Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Basilblack catscat photographsdaily photogiuseppejelly beanmr. sunshine

Daily Photo: Hard to Tell

Hard to tell what's going on.
Hard to tell what’s going on.

They do these things, and it’s hard to tell. They are smashed together in the limited space on my desk, twisted around each other, heads tucked in and over each other, tails in faces. The desk lights are on and are warm, and I am there and if they are in my way there is always the chance of being petted. What else is a bunch of kitties to do on a cold winter day?

~~~

Photos from previous years…

Afternoon Bed, 2018

Mariposa and the big lump under the covers.
Mariposa and the big lump under the covers.

Mariposa pauses in her bath and contemplates the Giuseppe-shaped lump under the quilt in front of her. A great way to spend a dark, cold, drizzly day.

And from the weekend

Ceiling fan

Part of her is uncertain what it is. Another part of her wants to stalk and kill it.

Mariposa and the ceiling fan.
Mariposa and the ceiling fan.

Squirrel!

Squirrel! Apparently squirrel watching is only for the three longhairs this morning, Hamlet, Mariposa and Basil, as they watch the squirrels chasing each other through the trees in the back yard. They also happen to be formerly feral rescued cats who are now watching for fun instead of for breakfast on a cold morning. No wet and dirty paws for these three!

Hamlet, Mariposa and Basil.
Hamlet, Mariposa and Basil.

. . . . . . .

What other photos did I post on or around this date?

.

Pretty Flower, 2017
Just another pretty flower.
Just another pretty flower.

I think Basil is stalking the squirrel running up and down the tree out front, acting just just another pretty flower on the geranium, which is inside. Don’t tell me cats don’t have an imagination.

. . . . . . .

What other photos did I post on or around this date?

.

Sunshine on Sunshine, 2015
Mr. Sunshine in the sun.
Mr. Sunshine in the sun.

“Look, this is my spot of sunshine, and it’s your job to make sure those kittens don’t get in my the way of my enjoying it,” he said.

After all, it has his name on it, for real!

Spots of sunshine have been rare this month, but so far things have been peaceful.

 

. . . . . . .

What other photos did I post on or around this date?

.

Wordless Wednesday: Smokie Silhouette, 2014
long-haired black cat silhouette
Smokie Silhouette

Of course, this is Basil, back when he was a little Smokie guy. It’s the first time I saw his face beginning to mature and lose that soft rounded kitty nose. What a handsome kitty he’s become!

. . . . . . .

Four Thankful Kittens, 2-14
four tabby kittens
Four thankful kittens!

They may be in a litterbox, and they may not think they are in a good place right now, but these four “hissy kittens” were saved from euthanasia by the rescue group I work with. I picked them up at the shelter yesterday and transported them to their foster home.

Open door shelters have limits on the number of animals they can take in, and if they are full and an animal is acting out and needs socialization, they often don’t have the means to handle that. Many now have foster programs, but with the number of cats, especially, who are surrendered right off the street, foster homes fill quickly.

I am grateful for the person in our group who contacted the shelter and convinced them to work with our rescue, which is what saved the lives of these four cats. They were hissy, combative, frightened, and certainly not adoptable. So was Smokie back in August, and look at him now! Likewise many other kittens I and others have transported to foster homes.

Our group representative was contacted on Monday that a litter of three 14-week-old “hissy” kittens had been surrendered and she immediately sought a foster home from among the volunteers in the group—generally, we only have until the end of the day, possibly through the following day, to secure a foster and transportation. I offered to transport if a foster home was found.

A woman named Mindy offered, and we made arrangements for the next day. In the meantime, a fourth kitten about the same age was surrendered, and included in the rescue.

The foster home is some distance south of here and I finally got to the shelter yesterday, Wednesday, and drove the kittens to their foster home.

Mindy has a house full of rescued cats, and as soon as we brought the kittens inside she was handling them in their foster room.

