrestle with one another.
    
    Outside of usual accidents and few incidents of clawing the furniture
    they are good kids.  I would miss them dearly if something happened to
    anyone them even though are not all mine. I know my husband would feel
    the same way.  I have converted him to a cat lover even though he will
    tell you that is not so.
    
    Lee and the gang.....
    

    Welcome Lee...  I just love the names Bonnie and Clyde!!  You sound
    like you have a wonderful family; including the two legged ones!!!
    
    Lately we have had alot of new introductions...and it's so nice
    to see more people reading feline!!
    
    Sandy  

    To remind you of my description of one our our "boys", Skrufy:
    
    .215> Skrufy has a few more brain cells than his brother (though that's 
        > not saying much), is slightly more cautious and after 3 months with 
        > us still shies if, when you try to pat him, you go directly for the 
        > top of his head.  I made a halfhearted attempt to name him Stuart 
        > Smalley, after the Saturday Night Live character
    
    Last night my daughter and I were enjoying yet another hilarious
    episode of "Frasier".  Daphne was all gussied up for a 3rd date
    (significant because Frasier and his dad felt that 3rd dates are the
    time to upgrade the intimacy level) when Niles walked in.  His
    expression upon seeing Daphne was priceless: hesitant, flustered,
    fascinated.
    
    Alex (my daughter) immediately said "Skrufy is just like Niles!"  She's
    absolutely right.  Skrufy analyzes a situation to death, he's *very*
    sensitive and wants love but is usually afraid to ask... and he even
    fits the physical type (smallish, lean, and fur that is sleek rather
    than plush)!
    
    Just thought you'd all want to know  :-}
    
    Leslie

    I would like to introduce my two kitty kat kids, Miss Sarah Vaughan abd
    Count Basie.  Sassy is my first cat. She is a tiny little calico who is
    very demure and "lady-like".  I got her from the animal rescue league,
    and took her to the vet to be examined and get her shots etc.  She had
    a cough, though, and since I had never had a cat before, I didn't know
    what kind of sounds were normal.  I was concerned about her, especially
    since she didn't seem as active as I thought she would be, like puppies
    I had had.  I also heard that kittens eat alot, and she didn't.  I
    talked to alot of people, and they said maybe she had a fur ball, and
    since she was seeing the vet, I figured she must be ok.  After about 2
    months, I decided to get a second opinion.  On listening to her lungs,
    which I realized then that the first doctor never did, the vet said she
    couldn't hear anything.  She took  x-rays, and showed me that Sassy's
    lungs were calcified, proably from pneumonia, and that she was
    breathing out of just a small section of her lung.  For 17 days I took
    her to the vet to get shots of antibiotic, along with giving her the
    pink stuff that humans give their kids.  She made it, though, but has
    remained small, less than 6 pounds.  Her hair is medium length, and she
    is my sweetheart.  She is still small enough to ride around on my
    shoulder.  She is 2 years old now.
    
    After a few months, I began to worry about her being alone all day.
    (The games we play with ourselves, huh?) I went back to the same place
    and found Count Basie.  He is a long haired grey and white cat, who is
    absolutely whacko.  I didn't know that I had the "perfect cat" in Sassy
    until the Count came to live with us.  He has shown me how cats REALLY
    are.  He weighs about 14 lbs, and is the size of the poodle next door.
    He talks to himself a lot, not so much in meows as in chirps or grunts.
    He is always into everything, drinks water from the toilet if I forget
    to close the lid, runs into the refrigerator when I hold the door open
    to long, likes to get in back of the lower rack of the diswasher while I
    am unloading, and has taught his sister most of his less than desirable
    behavior.  He can jump very high, and is even capable of jumping
    totally vertically, like a helicopter takes off from the ground straight
    up.
    
    The two of them chase each other around alot, especially when I go to
    bed.  There are 2 doors into my bedroom, and they run in circles behind
    the headboard and ontop of me.  Count has been neutered,(her too) but I 
    think
    they missed part, because he still assumes "the position".  Since he
    outweighs and outsizes the Sass, she screams and hollers.  She gets her
    licks in too, but if he gets too overbearing she assumes the Haloween
    pose and hisses and spits till he backs off.  I used to worry about it,
    but I guess that since there is never any blood, just fur once in a
    while, I think it is just roughhousing.  Count is more of a happy go
    luck type than Sassy; she sleeps with her front legs all tucked in, he
    sleeps on his back with his four feet in the air.
    
    All in all, I can't imagine how I ever got along withouth them, and
    having them greet me at the door after work and rolling over to get
    their bellies rubbed is one of
    the highlights of my days.
    
    Thanks to all for all I've learned.  My intro is in 15.
    
    Carol
    

    Introducing K.C. (Kitty Cat) pronounced Casey.
    
    K.C. is a grey tab with a white underside.  She has four white paws and
    a white tip on her tail.  Now at 15 years old (next month) she has out
    lived two partners.  How I miss both Figby and Flash, both roadkills
    two years apart while I was on holidays.
    
    Anyway, K.C. has been quite a source of pleasure and confort over the
    years.  We made it through a divorce quite early in her life and she
    had a new mom now for almost 10 years.
    
    Although quite a bit slower now a days, and quite the lap now, she used
    to amaze me with the back flip butterfly catches, running silently with
    a bell on, and her kill of all kills, she came in with a 3 inch salmon
    from the creek in our, then, back yard.  How she caught that thing I'll
    never know, she hates water. (or so I thought)
    
    She has become quite fussy in her old age.  Not about food, but about
    the conition of the litter box, the amount of attention she gets and
    she has become quite fanatical about rubbing her chin on everything!
    
    thats my cat
    
    bruce mol
    
    

                        "It's a boy, Mrs. Walker, it's a boy...
                                a son...a SON!"


	The Cohen family, or at least the two-legged members thereof, 
    	are pleased to announce the addition of "Grayson" to our household.  
    	(The four-legged members thereof aren't quite sure as yet what to 
    	make of that creature sequestered behind the computer-room door. 
    	We feel certain their opinions will be voiced quite explicitly 
    	when we let Grayson out into the apartment.)

	Many of you have heard me refer to this feline as "Gracie," based 
    	on what we now know to be a mistaken assumption that the lack of 
    	certain anatomical features indicated the presence of a female. 
    	Well, our vet informed us otherwise; Grayson was fixed by someone 
    	who believe in not only the "cut and tie" method but the "cut, tie 
    	and bury" method, and is indeed a boy: mostly grey, with white paws 
    	and bib, and a tail lightly striped with taupe; *huge* golden eyes; 
    	and a very confident attitude.

    	The vet told us he's somewhere in the vicinity of five to seven
    	years old, and *way* too small for his frame. By comparison, our
    	Noel, age 10, is the same frame size and weighs 12 pounds. Grayson
    	weight *six.*  The vet was quite positive that we're doing the
    	right thing to take him in and make him part of our home, as he
    	doesn't have either the fat reserves or the thick coat that would
    	enable him to exist comfortably outside for the winter.
    
	At present, Ewok the Youngest, aka Ewok the Space Shot, aka Ewok 
    	the Fearless is currently stretched to full length (which brings 
    	her about halfway up the door), attempting to turn the knob and get 
    	into the computer room. ("It builds character to want," I said.)  
    	Noel the Eldest is ignoring everyone else, an attitude well-known 
    	in our household. Max, aka Love Chunks (for his truly astounding, 
    	pear-shaped physique, 17 pounds, and lapcat habit) hasn't roused 
	from his morning nap yet, so we're not exactly sure how he feels 
    	about having a younger brother.

	My husband, Ralph, and I decided to divide up the parental duties 
    	regarding Grayson. I'm handling the adoption notice, and Ralph is 
	handling Bar Mitzvah lessons.

	Mazel tov!

    Leeroy de Miat.
    
    Leeroy, the master of our home, is a one-and-half years old male
    Chartreuse, aka British Shorthair Blue. Gey blue fur, orange round
    eyes, short legs, wide body, round feet and a big head with thick
    cheeks, weight is8 kilo (about 16 pound). 
    
    He doens't like to sit on your lap, but is very friendly and social, 
    always wants to be and sit with us, his personnel.  He thinks we need to 
    be waked up at 5.30 in the morning, so we can feed, pet and play with him.
                                                                
    He is a special creature.              
    
    Donald                   
    
    

    
    				
    Data
    
    Data is my "dump kitty".  He was found scrounging around the local
    transfer station.  When I first saw him, he was bloated, so I thought
    he was a pregnant female... come to find out he was starving.
    
