The Kitty Colony gathered for the Evening Meal at the JS Grill

Lols js. Kids do name animals the darnedest things sometimes. I remember a dog we had named 'Happy', and cats named 'kitty'. They might not want you poking around their buttocks area. hahahaha

I found Grumpy J

Dang, JJ, this just might work. Thank goodness I don't have a "creepy J".

Oh, my goodness. All those "J" names bring to mind the Duggar family. lol

Rats!! Now I have to google that and see what happened.

Edit/ That is a lot of kids!! Wonder why they stopped having them JJ6879 was still available as a child name.

I second the name "Sugarloaf" for the big black one!!

You could always use the generic name "Daryl" .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN6UAzYY8qg

I'm sure Ginger Kitties, Peach Cats (Peach Pits probably wouldn't go over so well, lol), or "Hey, you, yeah, the Furry Ones!" would be acceptable. Or, of course, Deryl, Darrel, Darryl, etc...

We wanted something to make us laugh when we called them.

That is what pets are for! To make us laugh. It's important.

That's why we dress them up, display!

Kitty 1
Kitty 2
Kitty 3

I'm laughing my head off!!! I liked Pimp Kitty.

How about Butterscotch. I always end up giving my pet's people names. We did have a Beeker though. I had a dog named Zero. Calicos are usually female .. Calleigh?

My friend, Adam, and his Wife, Allie, had ended up with a pair of identical twin kitties. There were no distinguishing marks between the two, so Adam and Allie bought a pair of collars. From that point on, there was Purple Kitty and Red Kitty, named after their collars. The cats didn't seem to mind.

Js, maybe you could name the little adventurer after an explorer? You know, the one that's always saying, "Butt Mom, it's MY food!"

I had a cat named Blonddina, it if her well, once in a while she could actually find her tail, and one called Nolighton, which fit him well, nether were fixed, but they never got together, but were always surprised when the sun came up. Some times ignorance is bliss.

Interesting story, js. Torties (I am assuming that she was one? Correctly?) are extremely territorial and unusually attached to their people. But, gosh I've never heard of this happening. Wow..........happy you made it out alive........LOL

That's a very sad story, js. We also had a cat who was indoors, but went outside to die. With some, it is the way that they want it. Some will choose to die indoors. I'd say some choose their mode of death, just as some humans do.

BTW, you have given me an idea for a story, and I am now going to write it. Hope you can check it out.

Thank you for the inspiration. And I love this article. I am reading on..........

js, I had to be so careful while running all over the place. Could you image if I stepped on that little bird? That would of killed me. Having to explain to the family that I flattened their baby. Oh no. It was really funny and my mother still teases me about it. Love Bird turned into beast when the family's back was turned. Talk about spit personality. When the family came home, the bird returned to the normal - playful cute giving kisses. They asked me how everything went. I was carefully honest and told them what happened and they could not believe it. That darn parrot climbed off of its mom onto my shoulder and was giving me a kiss which I was backing away from out of fear. I figured it would Peirce my nose or something.

It would of done great on youtube or video. Besides, I would of loved to show a video of that entire event to the birds family. Back stabbing beast made me look foolish.

I think older generations have the best stories. I used to love listening to my great, great uncle talk about the Truman days.

I understand what you mean. I have always been good with animals. I have had two pet attacks where I know I would of gotten hurt. Of all the animals I have been around; one was a pet bird the other a cat that was terrified.

I was asked if I wanted a Siamese cat. I did not know the women and found out later, she knew exactly what she was doing. I was setup. I do not know how that cat was treated but the lady gave it to me a cloth bag. I looked at her in shock and she drove off into the sun set. I took the cat in the house. For over two weeks, I could not go into my bed room. I only had one bedroom. I tried everything. My husband let the cat out intentionally when I was at work. I was so angry at him. I could not really blame him. Getting our cloths was a nightmare. That poor cat was terrified and would of ripped anyone apart if they went near her. Almost a year later, I saw her again. She picked out her own family bless her heart. I was happy it turned out well for her.

js; I felt a great deal better. I lived in town at the time and I looked everywhere. I was so upset at my husband because I was making small baby steps against the head-winds of a terrified cat. I think the cat was actually an outdoor semi-wild cat that the women wanted gone. The small town I lived in, everyone knew I was a lover of animals. I was walking one night when I saw the cat two blocks away on a porch. The next day, I talked to the lady that was adapted. She was so sweet. I told her about how I got the cat, what happened and thanked her. She asked me if I wanted the cat back. Oh, gosh no. This cat is happy and picked you as the one she loves. That lady got a huge smile and I could tell she was relieved. She said her only complaint was that she could not get the cat to come inside.

