Just thought I would provide you all with a Steve update. He’s doing ok:
Other than my lap, that is his favorite chair. It used to be in my office but I moved it into the hallway when I was cleaning, and he likes it so much that I just left it there. Plus, it’s a super comfortable wingback, so I sit in it when I fold clothes from the laundry, so I like it there.
Steve has really turned out to be an exceptional cat. I am fully convinced that he is part Siamese, because he talks all the time. And I mean all the time. If anyone calls, and I start to talk on the phone, he runs in the room to pipe in because if people are talking he needs to have his say. Most of my conversations sound like this: “OK. MMHMM. Alright. When do you need me to- STEVE SHUT UP– sorry, when do you need me to do- DAMNIT STEVE, I WILL CUT YOU– sorry- when do you need that done. Hey, look, I have to go. Just email me with the details. Talk to you later…”
He’s also a complete heater- he puts off more heat than any cat I have ever known. It’s like having an up-ended bunsen burner on your lap. Oh, and the other cute thing he does is that Tunch would always circle up in a ball on my lap or on the bed. Steve falls asleep with his front paws on my chest and my arm, as if he is not letting me leave. Every now and then he takes one of his baseball mitt paws and grabs a finger, and it feels like a baby is grabbing my hand. It’s really adorable.
And I don’t even want to get into what a polydactyl can do with a litter box. But he is just great and I am almost done calling him Tunch when he pisses me off, which is frequently. He’s a very cat like cat, which means he is ornery all the time.
I fully understand why his previous owners called him Bugger. I have no idea why they were able to leave him behind, though. I never could.
Jacel
Maine Coon and Siamese in one cat? That’s a scary smart cocktail of cat intelligence.
TheOtherWA
Yay! Steve sounds very happy with you and you with him. I’m very glad you found each other.
trollhattan
Aww, Schteeeeeeve!
This is a shameless repeat from earlier today, but anyway, fireman rescues tiny kitteh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjB_oVeq8Lo
My best to all Casa Cole Critters.
ETA Schteeeve really fills a people-sized chair, don’t he?
The prophet Nostradumbass
He’s got the look that says, “Don’t even TRY to get me out of this chair”.
FlipYrWhig
“John Cole”? When did this new front-pager get added? It’s too hard to keep track of all of these people.
John Cole
@FlipYrWhig: I’m dealing with a lot of shit, both personal, professional, fraternity, and town related. Once I get my shit real, I will be back with a vengeance.
David Koch
Maybe he’s Jewish
Tokyokie
I’m on crutches right now because of a broken ankle, and although most of the cat livestock in the house will get out of the way when I come stumping along, Keyser, the Balinese (half-Siamese), will move 3 feet ahead of me and start grooming himself until I nudge him, and then he does it again. But Marvin, the Siamese, won’t move at all, and if I try nudging him with the crutch tip, he attacks the crutch.
So I know how ornery a Siamese can be. And, of course, the orneriest cat is my favorite.
jenn
@trollhattan: Oh, Kitty! Thanks for sharing.
AdamK
Sarah sleeps on the arm of the chair with one paw on my knee so I can’t get away.
jenn
@John Cole: Good luck! May it all resolve itself well. And thanks for the Steve update!
Villago Delenda Est
Steve sounds like one happenin’ cat, allright.
You got lucky, John, when Steve came into your life. He can’t fill Tunch’s shoes, so to speak, but he’s making shoes of his own.
trollhattan
@David Koch:
Heh. “You call this ‘fish’? I’ve seen better fish on neckties.”
Sandia Blanca
Yay, Steve is at one with the chair upholstery pattern! Good to hear from you, Mr. Cole.
FlipYrWhig
@John Cole: just joshin’. looking forward to it.
NotMax
Aha. So that’s where great-grandma’s furniture went.
Can cross that mystery off the list now.
rammalamadingdong
I’m so glad you have a nice piece of furniture
John O
The Stever. Steveriono. The Steveinator.
Thanks John. Hope you are doing good.
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
You know you have an unusually large cat when you take him to the vet and the first thing everyone working there says is, “Wow, he’s a big boy!” And not because he needs to lose weight.
When I took Keaton in for his annual exam and teeth cleaning this week, he figured out how to open one of the drawers in the exam room to try and hide. The vet swears she’s never had a cat figure that out before. We’re so proud.
KG
My cousin and I have been living together for a year now… She has a cat. I’m still not a fan. Grew up with dogs, love dogs to the moon and back… But just can’t make it work with cats. Still, more power to those of you who can
YellowJournalism
Being interrupted constantly while on the phone? See? You DO have children!
The prophet Nostradumbass
@Mnemosyne (iPhone): I must have the smallest adult Maine Coon ever. My Seamus weighs around 10 1/2 pounds.