    I would guess he was about 9 months old when I found him; he's now
    about a year and 3/4 old - best guess.  He's a medium gray and
    cream colored Tabby with a broken canine tooth.  He loves having a
    home, but is definately an outdoor cat... not something I like, but
    he insists.  At least he is streetwise from taking care of himself
    before I found him.  He DOES have a reflective collar with a name
    tag (I insisted on that!).  
    
    He was more affectionate before I got my second cat.
    
    
    Domino
    
    Domino (aka Oski) came to me when he was around 4 weeks old.  His
    mother had been killed and his litter of kittens was brought in a
    box into a local variety store that my mother worked at.  She picked
    him out to give to my brother and his family.  As it turned out, Oski
    (formerly named Feather by my 6 year old niece) was too little for the
    kids... they were being to rough on him and could have killed him.  So,
    I was asked to foster him until he was big enough to give back.  As it
    turns out, by the time he was big enough to give back, I didn't want to
    give him back!  (After all, I was the one up with during the night for
    feedings, etc.)  After he was re-introduced to the kids and he ran from
    them, I KNEW I couldn't give him back.  Thus, he became mine and they
    got two other older kittens.
    
    Oski is a white shorthair with a black and white striped tail, a black
    spot on the back of one of his hind paws, 3 round black spots on his back 
    (thus the name Domino), grey ears, a black circle of "eyeliner" literally 
    all around one of his eyes and a black splotch in between his two ears!
    
    He's definately a different looking cat!  He is a little over a year
    old and he's my fun cat.  He loves to talk and play and jump on you as
    you walk by him.  He's an indoor cat, but I do bring him out into the
    fenced in back yard supervised once in a while.
    
    He and Data do not get along... Data is as serious as Domino is fun...
    not a good mix in any relationship.  They both don't mind the dog, 
    Valentine, who is a 9 near old pit bull terrior/shepard mix.
    
    Donna
    
         
    
    

    I have a new addition to our feline family I'd like to introduce.
    
    Introducing "RUBY", our 3 month old Ruddy Abbysinian kitten.  She's
    absolutely adorable!  We just got her yesterday from a wonderful
    breeder named Meg Lambert.  She's a real sweetheart, and a big purrbox! 
    She's going to be a show stopper, too.  I plan on showing her in CFF as
    well as CFA.  
    
    I'm sure that I'll have PLENTY of kitten stories once she is introduced
    to the other cats!  She's a little hellion!
    
    Holly
    

    Congrats on your new "Ruby"!!  And yes, I have heard many stories 
    of how crazy Abys are!  Good luck with her, I don't envy you.  The
    Aby class is one of the largest and toughest around.  I hope I see
    you at a show sometime soon.  When and where are you going first?
    I plan to be in Albany next weekend.  They are open until this
    friday.
    My Ruby says hello!
    Karen
    

    
    	Hey! Don't blame me for temptation, haha! [Holly saw me purchase a 
    	fawn Aby a few months ago...] Maybe I will have to bring Augie to a
    	few shows to give you competition!
    
    	Is Sunny the father? Congratulations, you are in for an adventure,
    	believe me!! :)
    
    	Sherry [mom to Max and Augie (among others!), the Aby hoodlums!] :)

    
    	....which reminds me, I don't think I told you guys that I got
    another Aby at the Framingham show a few months ago. He's a fawn, 
    and looks like the ghost of his older 'brother', Max. His full name
    is August Bumble Bee [because he purrs loud enough to wake the dead - 
    or me, for that matter!], aka Augie. He's very sweet...
    
    Sherry

    Haven't had the chance for literally 6 weeks to get in here to introduce 
    my new LITTLE GUY -- so ......
    
    Harry (the Rat) and Babycakes have a new sibling!  One a chilly mid-
    September weekend, I heard a baby cat crying -- he was hanging out in
    my neighbor's garage, under their car.  (They were away with the 2nd
    car.)  After an hour or so, I took him some dry food and water, but
    left it in the garage -- you see, my thinking was ... heh . heh . heh
    .. my neighbors have such soft hearts, and I already have two kitties
    in my little townhouse, THEY'll take him in when they get home -- all I
    have to do is make sure he has provisions until they're back!
    
      Apparently he had been "dropped off" on our street earlier in the
    day.  He had no collar, but was healthy and in reasonably clean
    condition.
    
    Well, when they got back, they informed me they were having to add a
    cat to their household because of the death of its previous owner --
    that shot the heck out of my weaselly plan, now, didn't it?
    
    So... I brought him into my house, making a mental note to make an
    appointment the next day (Monday) with the vet for all his checkup
    stuff.  I did see fleas, and dusted him.
    
    The other two were absolutely appalled, of course, and spent the rest
    of the day crouching, hissing, growling, spitting, and generally making
    their displeasure knownst to me and to the new arrival.
    
    Next morning I got this little guy up to vet, where he got all checked
    out, de-flea'd seriously, and they took a backhoe to his ears.  All
    tests came back clean, he got  his shots, and so home we went with some
    additional flea sprays -- one for cats, one for furniture/rugs,etc.
    
    That was six weeks ago.  He's still here.  He's a cuddler, got a great
    purr, and has built a hero-worship relationship with his "big brother"
    Harry.  (I thought Harry would be the one who would resist accepting
    him; but it's Babycakes who is still upset with his moving in and
    replacing her as "the baby.")  
    
    He still doesn't have an official name.  I'm calling  him "Little Guy"
    until he lets me know what he's really like as a grownup kitty.  He's a
    gray domestic shorthair, faint traces of striping on haunches and tail,
    with white toes and bib.  Very solemn-looking cat, unless he's about to
    pounce!
    
    He's since had boosters, and will have his neutering surgery 12/27. 
    He's vigorous, and absolutely incorrigible.  He loves to hear water
    running, and comes running at a full gallop whenever he hears it ... be
    it in the toilet, the sink, whatever.  He likes to watch the water go
    down the drain, and likes to "chase" the last bit of it.
    
    Only behavior problem I had was when he was new, and he had some
    previous box training, but wasn't educated in how to cover them poops
    -- so he watched Harry very closely (Harry, of course, was most
    indignant that his most intimate toilette habits were being so
    enthusiastically observed by this little upstart!).  But the Little Guy
    proved a good student, and now we have no (major) problems -- just the
    gallop of little paws when the water starts running.

    Well after putting Harley to sleep the house seemed empty with only
    3 cats and a dog. So we got a a 3 month old kitten through this
    notesfile. He is a black and white long hair. We named him Tyr, the
    Norse God of Battle; it goes with one of our other cat's Thor, the
    Norse God of Thunder.
    
    He is a wonderful kitten. all of the other cats and dog have adjusted
    to him. Angus and Tyr chase each other up and down the hallway. Tyr
    loves to play in the cat condo, unfortunately it becomes a come of
    whack a mole. He is very affectionate kitten. He loves to cuddle up
    with you and have a nap. At night he crawls under the covers with us.
    I am also afraid I will squish him, but I am 8 months pregnant so I
    don't roll too well anymore.
    
                                          alice and Tyr

    Alice,
    I had to laugh, "whack-a-mole"!!!  I have played that up at 
    Canobie Lake.  What a rediculous game, but so like the kitties!
    he,he,he...
    Karen

    I haven't introduced Ms. Cleopatra yet....Cleo is the kitten who was
    rescued from a car engine here at work. Approaching the building from
    the parking lot, I noticed a group of coworkers by the side of the
    building hovering over something. I went over and peeped around and
    there peering back at me was a pair of huge golden eyes and the sweetest
    little feline face I'd ever seen. One of the women took her to her
    vet's office to see if they could adopt her out, but I couldn't get her
    out of my mind. But I needed to get her into my husband's mind :-), who I
    doubted was going to be keen on a third cat. I casually mentioned her to
    Vince that night, and then I called the vet's office everyday to see if 
    anyone had adopted her. Noone had. One day out driving around I asked 
    him if we could stop to visit her so he could meet her. He finally 
    relented, and she played her part to the hilt, snuggling into his neck 
    and clinging piteously to his shirt when he tried to put her down. But 
    he still wouldn't give in. When she hadn't been adopted after a week
    and a half, and the vet's office was murmuring about putting her down,
    I finally persuaded him to foster her. And I tried, really I did, to find
    her a home. I put a note in here, and posted a picture of her and
    everything, but noone adopted her. So what could we do, but adopt her
    ourselves! 
    
