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#Post#: 3843--------------------------------------------------
New Pets
By: Jack Date: February 17, 2018, 7:49 am
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Last year, I lost two cats. Both Cepo (the Russian Gray that
moved in with Mickey and Van) and Bagheera passed. We're not
sure how old Cepo was when he moved in with us, but we think he
was about as old as Van or a bit more. That's not ancient for a
cat, but it's still a pretty good run. Bagheera was older than
that. Bagheera was at least part Siamese (very distinctive
voice), but we don't know what else. He had had some health
problems a couple of years ago, when Shere Khan had passed away.
I brought the two of them into the house at the same time, when
they were both 3 to 4 months old. They'd been together for about
15 years, and Bagheera was devastated when his partner was gone.
That's when we found out that, for all his aggression and
dominance, Fido is also very empathetic. He spent a lot of time
and gave a lot of attention to Bagheera, until Baggy started
eating and moving around again.
Of course, we knew Cepo was getting old, so when I got Fido and
Sheeba, and Spin and Marty, and Ozzy, I also got Chekov - a new
Russian Gray (named for Star Trek, not the author). While
Mickey's at college now, and Cepo always seemed more attached to
Mick than Van, I think having Chekov around did help Van a lot.
And now, here we are again - I have six new boys - the Marsh
boys, Zeke, and Kaden, since we last got animals. While I think
C&C are a little young, I can't help remembering that the twins
were younger when we got Lady and Prince. C&C are very attached
to Lady and Prince, but those two are both nearly 14, which is
pretty old for Retrievers (Labs are 14, and Golden's are
actually only 12).
While we do have a lot of pets, I have been able to get special
permission to have a lot - because of the size of my house and
yard, the number of kids I have, and because caring for them is
not a financial hardship for me.
David Katz has recommended Guinea Pigs. They seem like a good
selection, but they do tend to have a short lifespan. They
might be good for Liam and Kaden, though.
I've considered rabbits, but I'm afraid that everyone would
expect another Fido, and I'm pretty sure that Fido is a once in
a lifetime type guy. I don't want someone to get their new
friend and be disappointed.
Fur bearing animals are illegal as pets in Texas, which removes
raccoons and foxes from the running.
Except for Liam (and maybe Kaden), I think the boys would prefer
someone who could be played and interacted with, rather than
something like a lizard or bird or fish.
Which brings us back to cats and dogs.
I've been thinking about this for a while, but especially since
Kaden had his breakdown the other night. I think I started
really considering it when I was first home from the hospital.
At that point, I realized that, while Sheeba may come to me for
food, she's really more a family cat - she'll go to anyone for
attention or playtime. I honestly miss having a cat who'll
settle down and read with me.
Let me mention that I've discussed this with my adult kids.
They were all raised around cats, and they know how I feel (most
of them have similar feelings, even if they're more dog than cat
persons).
Well, last night, it turns out Steve and Belle had an early
birthday present for me. When I arrived home from our showing
of Black Panther, they presented me with a couple of black
panthers of my own - two 13 week old Bombay kittens:
HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64uA_yxE8b4
I haven't named them yet, but I can already tell you that I'm in
love.
#Post#: 3844--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Pets
By: Adric Date: February 17, 2018, 8:09 am
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[quote author=Jack link=topic=405.msg3843#msg3843
date=1518875374]
C&C are very attached to C&C, ...
Fur bearing animals are illegal as pets in Texas, which removes
raccoons and foxes from the running.
[/quote]
I know kids that age are into themselves, but still ... :D
I'm a little confused. Don't all of your pets bear fur? What's
the difference?
#Post#: 3845--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Pets
By: Leti Date: February 17, 2018, 8:18 am
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:D Great news, kittens are always fun!
Congratulations on your new furry babies !
Hugs
Leti
#Post#: 3848--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Pets
By: db105 Date: February 17, 2018, 10:12 am
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That's amazing (Fido comforting Bagheera). I agree he's a one in
a lifetime kind of rabbit.
Those kittens sound very nice, I'm sure the younger kids are in
love too :)
One question, since you have experience with cars and dogs:
aren't dogs more likely to want to play with children, while
cats tend to prefer to do their own thing?
