Aby-a-Day – Day 31 of 365

Angel has a very cute habit. When I give our clowder their nightly can of cat food (necessary because Angel needs a dose of L-Lysine for her FeLV), the Abys get their own bowls first, and then the other two get their plate to share.

Angel is still nervous about eating around the other girlcats (for a long time we had to feed her in the bedroom with the door closed, but she loves her canned food so very much she sticks with it as long as she can. Eventually, though, she can’t stand it any more and decides it’s time to finish eating back behind the safety of a closed door.

She walks away from her bowl and waits for me to bring the rest of her canned food into the bedroom. This is what it looks like:

Other People’s Abys – Two to Tango

I love finding Abyssinians used in advertising and packaging. This was a bag of treats Sherry, Jacoby and Gun-Hee’s breeder, brought along with Jake back in April. I saved it for his Christmas stocking.

The bag features a pair of ruddy Abys, which is awesome…although why they are Tangoing in what appears to be a ballroom dance competition is beyond me.

Those puncture wounds in the bag were inflicted by Jake on Christmas morning; apparently, he just couldn’t wait for me to open it for him.

Aby-a-Day – Day 30 of 365

It’s been cold in Boston recently, and the Snuggie my mom sent me for Christmas has actually come in quite handy. This morning, I was on the sofa watching a movie, when I felt someone cuddling behind my knees.

It was Angel!

I guess she felt I’d been posting too many Jacoby photos this week.

Aby-a-Day – Day 29 of 365

Right off the bat, I have to apologise for the quality of today’s photos. All I had time to use was my phone’s camera, and I didn’t want to miss getting any photos of this. I am so proud of Jacoby! When I got home, two of my nearest neighbours (next door and across the hall) were coming back from walking their dogs (Tank, a brindle and white English Bulldog, Kona, a black and white French Bulldog, and Sadie, a black brown and white Bassett Hound). As usual, Jake wanted to come play in the hallway when I opened the door, and I saw the two Bullies charging up the hallway. “All right, Jakey, come see your friends.

He made a beeline for Tank, who’s about the same age as Jake, but massive. I was amazed – Jake walked right up to Tank and headbutted him in the jowls! I was stunned. I said, “I wish I had a camera,” and then realised I had my iPhone in my hand.

I’m so glad I remembered it! Look at Jacoby’s body language…tail up, ears forward. These dogs may all be bigger than Jake, but he knows them, and he’s unfazed.

Here’s Jake touching noses with Kona while Tank tries to reach him; this is as close as I got to a repeat performance of the headbutt.

Just when I couldn’t feel any more proud of my little boy…he flopped over and started rolling on his back! Now, that’s a cat who’s not intimidated by dogs!

I felt so…serendipitous. I mean, it was just in yesterday’s post that I mentioned Jacoby not being as fearful of dogs as his brother Gun-Hee was. Today, he goes and proves it!

Aby-a-Day – Day 28 of 365

I wanted to train Gun-Hee to be a therapy cat, but he died before we got the chance. However, Jacoby seems to have an even more suited temperment (he’s not afraid/intimidated by dogs, where Gun-Hee was). This summer we’ll be spending a lot of time out and about, gettng used to going out and being in different environments, so I bought him a little “Therapy Animal In Training” vest. Here he is showing it off.

What really cracks me up is the way he poses for these photos. I really think he knows what cameras are for. He’s the most camera-friendly cat I’ve had since my Siamese Harri.

I mean, look at these! Tell me he’s not striking model poses!

Aby-a-Day – Day 27 of 365

We got a second mid-century modern black-wood-and-sisal cat tree at Petco at a great discount. I really like this shot because you can see both Jacoby and Angel, each on their own top platform.

That weird white flash in the far background? That’s the reflective trim on Jake’s new Land’s End coat!

Aby-a-Day – Day 26 of 365

I bought some crocheted cacti from Catzilla Crafts’ Etsy store and while I was there, I noticed an adorable crocheted cat who reminded me of someone…

I requested a few minor modifications, and the package arrived today! Here is Jacoby with his amigurumi likeness!

But what I wasn’t expecting was the special surprise she included in the package: a little rust-coloured one-eyed felt pin! Look how much it looks like Angel!

Thanks, K!

Aby-a-Day – Day 25 of 365

Sunday afternoon, Angel and Jacoby had another photogenic smackfest. They are the most graceful gladiators!

There wasn’t enough light where they were fighting to use the video camera, so I had to shoot stills. These two shots happened less than a minute apart.

Angel’s the aggressor, as usual; Jake’s trying to fend her off with a well-placed paw.

It pretty much failed.

Aby-a-Day – Day 24 of 365

One of my favourite motifs to use in my cat photo art is Angel with Wings. I don’t remember where I found the photo of a hawk where these wings came from, but when I saw them I was struck by how much the colour resembled Angel’s fur.

