Conference misery::feline

You know, Lynne, you're experiencing something I've always believed in.....
we don't find cats; they find us!  I know just how you feel, cause I'm
owned by 3 of my 7.  It's hard to describe, but there is just this certain
bond that only that very special cat can build...and you can't begin to
weave that...it's something only they can do.

Good luck with Nique--sounds like she needs you as much as you need her!

Mary

    All my kitties are special in there own way...but I do understand
    what you mean about that "real special" kitty.   I lost my special
    kitty Tamba last October...and I still miss him terribly.  Tamba
    was my big baby and I swear he lived for me!!
    
    But Van Gogh has turned into another special kitty...he just sits
    and stares at me with so much love in his eyes. He actually looks
    so excited when he see me...follows me everywhere...and cries like
    a baby if I leave him alone with Ernie!!
    
    Dewey is another special kitty too and I think that is because we
    saved him from the streets of Worcester where he was on his deathbed!
    He just appreciates both Ernie and I so much....and gives us both
    unconditional love!!!
    
    Sandy and all her special kitties!!
    
    
    
    
    

	I know what you mean too, Lynne.  C.C. is definitely *my* cat,
	although she loves Andy too.  This is why I get so crazy when
	she gets sick - I'm really afraid to lose her.  This is a cat
	who *talks* to me, in her own way of course :^}  I always know
	what she wants, and she usually knows what I want (even when
	she ignores me).  She sleeps on my pillow, rides on my
	shoulders or sits on my lap when I watch tv.  If I leave some
	of my clothes on the bed during the day, she'll sleep there -
	we can see the C.C.-shaped depression that she leaves.

	Sandy (& C.C.)

    "True Love" can happen more than once...
    
    My hub has often told me about his beloved "Ponch".
    
    Leigh had gone to the local Animal Shelter, looking for a cat.  When he
    was looking around, he backed into a cage, and the cat inside started
    to purr and tap him on the arm.  Leigh told the cat that if the cat
    remembered him the next time he was there, he had a home.
    
    A few days later, he returned.  All of the cats were out in the run
    area, when this one cat suddenly comes flying across the playfield,
    stopping in front of Leigh, purring and meowing.
    
    Leigh and Ponch became partners, and stayed together until Ponch was
    brutally murdered by a neighbor who just "didn't like" Leigh...he put
    ground glass in Ponch's food.
    
    It was about 2 or 3 years later when he got Tiki, who also made no
    secret that he was Leigh's (or that Leigh was his).
    
    Rico is MY love.  For the longest time he wouldn't even go near anyone
    else (and I mean ANYONE)...only me.
    
    For a while it looked like Alex was going to "own" Leigh, but lately
    she has been snuggling to us equally - she owns BOTH of us!
    
    K.C.

    My Blaiser was a "Special Kitty" --  I always thought that animals
    bonded to the person who feeds them, but Blaise was definitely attached
    to me even though my roommate fed him every morning.
    
    He always had to be near me, touching me with his tail or a foot if not
    actually sitting in my lap or on my shoulder (imagine a 17lb-er sitting
    on your shoulder! -- That was one great balancing act! :^)  He would go
    to bed with me at night and get up at the same time in the morning,
    then wait for me while I showered, and he'd lay in the bathroom sink 
    while I got ready for work. (Pssst! Don't tell my roommate -- the bathroom
    counters were supposed to be off-limits to furfaces, but he was soooo
    cute! ;^)
    
    And he definitely did not like anybody who wasn't a regular visitor to
    our household.
    
    I was absolutely heart-broken when I had to find another home for him!
    
    --Michelle who-hopes-she-can-find-another-Special-one

    I lost my special cat, Kalliste,  a year ago on January 4th.  I still 
    grieve for him.  I have a sad feeling that I will never know another
    bond as special as the one Kalliste and I shared.  Here it is 16 months
    later and I still cry when I write about him.  I think a part of me is
    afraid to love that deeply again, for fear of suffering an equally
    great loss in the future.  Sad but true.
    
    Anyway, many of you that have visited me at shows may have noticed a
    large piece of rose quartz that sits on top of my cats cage, next to a
    picture of Kalliste.  This stone was given to me by Marlene, and it
    signifies the special bond I had with Kalliste, and I hope that it
    protects me and my cats from another great loss.  I am putting a lot of
    faith in that piece of rose quartz!  And, it is comforting to me to see
    it there.
    