    Cleo is about nine months old now and ever so beautiful. She's a
    long-haired brown tabby, with a splash of orange down her back and one
    orange tipped ear.  She's has two white back paws (rabbit's feet), and
    two white front paws, except just the toes on one paw, and a white
    chest. Her coat is so soft and beautiful, a coat of many colors. She
    has long hair in her ears and between her toes, and huge golden eyes,
    so sweet, except when they're full of mischief, which is most of the
    time. She gets into everything, has selective hearing and is very
    determined. She chirrups and prrrrpts all the time and has completely
    stolen my heart. Sammi has adjusted as well as could be expected, Shadow 
    is in love and Vince has fallen completely under her spell (except when
    in close proximity to the leather couch).
    
    Rebecca   
    

    
    
    	From her description, sounds like she must be at
    	least part Maine Coon....long hair in the ears, 
    	between the toes....
    
    	Sounds like a beauty!  =)
    

    Do you think so?! (About being part Maine Coon?) That would be so wild,
    because we really wanted to get a Maine Coon, and that was one of my
    husband's concerns, because I had talked so much about the breed from
    this file, that he was really interested in getting one. And I had a
    reservation because there are so many stray kitties....Isn't that
    neat?! (if she is I mean?!)
    
    She is a beauty!!
    
    Thanks,
    
    Rebecca
                        

    Well I've written here a few times now, so I guess I should introduce
    MY Boyz.....Chip & Dale.
    
    They are two beautiful Angora's, mostly white with black patches.  I
    call them cow cats because they look like miniature cows with their
    white fur and black cow markings.  I acquired the boyz about 5 months
    ago from my x-roommate who could no longer keep them.  I've  known Chip
    and Dale for almost 4 years now through living with them and my x.
    
    We think that Chip & Dale are identical twins (from the same egg)
    because they have reflecting markings on their heads.  They are almost
    mirror images of each other.  Dale weighs in at 14 lbs. and Chip is 13.
    They are 9 years old, declawed in the front, and have never been
    outside.  
    
    My favorite traits of theirs;
    Chip headbutts everything!  He loves to rub the top of his head (when I
    can't do it for him) and he just plows into stuff....like the coffee
    table.  It's actually funny because I can be on the couch and hear him
    when he bumps something, but I worry that he's gonna give himself brain
    damage.  Dale (I call him Dale-ees), is a slut-boy.  He lays on me,
    stomach to the ceiling, pocket-book wide open, and expects me to rub
    his big belly, while furociously purring.  Which I kindly oblige (most
    of the time) because he's just such a big baby.
    
    My name's Kelly, and I'm an IM&T Programmer in Marlboro.  I don't have
    white fur or cow markings, but I know how to purr and occasionally
    cough on a fur ball (Chip & Dale's) or two........ ;^)
                                                          

    Well, after having Sunny put to sleep last week due to feline lukemia
    problems (see topic on mourning), my husband suggested we adopt a new
    cat to keep Tita company.  Sunny was Tita's boyfriend, and a sweet
    little thing.  
    
    Anyway, when I would come home for the day it was painfully obvious
    that Sunny wasn't with me anymore.  It was very painful for me.  I
    agreed to go to the local shelter on my lunch hour to see if there was
    a potential companion for Tita, and a cat that would take my mind off
    of Sunny.
    
    I did.... and its working.  I think of Sunny, but most of the time with
    out the grieving "i wanna die" pain that I had before.
    
    Angel is not Sunny, but he's a sweet cat that I named Angel.  He's mostly
    orange, with a white belly and chin.  He's different than Sunny.  That
    was on purpose.  Anyhoo, he would have been put to sleep today if I had
    not got him.  
    
    AND HE TESTED NEGATIVE TO FELINE LUKEMIA!  (thank God)
    
    
    Donna

    
    	re:  Rebecca..
    
    	She sounds like one to me!  My Sasha is part Maine Coon.
    	Big pouffy tail, fuzzy ears, medium-long fur.... and she
    	makes raccoon noises when she sees birds or bugs.  =)
    

Hello,

My husband Tony and I have five indoor cats.  The oldest cat, Sophie, has
been in the family for 11 years.  She was a stray that my daughter brought 
home so we can only guess that she's about 13 years old now.  From the first 
day, Sophie bonded with all of us.  She is a small "tuxedo" kitty (black with 
a white belly) and must be part Siamese given all the talking she does and 
the shape of her face.  Her most unusual "skill" is to leap onto the top of 
the shower doors and pace.  We're all hoping NOT to be the one in the shower 
on the day she misses her mark and slips!

Last summer we adopted Tatoo from a rescue organization in our area.  She is 
black and white and approximately two years old.  She clearly was abused by
previous owners and we can't figure out why for the life of us.  She has the
sweetest disposition of any animal I've ever seen.  After 6 months of 
tender care, she no longer cringes when we walk by, occasionally comes up to 
us to be petted, doesn't hide under the bed when strangers come in and has 
put on about 3 pounds.  She's fluffed up real nice!  We're still hoping she'll 
jump up on a lap someday.

A month later we adopted two "tuxedo" kittens from the same organization, 
Ronnie and Trudy.  They were about 12 weeks old and  full of energy:
curtain climbing; dive-bombing from the curtain rod; mid-air collisions 
into each other, etc.  Tatoo immediately adopted them as her own and even 
tolerated attempts to nurse.  She's no longer interested in that behaviour,
however, and has learned to stop them by sitting on them.

Just as our family was beginning to settle down and we'd decided that 4 cats
would be the absolute limit, we received a call from our Vet.  One of the 
techs found an abandoned 10 week old tabby mewing in the bushes (why do 
people do that??)  She tried for a week to find a home for her with no luck 
so she called to see if we knew of anyone.  This was the Saturday before 
Labor Day and we just couldn't stand to have her stuck in a cage over the 
long holiday weekend -- 10 minutes later we had Kelly!  She has a disposition 
like Sophie -- immediately bonded with all of us and talks up a storm.  
She was also accepted by Ronnie and Trudy as if she were a littermate -- 
three way mid-air collisions, etc.

The true spirit of Christmas: cheerfully redecorate the tree every day!

Five really is the maximum and this time we mean it!!

Susan Swierkowski
Digital Consulting

    Susan..I always have to laugh when I hear animal lovers say...
    5 is my limit...it is definitely my limit!!!  
    
    I laugh only because I have said that at my 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th
    9th, 10, 11th, 12th and 13th cat.  But really...I am now at my
    limit!!!!  Really!!!
    
    Welcome to the file...
    
    Sandy

    Yah - right Sandy!!   How many strays did you say you have
    on your porch now??  ;-)  ;-)  ;-)

Sandy,

You SHOULD laugh at us; until Labor Day, 4 was definitely the limit.  When
Tony was home with the flu 2 weeks ago and watching the Humane Society 
"plugs" for homeless kitties, he said we came dangerously close to adding
more.  If only they just weren't so darn cute!

Susan S.

Time for an update...

The "old guard": 

Boss Tweed (retired as head cat)
Maxwell (emulating a sumo wrestler)
Pipsqueak (First Female, thank you kindly)
Punkin Head (his usual sunny self)
Bailey (even more serious than ever)
Spider (demure, but will kill for food)
Jaspar (new head cat)
Scooter (lap cat quotient up 89%)
Stripe (silently appears at dinner time)
Prince Rudolph (Rudy) (current sleeping cat)
Barry (ayuh, I'm a Maine Coon <drool> <purr>)

The "new guard"

Sterling -- grey tiger
	A PBS foster kitten.  An absolute oddity in the household,
	this tiny cat doesn't fit the mold of the "Wilton Giants",
	but makes up for it in personality.  When the litter had to
	be hand fed, this one didn't want to stop.  He'd jump up on
	Jan's lap and hold his mouth open, waiting for food.  He is
	totally fearless, condfident in his ability to cham the world.
	(Failing that, he can use his lightning speed to whack whatever
	it is and run away.)  He's not a kitten any more, but he's
	not telling, and at his, er, economical size, he's often
	mistaken for one.

Sun Bear - black with white armpits and crotch (really!)
	A PBS foster kitten (see a pattern here?).  This one will be
	another Wilton Giant.  He's really Sterling's pet kitten, but
	at 10 months, he's half again as big as his owner.  This one
	plays for hours at a time, the essence of kittenhood, only to
	sack out in the position he learned from big brother Max (front
	feet flat, head up to display noble profile, back end artfully
	draped).  He's a wild beast that's easily tamed, and will
	go to sleep on his back in your arms.  Aspires to be the most
	handsome cat on the planet.  He also has future head cat potential.