Oh js, I am deeply sorry. We tend to blame our selves, don't we? We blame ourselves even when it is beyond our control. I have been deceived by people and the older I get, the harder I am on myself. I had an entire family use me up and when they were finished, I was hanging there, alone. Beating myself up so bad for being who I am. What is that?? My Canadian friend (MJ) emotionally picked me up and set me back done. Bless her heart. She died two years ago. I have thought about this a lot over years. I realized I don't want to be like that family or your friend. I want to be like MJ, and so many others, who continue to grow, to give, to support a friend.

As we grow, we can either have more compassion and grow internally and externally or develop skills that takes from the compassion of others. Those individuals that take, have a life time to get very good at what they do. We are blaming our selves for having an open heart and giving nature. You did not know your friend had a flaw/weakness. How could you know that? She was good at hiding that weakness. Oh we think we should know all. I am usually good at reading individuals but I still get zapped and zapped bad. We want to grow, give, enjoy life, and the life of others, including animals. That is not a bad thing. Right?

I know it hurts and will continue to hurt. That kitten more than likely found a loving home. When they are ready, they pick out their new family with amazing instinct. Cats amaze and shock me all the time.

I have been deceived by people and the older I get, the harder I am on myself. I had an entire family use me up and when they were finished, I was hanging there, alone. Beating myself up so bad for being who I am. What is that??

Oh, HELL, NO!! You tell me who that family is, and I will personally go whup them! Never, ever, ever beat yourself up for anything even close to that, gen! You and js are inspirational, warm, genuine, the best of the best and the type of people we should all be. I admire and respect you both, and I am not at all pleased that someone made you feel less than what you are. I am proud to call you my friends. And I love the fact that you both have made me shed bladder tears [isn't that cute? I got that from MJL] from laughing so hard.

Nuh-Uh, You Ain't Hurtin' My Gen!

I learned not to beat myself up and I learned to put the family on my ignore list. I am much happier now. I also learned that it's OK to be selfish to protect my happiness. I use to be the one everybody called when they had a crises. Whether they needed a babysitter, a ride, or someone to help them clean their house for a party or prepare food for a wedding reception at a wedding I wasn't invited to. I refuse to be used anymore and now they are pissed and tell me how uncaring I am. They remind me that family comes first. Not one has asked if I needed anything. Personally I prefer my Cats to my family. They keep me laughing and love me unconditionally just like my friends do.

CB I Love that expression. "Bladder Tears" from laughing so hard. LOL

There you are, my Effie! I keep eating your dust after you leave someplace. You're a hard lady to catch up to!

I love you all. The fact that one person has ever taken advantage of your kindness or mistaken your kindness for weakness, gets me all riled. I feel positively Hulk-ish!

I should have stayed put someplace. Been busy today then made the mistake of reading news. Got me riled up to seed another article and start research to write one of my own. I'm ready for a cold libation and a massage then I want to be wrapped in a warm blankee.

Got the dryer goin' for ya, Effie. You get yourself something cold; or warm. You sit behind the computer and get yourself riled. You're always at your best when you do something with spunk! How's 'bout I make you a homemade kahlua and strawberry smoothie?

The warm Blankee fresh from the dryer sounds good. But I'll pass on the coffee flavored strawberry smoothie. A Tall frothy Mai Tai sounds better. I'll be back in a Jif. I do believe I've got the ingredients to make one and the more I think about it The better it sounds.

Cobalblue, shed bladder tears combined with that photo. I slid off the couch laughing. I need to remember that statement. You are a wonderful friend. I think the reason I took that event with that huge family so bad was because when they were done, they took most of what I had. They kept me busy writing code for their business and they were all so needy. I was not expecting what happened and they turned on me like a pack of mad dogs. MJ was not shocked and told me I was set up and she saw it coming and she did drop gentle hints which I did not catch. There were several signs I missed. I miss her so much. Amazing the sequence of events that happen in life. I do not think anyone other than MJ could of pulled me out of that emotional mess. I was so ashamed I did not tell anyone what happened. MJ just knew and showed up at the perfect time. I was very ill at the time which did not help. I felt like I let everyone down including myself, my friends, my parents and family. Like FFR said, I was always there when needed by everyone around me. This zapped my money, my stuff, my ability to be there for those that really cared about me.