    Recently Ken gave me a beautiful rose quartz crystal that hangs on a
    long silver chain around my neck.  When I get upset I just hold this
    stone and think of Kalliste.  It is soothing.
    
    Jo  

    I am owned by Smokey and we are devoted to each other. It *is* love.
    Nat

    Re. .0
    
         I always knew that Nique was "special"; the way she hung around
    DLB12 even after she was "evicted" and the way she'd come running up to
    me whenever I was outside.  If only I could get my hands on her former
    "owner", who dumped this preggo kitty ...
    
         That special bond comes only when the "chemistry" is just right
    between kitty and owner.  I've been lucky to have had 3 of those bonds
    (out of 5 kitties) ...
    
    					- Andrea

    Ah, yes.  Those special bonds.  I am one of the fortunate ones.  I am
    the *special* person of 2 cats - going on 3 - of the five cats I have.
    
    White Lightning will not let anyone alse touch her or hold her.  She is
    my lap kitty and helps me to watch tv each night.  I am the one that
    gets the ankles rubbed (good for the arthritus) and the white fur all
    over her clothes.
    
    Black Thunder is very special.  My friend calls her the $5 million
    dollar cat.  When Thunder was very sick, I spent a fortune on her to
    get her well.  She gives so much love in return that I never question
    the money.  She is my cat.  She sleeps with me, plays with me, and
    greets me at the door.
    
    Black Beauty had chosen my daughter but I notice that is changing.  He
    follows me into the bathroom, sleeps with me and follows me around
    outside like a puppy-dog.  He waits for me at the neighbors door,
    crying all the time until I come back out.
    
    DejaVu and Patches have chosen my daughter and that is OK.  I still
    love them anyway.....

Yes, I know that bond all too well.  Sweetie and Pima have both
bonded themselves to my mother.  Michaela had DEFINITELY bonded with
mom!  She used to sleep with her every night, she had HER side of the
bed! (-:  And whenever my mother used to cal "micki mikci micki" 
Michaela would come running from no matter where she was in the 
house!

Kyra has bonded with me.  I am HER person!  She sleeps with me every
night.  Many times she'll wiggle her way into my arms in the middle
of the night just so that I'll hold her while I'm sleeping!  She
is SO cute!

Silver has also bonded as my cat.  Although she doesn't sleep with me
(she sleeps in the cattery with Tabitha and Pita) I am still "hers".
She will jump up in my arms when I come home at night and just sit there
and PURRR!

What's really funny is that two of the three old ladies (Honey and Marni)
have bonded to my fiance!  He only comes over on the weekends and is only
there for a short time, but she ALWAYS know when he's in the house!  the
come running (as fast as a 14 and 15 year old cat can run (-:) to meet
him at the door!  It is SO cute!!  He was squatting down to pet Honey one 
time and she climbed up into his "lap" (actually, just onto his leg).
It was SO cute!

Holly

    Pearl is definately her Daddy's girl, even tho' thechnically she is my
    cat.  Every time he sits on the couch, she comes running over and jumps
    on his lap(love that belly!) And when he lays down on the floor she
    loves to sit on his chest.  Her favorite tho' is to sit on his back
    while he is bent over at the waist. He does this, leaning on the
    bathroom counter to floss his teeth.  Pearlie stares at this the whole
    time, probably wondering what the heck he's doing!
    
    Now Zeno, who is really Dave's cat, is a momma's boy.  He is such an
    angel, and loves to sit with me on the couch when I'm reading or
    watching TV.
    
    they do get fickle tho' sometimes and love on the other parent.  Pearl
    and I have a special bond, I swear I can look in her eyes and know what
    she is thinking.  And Zeno loves his Daddy too.  
    They both sleep at the foot of the bed, between our legs so we can't
    roll over without disturbing them.
    
    shannon

    With my five, none have their preferences toward either Dana or I.
    
    Herbie loves whoever is eating at the time, or whoever is opening the
    cat food.  He isn't picky, as long as he gets fed!
    
    Taja loves whoever is willing to give him attention.  Although he likes
    the company of the other cats, when we are home, he prefers to be with
    us always, and if we leave a room he is right on our butt following.
    