	Sun Bear made his first confirmed kill the other night.
	He brought us a still-warm shrew and laid it at our feet.
	(No, these cats don't go out.  Yes, we live in a 1790 house,
	some of which is over rock fill -- a pleasant winter home
	for mice and shrews.)

Romeo - white with orange
	We're fostering this one for a friend.  A bit timid (maybe
	just taken aback by this many cats in one place), he has
	that stocky, teddy bear body combined with a sweet expression.
	He is settling in well, and prefers to sleep on his head with
	paws curled, looking for all the world like a very limp
	stuffed animal.  His personality runs to the placid, and he
	doesn't startle easily when confronted with fearsome objects
	like brooms or boxes of pasta.

Munchkin - black/orange/white calico
	Believe it or not, this is the only cat in the house who just
	showed up on our doorstep.  (We had Buddy come around, but
	couldn't take him in because he's FeLuk positive.  Take heart,
	he's doing well in a home with another FeLuk+ cat in the area.)

	Munchkin showed up the evening before we were due to leave for
	a llama training clinic in Conn.  Allegro (gelding llama) saw
	her first and pointed her out to me.  No mom and no other
	kittens in sight.  We gave her some food, which disappeared
	instantly and gave her the foolish idea of coming down into
	the barn to see if we had more.  There was a baby llama on the
	farm at the time, and I think the llamas thought she was a
	dangerous intruder.  After a mad scramble, she made it to a
	shelf where she sat, wee pink nose to big brown nose with
	Allegro.  

	We took her in, got her tested, and sorta, kinda
	meant to find her a new home, but hey, what's one more...
	We had to keep her upstairs until she and Sun Bear were both
	neutered.  During that time she teased poor Rudy mercilessly,
	grabbing his tail, jumping at him from under the bed, taking
	every swat he had to give with no signs of slowing down.
	She has decided that Sun Bear is her best buddy, although
	Sterling's nice too.

The Late Cats
	Spats, Jennifur, George

The Lone Dog
	Bandit (West Highland White)

The Late Dogs
	Licorice, Cleopatra, Nefertiti, Sheba

The Llamas
	Silver King (stud)
	Allegro (gelding)
	Nicole (pregnant female)
	*Cassie and Kiowa (in purchasing negotiations)


	Ron

I owe an update as well.  After making it 4 years with CATMAX stable at 8,
well...

Old Guard

Klaus - now 13, cranky, still the boss, still bumps my arm when pouring
	cream into my coffee hoping it will spill.
Katrina - now 11, still a true kitty lady.
Phantom - now 10, Still treats every meal like it will be his last.
Coconut - now 9, still goofy and still looks like a cow (and weighs as much).
Nutmeg - now 8, still kitten-sized and a pest when SHE wants attention.

Georgina - now around 9, Mom of Bailey and Bosco, and others gone or
           given away.
Bailey - now 7, the one who had the terrible accident that broke his jaw and
         gave him a concussion.  Looks like Bill the Cat after reconstruction.
         Still drools, but we love him anyway.
Bosco - now 6, very independent, has taken up the lead hunter role from his
        mom.  Only Georgina and Bosco are allowed out, and only when it's
	warm enough.

Wanda - A small orange and white who was dropped off on our streeet late
	last summer.  Story below...

Punkin - Orange and white kitten of Wanda's.  Growing bigger and stronger
        every day.  

Late last summer, during a cold night rain, I heard a mournful wailing on 
the street.  I assumed it was Georgina or Bosco having another standoff
with the cats across the street and went to intervene.  Instead I found
a frightened orange and white kitty sitting alone in the middle of the road.

I was able to get her to allow me to pet her and tried to get her to shelter
but Gina and Bosco wouldn't hear of it.  They drove her off any time she
showed up, and she spent the next few nights under the neighbor's deck.
We canvassed the neighborhood looking for an owner. There were two new
neighbors; neither made a claim.  

She was health but underfed.  Some food and attention did wonders for her.
She came around whenever possible to eat and say hello, until Gina or 
Bosco noticed.  Then we noticed Wanda was pregnant.  We had talked about
getting her spayed if no one claimed her, but couldn't keep her around
long enough to get her healthy.

Then came Gina's and Bosco's ordeal.  Gina missed breakfast and I didn't
see her by evening.  A flashlight search ensued, and I found her under the
neighbor's deck, laying on her side and non-responsive.  I had to use a
2x4 to pry her out because the deck was only a few inches off the ground.
Lab reports showed all normal except for elevated blood toxicity.  The
likely cause:  She ate something really bad.  She was in the hospital 5
days, lost half her weight, and was not expected to make it...but she did.

She came home and took up residence in the second spare bedroom which also
serves as their winter home.  Two days later, I found Bosco lying limp
in a flower bed.  I altered all neigbors with cats to be alert for poison
substances.  Bosco, though, had only a flu bug.  He got real sick but
never needed to be hospitalized.  The two of them recovered together in the
sick room.  Wanda got fatter, and moved into the garage in the absence of
the two sick tyrants.

We formed a new plan:  In two weeks, move Gina and Bosco back outside and
at the same time bring Wanda in.  It worked.  A week later (!) we went out
for the evening, and returned to find it all done.  It must have been a 
quick birth!  3 healthy kittens:  White with a few patches of black and orange,
Black with whisps of orange and white, Orange and white like mom.

We got to watch them grow up and got to handle them from day 2.  Wanda was
a perfect mother and trusted us completely.  It was obvious to us now that
she was a house cat and was dropped off in out neighborhood.  It steams
me that it was probably someone who knows us to choose the spot in front
of our house.  Wanda is the perfect little lady and has excellent manners.

My Plan:  find homes for all the kittens, spay and keep Wanda knowing we'll
never find a home for an adult cat.

Diane's Plan: find homes for two kittens, fail to find a home for the black
(and cutest) kitten, have to keep her, and of course keep Wanda.

I found a home for the white kitten quickly, so at 6 weeks she was picked up.
Diane cried.  Two weeks later, i had an inquiry for the Black kitten, and
approved them also and took her to her new home.  Diane was hysterical.
Then I learned her plan, but it was too late.

We kept the orange one and named him Punkin, since Halloween was fast
approaching.  He's a barrel of laughs, and now that he's bigger is almost
impossible to tell apart from Wanda...except he has a lopsided orange
moustache and Wanda has a white face.  Punkin is the first of our current
10 (ten!) to actually play a correcy game of fetch.  He brings that tpy
mouse right back to you and chases it tirelessly.

Wanda has integrated into the household nicely and doesn't try to go back
outside.  She even coexists carefully when Gina and Bosco are inside. Oh
well, what's two more?

Bill A.

    My cat is called Q.D.
    I love her, she loves me
    

    Shhhhhh!  I'm sneaking into notes quietly.  I really missed you all so
    much this past year, while being home and playing "mommy" to my two
    legged boy, and now the count is up to *3* four legged boys, Officially
    that is!   Although anything with four legs and a meow is welcome to
    and join us for a meal or a rest.
    
    I still have Bandit, my half siamese.  He's my "dainty" one.  Sleek,
    trim, and slender.  He picks up his front paws and bends it under, like
    a merry go round horse would do.  If any of us are on the bed he will
    come up, and scream in your ear until you acknowledge his presence.  He
    loves going to sleep at night between hubby and me, and *must* have a
    hand across his middle.  He kept his blue eyes, but his pupils when
    dialated are absoutely redish brown.  We had the honor of his brother,
    DirtBag as a visitor for a couple weeks last summer.  Our friends
    needed a place to stay for a couple weeks between house closing, so
    they were living in our trailer in the driveway.  We tried introducing
    them, but it wasn't a good move, more trauma than it's worth!  Bandit
    is the product of a Feline file adoption.  If Robin Lodi is still out
    there, these are the kittens she matched us with in July 5 years ago!
    
    Then there's Barney, the full bred male Sealpoint Siamese, who adopted
    us a couple years ago.  He's a huge about 14 pound muscular male. But
    just such a love.  Loves to mouse (or squirrel or chipmunk!)  thinks
    they are great to play with, and can't understand why they run away
    when he puts them down to "scream" he wants in with it!  I declared it
    summer when he brought his first mouse home in April.  He is also
    called the "dumb one, or where's stupid" since he' too dumb or stupid
    to come in from the rain, snow or freezing weather. or worst thunder
    storm.  FWIW, he's dumb enough to go out in it in the first place!
    His favorite sleeping spot in the cool weather is the baby crib we put
    up last summer for my nephew who visits occationally.  I actually had
    to move him out of the way to put the baby down to sleep!  During the
    summer it's at the top of the stairs in our bedroom, and usually upside
    down on his back spread eagle.  Oh he hates us to read a newpaper, no
    matter where you are he will literally crawl up on the paper and lay
    all over it, and look very satisfied doing it!
    
