NEW MEMBER: DELILAH

DELILAH

Hi, I never really was fond of the look of tortoiseshell cats until I was adopted by a 3 month old stray. Now I'm crazy about them! Delilah is a handful but so loving and active. She fetches little cat-sized soccer balls (sometimes footballs) and is a constant source of love and action.

She's full of 'tortitude'. I really love your site and all the pictures!
Thank you,
Karen Heese

p.s.:

I don't have a blog but a new website:
http://www.stuffformypet.com/ It's really new and not officially launched yet. In the forum I have a Tortie thread that is starting to be popular. I'm going to post about the TATA site.
Here's a link to the thread:
http://forum.www.stuffformypet.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4. I also posted a video of Delilah: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=iY0m0AU0Nls

Thanks again. I am enjoying reading about the awesome torties on your blog

NEW MEMBER: NIKA

NIKA Hi!

My fiance and I just adopted a Tortie from our local animal shelter and she sure has the famous tortie-tude! Our little baby had been at the shelter for 2 months before we met her --we like to think she was waiting for us and her forever home with us. Our Tortie was brought to the shelter by a pregnant woman who didn't want her any more and hadn't even named her. We named her "Nika" and ever since then our little nick-nack (what I call her even though my fiance thinks that embarrassing!) has been the queen of our house. Although she wasn't very verbal when she was just getting used to us, now her loquaciousness can't be capped!!!--especially in the middle of the night!

Nika's picture from when she was in the shelter is attached. If we're allowed to join, new ones will be on the way!

-Michelle

MORE PICTURES OF BEAUTIFUL NIKA

NEW MEMBER: ARIEL

WELCOME NEW MEMBER:

ARIEL
Hi,Catzee told me about you and I'd like to join my human mom will tell my story....

I got Ariel when she was just 8 weeks old from a pet shop.It was a cold rainy morning that day and when I walked in the man quickly took me to the cats.There were a lot of cages with different cats and kittens of all sizes and colors.Yet I noticed the man skipped over one cage So I went over to that cage and it looked empty so I lightly tapped it and out of the back came this tiny ball of grey fluff.I asked the man if I could hold the tiny kitten and he opened the cage and place it in my hands.I couldn't believe how tiny it was so I put it on my chest and heard it purring softly.I fell instantly in love and decided to take the kitty home.Yet I didn't know that I was getting a sick kitten.A trip to the vet 4 days later let me know this little girl kitty had a serious stomach parasite.Plus she was underweight the vet told me she was probably put in the cage and left to die.He gave me some medicine yet no guarantees.Yet I vowed never to give up.I went home and with a lot of love and medicine and special kitten food and milk.I watched as a kitten who wasn't expected to live got stronger and healthier and now that little kitten is a happy 6 years old.

Thank You Darlene (Ariel's Mommy)

REMEMBERING KALI

One of our members has gone to the Bridge. Please keep Kali and her family in your prayers.

NEW MEMBER: KALI

KALI

My name is Kali. I may be the eldest tortie on the cat blogoshpere. My gotcha story happened a long time ago. Soon it will be 19 years ago. My uncle was studying at University California at Davis' summer school. My mom went up to visit him from San Jose, CA, about a three hour drive back then. One morning when when my uncle was in class, my mom decided to go shopping in a nearby mall. When she had barely stepped into the air-conditioned shopping center she ran into the local shelter sponsered pet adoption fair. Mom went around the perimeter meeting all the cute kitties. When she picked me up I clung to her shoulder and I purred purred purred as loud as my little kitten body could. Hee, hee, hee, she had never met a tortie before. She didn't know what attitude I would grow into. So of course you've probably figured out that she picked me.

18 years later of tortielishious companionship has left my mom in love with my independent nature. Others don't understand me, I save all my love for my mom. I have no patience for other animals or beans for that manner. Mom is my best friend and because of that she loves me the most. I live with four other fury things, but I do not put up with any nonsense from them. In my mind I'm still my mom's only cat. The others are just visitors who will leave us alone any day now. Mom says she would like for me to tolerate the others. Ha! Dream on Mom.