Anne Laurie
From my experience with Maine Coons,
MungoSteve talks to you because you talk back, and it’s the interaction he wants. You could try reaching out & skritching him when you’re on the phone, and possibly that will satisfy his desire to be part of the conversation. Or you could find a special “you only get to play with this when I’m on the phone” toy.But on the other hand, I suspect you kinda like knowing Steve cares….
Violet
@John Cole: We miss your political posts, but glad you are taking care of yourself. Steve is looks like he belongs. Always a good thing. Thanks for the update.
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
@The prophet Nostradumbass:
Our Annie looks almost exactly like Steve, except that she’s barely 8 pounds. We call her our midget Maine Coon.
(She doesn’t have many of the behavioral hallmarks of a MC, so we suspect she’s just a long-haired tabby, not an actual MC.)
The prophet Nostradumbass
@Mnemosyne (iPhone): Seamus has a tuxedo coat, an uncommon Maine Coon variety to be sure, some of the behavior, and the fur tufts between the toes. I may be able to see if he’s polydactyl if I have a bunch of bandages around.
ETA: He’s giving me a stink eye right now.
coin operated
All I’ve ever owned were Maine Coons, and all of them were smart as hell and complete chatterboxes. The last one, Fredo, was just like Steve…I had to go into my office and close the door if I was on a business call. What…you’re talking to someone else…NOT HAPPENING MEATSACK!!!
I’m so happy you found Steve. Wish I could have another Maine Coon, but it wouldn’t be fair to subject a pet to my travel schedule.
Ruckus
I have no idea why they were able to leave him behind, though. I never could.
Don’t know about leaving him behind but sometimes you don’t really have a choice in life. The Stones were wrong, sometimes you can’t even get what you need.
Yatsuno
I see Papa Stevedore Hemingway is training you proper there Mr Cole.
I shall alert proper authorirtahs. Also. Too.
taylormattd
Awesome.
piratedan
@John Cole: well Richard is a great addition, his posts are most welcome on a topic that a lot of people can use help with, so thanks for signing him onboard.
and a speedy recovery to you Tokyokie
WereBear
That is too bad, because cats are made of awesome. For instance, they thrive on spoiling.
We spoil them, they spoil us back. It’s a great system.
p.a.
Aaaaaaannnnddd a good photo!
Trinity
Yay Steve! My husband and I just adopted two maine coon mixed kittens last month. They are the most wonderful little family members! My husband worked overnight last night so the cats and I slept in the bed in a pile of purrs. It.was.awesome.
Joey Maloney
@AdamK: We call that the Paw Of Possession.
aimai
Does he come to get you while you are in the bathroom? Wailing outside? Because if not he’s neither a child nor a siamese. Just sayin’
Meanwhile–so very glad to have an update on you both. Love and hugs
aimai
Ash Can
A Steve and John Cole sighting! Hooray! Here’s hoping everything works out well, and soon. We miss your grouchy ass around here.
WereBear
Some help for Cole:
Why cats bother us when we are on the phone
Sarah, Proud and Tall
Jesus. That’s one ugly chair.
Biscuits
My daughter is coming home from school today. Her first since starting as a freshman. Guess who she has missed the most? Our cat. It’s hard to be without the furry little love monster.
Oh and yay for Steve!
Dteller
I always get a little teary when you write about Steve. I’m glad the two of you found each other.
schrodinger's cat
Cute Kitteh is cute, that chair on the other hand…
TAPX486
Obviously Steve’s training of the human is going exceptional well.
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
@aimai:
I was unaware that cats existed who did not demand to come into the bathroom if I tried to close the door. All three of ours do, as did our two previous cats. G shuts them out, but Charlotte waits outside the door until he opens it and he’s forced to pet her as penance.
Our late great Boris insisted on perching on the (closed) toilet seat while I was in the shower to make sure nothing bad happened to me in the little room with the water. In my old apartment where I had a shower curtain, he would sit on the edge of the tub and peer around the edge of the curtain, just to be sure I was okay. We called him Safety Officer Boris.
kc
Handsome kitty!
ellie
My Maine Coons start meowing very loudly whenever I am on a work-related call (I work from home). Like they are little kids who only want to talk to mom when she is on the phone, kind of like I used to do when I was a little kid. My cats: they are just like me!
Mike in DC
Sounds like Steve is a keeper (but we all knew that awhile ago).
I’m so glad you found a furry roommate.
I had 2 maine coons (brother and sister from the same litter) for a long while. I had to put the second of the two down last year (kidney and heart failure). I thought they were the best animals. In may of this year, we adopted a basement cat, who is also a fantastic kitteh.
Lurker
Steve is awesome! The chair… Not so much.
Phoebes
Cole, Glad you popped up with an update on you and Steve. I’m glad you have such good company in your recovery. Looking forward to you returning full time.
JustRuss
Nice to see a Steve update, I was starting to wonder how he was doing.
asiangrrlMN
Sir Whiskertons III looks right at home. What a handsome character he is! You done good, Cole.
@Yatsuno: Thanks, Yutsy, for sounding the horn!