    Then there's the newestaddition, another stray.  We call him Fluffy, or
    "fluffs" for short.  He has been living in the woods behind our home
    for at least two years, that I'm aware of, could be longer.  He is very
    timid, even now, but decided to take up residence on our deck, and in
    the fall he crawed into the summer furniture which had been stacked and
    tarp-covered.   I was so afraid he would freeze, but was terrified of
    the inside.  It was a slow gradual process, but he's pretty much and
    indoor only kitty.  I sent a friend a picture at Christmas, and she
    called and asked me if I knew he was a Maine Coon?  Who me, a cat is a
    cat right? I dunno!  He's black and white, extrememly long, extremely
    fine hair.  It took me until last month before he'd let me near him
    with brush or comb.  The vet clipped some mats from his butt, I can
    usually wait til he's asleep (aka "comatose") on the couch and catch a
    matt or two then.  I have managed to get them all, one by one.
    
    I wanted to give him to a no kill shelter, since he and Barney seem not
    to always get along, infact I worried about one of them getting hurt
    when he first came in.  But is getting better everyday.  I was referred
    to the BayPath shelter in Hopkinton, but they were full, but Elaine who
    works there got me an apointment with Edgehill clinic in Framingham for
    an extremely reduced fee.  He tested out just fine, appears to be about
    four years old, and "a very closely clipped (neutered) male.  He is a
    love, and usually goes around calling in a cooo like voice, announcing
    his arrival and departure from a room.  He seems to call out when he is
    lost or scared of something.  I have to call him in this fall high
    pitched voice saying "where's the baby", he comes running.  He's not
    dainty or quiet you hear a definit "thump, thump to his walk!  
    Seems a little timid of men, and of feet too close.  Probably been abused 
    somehow.  He took to the litter box quite naturally.  He had a puncture 
    wound, which aparently abcessed right after the Holidays, the local vet 
    took care of him, and didn't charge much at all considering, and he's been
    inside since.  He will sneak out occationally, and when he does he will run
     to the deck, hide undera piece of furniture and let out this scream of
    panic.  I have to coax him out, and reward him with some catnip.  
    Fluffy got his name when he was being checked out the firsttime.  The
    vet was making records and asked "what named have we given him"  I
    jokingly commented that it sounded like a Baptism statement "what name
    do you give this child?"  And decided that Fluffy was a shortened
    version for "the cute black and white cat that lives in the woods
    behind the house"  which is the way we had been referring to it!  We
    thought that *he* was a *she* perhaps in a motherly way, turns out HE
    was just plump and had worms.  He is now PLUMP, but with food!
    
    Oh and there's MJ, not offically ours, (looks like Sylvester the cat) 
    Barney Hates him, they do fight in a real way!  I think MJ is a scrapper
    (His name stands for Michael Jordan, according to his owner) 
    but a neighbor moved last fall and somehow he keeps finding his way back.
    I give him a snack and call the owner to come and get him, at first I
    would call our dog officer and simply leave a message "he's baaaack!!",
    and she would call them..  Don't ask me how he does it, they moved
    to thenext town, and this cat has to travel across at least two major
    roads to get back!
    
    Our town (Oxford MA) implemented licensing for cats this year, so I
    went to the town hall and declared all three of them Mine!!
    
    I'm feline good to be back and earning a paycheck again.  Hubby left
    DEC last June ('94) and the new job has him traveling quite a bit 
    These guys are real good company, and even better foot warmers.  Oh and
    Fluffs thinks his place to sleep is between our pillows, or *on* my
    pillow as a furry hat!, and Can he purrrr!!
    
    Lyn Tripp
    Bandit, Barney, and Fluffy
    

    I seem to have acquired a fourth kitty, a little short to medium haired
    tuxedo kitten about four months old, who an acquaintance rescued after
    he'd climbed into a car engine for warmth...he's recovering nicely and
    was curled up next to a small wooly toy when I went to work this morning.
    
    Right now he's tiny, with a little fox face like my Holly, but I think
    he's going to be big but perhaps elegant, judging by the size of his
    legs.  He's very sweet and affectionate.
    
    Sweetie, Holly, and Little Bit are Not Pleased, but adapting a
    lot better than I'd thought.  I need name suggestions...
    
                       

    congrats on the new kitty; How about Tennesse?
    
    Deb

re: .318

"The Unexpected"

You should always expect the unexpected.

Or, if you're into Monty Python,

"Eric"

	"Sylvester" is the obvious, but how about "Lucky?"

			SQ

    Last tuxedo-colored foster I took care of was called "Tuxedo" (how 
    original :^)..."Tux" for short.  He grew up to be a fine looking 
    cat.  The daddy I found him renamed him "Kirby" (which is also a
    very fine name).
    
    Or, you could name him what we came close to naming our logo cat
    for Tails & No Tales Cat Club..."Dom Purrignon".
    
    Jan

    I'm leaning towards Purr.  All I have to do is look at him, and
    say, "How are you, beautiful puss?" and he PURRs.
    

Re .323:

Works for me!  <grin>

Hello everyone, 

My name is Judi. I'd like to tell you about my 5 babies.
Where to start? They are all so special. Let's see... There's Claud. He is
a HUGE orange and white cat, 8 years old.. VERY affectionate. He's the
social butterfly kitty of the family. He has a really cute habit of waking
me up every morning between 5 and 6 with his meowing and purring, and
won't settle down until I pet his head. So, I have devised a way to pet
his head and sleep at the same time. That keeps us both happy. :)  

Then there's Cookie. She's going to be 7 next week (we have the same
birthday!!), but she still has the tiniest little baby face. (My cousin, 
Tamara, says that Cookie has found the fountain of youth!) She LOVES the 
dining room table. Her favorite thing in the world is to lie on the table and 
get rubbed from head to tail, head to tail, head to tail, over and over. Then 
every once in a while she'll get up and then *throw* herself down and roll over 
again. How cute!

Next came Puss'n'Boots. I call him Puss'n'B, for short. I don't know how 
old Puss'n'B is because when I found him (actually, *he* found *me*, but 
that's a different story!), and brought him to the vet, the vet said all 
he could tell was that Puss'n'Boots was at least a year old. And, that was 
5 years ago. So, do the math... He's somewhere between 6 and 60. :)  
Anyway, Puss'n'B is my only outdoor cat. He just couldn't deal with living 
his life indoors. He's a sweetheart, though. 

I guess that brings me up to Bunny, or Bun Bun. She's a little slinker and 
Whoo, is she fast! She takes the longest time of the 5 to warm up to 
strangers. But, once she does, she's a real lover! Bunny is 3.

And last but not least, Mina. She's my newest baby, coming to me as a 
kitten about a year ago. She's a real lap cat, very affectionate, and 
tries her best to get along with the rest of the family. Adding a 5th to 
the group was tough, but we're doing it. I think Mina will have to be the 
last, though. 

Well, that's me and my family. I hope you have enjoyed reading about us!

    We have always been a one cat one dog household.
    At the moment we are are a one mad cat household, he is nuts, even as I
    write he is running up the walls, he does not like closed doors, being
    ignored or told NO.
    
    
    But he is nice to be around, 
    
    He will be spoiled, but I cant myself, I love animals.
    
    Any kind 0f animals
    
    with four feet.
    
    
    
    joa

    
    I've been reading this conference for almost 4 years; I can't believe I
    never introduced my precious loves.
    
    First we have Fargas Delatour, otherwise known as Fargie Ray or
    Fargiepuss Rex.  He's 5 this summer, grey and white and the biggest
    pansy in the world.  Any lap is fair game - if you don't want him
    sitting on you, don't sit down.  I often wake up with him sprawled
    across my body.  He's loooooooooooong and weighs about 11 pounds.
    I gave him the last name of Delatour because when I got him, I lived in an 
    apartment that used to be lived in by someone with the last name of 
    Delatour.  The management company never changed the name on the bell in
    the year and a half I was there, no matter how much I asked, so I figured 
    hey, at least someone in the apartment would have the same last name as 
    the bell.
    