Each of the kittens scurried into the corner where there was a litterbox under the table, and gathered there, feeling safe. Happily, the lone kitten, though completely unrelated to the other three, cuddled in with them, all gray and black tabbies.

Below, six of Mindy’s cats line up for attention. I’m looking forward to seeing these four “hissy” kittens in a month or so!

Six of Mindy's cats.
Six of Mindy’s cats.

I am thankful for this group of wonderful people who saved their lives! And this is the best reason of all to donate gift cards, food, litter, toys, beds and even cash to help us save cats every day of the year—read about it in Holiday Cheer for Rescued Cats!

. . . . . . .

How Do I Get Anything Done? 2014
black cat
Mr. Sunshine gazes at me until I notice him.

Sunshine is determined to make my workday both beautiful and fun, all with his own unique abilities. He positions himself on my desk with part of himself overlapping my keyboard and mousepad so I’m sure to notice him, then he makes sure I get a close look at those dazzling peridot eyes. That might be enough for some cats, but not for Mr. Sunshine.

black cat
Then he curls himself into impossible cuteness until I am totally preoccupied with him.

His next move at enhancing my enjoyment of my day is to slowly roll back and forth a few times and wave his paws. Eventually, he knows, I will rub his belly.

black cat
Then he begs for a belly rub.

Then he rolls over on his back and while I’m distracted and incapacitated by my camera he hits a few keys on my keyboard.

black cat
Then he rolls even farther and makes sure he hits the keyboard a few times.

As you can see, there was a period of time when I got no work done, but it was time well-spent.

. . . . . . .

I Think We’ve Been Discovered, 2013
“We’ve been discovered.”
“We’ve been discovered.”

Giuseppe went ahead to scout the food situation in Emeraude’s bathroom, opening the door just enough to get in, as Sunshine and Bean waited outside. He was a little surprised to find me in there, and Emeraude gave him a withering look when he inquired into the availability of her food.

. . . . . . .

2012: Through the Looking Glass, and What Mimi Found There
Through the Looking Glass, and What Mimi Found There
Through the Looking Glass, and What Mimi Found There

This is a reflection of a reflection, with a reflection of reality as well.

Indeed it does look as if Mimi is ready to step into the looking glass; that mirror is at an angle in the corner next to the window and the reflections are uniquely angled and difficult to achieve.

But this photo, backward from the way it is seen in life, is of a reflection—in a mirror across the room from the window! I have a full-length mirror on one panel of the bathroom bi-fold door so that I can see myself from top to bottom before I face the world, and to give the bathroom the feel of a little more space. In the reflection in that mirror I can see an angle I’d never be able to achieve otherwise, at least not without also seeing myself in that mirror. But that also explains the odd greenish cast and the random light and dark blurry spots; the mirror on the door is rather old, like many other things around here.

Either way, Mimi and I both had an adventure with this photo shoot today.

This image was in Compositions in Black and Green 2013, and another from the series was in the 2014 calendar.

 


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From health and welfare to rescue and adoption stories, advocacy and art, factual articles and fictional stories, "The Creative Cat" offers both visual and verbal education and entertainment about cats for people who love cats, pets and animals of all species.

4 thoughts on “Daily Photo: Hard to Tell

  • Elaine

    That is a big pile of kitties! They are so sweet. Just want you to know how much I enjoy your photos of all the kitties! You capture their personalities so well ~
    🙂

    Reply
    • They totally took over my desk! There’s a whole house, but they want to be here, and I have to be complimented by that.

      Reply
  • Mr. Sunshine in the sun is so cute!
    I picked up Chili Bruce this morning, cooing and smooching, then put him down to realize that I actually had Manny in my arms! I love our housepanthers, and love that you have so many, but sometimes, it’s really hard to tell one from the other.
    That is, unless you turn them over and look at their white fur patch where their underwear would be…

    Reply
    • There are times when I can’t tell some of these guys apart, and I have to remind myself that’s not the important thing when they want love!

      Reply

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