That's extremely horrifying but I know back then people didn't give a rat's behind about the fact that animals can actually feel pain and do suffer when you inflict harm on them. Jarlaxle is right in saying he sounds rather like a psychopath doing that though. Aren't the telltale signs of serial killer psychopathy and sociopathy when a person starts off by intentionally inflicting pain and suffering on animals? Yeesh...
Kino has gotten so big now! He's already bigger than my female cat in size but he still seems lighter in weight. He's definitely going to be a big boy! I'll be taking some new pictures as soon as my camera phone charges! =D
Cats are great! I have had quite a few as pets over the years. I don't understand those who don't like them. There is nothing better than your cat snuggling up with you and purring. Dogs are different but just as lovable. I don't understand people who don't like either Dogs or Cats...To me they both contribute to one's life. Hope your Kino is giving you much enjoyment.
Yeah I never understood it either and owning two cats now I don't understand the dog vs cat debate. I grew up with dogs and so I am love them just as much as I do my cats. The two dogs I grew up and lived with are still with my mom and every time I visit they happily greet me at the door and I am always excited to see them. Sparky is the Beagle/Papillon mixed dog that I picked out from the pound when I was 16. He became one of our family's most beloved pets. I think people have a tendency to stereotype cats a lot too always saying they are mean and they scratch and bite everything. I have found these stereotypes to be so untrue and unfounded. My cats scratch things but this has been easily remedied with constantly assuring they know the scratching post is the only thing they can go to town on and play time is now more fun and less dangerous with nail caps, or brand name Soft Paws. http://www.softpaws.com/ It's the same with dogs. We had difficulties in trying to teach our old dog Buddy that is was not ok to just let loose and (*)(*)(*)(*) all over the side of the beds or on the carpet and then our other dogs would smell the scent and try to mark their territory over it too. So I think dogs and cats both have their downsides but all the good things about them really outweigh that. They are just such loving companions I cannot imagine living my life without them. =) I really am enjoying Kino's company as he gets older. He's really growing on me with his unique personality and his snuggliness. While Rikku, my female is less 'snuggly', she is still just as quirky and adorable in her own way. She comes into the bedroom every morning at about 9 o'clock and puts a paw on my back and meows, "Mom! It's time to get up." It's just too cute. lol
I had a cat that I taught NOT to put its claws out when playing with me using my hands. I know most people won't believe that but it is true. When I was a kid, our cat "Freddie" was an inside/outside cat. We never had to have a cat-box. He just learned to go to the door when he had to go. Where I live now, cats are delicacies for the coyotes and other predators that live in the forest and I don't like cat-boxes so I don't have a cat.
Disregard this if you already know this. Orange Tabby's are very prone to kidney problems. They are sensitive to the Magnesium and Manganese in their food, so get only a good high quality food low in those two minerals. I had to say goodbye to my Morris lookin cat at age 8, kidney failure.
Wow I did not know that. Thank you for telling me! I will have to make sure my boy gets all the proper nutrients now.
I got both cats in March 1980, my EX adopted them and just dumped them when she left. They were my lil buddies. Abe the Tabby died in 1988, that's when the vet told me about the kidneys and the food. The other cat (pictured below) was Zbigniew after Zbigniew Brezinski President Jimmy Carter's National Security Adviser, the cat was as goofy as that guy. However, the name changed when one night friends and I were drinking and playing poker, the cat jumped up on the coffee table and proceeded to finish the last of some Jack Daniels in a shot glass. A friend pointed and said "Look he's taking a swig". He became Mr. Swig forever after. I never let him do that again. That was the lovingest animal I ever owned. He just had to have his attention and wouldn't sleep till he was up against me somehow. He lived 19 years 7 months. His thyroid was giving out among other things and he was just miserable. Dec 1999, it was time. I held him in my arms when the Vet gave him the shot, I didn't want him to be scared. I'm 55 and that still is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life.