Eighteen years has given me a lot of experience. So I do have some words of wisdom for the younger torties. First of all, in order to be a proper tortoiseshell you must understand that you are THE boss. You do not share this title with any other being furry or furless. You must reign with the paw and or mouth. If you've stated your desire, such as, "Feed me that piece of chicken," and you are ignored you MUST bite the hand that refused to feed you. If another furry object is playing with the feather-butt mousie that you now desire you whap, whap, whap without mercy until the offending fur-thing runs off screaming for their mommy. If someone goes to pet you without asking permission that's a hand biting offense for sure. Small children are not exempt from these rules. They should never have been allowed in your domain in the first place. I suppose you could bite the parent for allowing them in the house. The only problem is that parents can be quite dense and they might be confused about what offense they've made. It's your call, really. If there is more than one tortie in your home--heaven help you, I have no idea how to handle that situation. I would assume that you would all show your tortitude best and the dominate girl would win.

I'm a very old girl now. I've been dreaming of the Rainbow Bridge more and more lately. Mom asks me if to tell her if I want help crossing over. I'm too stuborn to go just yet. I do need her to realize that it won't be long now. I want her to be ready so when I do go she won't be a mess. She tells me that that she's never going to be ready, and that I just need to let her be sad. Well, that day isn't today, so maybe she needs to just adore me one day at a time.

Your friend in this tortoiseshellwonderful world,
Kali

New Members: Kissimmee Torties

Willow Gypsy Rose

There is a feral population of Torties in our neighborhood who have "adopted" us over the years. They come nighlty for dinner and a friendly word or two. When they have kittens, they bring them to us for safe keeping. We socialize the babies and work with our local SPCA to find them good homes. A few have been so unique that they have found their way inside our house (6 in all)! ... how can you not love those faces?!?!?

Lorraine & David Ambrose

WELCOME NEW MEMBER: HALLOWEEN

Halloween

I live in San Francisco, California, on the side of a hill. I am 16 years old. I was a feral kitten. I showed up in my peoples' back yard one morning with my brothers and sister and mom. Ryan, who was a little boy then, saw us in his back yard and yelled, "Look at all the kitties!" I ended up staying with Ryan, The Food Lady and Food Dude. My sister, August, moved in a couple of doors away. The rest of the family went other places.

I like to run around in the yards behind our house, and on our hill. I like to chase and catch the birdies sometimes, and I am also very, very good at catching mice and rats, which I leave as treasured gifts at the side of my Food Lady's bed. Because I am getting older, I spend more time inside now, snoopervising the People and their projects. I especially like to sit on the Food Dude while he yells at sports on the television.

I do have lots of attitude, but fortunately my People adore me.

Here's a link to my blog.http://halloween-halloweenthecat.blogspot.com/

I've attached a photo for you to include on my TATA entry.
Thanks for letting me join the clan!

INTRODUCING: STARBUCK

Starbuck

This is Starbuck- she's my first ever tortie and as she's ten weeks old she doesn't have a very long story just yet! I'd been looking for a male kitten but she was down the front of the cage going "Pick me! Pick me!" As my last cat had had anxiety issues, I wanted to go the other way - she was the boldest and most confident kitten there, I asked the attendant if I could have a closer look at her. She purred in my arms the moment I held her, and cried piteously when she was put back in the cage. She knew what to do!

She's got my poor older cat completely nonplussed - she's fearless and is wearing down her new big sister's resistance one day at a time. She ignored her own bowl and litter tray and uses the older cat's things. She's getting braver - every time her big sister hisses, she backs off just that little bit less and the big girl is that little bit less annoyed. Right now big girl is sitting in the windowsill, giving the evil eye through the lace curtain tolittle girl. It's not working...

THANK YOU ZOOLATRY!!!