#Post#: 3851--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Pets
By: kalico Date: February 17, 2018, 11:34 am
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Awww that was sweet of Steve and belle ...... enjoy your new fur
babies
My little found a mostly black but has some white kitten this
summer and it was suppose to be my 16 year old daughters but
when it started getting bigger and able to get into her stuff
and destroy things like makeup she kicked it out of her room so
now I have the baby but that's ok he's a cutie and very playful
....
They can be very therapeutic for us...
Hugs kal
#Post#: 3856--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Pets
By: Jack Date: February 17, 2018, 1:15 pm
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[quote author=Adric link=topic=405.msg3844#msg3844
date=1518876595]
I know kids that age are into themselves, but still ... :D
I'm a little confused. Don't all of your pets bear fur? What's
the difference?
[/quote]
Yeah - C&C are attached to Lady and Prince - our older
Retrievers - I changed it in the original post for future
readers.
I think the term they used referred to animals who are part of
the fur trade, not any animals with fur at all.
[quote author=db105 link=topic=405.msg3848#msg3848
date=1518883931]
One question, since you have experience with cars and dogs:
aren't dogs more likely to want to play with children, while
cats tend to prefer to do their own thing?
[/quote]
In general, that's true. There are some cats who are more
social than others. Sheeba and Ozzy are both very playful, and
the boys do enjoy playing with them, though they don't wrestle
as much as some of the big boys do.
[quote author=kalico link=topic=405.msg3851#msg3851
date=1518888893]
My little found a mostly black but has some white kitten this
summer and it was suppose to be my 16 year old daughters but
when it started getting bigger and able to get into her stuff
and destroy things like makeup she kicked it out of her room so
now I have the baby but that's ok he's a cutie and very playful
....
[/quote]
Kal, my friends had a full-breed Siamese who escaped and mated
wild. She had a liter of six. three of them were born pure
white, and later developed Siamese colors, while another was
born pure black (except about 5 white hairs on his chest). I
adopted the black one and one of the whites and had them from
about '88 to '02 or '03.
#Post#: 3857--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Pets
By: Zyngaru Date: February 17, 2018, 1:28 pm
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So since they are Bombay cats, are you considering Hindu God and
Goddess names? I mean you already used all the good Mowgli
names.
Tendua is the Hindi name for leopard which also includes a Black
Panther, which is a leopard. Actually Black Panther is a common
term for any big black cat. (According to Wikipedia)
Keimu means black panther in the Meeteilon language of Manipuri
in northeastern India (kei= tiger, mu= black).
#Post#: 3858--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Pets
By: David M. Katz Date: February 17, 2018, 2:58 pm
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[quote author=Zyngaru link=topic=405.msg3857#msg3857
date=1518895712]
So since they are Bombay cats, are you considering Hindu God and
Goddess names? I mean you already used all the good Mowgli
names.
Tendua is the Hindi name for leopard which also includes a Black
Panther, which is a leopard. Actually Black Panther is a common
term for any big black cat. (According to Wikipedia)
Keimu means black panther in the Meeteilon language of Manipuri
in northeastern India (kei= tiger, mu= black).
[/quote]
Your analysis went a lot deeper than mine, Z. I came up with
the very original names of Midnight and Shadow. ;D :P
----------------------
Jack, will Kaden become the primary caregiver for one of the new
kittens?
Congrats on the new babies!
#Post#: 3861--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Pets
By: Jack Date: February 17, 2018, 3:34 pm
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Jack will be the primary care givers for both of the new family
members - if they except him.
In the meantime, Van and I will be seeing how well Bombay cats
can be clicker trained, and we'll be training Kaden in the
technique at the same time.
Their names are Ebony and Onyx.
#Post#: 3863--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Pets
By: David M. Katz Date: February 17, 2018, 4:55 pm
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[quote author=Jack link=topic=405.msg3861#msg3861
date=1518903258]
Their names are Ebony and Onyx.
[/quote]
I approve. ;D (Because I know you were needing my approval.
:P )
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