Aby-a-Day – Day 23 of 365

Jacoby is ever so helpful in the kitchen. Here he is supervising the rice pot.

Jacoby’s got his papers!

Look what I got in the mail today! Jacoby’s CFA registration!

Aby-a-Day – Day 22 of 365

Jacoby is quite the contortionist sometimes.

He’s sound asleep here. How is this comfortable?

I think he’s playing with his lambbone here. Apparently, the lambbone is winning.

Purebreds Plus Update

Last weekend, I posted about the 35 Abys and other Exotics that Angel’s rescue was fostering

Good news! If you look at the site again, you will see that Abys Topaz and Mango and the Bengal Bella have been adopted, and Abys Maxim, Fagan and Arora have adoptions pending. Karen, the woman who fostered Angel, currently has Savannah Sahari and Abys Dakari, Sha Sha and another, ruddy, Angel.

I sent the rescue a donation (gotta love Paypal), and got the following email:

Dear Coco and sweet Angel,

Thank you so much for your recent donation to Purebreds Plus Cat Rescue! We truly appreciate all your kindness and generosity in helping us take care of our rescued Abys. They are all amazing cats and Sha Sha and Angel are just sweethearts, and have made such wonderful progress in foster care and we’re just delighted that we’ve been able to help them.

I remember your one-eyed Angel well…we’re so incredibly glad that she has such a wonderful home with you! Thank you for sending the link to your blog…the photo of Angel and her one-eyed stuffed Mini-me was just awesome!

Thanks again for giving our sweet Angel a lovely home and thank you for your generosity towards our other kitties!

Sonbol Ansari
Vice President
Purebreds Plus Cat Rescue

That made me feel warm and fuzzy. I’m glad we are able to help.

It’s funny, I’ve been living in the East for 12 years and Boston for 10, but I still end up making connections back in my native Northern California. Small world.

Aby-a-Day – Day 21 of 365

Even though they get into fierce smackdowns, at the end of the day, they love each other. Look at Jake’s arm.

Aby-a-Day – Day 20 of 365

There is nothing more entertaining than watching Angel and Jacoby playfight. Angel is usually the agressor, too, which makes it more fun to watch. With Jake’s all-or-nothing personality, you would think he’d bully Angel, but it’s the other way around.

Angel’s got Jake pinned.

Bite bite bite! Look at Jake’s hand on Angel’s head.

Jake tries to keep Angel at legs’ length.

Purebred Abyssinian Needs a Home ASAP

Simba is a 4-5 year old male Aby in Maryland who needs to be rehomed as soon as possible. If a home is not found for him, he’ll go to the pound.

More information in the LiveJournal Cat Lovers Community.

Spread the word! The handsome man needs help!

Aby-a-Day – Day 19 of 365

Both Jacoby and his late brother Gun-Hee were fascinated with the washing machine. Jacoby is also unafraid of water. Last weekend, we did one load of washing, and while the machine was filling, I turned to put in the bedding. When I turned back, Jake was halfway in the washer!

This is the second load. I was hoping to catch him in the washer again. Here’s Jake watching the washer fill up.

Aby-a-Day – Day 18 of 365

The thing about photographing Abyssinians (or any cats) is to have your camera handy. You can’t plan the perfect pose…you just have to be ready to capture it when it happens. And in this, a “crappy cellphone camera” is, at times, better than the most expensive SLR…because you’re more likely to have it in hand when the perfect shot happens. You can always tweak it in Photoshop later.

When my alarm first went off this morning, I felt Jacoby digging around in the comforters (we’re using two right now, a patterned one and a solid one). When I got up, he was totally covered up under the solid comforter. I put my hand on his back, and he went “Mrrrrrrp?” and stuck his head out from underneath. He stretched and started to get out to follow me around.

All I had was my cellphone, and one shot. This is what I managed to capture:

I did what I could in Photoshop…but even this is better than no photo at all.

Aby-a-Day – Day 17 of 365

Ever wonder what it’s like to wake up on a lazy winter weekend morning when you have two Abyssinians in your home?

Imagine all the cat toys that make the most noise possible. Now imagine two Abys playing with as many of them as they can on hardwood floors. It’s something like that.

Want to take an Abyssinian wherever you go? There’s an App for that.

Browsing free iPhone apps on iTunes today, I came across quite possibly the best (if useless) app ever: Petting Cat Really Abyssinian.

There’s a bit of Engrish going on in both the iTunes Store listing and on their website (it’s made by someone in Japan), but you don’t really need language to play with the Aby. The animation isn’t bad (it looks like online roleplaying game animation), and the cat actually looks and moves like an Abyssinian (as opposed to being a generic “cat”).

There’s a free “Lite” version and a paid version that costs $2.99. If you have an iPhone or iTouch, and you want a virtual Aby, check it out.