Critters--tame and otherwise

[Paradox Eyes]

Sailor and Chomper are both beautiful dogs. I've always loved collies but never had one. We did have Shelties for years (the managable lap dog size LOL!) Our large dog Sienna, a retriever and shepherd mix, was about 80 pounds and she too had no concept of her size. A lap was meant for getting into and being snuggled, period! ;D We lost Sienna in late winter this year. She would have been 13. Now my Jack Russell, Buddy, who is 15 is failing. It sure is hard to lose a beloved friend of so many years.

[California gal]

The only down side to having a cat or dog is that we usually outlive them--and face that terrible decision. But it's all worth it with the unconditional love and hours of pleasure they provide.

[Artiespet]

May 5, 2009 1:38:38 GMT -8 Paradox Eyes said:

Sailor and Chomper are both beautiful dogs. I've always loved collies but never had one. We did have Shelties for years (the managable lap dog size LOL!) Our large dog Sienna, a retriever and shepherd mix, was about 80 pounds and she too had no concept of her size. A lap was meant for getting into and being snuggled, period! ;D We lost Sienna in late winter this year. She would have been 13. Now my Jack Russell, Buddy, who is 15 is failing. It sure is hard to lose a beloved friend of so many years.

Yeah it sure is. My most favorite cat Tigger (I didnt name the bouncy thing Kenneth did lol) I only had her for almost 6 years when she found her way inside the walls of the apartment house I lived in (fireworks and cats do NOT mix) and it took over a month for her to find a way out into the basement. Anyway skipping a lot of the story to save you people's sanity lol...she had caught a head cold and the vet said those can be deadly to cats it can fry their brains. well it did fry part of Tigger's all she knew was to protect me at all costs and no one could get near me. She went after a neighbor kid who came to see me every day just to give me a hug (HUSH lol) she slit his arm from the elbow to the wrist and then she started hissing at Kenneth so I had to put her down third saddest day of my life.

[Double Take]

As long as I can I will always have some form of dog and/or cat. I can't imagine a silent house without fur balls blowing around. Isn't it neat that so many of us enjoy common loves apart for WWW.

[Artiespet]

Well I had a quiet home for about 8 months when Kenneth and Jessica first moved out. The quiet was amazing LOL But I must say I like having a cat around and when Kenneth moves out Im going to jump through a couple of hoops so I can get one of my own.

[rielle]

Okay finally found my kitteh pics This is Bracha, our 'Jackson Pollock' cat all over grey and white splotches and an alpha-cat personality too boot!

[rielle]

This is Mullaney, all marmalade and white, a great big boy cat whose nickname rightly enuff is "moose'... umm, cause he's HUGE.

[rielle]

And this is Shoshana or Shoshi for short, Mullaney's sibling, but we think they MUST have had two different daddies, cause she's a dainty white lady cat with calico markings on her hind paws, her head, her nose, her face and her tail -- Like someone picked her up by her middle and dipped each end in the calico pot

[Paradox Eyes]

Beautiful kitties Rielle! Mullaney reminds me of my old "Mr. Kipling" except his spots were the same color as Bracha's.

[California gal]

A trio of beauties, Rielle. Great pix.

[Artiespet]

Cutie pies all around Rielle!

[Double Take]

Those are great pictures, Rielle. They are all beautiful! I especially like Bracha's markings. Jackson Pollack for sure!

[rielle]

Thanks for the good words about the kitteh pics.

I should really tell you the story of how Bracha got her name, which means Blessing.

We've had cats for years and of course over time ... they went over the Rainbow Bridge as some people say, and seven years ago our previous calico who we named Eowyn bc she was such a fiercesome kitteh especially when young, passed on at age 14. So we were catless and morose to say the least and a friend told us her daughter was a dispatcher at a local PD who was given a cat found on the roadside... that was Bracha and she was and is a definite blessing.


Shoshanna/Shoshi's name means Rose or Rosie and Mullaney got named for Tommy Mullaney from the old LA Law series. But he's a big wuss, really. LOL

[Double Take]

Java "eyeing" the sheep.


Java "fetching" the sheep to me. Fortunately they slow down before they run me over!

This is the last of my "kids". This is my new border collie, Java. I got her about 2 months ago after I lost my German Shepherd. She will be 5 years next month. By the way, those aren't my sheep. We go for herding lessons nearly every Sunday. I reckon that I am Java's 5th owner in as many years. She has a forever home with me.

Java has a cameo role in my next fanfic.

[California gal]

Lucky Java. Handsome dog!

[Apple]

Awww!! Pussers! I have a new puss, but she has been hiding since we brought her home 2 weeks ago. Wade decided that we should try to catch her and man did she get mad! She doesn't even venture to the top of the basement steps anymore. I tried to tell him, give her more time, but NOOOO. Her name is Darla and I can't wait for her to trust us enough again to come upstairs. I can't even take a picture of the silly girl. And I don't think she has met our doggie, Dora yet either.

[Double Take]

Darla is one lucky kitty to have someone care about her! She'll come round. I think cats get traumatized more than dogs when you take them to a new situation. Good luck with her. I look forward to seeing her picture when she is confident enough to show her pretty face.

[California gal]

Absolutely, Apple. Kitties need more time to acclimate and they are less trustful. Put her food out, talk to her gently, try not to make any loud noises or sudden movements, never grab her... she'll learn this is her new home.