    Kelsey is pretty much a loner as a rule, but he is definitely more my
    cat than Dana's.  We share a very special bond.
    
    TK loves whoever will pet him the longest, and Nikki is the same way. 
    They much prefer each other over their people, probably a learned
    behavior from being former feral "pack" cats.
    
    -Roe
    

when Hannah was dropped off at our house by friends who had had a miserable
weekend with her - she was hissing and biting at any attempt at contact - I
was warned that she was vicious and could not be tamed....I was prepared to
allow her to live without my bothering her if that is what she chose, however,
she immediately decided I was hers.  She follows me everywhere, allows me to
do most anything I feel I must - with a gentle nip or hiss to display her
unhappiness sometimes, but no real animosity - and lays at my feet, watching
the doorway all night in order to "protect" me.  She accepts any cat I 
bring home - and is obviously a contented house cat.

I had no choice in this...I think that when a cat decides you are her/his
true person, there is no control from the human - it is a matter for cats
to decide alone.

    Percy is my *special* cat. He was soft and cuddly and loved to really
    spread out when he sat on my lap. He always announced himself when he
    came back into the house and sometimes would just shout for the hell of
    it! I didn't realise how much I loved him until he wasn't there
    anymore. I think about him most days. Still miss him.
    
    He was special to me and I wish I could see him again.
    
    We have three cats now. Pookie who is Percy's sister, Rolf who loves to
    spread out and be cuddled and Florence who loves to shout. They've all
    got a bit of Percy and I love them. They are all special.
    
    Lisa plus PR&F.
    

    After being owned by Ting for 17 years I never thought that I would
    recapture that "special" feeling, that certain bonding.
    
    Well, all three of mine are special but Pippin is the one that breaks
    my heart.  I somtimes get tears in my eyes just looking at her - she's
    my cat - she follows me every where - she covers me with kisses and
    gives me constant head butts, when I hold her and talk to her (about
    anything) she looks at and listens with total understanding - whenever
    she runs towards me her tail is always straight up and she plays
    peek-a-boo with me when I'm in another room.  She has completely stolen
    my heart.
    
    Gino is my baby boy and we have a special something between us but he's
    more of a loaner.
    
    Stitch and I love each other to death but he's really more Richard's
    cat.
    
    Giudi

    Amelia has always been the kitty that I had a special bond with.  
    Bailey is sweet and loving when she wants to be.  Carrie has her
    moments too, but, Amelia has always followed me around, loved me
    when I was hurting and, in general, must be touching me or sitting next
    to me at any given moment.  I never thought I'd feel about another
    cat the way I feel about Amelia.  The thought that at some future
    time in my life she may have to leave me is almost overwhelming.
    
    Last summer I took in a litter of feral cats.  I decided to keep
    one and named him Onyx.  He follows me all over the house and
    is very demanding of my attention.  Amelia doesn't like him.  I
    think she feels like he is taking her place in my life.  I felt
    terribly guilty at first as if I was favoring him over her.  I 
    have to make a conscious effort to give her just a little more 
    attention than I give him every single day (if that is possible
    since he's practically glued to me).  She is coming around though.  
    She has begun to sleep on the bed again (although not on top of my 
    legs like before).  And I even find her climbing into my lap to knead 
    my stomach when Onyx is laying on the couch right next to me.  This 
    is incredible progress since she usually doesn't want to be anywhere
    near him (and it only took a year).  I feel like our special bond is 
    strengthening again.
    
    It is funny though because I feel as if all my cats are beginning to
    become a feline family.  Onyx's presence in the family has been a
    difficult thing for them.  The hierarchy has been in a state of flux
    for some time.  It appears now that things are settling down and that
    Amelia has managed to retain her top cat position with Bailey still
    battling for second.  I'm not sure exactly who is in third; some days
    it seems like it is Onyx, others it looks like it is Carrie.  But as
    the dust settles, everyone seems to be more comfortable and loving and
    I'm getting lots of kitty attention.  I'm even getting more attention
    from Bailey who has made it into the bedroom for the last two nights 
    to groom my forearms before I fell asleep.
    
    Jan

    Jan,
    Where have you been?  I missed you at the Turlock show and I haven't
    seen your name in here for a while.
    