Starbuck now has her own blog:

http://starbuckcatblog.blogspot.com/

Please go and visit her!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CATZEE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CATZEE!!!

Everyone please go and wish Catzee a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!







http://littlecatzee.blogspot.com/

A LATE ADDITION TO TOESDAY TUESDAY!

LOOK AT COTTON'S SWEET TOESIES!COTTON, WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT YOU SENT IN YOUR SWEET FEET PICTURE!

Any other Tough *SS Tortie who didn't get their picture in earlier, feel free to send them any time!!!!

TORTIE TOESIE TUESDAY!

KC'S SWEET TOESIES!!! (CHECK OUT HER GOLDEN PAW)

FAITH'S ARE ADORABLE AND OH SO FLOOFY!

MAGGY HAS BEAUTIFUL PAWS, TO MATCH THE REST OF HER BEAUTY!

CATZEE'S PAW IS JUST ADORABLE! DON'T YOU JUST WANT TO GIVE IT A KISS?

PRETTY PRETTY PRINCESS FEETSIES!

GEORGIA'S A POLYDACTYL

A polydactyl cat has more than the usual number of toes on one or all of its paws. Polydactyl cats may have as many as seven digits on front and/or hind paws, and various combinations of anywhere from four to seven are common, although each of the front and rear paws are typically the same. Polydactyly is most commonly found on the front paws only, with polydactyly of all four paws being less common. It is rare for a cat to have polydactyl hind paws only. How cool is GEORGIA!!

SPATS' FRONT PAWS

Spats' back right paw

Spats' back left paw
Since she has four white paws, that is how she got her name!

Spats are a type of shoe accessory worn in the late 19th and early 20th Century. Spats were stiff fabric covers covering the top of the shoe and extending up the lower part of the leg. Spats, especially white ones on highly-polished black shoes, formed part of the stereotype dress of the era, along with a top hat and a cane.

WELCOME NEW MEMBER: GEORGIA

GEORGIA

Hi, I'm Georgia. When I was a young kitten, I went with my siblings Tillie and Moxie to live with a kind older lady who loved cats. When we were 2 years old, the kind lady went to the Rainbow Bridge and we got our current Mom. As you can see from my pictures, I am a polydactyl cat. I have extra toes on my front and back paws. I also have beautiful tortie furs! Lots of black, beige and orange. Mom has lots of pictures of me, but she does not have any of me when I whap Tillie, heehee. We do not get along very well. Tillie likes to act like a princess and hisses at me. I like to chase her to show her whose boss!! Yup that's right, it’s ME!!!!!! That's because I have Tough *ss Tortietude!!! You can find me at my brofurs blog "Mickey's Musings"
http://mickeytheblackcat.blogspot.com/

Purrs Georgia

TORTIE PRINCESSES

"When Daddy and I go to bed at night, we check in on our human daughter, Princess Allison. However last night when we did, this is what we found! BOTH Princess daughters comfy in the Princess room!"

Cindi a.k.a. Mommy

The Princesses Awake! How adorable are these pictures. Cindi shared with me and I HAD to share with everyone!

TORTIE TUMMY TUESDAY

Spats: "Welcome to
TORTIE TUMMY TUESDAY!"

Faith

KC

PEARL

CATZEE (two pictures)

Zoey

Maggy

Mouse

Princess

Autumn Savannah

Queen Snickers: "This is my tummy action shot! See me throw Mrs. Pinky mouse over my head?"

Mommy wants to just kiss all these cute tummies!

MARCH 11 is TUMMY TUESDAY

Send me your tummy photos for Tummy Tuesday at the TATA blog!

New Member: Queen Snickers

QUEEN SNICKERS

This is my tough face, I am just about to pounce my little sister who has been foolishly trying to steal Mrs. Pinky Mouse from me.

I can be sweet and adorable too, especially when I want something.