I read somewhere that it can take as much as six months for a cat to really accept a new location. I know that with Brandy in particular, one day months after I adopted her I noticed a big change in her demeanor. She had been in several foster homes since she had been rescued and was not ready to accept that this was her forever home. Suddenly it was like she decided, hey, this is it! and she was more confident.

Hey, Darla is my sister-in-law's name! ;D

[Artiespet]

May 21, 2009 7:05:39 GMT -8 California gal said:

Absolutely, try not to make any loud noises or sudden movements,

ROTFL She has a houseful of KIDS ;D YOU go tell them no sudden movements lol

[Double Take]

Maybe that's why Darla kitty is in the basement! I keep my new cats in the bathroom until they settle down, but that sure ain't gonna work when you got kids!

[Apple]

She was in the laundry room, but it is next to the stair well and the furnace room is on the other side. She hides between the two. No, she would have been fine with the kids, but goober Wade wanted to try to trap her...Now she hates us! She doesn't even meow anymore. She just eats and hides and uses the litter pan and hides. Poor baby.

[California gal]

Give her time. Is she a kitten or a grown cat? Just continue to talk quietly with her, even sitting down nearby and talking for a few minutes. Throw her some treats and keep moving them closer and closer to you... if she wants them bad enough. Dangle a string. But above all, be very quiet and calm!

[Artiespet]

Yep those are good ideas CG! Also you can get her used to you by getting her some toys. To draw duke out I got him a collection of "mice" there were 12 in the pack and I put 2 out right away and then slowly added more until he was willing to come to me to get the last 2 or three of them.

[California gal]

My niece in Los Angeles has a pair of robins nesting almost right outside her front door. She watched them build the nest in a tree, lay their eggs, and then hatch them. She said that at first the robins were nervous, but seemed to get used to her comings and goings. At one point, the mama robin pulled a small branch over to try to block the view of the nest, but apparently snapped the twig so that it died, and the leaves withered, making the visible again. Lisa has to stop herself from watching them constantly when she's home--and worrying about them when she's not!

[Apple]

May 22, 2009 7:05:33 GMT -8 California gal said:

Give her time. Is she a kitten or a grown cat? Just continue to talk quietly with her, even sitting down nearby and talking for a few minutes. Throw her some treats and keep moving them closer and closer to you... if she wants them bad enough. Dangle a string. But above all, be very quiet and calm!

She's grown, and wild. The people we got her from found her wandering their neighborhood. They put her in her own bedroom so that she would be 'forced' to get to know them, and that's how we got to know her at first. Bringing her here was such a trauma for her. I tried one day with tuna fish...for about an hour. After I went back upstairs it took her about 15 minutes before she came out and ate it (I was doing laundry and new how much time had passed). We'll keep working on it.

[Double Take]

May 22, 2009 13:50:15 GMT -8 California gal said:

My niece in Los Angeles has a pair of robins nesting almost right outside her front door. She watched them build the nest in a tree, lay their eggs, and then hatch them. She said that at first the robins were nervous, but seemed to get used to her comings and goings. At one point, the mama robin pulled a small branch over to try to block the view of the nest, but apparently snapped the twig so that it died, and the leaves withered, making the visible again. Lisa has to stop herself from watching them constantly when she's home--and worrying about them when she's not!

Those are awesome pictures. I can understand your niece want to watch them all the time!

[California gal]

I have several birdfeeders in my back yard and draw finches, towhees, sparrows, the occasional robin, blackbirds, cowbirds, mourning doves, ringed turtledoves--and sometimes a hawk looking for a fast food outlet. Oh, and an occasional blue jay. But this morning I had a very unusual visitor.

I'm sure you've heard of the parrot colony in San Francisco. A documentary was made about it. We've had small colonies of escapees in this area as well. This is probably one of them.

[Paradox Eyes]

Budgie!! Oh he's so pretty! Just look at him...livin' the high life...wild and free! Good thing you have good weather in your area Cal Gal. I'm not thinking escapees fare too well in Michigan.

[California gal]

He's come back a few times, so I'm thinking he's realized he's found the birdie McD. I try to keep a variety of snacks out there for them, as well as watering holes/swimming pools. i don't care for blackbirds as a rule--they are so voracious--but they sure do love their baths. Splash water all over the place and are funny to watch.

I'm sure that birds in some states do not fare as well as those that escape in CA. There used to be a parrot colony a few blocks from where I used to live, and I'd see them in my neighborhood from time to time. Don't know if it's still there or not. Hadn't seen any in quite a while.

[Double Take]

May 26, 2009 14:43:17 GMT -8 California gal said:

He's come back a few times, so I'm thinking he's realized he's found the birdie McD. I try to keep a variety of snacks out there for them, as well as watering holes/swimming pools. i don't care for blackbirds as a rule--they are so voracious--but they sure do love their baths. Splash water all over the place and are funny to watch.

I'm sure that birds in some states do not fare as well as those that escape in CA. There used to be a parrot colony a few blocks from where I used to live, and I'd see them in my neighborhood from time to time. Don't know if it's still there or not. Hadn't seen any in quite a while.

I have a number of parrots, conures I think, that hang out in my pine trees. Boy, can they make a racket! They're fun to watch, though sometimes they are hard to spot in amongst the green pine needles.