    Are you going to the San Jose show this weekend?
    
    --Michelle  :^)
    

    Misty is that *special* cat with that special bond.  She really seems
    to understand what I said to her.  She will maintain eye contract with
    me for a long time.  She is usually wherever I am.  She comes when I
    call her.  She curls around my head on the pillow and kneads in my
    hair.  She talks to me and I respond in her language.  Bob watches our
    interaction and comments often, that she loves me so much.  She not
    thrilled about sharing my lap with another cat but usually will unless
    it's Lizette, then she'll push Lizette away.  
    
    One evening, I had 2 cats on my lap when Misty came in and looking for
    a place to sit on me.  Seeing none, she started to walk out of the
    room.  I called to her and said "Why don't you sit on Daddy's lap, no
    one is there."  She came back, and jumped right on Bob's lap.  Bob and
    I just stared at each other amazed.
    
    Misty gives me kisses, reaches out a paw to touch me when she wants
    attention, and is one of the gentlest cats with people.  She usually is
    late coming downstairs to greet us when we come home.  So I'll go up to
    find her, (in her bed) and give her a kiss and her own private
    greeting.  I feel like I'm paying homage to the Queen. ;-)
    
    Lizette has bonded more to me also.  No where near as much as Misty,
    but when Lizzie wants to snuggle, it's with me.  She just curls up and
    makes bread.  I find her asleep next to me in the morning.
    
    Bob is still waiting for one of the cats to pick him as their person. 
    Misha is Bob's special cat, but Mish spreads his love around both of
    us.  He and Misty usually end up sleeping between us or on poor Bob's
    legs.
    
    Each cat is special in their own way.  Aren't they all marvelous?
    
    Steffi
    
    Steffi

    Michelle, 
    
    I didn't enter Turlock and I've been a little busy recently so haven't
    been actively noting too much.
    
    I just put a note in the Brag topic about this weekend.  I had planned
    to be there but there weren't enough HHP's so they returned my entry.
    I think I'll go on Saturday and just hang around for the day anyway.
    
    Jan

    I've got Cleo, who is the light of my life.  I'll never forget the day
    we bonded.  I had just woke up and Adonis was curled up next to my
    head, but I couldn't see Cleo (she was about 5 months old then).  I
    threw back the covers and there she was, stretched out on her side,
    right up against me, sound asleep.  She became *my* cat at that moment. 
    I would never give her up, never.  She has so much personality, it's
    like living with another person.
    
    Katie decided as a kitten that she never wanted to leave me.  When
    people came to look at my litter, she would hide between the wall and
    the refrigerator.  She just made up her mind that she wasn't ever
    leaving, period.  
    
    Skeeter and Alex are very special too, I have different relationships
    with both of them.  All of us are bonded tightly, for me it feels like
    a family.  I would be hard pressed to give any of my guys up, ever.  I
    hope I never have to make that kind of decision.
    
    Karen

    All three of my cats are "mine", but there's nothing like Benjamin. 
    He's ALL mine.  He sleeps at my head, follows me around, and comes like
    a dog when I call/whistle for him outside.  If during the night I get
    up to check on my daughter for one reason or another, Ben will come
    along about 5 minutes later if I have not returned.  He goes where I go
    and I love (almost) every minute of it.
    
    Mary
    

    Kali Mutu spread her love and attention to both Peter and me, on her
    terms.  As long as you were petting her, having a conversation (and she
    always had to have the last word, even if it was a grunt!), sitting
    next to her, she was a very happy lady.  Her eyes would soften when she
    looked at you, and she loved us both.  She had a wonderful vocabulary -
    not your typical Siamese "waaa" - which included grunts, squeaks, and
    she could talk when purring, talk when eating, talk while washing, etc. 
    You always knew what was going on with Mutu.
    
    I am definitely Munch's human!  He's a remarkable, tough old kitty!  He
    tells me when something is wrong.  If his sugars are out of wack (due to
    his diabetes), he meows when he's getting a drink of water, as if to say, 
    "Mom, I'm drinking again".  If he doesn't feel well, he gets scruffy at 
    the drop of a hat!  If his arthritis is kicking up, he limps more and
    looks at me/Peter with this expression of disgust that we're not
    mind-readers. He tells me when he's going to and coming from the
    pan, when he's eating - even talks with his mouth full, sounds like
    he's under water!.  He's become a geriatric brat!  Peter and I have
    a degree in "Munchkin-ese"!     
    
