Fun Monday - Meet the GrrAnimals.

Previous visitors will know that I couldn't resist this Fun Monday!! Lisa has requested that we discuss our Animals. For goodness' sake, I have a category devoted to my brood of cats.

In my photos stored on my computer, I have a folder titled, "Animals". I have had my computer about 2 years. It has 209 photos currently. I have many more in my boxes of photos and I am sure that I deleted many, many outtakes, as well. I love my pets.

I have always had pets. Growing up, we had both dogs and cats. A Doberman that dragged me around the backyard by my hair, while I squealed with delight, Ms. Kitty who gave me my very first pet that was "mine". Fridgie. Named after Refrigerator Perry. Hamsters. Rats. A few fish.

I have always had cats though, more than any other type of pet.

Out of my 3 felines, I have had Yoda the longest.
I got her from a co-worker, in 2001, as a kitten.

I called her Yoda, because the night I brought her home, my other cat that I do not have any longer, was in her face, not being too welcoming. Scared as could be, Yoda's little ears were off to the side, just like her namesake. I had no intention on calling her Yoda forever, but nothing else really worked out and she was stuck as Yoda.
I adopted Cassie a year or so later. She is a manx. (Just a stubby little tail.)
Cass was a stray that had lived in my apartment complex for years. I adopted her as she was the sweetest cat. Calm, loving, gentle as can be. I found it especially surprising that she is so trusting, after I found a pellet lodged along her back. Apparently, someone shot her with a pellet gun. The pellet can be felt just along her spine. The vet has recommended that it remain, as it seems to be causing no problem and the danger associated with removing it outweighs any benefit.

She received her name because of her,...um...reproductive tendencies. She had several litters while living as a stray in this complex. Mama Cass.

After adopting her, I had her spayed. I dropped her off at the vet that morning, and had an extremely busy day at work. Around noon, I checked my voicemail. The vet had called and asked me to return her call asap, as they had found something interesting when they shaved her down, in preparation for the surgery. They couldn't reach me...and since they had her sedated, they proceeded with the surgery. Turns out...someone had her spayed while she was still a stray! She obviously was loved around that complex! So, Poor Cass was spayed twice.
Cass spent the last few months with my non-pet loving parents, while my living arrangements were....less than optimal for 3 cats. They absolutely adored her.

They also provided her with a new nickname. Cass is extremely lazy. She is the epitome of the Lazy Cat. However, every couple of days, she flips. She sprints around the house, nearly in circles. She doesn't really run...she is more like a rabbit, hopping instead of running. She is noisy. Ridiculously loud in these Buffalo Stomps. Hence, she is now referred to as Buffalo by my parents. (Her style of running is common in Manx cats, more hopping than strides. Read the wiki page for more details.)

I am not sure she likes the nickname.

Kitten's history has been publicized on this blog as I just adopted her recently. You can read about her story here, here, and here.

Although for some darned cute pics, I truly recommend you check out the whole Shameless Promotion of Cats category.

She was a dumpster kitty, found in my apartment complex. She had an icky illness, that had completely gooed up her eyes, causing her to be nearly blinded and apparently she strayed from her littermates where she was luckily found due to her screeching meow, by my Love.


We took her in, not sure if we would keep her as we already had 2 cats. I was about to go live in a hotel for 2 months, where, due to His work schedule, I would need to take the cats with me. However, once you take something in, once you spend money on it, once you wipe its ass, once you name it (4 names and counting), it is yours.

I denied it for awhile, still do sometimes, but that cat is ours. She is staying. Although the naming process isn't going well... She is nearly full-grown now and her name remains Kitten. She has previously been known as Lydia, Sophie and Chloe.

My cats don't particularly like each other. They tolerate each other. They fight sometimes. They have never been caught curled up sleeping together. If I see them relaxed, within a close proximity, my camera is quickly retrieved.




Here are the only 2 pics I have with all 3 cats present.


Don't they appear happy....

My cats are part of my family. I love them. I buy them gifts. I coddle them. And while they are cats, who frequently walk away, turn their back to me and outright ignore my existence, they also greet me at the front door, jump on the bed as soon as my eyes open, and follow me around. I can't imagine a life without pets, and I am glad these 3 found me.