My Story

My start in life is a bit fuzzy. It probably has to do with the fact I spent a good portion of my first year of life surviving on my own on swampy, Louisiana golf course. It was beautiful, but a very dangerous place for a young cat on her own. I had to be tough to survive the water moccasins, coyotes, and yes even alligators. I had to hunt for my own food. Things got even rougher when I got pregnant and had kittens. It was hard taking care of all three of us. One day I saw a beautiful garden with a raised flower bed. I hid my kittens in there so I could go hunt. The owners of the garden found my kittens while I was gone and thought they were abandoned. Me, never! I returned before they had a chance to do anything and we disappeared. I liked that place, so I kept bring my kittens back to the garden. Then one day while I was gone, my tabby boy jumped out of his hiding spot to chase a bug. It was a wasp! It stung his paw! Luckily the lady of the garden saw this happen and rushed to him. He was crying and his paw had already swollen up. She rushed him to the vet. They fixed him up and told her he had to stay inside for two weeks or it could get infected. Meanwhile I came back for my babies and only found my tuxie babe. I searched and searched but I thought tabby was gone. I was very sad and decided that must not be as safe a place as I thought. Two weeks later the lady's daughter came home from Europe to visit and see the kitten. Apparently they were very worried about me and my other baby. That same night I decided to walk in my the garden again and for some reason I felt a calling to go up to the porch, something I had never done. At that moment the daughter opened the porch door and me and tuxie just walked in! The daughter became my new momma and she got rid of all the ear mites and parasites. She also turned my emaciated 5lb frame into a proper size cat! Then she was there to help deliver my second litter of kittens that I got pregnant with a day or two before I came to live with her. :) Now I am queen of the house, the alpha cat! I get pampered and spoiled. Momma even got me a subject to rule over (my little sister). I am happy to be part of TATA!

HAPPY TORTIE TUESDAY

Spats: "Happy Tortie Tuesday! Our friend Faith is not feeling well. Please stop by her blog and send her some get well wishes. Her brother is sick too! http://missyblueeyes.blogspot.com/
If you have any Tortie friends that you want to join, please tell them about us! Please send Mommy more pictures of yourselves that she can post!

New Member: Cotton

Cotton

I was surprised to receive my first email. One addressed to Cotton and not to Jan or to the Funny Farm. KC invited me to join the tough a** tortie club. What an honor. What better way to prove I am a tough tortie and to show my tortie ‘tude than by sending this photo of me wearing my official Ao4 trooper helmet.

I also have a feminine side, as captured in this photo of me in my Gizzy bed on top of the fridge, where I reign with undisputed territorial rights.

I don’t remember much about the first 4 to 6 weeks of my life. I just suddenly found myself sitting in the road early one morning with traffic slowing and moving around me. Then I spied Jan as she walked out her front door to pick up the paper from the lawn. She looked to see what the traffic problem was, saw me and just folded onto a porch step. I staggered as fast as I could to her, asking for help. But she said no. I rubbed against her and on rubbery legs tried to climb on her lap, but she wouldn’t touch me. She just kept saying, “No, not another one. I can’t take you inside. You’ll make all my cats sick.”

I told her, no, I wouldn’t do that to her, but she wouldn’t believe me. I persisted. She finally melted and carried me inside where Jenny and Grayce her two older kitties and young Crystal welcomed me with open arms. Okay, to be honest, with a lot of sniffing, suspicion, and on Jenny’s part, hissing. I didn’t know it at the time but Jan didn’t think I would live through the day and she had no money to take me to the vet.

I found this in her file about the day she found me: “Boney, buggy, tapeworms, mucous pouring from eyes & nose, breathing through mouth, terrified of me, cats, toys and everything. (Abused?) Lethargic for 2 days.” I don’t remember what she did to help me but I not only lived through the day, I will be 9 years old in June.

My favorite pastime is purring and rubbing against Jan’s arm, especially when she’s busy on the computer. I helped train the new members of the Funny Farm as they arrived. When they’re annoying, I raise one paw and yell, “Stop!” and they stop being annoying – or else.