    He tries to get me to go to sleep at 10 p.m.  He's the 3rd generation
    (of 4) that my mother-in-law started breeding in 1960.  His grandmother 
    and mother got their humans to sleep at 10 p.m., and his daughter does 
    too!  Talk about genetics!!  Who said that cats can't tell time?!  He
    is a cuddler, especially the first thing in the morning and when you
    first get into bed, and I don't know how I will go to sleep without
    Munch either curled up in my arms or on my head!  One Christmas, Peter
    and the cats went to his folks earlier than I could get away.  I had to
    borrow a teddy bear to cuddle or else I couldn't get to sleep!  
    
    I don't ever remember being this attached to a cat, and my family has
    always had cats, so I grew up with them.  But, Munch is equally
    attached to Peter and me, but I am completely "his"!
    
    

 equal time demands:

I have always sorta taken in cats/kitten with special needs...until I met
Jo Cordes-Brown and her Birmans.  I just had to have one of the kittens she
breeds.  However, I also had to pass inspection for the toughest breeder in
the world...I mean, she doesn't give out her kittens to anyone unless the
kitten really wants to go...with THAT person.  So I went to meet the litter
from which might come the kitten for which I MIGHT be considered a suitable 
person with some trepidation....the minute I walked into the room, this
incredibly bright-eyed blue-point female ran up to me and plopped down 
leaning against me.  And so I met Dilly.  Dilly decided right then that I
would do quite nicely - I looked trainable, and showed some dexterity with
the toys so I had possibilities.  As far as she was concerned, the decision
was made.  She is my kitten - although she is over a year old, she still
waits for me each evening with her toy so we can have a rousing game of
"catch the flying mousy"...and each night she sleeps next to me on her
own pillow - after some "monster under the blanket" before bed.  She and
Hannah get along famously, and Dilly even has privileges in the Sacred
Bathroom - no other cat is so welcomed.  

This fluffy little lady has stolen our hearts - Sadie (the dog) adores her,
and lets her do anything; The Flash has a playmate that never tires....and
Hannah and I have a sweet little roommate at night.  I never thought I
would love a cat as much as Missy Hannah, and yet here I am.  I love all
the cats I have and have had, but Dilly and Hannah are the special ones.

    Re .14 (Lisa) -< Remember P&P ... >-

    I remember...I used to love your stories about Percy, and was so sad
    when you lost him.

    My own special cat is Sam - a large, neutered ginger tom who was a
    very nervous, ill-treated 18-month-old when I got him. Over the years
    he has gradually learned to trust me. Now this cat, who at one time 
    wouldn't even let me get near enough to pick him up, loves to be head
    butted, cuddled and talked to, and loves to talk to us! When I get home 
    from work, he always comes trotting round the side of the house to 
    greet me, and he has an incredible repertoire of weird and wonderful 
    noises. When he's lying in front of the fire (his favourite spot), just 
    a few words are enough to start him wriggling and purring, and he has 
    the loudest purr I've ever heard!

    Sometimes he looks so dignified and noble, a real `king of the jungle',
    at other times (e.g. when he's just had a wash, and forgets to put his 
    tongue back in his mouth) he looks too funny for words. 

    Sam is nearly 15 now, and suffers from degenerative kidney disease. I
    guess I will not have him for that much longer :-( but I'll never
    forget him. I don't think I will ever have another cat quite like Sam.

    June. 

    I think psyllium usually softens as well.  You might phone your vet's
    office and leave a question about softening?  What I know about kidney
    problems from friends' cats having them is that it's crucial to adhere
    to the diet, and have plenty of clean fresh water available.  Hugs to Pooh.
    

    Re .27

    > maybe some added butter or chicken fat might help his stools too.  

    andrea,

    I forgot to mention in note 66 that I add a little olive oil to my
    cat's food. Perhaps this would be worth a try? I eat quite a bit
    of olive oil myself and it seems to, ahem (how do I put this?)...
   ...it seems to "work for me", as the saying goes!  

    ;-)

    June