Thankfully, it all worked out. MJ took care of the emotional damage and showed up to help me get back to Florida. The two of us took turns driving my car which was a 3 day trip. My family made sure I had food and a lot of friends and family gave me their old dishes, couch, etc until I was able to get back on my feet. I was always so independent (got it naturally from the women in my family). This taught me that when you need help, it is ok to ask for it. I did not like it but we all need to reach out sometime during our life.

It is not possible to keep up Effie so don't even try. Gosh, it would be nice to have half her drive and energy. I remember the days when I did.

Oh, no, this reminds me of a story when I was working in nursing. We were always so overwhelmed and under staffed. I used jokes to get through the day before going home to a full night, canning, crafts, farm life, feeding all my friends and a house full of frends. A lazy hubby did not help. Everyone at work said I made them look bad running around whosh, zoom, zip, and still setting everyone up for a good joke. No one was excluded. On top of this, Karen and I regularly went out mid night raids to play pranks on our friends and co-workers.

One day, everyone decided they were going to make sure I could not get through my work before they all did. I came into work, did the rounds with the supervisor to make sure all the patients were ok, clean and ready for the day staff. Next thing I know, my head is covered and I am being tied down to a bed. They refused to release me for 1/2 hour. It was funny. I decided to play the role of a demanding patient. Feed me demands, I need this or that, etc. They never did that again:=))

It pains me to hear that someone took advantage of your kind nature. That sometimes is what hurts the most. You thought you knew someone. You took it to the bank. Then you find out it was all a sham. That's where the self-doubt comes in. How could I have missed it? Ugh. That's happened to me once. And I divorced him. The old bait and switch. We've all gone through that at least once, it seems. You're my dear friend, gen. I will turn into the Hulkette should anyone hurt your feelings again.

No one's going to rob me of some of the best experiences ever! I live vicariously through you, js and Effie, for crying out loud.

I love you dearly, genevieveva.

Cobaltblue, what kind words. There might a slight problem. I think I want to be an animal myself. js might feel the same way. Maybe we all can come back together as animals and have a grand old time. I do not know what kind of animal I would want to be. Someone should write an article and ask people what animal they would want to be if given the chance. So many animals are so amazing, compassionate, and have a joy for life.

Oh my, let me think. The playful nature of cat's and otter's. The speed of a large cat and horse, and add wings to it. This is difficult. I got it. Baby dragons...

I spent my childhood playing in the wood alone. I would pertend to be all kinds of animals. My poor parents. I would be gone alone most of the time. It almost got me shot at deer season several times. I was that strange child that took hours talking to the dishes while washing and drying them. I would bring home everything that need help. I remember I found a mouse that was acting sick. I made up a little box, filled it with grass, a little food and water. Put it in my top dresser draw. I left the dresser draw open. Dad came in and asked me why my dresser was open. I told him I was treating a sick mouse. He looked at it. Turned to me and said, "honey, it is not sick, it is in labor. We need to take it outside before we have a house full of these".

I think of my poor parents. It must of worried them. We had a beautiful woods and there was a way I could stay in it walking for several days back then. I was in my own world and loved it. The only person that could ever find me was my mother's brother. I was good in the woods. I had a river, creek, animals that I could watch and study for days. When my Uncle visited, he would find me every time. That shocked me until my mother told me recently that he was a tracker and excellent at it. Funny, he must of been good.

I remember one of my neighbors was missing their dog. I got off the bus one day and instead of going home to change cloths, I spent several hours walking, listening and I could hear other dogs that were upset by something. I did not know about the missing dog but I knew something was wrong. I found his dog but it had been shoot. I had my school cloths on and the dog was hurt and frightened. When I think about it, that was crazy because there were packs of wild dogs but I was never worried. I actually think the other dogs were barking every now and then to let someone know a comrade was in danger. I tied by cloth belt around the dogs nose to keep him from biting me. I carried that dog for over an hour and I was so small. I remember I was resting because the dog was so heavy. I was talking to the dog and he finally realized I was trying to help him so I removed the loosely bow tied muzzle. I looked up, there was my Uncle. I did not even hear him. I had a good half hour walk still. My uncle said, your mother was worried that you had not returned to change you cloths. He said, she must know you pretty well, look at your dress. He picked the dog up and carried it the rest of the way. I was so thankful. I also was terrified because I trashed another school dress. He asked me how I found the dog and I told him that his friends were letting me know where he was. I can not explain the look on his face. All I know, I did not get punished and I never understood why. My always got so upset at me about my school cloths.

