I like cats. Period. I like them a lot.
I like domestic cats
I love wild cats, both big...
And small...
I like Siamese cats...
Bengals...
And cats with Tortoiseshell markings...although this one may be considered a calico...without seeing more of her body, it's difficult to tell with utmost certainty...
And cats with unusual markings are just awesome!
I care very much about cats and their welfare. I'm sure some of you will remember a few weeks back when I blogged about a lady who had two cats she was sure were purebred Siamese and she allowed them to breed. Well, it's happened again. On purpose, again. This time they had 5 kittens and things quickly fell apart after that on the message board.
But that's not what THIS post is about. THIS post is about me and my problem. I have a co-worker that I'm friends with. She is in another department and they're still at the other building so we communicate at work through emails and after work through Facebook and emails. She has cats. I have cats, but she HAS CATS. Like, 9, I think? She lives in a house and they're well-cared for and she's not a hoarder or anything. She just really likes cats. Anyway, in the past few months, she has lost two of her cats very unexpectedly and in recent weeks she has started looking at shelters online for potential new cats to add to her existing Glaring (a group of cats is a Glaring or a Clowder) and she started sending me names to look on the websites of ones she's interested in. Part of the problem, though, is the distance with which she's willing to travel to get them. She doesn't like to drive so she's missed out on ones that are further away than she wants to drive. So I told her I would drive her to whatever shelter the cat is at. I don't think she took me seriously at first. After all, why would I do something like that? Well, that's just the type of person I am. I think she's finally realizing I'm serious, though, but that's not the point here. The point is, when she gives me a name to check out, I have to look at the other cats. You know, to see what is available. I have 2 cats of my own, as stated earlier. I am very happy with my two cats. But...I still look. And look. And look. Whenever my co-worker gives me a name, I look at what shelter location it's at then look to see if one of the ones I'm interested at is at the same one or I will look for one at the same location. I can't help myself. Even when I'm petting Temecula, I tell myself I don't need another cat and that I should focus on making the lives of my 2 existing ones the best that I can. But then I look at the picture of Del Torro. He's the Bengal shown above. I've never seen a Bengal at a shelter and his adoption fee is low. A couple of shelters have Siamese cats, which are my "heart cat breed". That's kind of like a Heart Horse, but with a breed rather than a specific animal. And they all have tortoiseshells. When I lose a kitty, I don't tend to replicate the color with my next one. I've had 3 Domestic Shorthair cats with grey tabby markings, but none of them have been the same. CC had more of a brown tint. Chevy was grey and black. Abbie is grey and black, but has a lot of white, too. TW was all white and Temecula is white with black splotches. Royal was a ginger tabby so unless I find one someday that is orange and white or "red" and white, it's unlikely I would get another one like that. The only exception to my rule is tortoiseshell cats. I could have a whole clowder of them and they'd all look different. I had a tortie when I was younger. She was with us for close to 21 years. There's one shelter that has one and her name is the same as mine! She's named Brenda, too. And my work friend likes a couple of cats at that shelter. My brother has fond memories of our tortoiseshell so I doubt I'd have a hard time bringing her home and springing her on him. Besides, he's usually in his room and it'd likely be awhile before he even noticed her. My mom likes Siamese, too, and would "understand" when if I brought one home.
I guess if I took my work friend to a shelter, I could stay out in the waiting area so I wouldn't be tempted to adopt anything, but I think that would be difficult to do so I'm not sure what I'll do. I just wanted "voice" my situation. It helps getting it out there. Just like it helped to gripe to my work friend about the lady who has let her cats breed again. <sigh>
I think it's the heat. Yeah. It must be the heat.