    Two years later [when I had forgotten how much kittens drive me crazy]
    I got Othello the Moor, fondly referred to as 'thel-bell, from cj Walter.  
    This is Gypsy's brother.  He's 3 now, 99% black with a little white bow 
    tie.  He's kind of like Mike Tyson - he's a stocky boy, a hunter, a real 
    bruiser - but when he meows, he sounds like a smurf.  He gets heavier in 
    the winter, but at the vet's last night only weighed in at 9 pounds.  He 
    gets quite a bit of exercise in the summer.
    
    Two years later [when I had forgotten how much kittens drive me crazy]
    I got Pamina, Daughter of the Queen of the Night ('mina), from the Pat 
    Brody Shelter.  SHE chose ME - crawled onto my shoulder from the shelf 
    on which she was sitting, and purred into my ear.  What could I do?  She
    was less than 2 pounds at the time, a tiny little feather of a thing,
    but with the prettiest face you can imagine and huge ears like sails. 
    "She could use some fattening up," Priscilla said.  I took her at her
    word, and at a year old she weighs 8.5 pounds.  She's a brownish-grey
    girl, and is the only one to still exhibit the kitty crazies on a
    regular basis.
    
    Those are my babies.  When I got to the vet's office last night, a
    trooper was just leaving after having dropped off a stray kitty he
    rescued from a tree, and she was one mad girl.  You could hear her
    complaining all the way out in the waiting room.  The receptionist
    asked if I was ready to add a 4th cat to my family, but I haven't yet
    forgotten how much kittens drive me crazy.  I'll wait until next year
    8^).
    
    
    
                                                          

re .327

>    Two years later [when I had forgotten how much kittens drive me crazy]

Love this!!!!  I guess I still have another year to go also!

			SQ

    As one gets older (females of course not older, only more beautiful
    =}), the two-years-period of forgetting things might get down to a
    one-year-period... so I can imagine someone marching down, fetching the
    next crazydriving furball...
    
    Nat
    
                                

    
    Since I've been a RO, I thought maybe I'd introduce ourselves.
    I'm Ann and my owner is Sundance.  He is a Persian who just turned
    1 this month.
    
    Ann
    

    Introducing Nikkoo, (which I believe means Sunshine) white with black
    markings, tom cat.  Rescued from the grounds of MacLean Hospital and doing 
    very nicely with my other 5 cats.  
    
    I think he must be related to Lady Elizabeth (from the same place) as
    he is very gentle and hasn't bitten or scratched once, and he's
    very talkactive.
    
    

    
    Hello all feline friends. My name is Minty. I am a big white cat hence
    the name Minty. It originates from Polo Mint (I don't know whether you
    can buy them all over the world but they are white mints with a hole in
    the middle).  I live in England with my sister Candy.  My owners
    weren't going to have Candy but they couldn't resist her because we were
    both such cuties.  Also we were the only two kittens of the litter so it
    would have been a shame to split us up.
    
    Candy is a black and white cat and has a tendency to get rather fat but
    she is still very pretty.  Her markings are nearly perfectly semetrical
    and she has two little black nostrils.
    
    

                                        
    Monty (chocolate/seal brown) and Blue (as the name depicts) are both
    4 year old Burmese males and are brothers.
    
    They are both true to the Burmese traits - great explorers,
    mischievous, kitten like in behaviour, very affectionate, talkative and
    demanding of attention.
    
    I found Monty and BLue two weeks ago via the Burmese Cat Society where
    they were in need of rehoming.  They have a vey unclear and strange
    story behind them in that their previous owner had delivered them to a
    cattery (along with a Maine Coon, Ragdoll ad Bi-Colour British
    Shorthair) and requested that good homes were found for them.  when
    asked why, she replied that it was personal....?
    
    Monty and Blue are by far the best additions to my home and bring much
    entertainmetn and pleasure.
    
    Flip

    Read .61 about introducing Smokey. She seems to have forgotten the
    tortures - I hope. She is now more than 10 lbs of cat (imagine landing
    it on your stomach, or even a bit more down, if you are laying on your
    back side with a book in your bed... uhh...).
    
    She still sleeps on my blanket, making my feet sleep independently of
    me, that means, I get awake that my feet are asleep.
    
    She plays with almost anything she wants with, from champagne corks to
    my fingers, she eats cheese and liver and baby food and cram, and
    almost everything I eat, if she can have it from me.
    
    Once we made up our minds with my wife, that even if we would hate
    eachother, we could not divorce, 'cause we would not be able to get
    ready, who can take Smokey... so we decided to keep together.
    
    Yes, we are silly. No, we do not shame us. Yes, I am still the same Old
    Nat, even if some bits bitten off sometimes - of course by Smokey, the
    dearest halfkorat lady of the world.

    Update:
    
    Introducing Uma Nikko San, Tetsu Cho Cho, and Amory (Cleveland).
    
    
    	Uma Nikko San (I might have the spelling wrong)=Fat Mr Sunshine
        Male, white with black slotches about 10 months old. Rescued from 
        the grounds of MacLean Hospital, Belmont, in November.  
    
    	Tetsu Cho Cho (again, I might have the spelling wrong)= Iron
    	Butterfly.  Female, white with dark gray slotches about three/four
        months old.  Also rescued from the grounds of MacLean Hospital, 
        Belmont, in November.  She was being abused by two of the ground crew, 
        who my sister attacked with her pocket book before grabbing the kitty.
    
        These two obviously come from the same gene pool, and maybe even the 
        same parents, but one litter apart.  They are very close and play 
        together all the time.  Nikko is very large and fat, and Cho Cho is
        very slim and small.  She looks likes Nikko's echo.
    
        Amory, Cleveland, all white and sweet natured.  He found me on
        Christmas morning (see the FOUND note for details).  Hope I find
        his people, he deserves to find his way home again.
    
    This brings my furry family to 8:  Tigger, Charlie, Christopher, 
    Lady Elizabeth, Ninja, Uma Nikko San, Tetsu Cho Cho, Amory. 
                                                               

         Let me introduce Fluffy to the other feline(r)s:
         
         She is 4 months old and a greyish type of tiger kitty with 
         pink nose and two white spots under her nose. Her paws (all 
         the four) are black as if she had walked in soot. 
         
         She is soft and warm like velvet. And lovable and tender so 
         much. Such a sweetheart. (I really have to withhold myself 
         from describing her in 'superlative' adjectives.)
         
         I am so pleased to be owned by her. Sometimes I ponder about 
         how life was possible without her. But the result of my 
         thinking is always that it must have been impossible.  
          

    You don't have to withhold your superlatives with *this* crowd!  Fluffy
    sounds lovely, and it sounds like she landed herself an adoring "pet"!
    
    Leslie

         Thank you, Leslie, for your nice 'push'. But you know how it 
         is when you live among people who kindly inquire about your 
         cat and just when you are about to answer, they turn out to be 
         polite but uninterested people. I soon learnt to control 
         myself.
         
         And that's why I love the idea of these notes. 
         
         One thing I wanted to write about last time but I forgot and 
         your note reminded me of: HOW FLUFFY ARRIVED. It was sheer 
         miracle...
         
         I was thinking about visiting FAMCAT's show in October since I 
         had made up my mind that I would like to have a cat whom I 
         could name 'Fluffy'. I was even thinking that I wouldn't mind 
         buying a Siamese kind of fluffy thing. (I have this crave for 
         them) The decision was made... 
         
         And two days later my mother called me that a little kitty had 
         been placed on her doormat. I asked her whether the little 
         kitty looked like a thing to be called 'Fluffy'. Of course, 
         she said yes. (But to be honest when I first saw her she 
         looked like more of a feathered teeny-wheeny hedgehog.. that 
         she is not any longer.)
         
         ...BTW I never went to the FAMCAT show. 
         
         That's it.
         
         Edi (on behalf of Fluffy)
          

    I'd like to introduce my children.
    
    Number one daughter is Lassie. She's 6 now, got her when she was almost
    2 years old.  She is a Calico Tabby with a nice temperment (until she
    gets jealous or worried about her daughter). Lassie loves to play fetch
    with little foam golf balls.
    
    Lassie's Daughter is Dieter. Dieter's father was Siamese. Dieter is
    cream colored with tan and light brown tabby markings on her head, She
    of cource has blue eyes. She likes to stay under the bed until we go
    away. Then she comes out and plays. Or, when my wife and I go to bed,
    Dieter hops up and sleeps on my wife. Dieter was about 6 weeks when we
    got her.
    
    We have had Lassie and Dieter for over 4 years now.
    
