My family just quadrupled
Jul. 25th, 2012 12:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sara_tanaquilI brought home my three new kittens last night. :-)
One older (male), two younger (male and female), all black-and-white tuxedo cats. They are all from different litters (though you might not believe it to look at them!) but were being fostered in the same house, and they stick together like glue.
As some who commented on my earlier cat-angst post suspected, the original scenario (three male littermates) pretty much went out the window once I met the cats. I could have adopted three males -- the older male, and two orange brothers who were actually littermates -- but I couldn't seem to bond with the orange brothers, though I tried, and the little black ones stole my heart. (The orange ones are probably lovely cats who will make excellent pets for someone, but they have been through a lot of changes and were wary, not really wanting to play, or snuggle, or be petted, or anything. They just wanted to hang back and watch. Meanwhile, the little black ones were all over me, and they spent much more time playing with the older black one, so that group seemed more closely bonded.)
Since I didn't get three brothers, I couldn't use the original set of One Piece names I had in mind. Fortunately, One Piece is flexible (and has many characters!), so I have a new set of names which I think fits them perfectly.
"White Chase" Smoker (male, 4 months) was named Chase by his foster mother, because he loves to do nothing but chase toys all day long (when he's not climbing into your lap and head-butting you). The eldest of the group, a hunter and an explorer. Long, lean and muscular, but a total lovebug when you pick him up.
Tashigi (female, 2 months) is like a smaller clone of Smoker, except for the white tip of her tail. She follows him around constantly and often seems to be imitating him. She is currently the shyest of the lot; she doesn't mind playing around me, but will run and hide if I try to pet her or pick her up. When not following Smoker around, she is usually wrestling with Zoro.
Zoro (male, 2 months) is a fluffy little black and white Holstein about the same age as Tashigi. I wasn't sure at first whether to go for Zoro or Luffy, but look at his black mask! Also, he spends at least 75 percent of his time pouncing on Tashigi. (It would be even funnier if Tashigi were the aggressor, but you can't have everything. As it is, she rarely starts the fights, but she gives as good as she gets. Play-fighting only; no one cries or gets hurt.) He is very friendly and playful, but doesn't usually slow down long enough to allow himself to be petted or held. He will sit quietly if I grab him, though.
For those who are curious about their One Piece namesakes: "White Chase" Smoker (a marine who spends most of the series chasing the protagonists, but is basically a good guy), Tashigi (female swordsman, marine, Smoker's right hand and protege), and Zoro (swordsman, wears a black mask when he fights; clashes with Tashigi every time they meet, although it is usually Tashigi who challenges him). Those with only partial exposure to One Piece should beware spoilers -- even the pictures accompanying the articles could be considered spoilery.
Expect a great deal more kitten spam once I figure out how to upload and share photos more efficiently. (Also, once I get them to slow down long enough to be photographed as something other than a fuzzy blur.)
ETA: For those who have way too much time on their hands: 14 minutes of jittery cat video. (The first part is really dark, but there are some better-lit scenes later. It depended on the lighting of the rooms.)
ETA 2: I was wondering why it was so quiet, so I went to check on them. Triangle cat!
ETA 3: Handy link to my Flickr photostream in an easily viewable slideshow format (11 pictures in it so far, will no doubt rapidly increase).
Update: somehow I broke the previous album and can't figure out how to fix it, but here, have 324 cat photos. (Well, almost all cats. There are some random pictures of my old and new offices on campus.) The newest photos are toward the top.
One older (male), two younger (male and female), all black-and-white tuxedo cats. They are all from different litters (though you might not believe it to look at them!) but were being fostered in the same house, and they stick together like glue.
As some who commented on my earlier cat-angst post suspected, the original scenario (three male littermates) pretty much went out the window once I met the cats. I could have adopted three males -- the older male, and two orange brothers who were actually littermates -- but I couldn't seem to bond with the orange brothers, though I tried, and the little black ones stole my heart. (The orange ones are probably lovely cats who will make excellent pets for someone, but they have been through a lot of changes and were wary, not really wanting to play, or snuggle, or be petted, or anything. They just wanted to hang back and watch. Meanwhile, the little black ones were all over me, and they spent much more time playing with the older black one, so that group seemed more closely bonded.)
Since I didn't get three brothers, I couldn't use the original set of One Piece names I had in mind. Fortunately, One Piece is flexible (and has many characters!), so I have a new set of names which I think fits them perfectly.
"White Chase" Smoker (male, 4 months) was named Chase by his foster mother, because he loves to do nothing but chase toys all day long (when he's not climbing into your lap and head-butting you). The eldest of the group, a hunter and an explorer. Long, lean and muscular, but a total lovebug when you pick him up.
Tashigi (female, 2 months) is like a smaller clone of Smoker, except for the white tip of her tail. She follows him around constantly and often seems to be imitating him. She is currently the shyest of the lot; she doesn't mind playing around me, but will run and hide if I try to pet her or pick her up. When not following Smoker around, she is usually wrestling with Zoro.
