January 2013 – The Daily Abyssinian…and Singapura

Aby-a-Day – January 31: A lady’s gotta keep up appearances!

Published on 31 January 201328 January 2013 by Talonvaki1 Comment

Because of our unique situation (Abys are food-hoovers and the non-Abys are so picky they make Morris look like a glutton), Angel eats alone in the bedroom.

I love hanging out in there with her, just us two.

Mostly, I love watching her groom herself.

She does such a good job!

She really puts a lot of care into her fur.

But then she’ll get distracted by the television. Even though it’s much smaller than the one in the living room, she still likes to watch it!

“Okay…where was I?”

“Oh, yeah…right.” (Can you see her little pink tonguetip?)

Lick, lick, lick…

“Wait, he’s the killer? But…I thought he had a solid alibi for that night!”

Copy Cat Festival in Somerville February 17!

Published on 31 January 201326 March 2016 by Talonvaki2 Comments

I just thought I’d post a little reminder about the upcoming Copy Cat Festival in Somerville, MA on 17 February…

Tickets went on sale today at noon, and they’re bound to go quickly, so if you’re in the area and want to partake of the second cat video film festival and a celebration of all things feline, snap up your tickets sooner rather than later! At 12:45pm today, there were about 160 tickets left, and the ticket sales started right at noon! The tickets are very reasonable: $5.50 including a service fee.

In case you’ve forgotten: “Finally, an event to celebrate the profound cultural contributions of cats. Inspired by the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, which held an Internet Cat Video Festival last year that was attended by over 10,000 people and featured in the New York Times, we proudly announce the Somerville Copy Cat Festival. Yet our feline extravaganza will feature not only cat videos—produced locally and globally—but also cat stories, cat limericks and a slideshow of local cats. Emcee will be Jef Czekaj, who will kick off the event by reading his book Cat Secrets for cat-crazy kids. There will also be a cat costume table and most likely an appearance from a famous local cat.”

You don’t want to miss this!

Abys in Need (ANOTHER ONE!?) – Dexter & Giselle in Southern California

Published on 30 January 201331 January 2013 by Talonvaki7 Comments

This is just one of those “what the hell is the backstory” Petfinder postings…

“Dexter is a young, healthy purebred Abyssinian male, born July 2012, who in search of his new furever home! He is neutered, current on all vaccines, and is looking for someone to play with, entertain, and love! Call 310-278-2935 for more information regarding Dexter!”

And…he has a (possible) sister!

“Giselle is a BEAUTIFUL, young (born July, 2012), female Abyssinian cat looking for her new, furever home! She has plenty of brains to go along with that beauty, and is incredibly playful and loves to frolic with abandon! Giselle is healthy, spayed and current on all vaccines. Please call 310-278-2935 for more information regarding Giselle!”

Born July 2012? These poor little guys are only six months old! Call me jaded, but I’m betting there’s a human baby involved here. Not only that, but the shelter he’s in is located in Beverly Hills (swimming pools…movie stars…), which also makes me wonder if someone got them to match the carpet or the furniture and didn’t realise that an Aby kitten is actually work. Either that or maybe they redecorated and their fur clashes with the new decor…

Native Northern Californian snarkiness aside, if you know someone who wants little Dexter and Giselle, call the shelter at the number above; there is no email contact given.

~~And don’t tell Jacoby – or my husband – that I REALLY want to adopt them both!~~

Other People’s Abys – Our friend Rosie on CBC Vancouver’s Facebook Page!

Published on 30 January 20132 March 2021 by Talonvaki4 Comments

Check this out…Abyfriend Katscan’s little girl Rosie is making it big on the CBC Vancouver Facebook page:

Would you put your cat on a leash? Early Edition listener Kathy sent us this photo of her cat Rosie. (MJ)

My favourite comment was someone who said Yes, if it was a Bengal cat, otherwise no. I listed off the Abys I know who go out and about on their leashes, mentioning Jafari in Vancouver, Radar in NYC…and of course, Jacoby in Boston!

Click to watch the video!

You can see Kathy and her boy Aby Louis on the Vancouver evening news on the CBC website – her interview is part of an article about the number of birds cats kill and the possibility of Vancouver passing laws requiring cats be leashed and licenses.

Aby-a-Day – January 30: Wordless Wednesday (Jake really does ride the Roomba…sort of)

Published on 30 January 20138 January 2013 by Talonvaki4 Comments

Abys in Need: Nelson in Northern California

Published on 30 January 201330 January 2013 by Talonvaki3 Comments

Another Aby in need of a home in my old area code! And look at him! Isn’t he gorgeous?

