Another contentious issue

of course not absent- and yet, with 1000s of cats awaiting good homes dumped in refuges all over the world- I can never understand why people buy expensive cats from breeders? Same for dogs mind you- I love moggies and mongrels and they are so rewarding, whatever their colour ...

tegan the mysadcats just get better and better. I had 3 more tweeted to me today and laughed and laughed. I think they should be available on the NHS they're such a boost! Thanks for putting me on to them.

absent as a long term Maine Coon person, I have to admit to having had a Norwegian Forest cat, a Birman, an Abyssinian and many general moggies. I'm an equal opportunities cat owner! They're all lovely to me.

apricot There is definitely a reason why they are called "naughty torties". My two remaining girls are tortie-tabbies and are unutterably beautiful, although somewhat scraggy 18-year-olds.

Are people who have Siamese, Burmese, Bengals, Maine Coons, Singaporas, Turkish Vans, etc. racist? Just wondered.

The sheltered housing where my DSIL lived had a resident cat who arrived out of the blue one day. He was very generous with his time and shared himself around, spending his nights curled up on some lucky resident's bed. His name was Itawt and he answered to it.

'Itawt Itawt a puddy tat'

Re: cat sharing, have you read 'The Guest Cat' which is about that vary subject? It is by a Japanese author whose name escapes me.

Funny that some of you have had lovely tortoiseshells. I was a veterinary nurse for years and we always knew torties would be difficult to handle, either vicious or plain crazy. I've had two and neither was ever house-trained.
I don't believe the colour affects the character of a cat, it can't, only with torties it does!

There's an advert [with photo]in our post office to say the local farm has one remaining kitten left in a litter; a little tabby. Well handled and loving. Good job I'm going away tomorrow. By the way, the Ragdolls in the sink are crying out for a 'my sad cat' caption.

NOT to be stolen- obviously, sorry.

Never seen a cat smile - they leer

indeed, but I'd still prefer for my cat to be stolen by someone who as a preference for our cat (due to its colour- when there were dozens available at the local refuges)- thanks (like a dog with a bone, or is that a cat ;) )

Anyhow, I do prefer black cats- but most of the cats who have owned us have not been black- they just needed a good home at the time, and we gave them one, irrespective of preference. That is the main thing- and what a joy they were- black, tabbies, gingers, and the current one, white and grey- as well as the one we have temporarily adopted until its owners can find a suitable flat, black with 4 white paws- and very cute.

Maybe we could lay this anecdote to rest and as they say "revenons a nos chatons moutons?"
Apart from saying that if someone wanted a black cat/Labrador/hen/bird, no I wouldn't call it "racism" , I'd call it preference which is entirely permissible.

same here, love both- and yes, cats do smile- wonderful.

Cats jolly well do smile! It is something I have always believed and was referred to on a tv documentary not long ago.

If you do a very slow blink, a cat that feels comfortable with you will do it back. That is the cat equivalent of smiling. Maurice was a great smiler, Oliver Sprout is too. Digby tends more towards looking perplexed.

I love dogs too, by the way!

If the cat cap fits . . . . . .

Marmight you've just met the wrong cats!

Like Galen I am allergic to cats and like Notso I don't much like them. They don't smile like a dog, they dig their claws into you and they c * * * in your garden not theirs or, like the new cat next door, on your lawn. - and they know if you don't like them and make a beeline for your lap [harrumph emoticon]

and more importanty, never strayed again- he could easily have gone back there had he wanted to.

I think Alea is just warning me about the consequences of catnapping and the trouble I might get myself into. You gj are definitely the heroine here outwitting all us dodgy cat acquirers.
I remember Six Dinner Sid-lovely book!

ahhh lovely, must get it for GD. However in this case there was no doubt- he had a collar with our all his detail- was only about 1 year and had been with us ever since he had been found in the grounds of the North Staffs hospital where DH had a room. And he had never been away for more than a couple of hours.

The DGSs favourite book is 'Six dinner Sid'. Its about a black cat that 6 different people thought they owned hence the title. He had 6 names, meals, beds etc etc. Only busted when he got a cough and the vet recognised him after the 6th visit. Its beautifully illustrated. Somehow its a very recognisable situation.....

alea- are you really saying I shouldn't have 'repossessed' it- the story has not changed btw- they did remove the collar with the cat's name, address and tel. number- as they wanted a black cat and had been unable to get one! And you are trying to turn me into the 'baddie' in this story.
Come on, pull the other paw, please. This is silly.

Is that racist or sexist or musicalist or something?

Musical cats- I want one!!!