Since it’s Caturday, seemed likd a good time for this. It’s been a while since we’ve had a WereBear post, so glad she had one ready when I asked. Take it away Kitty Whisperer:
Sweet Reverend Jim
In a couple of months, it will be the Labor Day weekend, 13th Anniversary of my cat blog, The Way of Cats. That’s when I rescued Reverend Jim. Here’s the first post on my first site, Rescue of a Shelter Kitten. Because of course, it started with a rescue. That’s how it all started.
I never imagined my hobby would turn into my passion, and now, my destiny. The other day I was searching for my name and work online, an exercise in deeper meaning that yielded completely unexpected benefits. It turns out, I am an Antidote to Trumpism. And I couldn’t be more pleased.
Antidote to Trumpism: Essays on Intellectual Honesty and Critical Thinking by Luis Bernardo Mercado
I certainly don’t mind being associated with intellectual honesty and critical thinking. And I adore the idea of being a Trump Antidote. So say we all!
The kittens I adopted in the fall are becoming ridiculously elongated. They are also differentiating markedly.
Bud is sleeker and more slender. He is currently going through a goofy stage. He becomes so intent on playing with his toy spring that he seems to inevitably bounce it behind the bathroom door. There he wrestles with it until he closes the door on himself.
Cognition will dawn one day, but that day has not yet come.
Lou Costello has always gone over the top. Now he’s more muscular and fluffy. While he is a professional comic, he’s getting into thoughtful periods. When Sir Tristan woke me in the middle of the night, he led me to where Lou was flattened against the sill of the bathroom door like a kitten draft stopper. From here I deduced Bud had done it again.
Sure enough, I opened the door to find Bud slumped against the vanity cabinet like a sad clown doll. He was pathetically happy to see me. I praised Tristan for his teen cat management. I began propping a catalog against the door as my part of my bedtime routine, so Bud won’t get in trouble during the night.
The other evening, Lou wanted my attention drawn to the bathroom door. I realized I had forgotten to prop the catalog, did so, and told Lou what a smart young fellow he was. So he must have the brains right now.
These two share everything.
I seem to be in a Power Cycle right now.
The Way of Cats is available in paperback and on Kindle.
Feel free to chat pets and ask questions.
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Thanks WereBear!
TaMara (HFG)
Guys, I forgot to give WereBear a heads up that I was posting this, but I’m sure she’ll be around as soon as she can! Ask your Qs and share your pet stories.
ThresherK
I’m really a calico/tortie guy, but I really enjoy the mixed whiskers and the “whiskers into contrasting hole pincushion effect” on show here.
Dorothy A. Winsor
Love the updates on Lou and Bud.
Another Scott
Nice.
Our mutt Ellie is not very talkative to us, except when she’s doing her painfully shrieky whining to get our attention about a fox or neighbor’s dogs walking by. But I can tell she’s got things going in that little head of hers. She loves searching for her morning Greenie treat that I hide in various places after her breakfast. She’s so proud when she finds it and then quickly carries it to her safe space on the carpet to eat it.
Also, if I ask her whether she wants to go out, she’ll look at me and then look at the back door. Every time. She knows the words. She also barks once when she wants to come in. She is training us pretty well, but we’re all works in progress.
Cheers,
Scott.
WereBear
ALSO: a form of pet bleg: We have decided we must rehome our wonderful Mithrandir.
Baby fluff. Six years old.
He’s a darling boy (completely recovered feral rescue) but the constant stress of the last few years (house reorganization interrupted by serious health crises and then pandemic complications) has eroded his stress threshold.
Once he clearly signaled he’d like to be an Only Cat, there was nothing I could do but find him a new home.
Currently being de-stressed at a good local shelter under the care of our vet. We’re in the wilds of upstate NY. But I can drive to Albany or other parts of New England.
If you are in love, let me know. Yes, it breaks my heart to let him go, but it would break his heart to keep him.
Amir Khalid
@WereBear:
Sorry to hear about Mithrandir. But you’re right of course: he needs to be in a situation that’s right for him.
WereBear
@Amir Khalid: Thanks, Amir!
zhena gogolia
My Sasha used to do that thing of shutting herself in the bathroom. But none of the doors in our house really close, so with assiduous scratching she was always able to spring herself.
WereBear
@zhena gogolia: The one door easily closed upstairs is the bathroom.
Bud has focus, but not attention :)
eclare
@WereBear: So sorry to hear about your kitty, what a tough decision.
WereBear
@eclare: Thanks. I like what a friend told me: “You took care of his feral issues so well he can go on to his true destiny.”
So now I think we just fostered him for a long time :)
JaneE
I have a bungie cord hanging on a towel rack that I use to tie the bathroom door open anytime we have to leave the house overnight. More than one night means taking the cat too, and she does not like. I did have one who could open doors herself, but no longer. She can open cupboards and drawers, but not doors. There are no treats behind doors.
Auntie Anne
Is Mr. WereBear heartbroken about Mithy? Mithy was his pick, as I recall.
But I’m sorry he got so stressed. This has not been a great year.
Aleta
@WereBear: Did his friendship with Rev Jim change as he (or the Rev) got older ?
eta He’s still a lucky cat, in that the right people will be helping him find a best home.