“Nelson” is a beautiful ruddy Aby neuter in Northern California who must find himself a new home. He is 9 years old and healthy, but, since his people have a new baby, he has been misbehaving. So he must go.

Poor old boy! You can tell he really loves whoever took that photo of him. And I feel a bit sorry for that baby, missing out on the chance to grow up with an Aby.

If you want to know more about dear Nelson,email Mimi Cary Drake at mimicary@abyssinians.org.

Aby-a-Day – January 29: The Cat From Outer Space (Cartoon Tuesday)

Published on 29 January 20136 January 2013 by Talonvaki2 Comments

Just because I can’t get Jacoby to ride the Roomba in real life doesn’t mean I can’t do a cartoon about him riding it. That’s the beauty of cartoons! And if he ever does ride the Roomba, I’m pretty sure this is exactly the sort of thing he’d do.

(Click cartoon to embiggen, or you can view all cartoons in Slideshow mode on Flickr.)

Abys in Need: Abys in New York and Florida

Published on 29 January 201329 January 2013 by Talonvaki5 Comments

It always seems like these come in batches…

This handsome Ruddy Aby boy was born in 2007. He is up to date with shots and is neutered. He looks to be in good shape, not overweight or underweight. He has been a pet cat all his life. He is in the general NYC tri-state area.

His owner is looking for a new home for him because her daughter has had serious lung and chest problems for the past year and it has been determined that she is highly allergic to cats.

His personality: (quote from owner) “He is the most lovable cat I’ve ever owned, and the smartest. He loves to cuddle as long as you want to cuddle with him. He still is playful like a kitten and gets along with dogs. He always comes when you call him and is just a great cat. That is why this is very hard for me, but daughter’s health comes first.”

Contact Sheila McCormack Dentico via the Abyssinian Cat Foster Network on Facebook if you’re interested in this boy.

Then we have Claw in Ft. Lauderdale. I don’t know much about Claw, but he is an adult Ruddy and he is neutered. His Pet ID is A1566171 and he’s at Broward County Animal Care and Adoption, Fort Lauderdale, FL – (954) 359-1010

Remember, all I know about these two is what I’ve posted, so if you’re interested in adopting one of these boys, please follow the links.

Aby-a-Day – January 28: Sweater Cat (Hipstamatic Monday)

Published on 28 January 201314 January 2013 by Talonvaki1 Comment

While taking photos for last Saturday’s Photo Hunt (“Knitted”), I tried a couple of different sweaters on Jacoby.

Here he is modelling his oh-so-trendy leopard sweater.

I got it on sale at Petsmart – such a steal!

It’s really well made and it fits him perfectly.

Of course, wearing a sweater is just another day at the office for our boy Jake.

You know he knows how good he looks!

Aby-a-Day – January 27: The Cat From Davis Square

Published on 27 January 201326 January 2013 by Talonvaki8 Comments

It turns out there have been Abyssinians on the T a lot longer than anyone realised.

In a few T stations, there are ceramic tiles made by local schoolkids. Broadway Station is one of them. and Davis Square Station in Somerville is another. I always enjoy looking at them, especially one little group of cat tiles (and one skunk) in the middle of the Davis Square collection.

I was looking at them again the other day and it suddenly dawned on me what one was depicting…

It’s meant to be Jake, the Cat From Outer Space! I’m not sure how I didn’t see it before! I mean, I’ve always thought it looked like an Aby because of the colour, but…

No! I’m serious! It really is supposed to be Jake! Check it out: The Davis Square Tiles Project took place during the 1978-79 school year, and the child who made this tile, Estelle Passamonte, was an 11-year-old girl. I was 13, and my sister was 8, and during the second half of 1978 we were obsessed with Abyssinians, Jake, and talking intergalactic felines in general…so it’s not too huge a leap to conclude that little Stella was a fan, too.

(I also suspect this one is meant to be Zunar-J5/9-Doric-47, too, but since he’s got a sun and not a space helmet it’s not quite the logical slam-dunk that Estelle’s tile is. But look at those ears!)

And this one…those eyes seem like Aby eyes. And again with the big pointy ears, too.

I think that movie made quite an impact on girls aged 8-13…

It’s something I think about every time I ride the train with Jacoby.

There’s a long history of Abys and the red line! Who knew?