    Next came Teddy. A neglected/matted/overweight Himmy. He moved in about
    8 months ago (when we moved into a house). Teddy is healthy, happy, and
    a slug. But he is the sweetest boy a Dad could ask for.
    
    When we realized how much room we still had in the house (about a week
    after moving in) we went to PAWS to adopt another, we came home with
    two.
    
    Elaine: Pure evil, in a loving kinda way. Black and soft. And when you
    rub her tummy, she growls and hisses. But she is just cranky. Bad
    background. She was abandoned at 7 months and pregnant (much too
    young). When she was brought into the shelter she had surgury and I
    think she distrusts people now. But she is becoming my buddy (Lassie is
    jealous).
    
    Elaine likes to play with ice cubes. Every time I open the freezer, she
    comes flying into the kitchen from anywhere in the house. GOTTA HAVE
    IT! She also likes fruit, perfers Mango, Strawberries and Papaya.
    
    Finally Morris. 11 years old now. His prior family had to give him up
    when they moved into a retirement home. Morris is dull orange, matches
    the wood floor VERY well. He is very even tempered and has made it his
    mission to care for Elaine (as well as keep her in line).
    
    All are indoor kids only, all are spoiled and all are very much loved.
    
    Like someone said earlier:
    
    "5 is our limit" ! ;^)
    
    

    So, finally, here it goes:
    
     The two cats lived in my passed mother's household are sharing my life
        now:
    
        To my Smokey (halfkorat, introduced pp) comes now:
    
        Alphonse, aka. Old Lord, a five-pound beast of Siamese with
    vomiting habits and VERY sharp claws :^) who tailors me and the
    furniture,
    
    and    
    
        Kiscica (means 'tiny kitten' in Hungarian), who weighs about 17
    pounds now and is no Kiscica any more (aka. S�rospataki Tal�lt Berci)
    und looks quite funny: almost white, one ear, one front leg and one
    tail is tabby, the other ear is reddish, rest is white. Quite furry
    thing, though shorthaired, very affectionate, has an explicitly small
    head and looks very stupid. But isn't.
    
    I think, Smokey is and remains Alphacat. (Besides my wife, of
    course.)
    
    
    Nat

    Nat, how are your kitties adapting to each other, and how are
    the two "new" ones doing without your Mom?
    
    Karen
    

    They adapt quite well, for they know each other: any time I was on
    holidays, Smokey went to Mom & gang in lodgings. They hiss one-two
    days, then slowly all is well, and then at the end of the two weeks
    period as we parted them again and brought Smokey home, she wept a day
    or two looking for the two and vica versa.
    
    I did not introduce them yet this time, the two live in Mom's flat and
    Smokey still in mine, we are under moving now, and I want to stress the
    cats only if I also can be there for them, e.g. in a long weekend the
    transfer shall take place.
    
    The new ones? Well, one is doing well (Kiscica), the siamese - is a
    siamese. But there were already minutes when even the siamese DID purr
    for me!
    
    I hope all we shall get used to the 'momless' status. Dunno whom it
    shall fall harder. :(
    
    But I have Mom's pictures, rememberings and her cats with me :)
    
    So now :| as the result, and i hope to trend to :) again.
            
    Nat

    I started this note because I thaught that it was time that every one 
    introduced their cat.
    
    Tell what kind of cat you have how many, sex, and a brief explanation for
    any funny or unusual names.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    And so I guess that means I go first
    
    I have Two cats, 
    1 male Tabby, about 1 year and 6 months.  His name is oscar.
    
    1 female Tabby with a white belly, about 1 year and 4 months.
    Her name is Taila.  I named her that because my Father has a dog named
    Kaila, and I really like that name.  Not wanting to copy my Father and
    call her kaila (which I really wanted to) I mentally went through the
    alphabet replacing the first letter...Aaila, Baila, Caila...etc.
    Taila just sounded right!

    I have 5 Maine Coons.  Four a brown classic tabbies and one blue mac.
    
    The oldest is Ruby, she turned six last week.  She is the skittish one
    who finally starting to calm down.  She actually let a visitor pet last
    month.
    
    Sapphire is next she is Ruby's half sister, and turns six July 3.  She
    is the mother of my other cats.  She is also the boss, all others give
    her wide berth when walking towards her.
    
    Diamond Max is four. He is my blue mac, and my lap warmer.  He's 22
    pounds of fluff and makes my wife crazy cause he won't come near her.
    
    Lady Gold-n-Godiva is 16 months old. Goldie loves to sit on the back of
    a chair by the closet where the toys are kept.  She has actually tried
    to pull it open a couple of times.  IF she ever gets in there I'll lose
    her for days.
    
    Our last is King Richard Coonetty.  We like racing and tried to name
    our last bunch after drivers. Richie is 5 months old and already is 9
    pounds.  He is the sweetest boy, and thrills my wife by sitting on her
    lap.
    
    Dennis

Here are my four neutered males:

Beekman is a very large grey tabby who used to live in Sandy Merritt's bathroom.
Saint Sandy rescued him from a life of vagrancy, bringing him in out of the
cold.  She vetted and sheltered him for several months, until my house was
built and I could take him.  I previously lived in a no-pets apartment.  He is
my first cat in 17 years.  Sandy called him Kramer (after the Seinfeld character
because of his facial expressions).  I felt the name was redundant, and re-named
him after Shirley Jackson's younger son (Raising Demons--real name Barry), since
he really is a big baby.

Louie is black with congenitally foreshortened front legs.  Sandy Merritt
introduced me to him at the Pat Brody shelter.  I originally named him Toulous
after the artist, but Louie works better.  I am certain that he is not really a
cat, but is only disguised as one...I am sure that he spends the days that I am
at work reading the paper and watching A&E or C-Span.  I keep asking him for
investment advice, but so far he only shrugs, and pretends to sleep.

Moe is a medium-sized brown tabby with very distinct markings.  We also met at
the Pat Brody shelter.  His shelter name was Braveheart, so I re-named him Moe,
since that is what I call Mel Gibson, who very often acts like one of the three
Stooges (is there a Mel Gibson Note File in here?).  Moe's full name is Moe
Chickenheart, because he is just as big a baby as Beekman is.  He is Beekman's
henchman, cohort and wrestling partner.

Sam is a large mackerel tabby with very distinct markings.  He is a tripod,
having lost his right back leg after escaping from his previous owner and
being hit by a car last August.  His disposition is improving as time goes on
and he gets used to living with 3 other cats.  (When I brought him home he was
friendly and sweet until I brought him into the house.  He took one look and
shrieked "CATS??!!!  Who let all these CATS in here??!!"  It took several days
for him to even begin to adjust.)  He will occasionally pal around with Louie,
since neither can move very quickly, and lately with Moe, who is very sweet
and innocent.  However, he and Beekman have regular stare-downs, although they
will guard the deck together.

Sandy K.

    Two Exotic Shorthairs both 3yrs old
    
    
    Jack. Orange tabby look's like morris with a flat face. a cool cat
    indeed.
    
    
    Jill.  A Black and gold tortie. Born with a over bite has tongue
    out at all times.  Always nearby me chirping or runing after Jack.
    
    
         The J team are indoors cats.
    
                   Al 

    (Those that know me, and have been bored silly with pictures of the
    FIRM, please sit down because this will shock you. Everyone knows I
    have a thing for black cats, especially solid black cats.)

    The FIRM has hired two new partners, Paul (a polydayctl) and Peter.
    They are both large, solid white cats that are about 4-5 years old,
    possibly littermates. (They remind me of a cross between a yellow lab
    puppy and a Siberian husky.) Their heads/jowls are huge!
    
    I thought that there had been a white stray living in my back yard, but a
    week ago Sunday, there was a horrible noise coming from my garage. There
    were two big solid white tom cats attacking this poor little female that
    belongs to my neighbor. I grabbed everyone and brought them into the house.
    (I let the little girl go home the next morning).

    The vet thinks that the boys were dumped. They were both cut up pretty
    badly from fighting with each other. Their fur was pretty dirty (oily)
    and they were starved and flea ridden. I just had them fixed. I was
    trying to keep them separate from the rest of the FIRM for a couple
    more days but Paul figured out how to turn the door knob. There have
    been a few hisses and growls, but the only real fighting has been between
    Peter an Paul. Peter seems to be a real love; Paul is still a bit
    standoffish, hanging out on top of the refrigerator, but I think that
    he will come around. Both have learned how to be combed and seem to
    enjoy it.
    