Alright time for an update on the kitties. Kino has gotten HUGE since I got him several months ago. He's so handsome though, long tail, soft fluffy fur, he's very healthy! And Rikku is still the same size as usual and the same adorable little attention seeking girl she ever was. =) I'm excited though! We're moving into a new apartment at the end of July and it's a two bedroom, one bath apartment. It's really nice and it'll be so much bigger than the tiny little hotel converted apartment we're in now. The pet deposit is $250 though for one pet, so it'll be $500 just for the two cats! Holy cow! One of the pet deposits is refundable however, so we'll get $250 back along with our general deposit if we choose to move again at the end of our lease. Still it's worth it. I can't imagine separating from my babies!
Well, it started when our old cat died. I had cat food left over. Then, this beautiful, almost pure black cat walked out of the woods, sat down in our driveway, and looked at me, so I fed it. A few weeks later, she walked out with a kitten in tow, so I fed that too. Then, she got pregnant again, I caught the kittens (3) and THEY now live in the house. That was about 6-7 years ago. Mom & the kitten still live in my yard, along with another cat who just sort of showed up. All, by the way, have been fixed and, twice a day, are out waiting for their food. Then, other animals discovered the cat food & I think I'm feeding half the animals in the state, to include a few deer who have discovered that I'm good for periodic seed blocks & etc. When I go shopping, the people at the store ask me JUST HOW MANY ANIMALS DO YOU HAVE? I don't begrudge the expense or effort because they all are fun to watch although one of the indoor cats always wants to help me read in bed & checks things out when I take all the pills the medical mechanics want me to take. My yard is now a certified wildlife habitat & my grandson, when he comes to visit, always wants to help me feed the animals, which is also fun. I wonder if I could get away with taking the furry & feathered bandits off my taxes. I also send checks each month to the two animal rescue organizations who helped me catch the ferals & get them fixed.
That's really cool. My grandparents had two desert tortoises living in their back yard and they would come out every spring and summer looking for food. Sometimes the one we called Rocky (the other was E.T.) would even try to crawl through the doggy door to let everyone know he was there and ready to pick up his food via 'drive thru' lol! We would go over to grandma and grandpa's and they'd give us a big chunk of lettuce which we would set in front of the tortoises and watch them chow down. It was nice and I'll always have those fond memories. I'm sure you're grandson and any other grandchildren you share this experience with will always remember and look back on how much fun they had with you. =)
When my grandson first came to visit (after my health prevented me from going to visit them) we fed the animals. Now, whenever the subject of visiting grandpa comes up, he wants to leave at once & feed the critters. The deer are fun to watch although I'm often in bed by the time they show up.
I just want to say thank you to you all for sharing your pets (and their photos). Apart from the psychopath who cruelly drowned those kittens, this has been an uplifting thread. I love most animals, but especially cats and dogs, and it is so nice to hear about love instead of political and national criticism and distrust. Thanks!
If you have any awesome animal experiences feel free to share them. ^_^ When I was a kid (see my avi! lol) my parents and I used to go camping all the time. My dad bought a bunch of nuts and sunflower seeds and I took them and covered a tree stump with the nuts and seeds in a heart shape. I waited and waited and finally a couple of squirrels came running down the trees and started to eat and gather the nuts and seeds. I was so excited about it of course they ran away the minute I tried to get close. I also caught a big bullfrog on one of these camping trips which I was so intent on keeping, I put it inside a bucket with dirt, sticks, and leaves and covered it with foil and poked holes in the top. The next morning the frog was gone, now that I look back I think my parents let it go, but they told me that it must have gotten out. lol I guess mom wasn't too thrilled about the idea of keeping a pet bullfrog in the house. xD
Once had a similar experience with a garter snake. I was at my grandparents' place for some kind of holiday get-together, and I'd found the thing and put it in a bucket to try and take home. I think I'd gone to try and find a lid for it, and one of my cousins was supposed to be watching it (at least in my mind). I got back to find it was gone. I had the poor kid (about my age) in tears, as I recall, I was so mad about it. Never did find it again.
Haha I accidentally did this to a neighbor kid. He caught one of those common gray lizards and had put it in a plastic cage and had a little habitat for it and everything. I don't know why but we were outside with it and I convinced him to let me hold it. Needless to say that lizard was two seconds in my hands and a half a second later on the wall and running away, he got his one chance at freedom and took it. That kid was so mad at me forever. His mom was my babysitter too and she was a nasty mean (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)...so when he went and told her and she scolded me over the whole thing, we were like 5 years old. lol