We are alike. Female is it important. I still think that you, me, FFR and Cobaltblue all together as a animal having fun being a cute, cuddly, fast, flying, and female. Wow, that would be wonderful.

js, this is an off topic. Did you know that something was going to happen before it did, (sometimes)? Like an out of body experience that was so beautiful even though the future event was sad or ugly? I use to frighten my friends sometimes. The mind has a strange way to trying to tell you about what you are going to see or experience. All I know, the out-of-body experience was amazing. It felt so wonderful, beautiful, and right.

I don't find that at all odd for you, gen. People who attract strays and ferals are often those with some spiritual capabilities. That's what animals and babies are attracted to. I'll bet you get babies that stare at you too, like in the grocery store. Babies and real young ones that reach out for you to hold them much to their parents' surprise. It's some type of spirituality, for sure.

Wow, cobalblue, wow, how did you know? I have seen the same thing happen to my mother in stores when we go shopping. A baby will focus on her or little ones will run up to her and grab her leg. I have had to turn away offered gifts like binkie, or half eaten candy, sucker, etc:-)) I always get this vision of a mother beating me up for taking candy from her baby:-))

A gift that I believe in from experience. In my case, some of it I got honestly from my mother. The rest mother earth gave me:-))

My Mother told me that one day she put me down for a nap and somehow I got out of my crib. She saw me crawling in the back yard as fast as I could towards the woods. She decided to follow me. I crawled to the path and then down the path about 100 ft. and just sat there. Then I was surrounded by Butterflies. I wasn't 1 year old yet. I don't remember this and she didn't tell me about it until I was grown.

I have always been attracted to woodland creatures. I used to cut through the woods to go to elementary school rather than walk around the block with the other kids. I got in so much trouble for it because of the dangers of the snakes. I saw a lot of snakes but they never bothered me.

I liked to climb a tree and sit there and read or write poetry. Or I'd climb up on the roof and sleep under the stars. I would rather be alone, but I always had my transistor radio with me. Cats always found me on the roof and would snuggle in my blanket. They were the neighbors cats. We had a dog that ignored them.

Most of the time I did this to escape the arguing, screaming and yelling that went on between my parents and siblings. When there are 6 children there is no quiet time.

Both my best friends were named Joanne which is my middle name. We liked to do the same things. Liked the same music. Liked sitting in trees and just observing nature without talking. One became a Vet at a Zoo. The other became an illustrator of children's books. Neither of us were nerds and were considered a bit wild. This was in California.

I owe my love of Nature to my Great Grand Mother, My Mom, and My Aunt. They also taught me to be patient and observant. That there was always something to see if I wasn't rushing. Hubby still tells me to quit lallygagging and Ogling everything I see. My Grand Father used to say to my Grand Mother "Come on Nancy, move it!" My family says that to me now. My name is not Nancy.

I always wanted to be a Leopard. Have always been attracted to them. Have had the fortune of being able to pet three of them. That's why I was so excited when the Feral Cats showed up. All of them had Spots. I thought they were part Bob Cat. But they were not. They are Bengal Cats. Part Asian Leopard from Indonesia. I really have to Post pictures of my Mel. He is brown with black spots all over his body and black stripes on his legs with black paws. He has the most beautiful light brown coloring. His eyes are outlined with a light beige just like a leopard. He has teeth like one too. He has the grace of one too and likes to be up high. I always knew I could never have a Leopard as a pet. But God or something led those cats to my house. The only reason I kept Mel is because he got injured and I took him to the Vet. $175. later we decided we couldn't just let him go. He was only 7 weeks old.

Up until that time I had my squirrels who ate out of my hand. The birds who returned every year to nest here. And always a yard full of butterflies even in winter. Even have a resident Black Indigo Snake who has been here forever it seems. It's 6' long now and shows up every spring and stays through the fall. I had lots of photos of it in my old computer that crashed. I lost 1000's of pics. Now I save them to disks.

My Vine friends are the only ones I know who share my passion for animals.

Happy Birthday to My Js. I hope you have a wonderful day and the Sun is shining on you. I wish I could be there with you and CB, Rhonda and Gen could be there too to help make it a Fun day for you. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Love ya, Girl,

Effie

Effie, thank you for sharing and for the passion of your words. Anything I would say now would sound tiny compared to your kind gentle words. You rock lady.

♥♥ Happy Birthday Js.♥♥ Thank you for sharing your kitty colony. I hope you know that you have friends out here and we wish you all the best life can offer.

♫♫♪♪♫♫ Happy Birthday to You ♫♫♪♪♫♫

There is something sacred about the caring for creatures. Not crazy at all. Some of us seem to attract them and I think that it is a good thing, beautiful actually.