Aby-a-Day – January 26: “Knitted” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

Published on 26 January 201326 January 2013 by Talonvaki3 Comments

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Knitted,” and the second I saw this theme, I knew what I was going to use…Jacoby and his ScooterKnits hats, of course!

This is his basic pom-pom hat…

…this is his new Buddy the Elf hat…

…and here’s the infamous Mistletoe hat!

Angel, too is knitted, in her Jovie the Elf hat and Kylie’s pink sweater. She is not, however, as thrilled about it as Jake is!

Aby-a-Day – January 25: There’s gonna be a rumble tonight (Friday Flashback)

Published on 25 January 201324 January 2013 by Talonvaki5 Comments

Earlier this week I was going through some old photos and waxing nostalgic for the days when Angel used to play with Jacoby.

While their “play” was fairly combative, it was still better than the way they do it now.

Now, Jake tries to play with Angel, and Angel responds by hissing, growling (yes, actual angry-cat growling) and whapping the crap out of him while running away to her haven.

Back then, Angel would play with Jake.

Of course, her playing still involved smacking him around, but at least she seemed to be enjoying it.

It was so much fun to watch.

*Sigh* I wish they’d play like that again.

Here’s a video of one of their epic floor matches…of course, Jake’s a little distracted by the camera…But weren’t they cute?

Aby-a-Day – January 24: National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day

Published on 24 January 201324 January 2013 by Talonvaki3 Comments

Tuesday was National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day. I got to wondering…what would the cats I live with ask, given the chance?

Jacoby’s question? Oh, that’s an easy one.

Angel’s question is one I wonder about, too.

Kylie…well, Kylie’s got things pretty figured out.

And Tessie, while I know she loves living with other cats, always wants to know this when we pet someone other than her.

Aby-a-Day – January 23: Wordless Wednesday (Angel is afraid of many things but the Roomba is NOT among them)

Published on 23 January 20137 January 2013 by Talonvaki4 Comments

Aby-a-Day – January 22: Focal point (Cartoon Tuesday)

Published on 22 January 201331 December 2012 by Talonvaki2 Comments

Jacoby’s love of the camera is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it is really easy to get him to pose. On the other hand, however…it’s really hard to take a photo of anything else in the house!

(Click cartoon to embiggen, or you can view all cartoons in Slideshow mode on Flickr.)

Other People’s Abys – The Bird

Published on 22 January 201322 January 2013 by Talonvaki2 Comments

I came across this today posted in the Abyssinian Cat Club on Facebook and had to share it.

Thanks to Agnia Müllerova and her adorable kittens.

Aby-a-Day – January 21: Strollercat on Broadway (Hipstamatic Monday)

Published on 21 January 20133 January 2013 by Talonvaki4 Comments

Of all Jacoby’s accomplishments, one of the easiest was making it big on Broadway.

Okay…so it’s not THE Broadway…

…but it’s A Broadway.

Perhaps Boston’s Broadway isn’t exactly the Great White Way…

…and maybe it hasn’t got Gene Kelly dancing down the middle of it singing “Gotta Dance”…

…but it’s the best we’ve got, and it’s easy to get to.

It may not be glamorous, but it has a certain charm, our Broadway.

And while it isn’t exactly the Canyon of Heroes…

…it’s at least the gully of MY hero!

Aby-a-Day – January 20: Happy Accidents

Published on 20 January 201320 January 2013 by Talonvaki1 Comment

Sometimes, when you snap a photo, you don’t always get what you expected. Sometimes you get something better than you intended.

These are the sorts of photos you couldn’t take on purpose if you tried.

Some of these photos are from the 2010 backlog; all of them are pretty interesting action shots. They show cats in action in a way you see all the time when you live with them, but hardly ever manage to catch on film.

Aby-a-Day – January 19: “Haven” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

Published on 19 January 201319 January 2013 by Talonvaki2 Comments

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Haven.”

Angel loves the television. Usually, she’s up in front of the screen, but when she feels especially threatened, she barricades herself underneath the TV stand.

It’s not a napping place. It’s a highly defensible fortress where she fends off attacks from Tessie, Jacoby and yes, even Kylie.

This is Angel’s safe haven.

Aby-a-Day – January 18: The many hats of Jacoby Stealin’ Home (Fashion Friday Flashback)

Published on 18 January 201319 January 2015 by Talonvaki19 Comments

There’s a weekly cat photo contest on LiveJournal I regularly enter, and last week, the theme was “Cats in Hats.” Talk about being spoiled for choice!