CAT WHISPERER REVEALED

Your blogger no longer has a secret identity! I came across this picture of me and Yum Yum when I was weeding out old feline photographs and confining them to their own album. They all needed to be organized with names and dates. Entirely too many of the little guys were all black or orange-"Who was that?-Socksy or Felix-I can't remember." So, each one received a caption on the back for historical purposes.....You might ask why was this particular kitten is pretending to be a mini Dracula? Well, he had come from a litter with a Bad Mom. She apparently lost interest in her tiny brood after a few weeks. The woman taking care of them all was beside herself, trying to feed the little guys with bottles. I've done this myself, and believe me, it's not as cute as it looks on Animal Planet. They scream and get very messy and sticky with formula all over them. (It's off to the sink with a sponge at this point.) Yum came into my possession at five weeks. Most kittens are weaned at about four, but some really love to suck as long as their mother will permit, much as come children can't seem to let go of their thumbs! YY was one of these, and at any opportunity would curl up on my shoulder and latch onto my neck or collar. It seemed to be so soothing that I didn't have the heart to pry him off. Gradually, he grew out of this odd habit, but you know he never purred throughout his whole life. I wonder if that wonderful instinct never developed since he lost his mom way too early--so sad. Otherwise, I'm happy to say that he led a long, happy life and was much doted on by everyone who knew him.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

I thought I'd throw open the blog for everyone to send me samples of unusual, hysterical, rhyming-you name it-pet names-perhaps with a brief sentence or two about WHY they are worthy of comment. You may send them to my email jkleven@sailsinc.org, and after I get another list, I'll publish them here. Meanwhile, I'm enclosing my list of laughable and intriguing names that I've come across lately.
Judie's Felines:
Literary: Jane Eyre(Bronte), Emma Woodhouse(Austen)

Siamese: KoKo & Yum Yum (Gilbert& Sullivan's Mikado), Tuptim (The King and I).

Scottish Folds: Robert the Bruce (historic hero), Fiona MacDougal(FEE!), Lorna Doone-
Blackmore(historical novel and shortbread cookie)

LAUGH-OUT-LOUD from Darby Conley's "Get Fuzzy"
Quentin Tabbytino (Siamese is determined to direct a movie)
Meowsolini-Bucky cat is a bossy, overbearing, tan & brown s-i-a-m-e-s-e
Ditto: Kitty Amin, Ghenghis Khat

Others of note:
Entropy-cat who couldn't walk a straight line, or much at all-so was inert, as his name indicates.

Sugar-ironic moniker of library staffer's ball o' fluff who was mean as they come-sister of Pepper & Salt

Snappy-beloved cat of children's librarian-- however lived up to her name-very cranky.

More Cute Names from a reader:
Klause (pronounced Claws in Germany)

Let's not forget our canine friends:

These are real:
Killer- Pekinese
Sweetie-Doberman
Ophelia-Cocker who used to gaze into his water bowl just like Shakespeare's doomed damsel.
Rumplestiltskin, Old Blue Eyes, and Amazing Grace!





Pekinese (tiny)-Killer, Doberman (huge)-Sweetie