Zoro (male, 2 months) is a fluffy little black and white Holstein about the same age as Tashigi. I wasn't sure at first whether to go for Zoro or Luffy, but look at his black mask! Also, he spends at least 75 percent of his time pouncing on Tashigi. (It would be even funnier if Tashigi were the aggressor, but you can't have everything. As it is, she rarely starts the fights, but she gives as good as she gets. Play-fighting only; no one cries or gets hurt.) He is very friendly and playful, but doesn't usually slow down long enough to allow himself to be petted or held. He will sit quietly if I grab him, though.
For those who are curious about their One Piece namesakes: "White Chase" Smoker (a marine who spends most of the series chasing the protagonists, but is basically a good guy), Tashigi (female swordsman, marine, Smoker's right hand and protege), and Zoro (swordsman, wears a black mask when he fights; clashes with Tashigi every time they meet, although it is usually Tashigi who challenges him). Those with only partial exposure to One Piece should beware spoilers -- even the pictures accompanying the articles could be considered spoilery.
Expect a great deal more kitten spam once I figure out how to upload and share photos more efficiently. (Also, once I get them to slow down long enough to be photographed as something other than a fuzzy blur.)
ETA: For those who have way too much time on their hands: 14 minutes of jittery cat video. (The first part is really dark, but there are some better-lit scenes later. It depended on the lighting of the rooms.)
ETA 2: I was wondering why it was so quiet, so I went to check on them. Triangle cat!
Update: somehow I broke the previous album and can't figure out how to fix it, but here, have 324 cat photos. (Well, almost all cats. There are some random pictures of my old and new offices on campus.) The newest photos are toward the top.
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no subject
Date: 2012-07-25 05:16 pm (UTC)look at his black mask
Geez, forget the mask. The expression is Zoro.
So -- please don't focus too long on this might-have-been scenario -- what were the names in your original plan?
DO NOT read this comment in email
Date: 2012-07-25 05:28 pm (UTC)If you really want to know, scroll down and click on the spoiler link.
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The names would have been Ace, Luffy and Sabo.
Re: DO NOT read this comment in email
Date: 2012-07-25 06:07 pm (UTC)When do you go back to work? Can I have the kittens then?
Re: DO NOT read this comment in email
Date: 2012-07-25 06:12 pm (UTC)(Back to work in late August, yikes, the clock is ticking down.)
Re: DO NOT read this comment in email
Date: 2012-07-25 07:15 pm (UTC)Re: DO NOT read this comment in email
Date: 2012-07-26 02:04 pm (UTC)Re: DO NOT read this comment in email
Date: 2012-07-27 04:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-25 06:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 02:20 pm (UTC)When I was at the foster house, they spent like an hour playing with the cap from my water bottle. I put it in a bowl so they wouldn't eat it, but apparently that made it an even BETTER toy.
no subject
Date: 2012-07-25 07:13 pm (UTC)Aww, they are all cutie pies, but I think Tashigi is my favorite. I just love the matching white tips on her nose and tail.
no subject
Date: 2012-07-25 09:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 12:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 01:03 am (UTC)They are super adorable and sound like a ton of fun <3
no subject
Date: 2012-07-27 02:38 pm (UTC)I think Smoker is going to be a long, sleek kitty like your Kira. ^_^
no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 03:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 11:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 01:50 pm (UTC)I am super interested in the would-be names, but don't dare open the spoiler. ONE DAY I WILL KNOW.
no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 01:56 pm (UTC)Next year in Jerusalem!
(Does everyone know that phrase, or is it a Jewish community thing?)
no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 02:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 02:41 pm (UTC)I've seen it commonly used as a toast when wishing for something in the somewhat remote future, especially since it can be interpreted as a wish for the messianic golden age to arrive (at which point everyone would presumably be gathered in to Jerusalem).
Luckily, I think you have considerably better chances of catching up on One Piece than any of us have of witnessing the coming of the biblical messiah. ^_~
no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 04:38 pm (UTC)I dunno, that IS rather far ahead and this IS 2012.... If the world ends this year, I won't take that bet. :P
no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 04:51 pm (UTC)wibble. Flickr won't let me comment on the pictures because it is forcing me to take a lame username like "mangaroo1" or "mangaroo2012" (AS IF), so I bring my comment here:
"Yo, pirate. I will reclaim this sword...erm, mattress pad from you."
no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 05:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 10:10 pm (UTC)* I have not forgotten the name of my precious first cat. It's just such a common security question now that I don't reveal it.
no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 10:31 pm (UTC)Smoker and Tashigi clearly seem to be the closest, but I'm almost as likely to find Tashigi and Zoro curled up together. Smoker likes to play with everybody (as long as he gets to be boss -- if the young ones get fresh, he pins them down and chews on their ears until they behave). When Smoker and Tashigi are together, Zoro is totally the pesky kid brother who wants to play, while Tashigi is like OMG STFU annoying. Then they wrestle for fifteen minutes and fall asleep together. It's pretty much an endless three-way cycle.
no subject
Date: 2012-07-27 12:16 am (UTC)Wonderful! Omedetou gozaimasu!!
no subject
Date: 2012-07-27 02:31 pm (UTC)How's your baby doing?
no subject
Date: 2012-07-27 10:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-27 02:30 pm (UTC)