Do you have pets?

I have 2 cats.

Lily - Grey Tabby 1 and a half years old

Ebony - Black 1 years old

I have never had pets before I had to wait until I moved out.

When I get a house I really want a German Shepard. Does anyone know any good names?

I have one big (120 lbs) 9 year-old shepherd mix, named Crowley. Is is three quarters shepherd (German, black and tan & white australian) and 1 quarter wolf.

He is our hairy baby and very gentle and quiet. We used to have his mother also, but she died 2 yrs ago. We thought he would be depressed, but it seems he likes being the only one and not having to compete for attention.

We think he has at least another 3 good yrs in him, if nothing happens. Knock on wood. After that, we might get a husky, as our friend is breeding them and keeps asking us, if we want puppies.

Dragonfly.

Zeppelin Girl wrote:I have 2 cats.

Lily - Grey Tabby 1 and a half years old

Ebony - Black 1 years old

I have never had pets before I had to wait until I moved out.

When I get a house I really want a German Shepard. Does anyone know any good names?

Klaus? Thor? Odin? King? Jaime? (Pronounced: HI-mee)

With 2 cats, are you really sure that such a big (and potentially aggressive) dog is a good idea? Better adopt him as a pup so that the kitties can beat up on him before he gets too big. That'll teach him his place in the family/pack hierarchy.


11 years ago, I adopted the 2 best kitties in the whole world from a local no-kill shelter. I went in looking for 2 adult kitties that got along with each other, were “okay” with dogs and children, and who could go outside. I came out with wonderful companions.

The poor things were accepted to the shelter on an emergency basis, and were sharing a 1-cat cage that was literally stuck in a corner. (In fact, Miss China was lying in the litter box.)

As I strode through the kennel, past the lounging housecats and piles of energetic kittens, I turned to see these two “FOCUSED” on me. I introduced myself, offered my hand, and got a sniff and a lick from each of them.

“These two,” I said to the kennel-keeper.


I was told that a family had moved here (Massachusetts) from Colorado and couldn’t keep them, that they were approximately and respectively 3- and 4-years old… and not much else. They had clearly come from a family with children because they had Disney names: Miss Phyllis was named “Ariel” (the mermaid), and poor Miss China was named “Thumper” (the rabbit from Bambi).


Phyllis, a smallish tortoiseshell calico (or “tortie”) turned out to be the most sociable cat I have ever met. She insisted on being wherever the action was. Any dinner, any party, any holiday… there she was; on a shelf, in a chair, in a corner… on the table... she had to be right there.

Phyllis had a knack for zeroing in on cat-haters… and disarming them. There was once about a dozen people in my house, and she jumped in the lap of the one person who was trying to ignore her.***. He later admired her for her hunting prowess. (She was a real killer: birdies, bunnies, baby squirrels, you name it.)

Regrettably, Phyllis developed a multitude of medical problems. The last few years of her life, I was giving her twice-daily injections of insulin for her diabetes. Then, during a pre-treatment examination for hyperthyroidism, an ultrasound revealed massive (and previously undiagnosed) cardiac dysfunction. After a dental abscess, facial infection, and probable cranial tumor, she left me after 9 years of companionship.

“Bold and brash, sweet and sociable.” I will remember her always.


*** Direct eye contact is a threat, as is smiling (showing fangs). All the “here kitty kitty” folks are largely self-defeating. Sometimes ignoring an animal is the best way to get its attention.


China, now ~14-years old, is still with me, and has come into her own. (Phyllis was a bit of a bully toward China… she would wolf down her own dinner, then push China aside and eat hers as well.) Miss China, a buff tabby (like “Morris” except beige instead of orange), is super-sweet and highly communicative… just not quite as sociable as Phyllis was. Like me, she’d just rather avoid social situations, and was more likely to crash on the bed when folks came to visit.

Although, China showed her tolerance when a friend’s toddler came to visit. The little girl would make a few clumsy steps, then reach down, touch Miss China with one finger, and giggle. China would take a few steps away, the child would rumble after her, reach down, touch her again, giggle… and China would take a few steps away again. This went on for 15 minutes at a time… it was like a slow-motion chase scene.

(On the other hand, she also nearly clawed the eye out of a visiting Jack Russell Terrier puppy that “nosed in” a bit too closely.)


China also had a bout of hyperthyroidism… (although expensive, I recommend the radioactive iodine treatment for all but the oldest kitties)… a mild heart condition, and a little arthritis… but she is still spry and active, goes outside even in the rain, and likes to take walks with Daddy. (That’s me.)

She also likes closeness, but only on her own terms. She will tolerate me picking her up, trying to cuddle, and mouthing her ears; but will then move a foot or so away, and feign disinterest. She would much rather lay upon my chest, so that I can pet her without actually embracing her… and I respect that.

Whereas Phyllis was a bloodthirsty killer, chased stray dogs off the property, could snatch a bird out of the air, and would snap a baby bunny in two; China tends to bring home live critters… things she found… carefully carrying them and mewling to be let inside. Although neutered, I think she has a strong mothering (or at least matronly) streak. She plays at hunting things, but I’ve never seen her actually catch anything that wasn’t already lying on the ground.


I won’t get another kitty while China is still with me… she deserves to enjoy her Golden Years without “competition.” I’m also sure that I will take a break from kitty-husbandry when she leaves me. Although there is room in my heart for the needy… responsibility can be very stressful. Although I like dogs, and get along with them very well; that’s why I sought out kitties instead of doggies:

Dogs are like children… you need to be a manager.

Cats are like teenagers… you’re more of a consultant.


Or, to put it more succinctly:

Cats rule, dogs drool.

As a child I owned about 4 gold fishes and 2 birds (budgees). The fish eventually all died while one of my budgees flew away... the other died of poisoning. Know I didn't poison my budgee although I was very upset for years after.

I've always wanted a cat or a dog.

I have a golden retriever named Winston. He's my baby.

Three dogs

Hamster named Butterbean, posted her story... she is a survivor.

http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelfordnyc/NewAlbum1222061035AM/photo#5011375828606594914

this is my 4 year old pug named gordo. friends gave him to me when i got out of the hospital to keep me busy. he has been my best friend and such a wonderful little boy.

We have quite a number of pets over here. We're pet people. Our pets are my babie. We have...

Three cats, all males.

Batman, a black cat that's almost two years old (he was here before me, so he's my stepkitty).
Harley, a yellow kitten that's about 4 months old.
Moose, a brown and black kitten that's about 3 months old.

Then we have the reptiles.

Sassy, a male blue tongued skink that's about two years old (we just got him, though, so he's not a stepreptile).
Bebop and Rock Steady, two ball pythons that are about 6 months old.
Jordan and Lilith, two female cornsnakes, an albino and a pink snow, that are still just wee little babies.
Dionysus - a male black milksnake hatchling.
Onomatopoeia, an itty bitty male fat tailed gecko.

Then we have my stepson's hampsters, both female, named for me and for his mother (oddly enough, the one named for Ex-Wife keeps biting me). And two pink kissing fishies that are MIL's. And I have three beta fish (Wynken, Blynken, and Nod). And SO has a tiger Oscar named Oscar.

And we're good for pets for now!

Jenni