WereBear
@Auntie Anne:
Yes, on both counts :(
But he agreed with my assessment. Especially when the vet found nothing wrong! We were worried he had some kind of early dementia or a neurological disorder, he was so not his usual self.
But when he charmed the vet techs… I knew he could find new people.
catclub
Like the Ford Focus ticketed for 703 km/hr in Italy.
Sab
I am so sorry about Mithrandir but he will be happier.
My dad’s blind cat would really like a new home without 4 cats who think he is an interloper. His only protection is us and my late uncles’s cocker spaniel (also rehomed from elderly owner) who was an old friend of his from before and who doesn’t much like those cats either.
My special boy cat has developed asthma! I never cats got it but he definitely has it.
WereBear
As he grew into his teen years, he became more Sir Tristan’s responsibility.
But that was one of the signs, he disengaged with all the other cats.
Chat Noir
I think I would go out of my mind if I didn’t have at least one cat in our household. Our cat, Hobbes, just turned 12 in early June and I can’t imagine being at home so much without him. Cats rule!
way2blue
Beautiful cats. Makes me miss mine, Misha, Jazzbo & Skeeter…
MagdaInBlack
My Gordita has really bloomed being Only Cat. She joined us about 6 years ago, but the one I already had was a wee bit possessive of me, so while we were friendly, we were not allowed by himself to get too friendly. He passed about 2 years ago and she has grown in to the most lovely and loving critter. Definitely much happier as an only. (she is a retired momcat)
I hope the same for Mithy. I recall when he moved in ?
WereBear
@MagdaInBlack: I’m so happy you’ve drawn closer.
When I was in rescue it was an easier assessment for only/group. My onlines would go right out again when they were able. I had a list of people looking for them.
Because they’re so people-oriented.
rikyrah
They are so cute :)
WereBear
@rikyrah: Mr WereBear agrees.
They are magic kittens. :)
Which helps.
BruceFromOhio
Such splendid and elegant creatures!
This brings joy on many levels.
suezboo
WereBear, I need cat advice. I was gifted a rescue cat in January 2020.Spayed female, ginger and white, about 2 years old, Sisi. Sisi is the most aggressive girl I have ever met. She was very timid at first but as she has grown more, confident in her surroundings, she has grown this personality I find hard to love. She attacks everything ! My chairs have been shredded; my hands covered in scratches. She enjoys skritches and pets and initiates nose boops, so I don’t think it’s personal. She doesn’t do lap-sitting or snuggling. I am finding hard to relate to this particular cat, I’m afraid. I have always had a cat around but maybe I’m just used to cats that are old, like me. Do you have some advice beyond yelling “Ow, that hurt”?
WereBear
She sounds like a high energy type. Long and lean? Does she fix her gaze on anything, like a laser?
In any case, do you play with her? She needs wearing out. A wand toy is great for that. Do you have a cat tree?
greenergood
@WereBear: Oh! so sad Mithrandir must leave you, but you are a good cathuman and I’m glad that you acknowledge what M. needs. I remember when you got M. as a kitten – SO beautiful. I hope his new life comes soon – whoever adopts him will be blessed …
Obvious Russian Troll
The latest addition to the family has been urinating on our leather furniture. We’re going to take her into the vet to make sure it’s not a urinary tract problem, but she’s been peeing in one of the sinks since we got her from the Humane Society. I think it might be a texture issue at least in part (i.e., she does not like the litter box).
We do have another cat; they appear to be getting along moderately well (i.e., they’re not best of friends but they follow each other around. The new cat gets a little aggressive with the incumbent from time to time and he hisses at her, but they spend a lot of time near each other being calm.
She also likes to bite. Any advice on playing with her in a way that does not encourage biting?
suezboo
@WereBear: Thanks for the advice. I think you’re right. I should get her something to play with. She is zoomy. I hope the local thrift store, which is for our local rescue unit, will have something appropriate.
WereBear
@Obvious Russian Troll: The first thing I do with a litterbox problem is have a vet check, and the second is locking her in her own room with food water, litterbox, bed…
See if she uses the litterbox then. They can be overwhelmed by so much space, and trying to “own” it by marking. Small spaces can calm them down if so.
See my previous post on the biting and scratching problem. Get a sturdy dog stuffed toy for her to bite instead of you.
Obvious Russian Troll
@WereBear: Thanks! We will give that a try.
satby
Backand recovered from the market to see I missed this entire thread ? Congratulations on the Trump Antidote designation, truly an honor!
WereBear
@satby: thanks!
blackcatsrule
@WereBear: I read about Mithy the other day, so sorry for you and the mister but if anyone knows what they’re doing with a cat it’s you. He is magnificent and deserves to have a happy, stress free life.
Ann Marie
My Harley is a lot like your Bud, although older (about 2) and smaller (but still on stilts for legs). He loves those springs! When he gets a spring in the corner behind the bathroom door, he goes to the other side of the door and tries to pull it under, instead of just going to the right side and grabbing it. He also like to push on the bedroom door and has been known to shut himself in — to his dismay.
WereBear
Exactly, thank you! Things would be bleak indeed for him if we hadn’t taken care of his feral socialization.
So I’m just seeing this as a particularly long foster :)
WereBear
@Ann Marie:
Cause and effect does dawn eventually :)