    After all my years having big black cats, it just seems so different to
    see two big white cats. 
    
    Deb

    Congratulation Deb...you haven't added to the Firm for
    awhile!!!  Now all you need is a Mary.....(Peter, Paul and Mary)!!
    
    Sandy

    Acutally, that is sort of how they got named. Paul was an obvious name
    since he is a polydactyl, but the noise in the gararge with the two
    boys and one girl all "singing" made me call them "Peter, Paul and
    Mary" (actually, Pablos, Panagyote, and Maria; I had to give them Greek
    names, after all :-).
    
    I now have 9 cats (all boys)!  I think that I need to get another
    LitterMaid...
    
    Deb

    Congs!
    You are a great person, Deb!
    Nat

         Congratulations on your new additions, Deb!
    
    					- Andrea

In two weeks there will be a most welcome addition to the household!  Yesterday
I put a deposit down on the most adorable little applehead siamese bluepoint
female kitten!  She's just 8 weeks old now, and let me hold her for about 15 
minutes, purrfectly content!  I found the breeder on the Web, Leonard's Siamese
Connnection in Louden, NH. They not only breed traditional siamese, but also
wedgeheads, burmese, and Bengal

I knew going to their house was going to be a blast!  In the main section of 
the house, there must have been 20 cats, mostly siamese and I was like a little
kid in a candy shop!  Then, they took us in the kitten room where there were
maybe 5 mothers and about 20 8 week old kittens, and a litter of 2 week old
kittens too.  When I saw my baby, I knew it!  I even picked her out again...
no easy task with all those little siamese kittens!  

Her mom's name was Nikkea, and I'm tending to lean towards Nakita for her, but
am not positive yet.  I just can't wait to get her!  I was going to wait until
June 14, because we are going away the weekend of the 6th, and that would be
too soon to leave her for two nights.  But I called my Dad and told him what
I'd like for my birthday present, which is for him too babysit her that weekend!
He said he must be crazy but yes!  So now I'll be able to get her on May 17!!

I tried going to the shelters, and found a really sweet, pretty black&white DSH
kitten, very snuggly.  It was very disappointing when after holding her for 5 
minutes my face felt as if it was covered with fur, and my nose all stuffed up.
The siamese are one of the only cats that does not cause this reaction in me.

Anyway, please welcome little Nikita!  She was born March 3. 1997.  Gypsy is
going to be thrilled, I just hope Buki will not be too rough.  She will be well
protected and slowly introduced of course!

Laura

    I'm new to this NOTES file and have only been a reader.. until now!  I
    am now the proud human companion to 2 adorable baby doll kitties.  My
    daughter and I just moved into a large townhouse where the landlord
    welcomes cats.  So, on Saturday my 14yr old daughter and I drove over
    the PetSmart in Nashua where the "adopt-a-thon" was going on.  All the
    adoptees were being boarded by "Kitty-Angels" and looking for homes. 
    Well, located in a small corner was a cage that had 2 eyes peering out
    and of course we went over to investigate and there was the CUTEST
    little guy waiting for just the right people.  Way back behind him was
    his shy little brother.  Of course I cannot break up a home!  I adopted
    both.  Introducting:
    
    MILO - 8wks old, DLH, dark brown and white and a real love ball.
    SAM - 8wks old DSH, black and white (some brown) and shy, but loves to
    play with brother.
    
    Both are adapting well and play everywhere they can climb!  Sam is even
    letting us pet him now.  They stay down stairs, unless they see us go
    up then they scamper upstairs to see what we are doing!  At night they
    go in "their room" which is a large bath room with a night light.  It
    contains their potty box on one end and there bed in the lower cabinet
    (furry afhan with a warm water bottle hidden under to snuggle next to)
    and some dry food and water.  We let them out in the morning.  This is
    the first day they are home alone... I HATED to leave them.  Their mom
    was a stray that was rescued so unfortunately, they came with
    ear-mites, I'm giving them medication in their ears everyday... they
    hate it!  
    
    Any advice on how often to clip their nails?  I will be doing the SOFT
    PAWS technique pretty soon, but for now I will just give them
    manicures.  AND.. when should I watch for the spraying to start..
    before they're old enough to neuter?
    
    Proud Mom
    Terri

    Welcome to all these new kitties!  Terri, I don't clip my cats'
    claws, they do fine with a carpet-covered scratching post.  You may
    need to rub some catnip on the upper part of it to encourage
    them to balance themselves against it with their paws as they sniff
    it, this seems to give them the idea to scratch the post.
    

    Well - I do clip my cats' claws.  They all use the scratching posts,
    the wooden barn board walls and the rugs, but their claws are still
    razor sharp.  I especially keep the kittens claws clipped.  It evens
    the playing board, so to speak.
    
    I think you'll be doing yourself a great favor to get your kittens used
    to being handled, brushed, combed and clipped right from the beginning. 
    I did that and I can easily clip the two kittens, check out all their
    body parts, etc.   And they look forward to being brushed.  With Romeo
    being a Maine Coon wannabe, this makes it much easier to keep his coat
    untangled.  In fact, he'd somehow gotten himself matted up on his
    belly, near a sensitive area, and he's so used to being held that I was
    able to cuddle him upside-down on my lap and cut out the mats while he
    just purred away.  I could never ever dream of doing that with Zachary.
    
    It took 3 people at the vets office to clip the claws of Zachary
    and it's almost impossible to properly brush him anywhere past his head
    and neck.  Since I didn't get him until he was 3 years old, I can only
    guess that he wasn't brushed until the matting got so bad that it
    became very painful.  And that's a shame as he REALLY hates going to
    the groomer, but when he gets so matted I have no choice.  He has an
    enormously thick coat that easily matts...
    
    my .02 cents.
    
    Gita

    I think I will clip their nails.  The lady at Kitty-Angels said I
    should so they don't get "fish hooks" as she called them.  I will
    definately begin combing them... Milo especially since he has long
    hair!  Sam is short haired but he being the timid one I think it might
    make him more comfortable with human contact.
    
    Terri

Saturday I picked up Nikita, my new "baby", and she is just that!  10 weeks 
old, and still has pink wrinkled skin under her downy kitten fur!  She's
a real snuggler, and absolutely adorable!  The boys are quite upset, but coming
around.  Gypsy and she have already touched noses, with just a little hiss
from Gyspy.  Kabuki is all bent out of shape, but his hissing and spitting
is noticably less than it was Sunday!\

Laura

    Congrats Laura....you've been looking for a new baby for quite
    sometime!!!  I'm sure your other kitties will come around soon.
    
    Sandy 

Sandy,

They're already coming around!  Yesterday Nikita and Gypsy touched noses a few
times with no hissing, and she went right up to Kabuki and he didn't hiss
either!  They're going to love her, I know...she's such a little charmer they
couldn't possibly resist!  I set her up in Gypsy's room with the hook on the 
door but modified it so littl Nikita can in and out, but the boys can't get
in.  Seems to be working out very well!

Seems like she's leaning towards preferring my fiance over me though :-(  He's
indifferent to cats, but they all flock to him...

Laura

    But - Laura -
    
    That's one of the basic tenets of cat protocol.  Always go for the
    human who is indifferent to cats or better yet is allergic.  I'm sure
    it's a lot more fun from the cat's point of view.
    
    Gita

>    That's one of the basic tenets of cat protocol.  Always go for the
>    human who is indifferent to cats or better yet is allergic.  I'm sure
>    it's a lot more fun from the cat's point of view.


And there's the fact that they're the least threatening and lower down the
chain - they don't try making eye contact like us obsessives do. 


Met a lovely b/w mog on the way home the other night, he had such a plaintive
miauw he had Mohine and I stood there by his wall stroking him on the way 
home - If I hadn't had work the next day I'd've probably stopped for a couple
of hours :-) 

I now don't need my hifi-alarm clock on loud at all... it comes on quietly, 
and Belle having just come back into heat again starts singing along with it. 
I'm so glad I like her miaprrrrrrrmiaooooooooooppppriiiiprrrrrrrrmiaaaaaauuuuuuu
calls - I'd be mad (or she'd be gagged) by now if I didn't.

Having listened to her this morning I don't know if anyone else has
ever heard the safety cat, Charlie, as in "Charlie says... I must do 
as mummy says and not play with matches cause I will get hurt if I 
dont" - I probably sound completely mad if you haven't, if you have 
though you'll know what I mean when I suggest that charlie wasn't 
a boy after all that he was a female cause no cat talks like that 
unless it's in heat :-)