A bit more filler, I’m afraid, before you are returned to your regularly scheduled cartoons.
This was an illustration I did for the most reason issue of CFA’s Cat Talk magazine for an article about Polycystic Kidney Disease in Persians. I know it isn’t Abyssinians…but sometimes it’s interesting to draw a different breed!
The other day I took mini-Jacoby for a trip to Cambridge on the Red Line.
I was amused, because I’ve taken the real Jake and Gun-Hee on the train so many times.
While we were underground, he sat nicely on the seat.
But just like Jake and Gun-Hee, his favourite part was looking out the window as we crossed the Charles River.
Unfortunately, it was dark, so he couldn’t see very much.
Hmm…I guess I might need to get him a stroller for these rides?
Today is the 8th anniversary of Gun-Hee’s death.
Actually, he was murdered. Murdered by that malicious serial killer known as FIP.
He was so miserable when he was sick.
It’s true what they say. They do tell you when it’s time.
I still miss him every day. I wish Jacoby could have met his half-brother.
This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Lavender.”
Here is Angel with her buddy Handsome Panther.
As you can see…Handsome Panther is a lavender colour.
You love Handsome Panther. Yes, you do.
Today’s Page-a-Day Cat Calendar page was a nice surprise – a bevy of Somalis!
“AROUND THE WORLD – Ahrensburg, Germany, is a proud town that dates back to the 13th century, and Kalahan, a Somali, is the proudest mama around, says her person, Edda Dalank. Her four kittens, ten-week-old sisters Massary and Makeda, and brothers Montoya and Matou, are beautiful, bright, and very active. It was a real challenge to get them all together for a group portrait.”
Another of Edda Dalank’s Somalis was featured in the Page-a-Day Calendar back in January 2012
I was lucky enough to get this portrait of one of Jacoby’s ancestors, Selene’s Firefly, from Tessie’s breeder, Kim.
She is moving, and wished to find homes for three older Abyssinian portraits. They’re all wonderful – and two were of Firefly – but the oval one in particular spoke to me.
I just think it’s so wonderful to own something that belongs to my Aby’s past.
At Christmas last year, I was also lucky enough to get some old CATS magazines from 1958 and 1959…and look at this listing of top show cats that was published in the August 1959 issue! Firefly was the 7th Best Cat in the East that show season!
Abyssinians are just so helpful.
This is what happens the moment I get out my light table to draw cartoons.
The thing about this is, it’s an LED light table. It’s not warm at all. Not in the slightest. Absolutely no warmth emanating from its surface whatsoever. He’s just sitting on it to be “helpful.”
Hi, Jacoby. Yes, I love you too. Now get off.
Another homeless Abyssinian right in my own back yard, I’m afraid.
“Rocko is 7 years old. Male purebred Abyssinian. He has a big personality but lovable.
If you are interested in adopting Rocko, please call 508-994-0220 or e-mail cricket13@comcast.net.
Rocko is available through C.A.R.E. Center for Animal Rescue & Education in Acushnet, MA and is eligible for their Senior for Senior Program; he can be adopted for a reduced fee to seniors over age 55.”
And look! He even likes to dress up!!
I was going through some old things of mine and I discovered an envelope my dad sent me a few years ago filled with old drawings of mine that he’d saved. Among them was this Father’s Day cartoon I did in 1980, when I was 15.
It’s actually pretty well-written and clever, considering my age. My dad always did encourage my creative side. And you can actually tell that whatever style I have was starting to develop even then.
And I’m also pretty sure that the father cat in the first two panels, possibly the mother cat in the 7th panel, and definitely the daughter in the 8th panel are supposed to be Abys. Even back then, I was in love with Abyssinians.
At the BlogPaws Cat Style Lounge DIY craft table on Thursday night, I took the Russian Jacoby ball-jointed doll with me just for fun. While I was making fun cat glasses, he was playing with other miniature kittens.
What’s really funny is…on the Hauspanther site, among the collection of photos from BlogPaws, you can see my arms, one leg, and my camera at the craft table! Wow…I’m…tangentially famous!
I just had to share these photos of our friend Dante Mooner that Marsha Zapp Ammons posted on Facebook last week. They are the perfect embodiment of the concept of “Father’s Day.”
Marsha wrote: “Dante Mooner to one of his Humans, John: You’re mine, you’re mine, you are ALL MINE!”
Marsha also explained that “Dante loves to go walking, but he often ‘asks’ us to hold him, like John is doing in these photos.”
Awww…look how much Dante loves his human dad!
This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Hop.”
For some reason, one of Angel’s “safe spots” is the shelf underneath an old 1940’s coffee table I have.
I really don’t know why she likes it. It’s not high, it’s not especially protected or defensible, and it’s not soft and comfortable.
Still, if she’s being bullied by Tessie or harassed by Jacoby, she hops onto that shelf and all is right with the world as far as she’s concerned.
When I adopted Angel from Purebreds Plus, I had to fly out to Northern California to collect her. This wasn’t a problem at all for me since, despite living in New England, I grew up in Northern California, and my mother lives in Davis…8 miles away from Purebreds Plus’ headquarters in Dixon, CA.
So while it wasn’t a problem for me, I did worry about Angel’s trip home to Boston. The flight had had a layover and we had to change planes in Denver. Because Angel hadn’t ever really travelled, and she had never worn a harness, I got her a MetPet Soft-Sided Security Harness. This turned out to not be such a great idea as she managed to wrestle out of it inside her carrier.
I also prepared her a makeshift litter box using a folding shirt box and a Ziploc bag full of litter. She was having none of that, either. The next time I need to take a long flight with an Aby, I think I’ll skip the litter box attempts and just make sure I have a supply of pee pads instead.
One of the best thing about Abyssinians is that they are always happy to see you when you come home after a hard day at work.
Jacoby generally is at the door to greet me when I get home.
If I’m preoccupied with something, he’s so excited to see me, he’ll pet himself by rubbing on anything that’s handy.
He’s usually just woken up from a nap when I get home, so he’s still a little sleepy.
Look at that face! That is one cat who’s happy his human is home at last!
More shameless filler, I’m afraid, before we return to our regularly scheduled cartoons…
Back when we only had three cats, Tessie and Kylie would kind of gang up on Angel when she was in the litterbox. Kylie has always loved to sneak attack anyone coming out of the bathroom (humans included). Tessie would use this to her advantage; she’d sit outside the box and herd Angel towards Kylie’s ambush.
This happened in July 2009, but I didn’t have a camera around to capture it. So, I drew it instead.
I did another cartoon about it back in 2013. This got a lot better when Jacoby arrived. I am a firm believer that cats work better in even numbers than in odd ones.
The last time I went to the Korean supermarket, I brought along Mini-Jake.
I figured he’d enjoy all the seafood they have there.
And the tuna.
They have so many different kinds of tea there, of course.
And cookies!
I really love this brand of Japanese mushrooms. They have a different little character for each variety.
But the best thing they had was an enormous sushi boat! I wish I could get one, but at $99.99 it’s kind of pricey. Plus it’s HUGE.
But look! Mini-Jake is King of the World! As long as there are no icebergs…
I know my blog’s been a bit spotty lately…a couple of late posts…skipped cartoons (fair warning, that’s going to happen again this week). I apologise for that.
Part of it is Flickr. I’ve been having a lot of trouble getting photos to upload for some reason lately. I’m not sure what it is. I tried using their Uploadr app, but it doesn’t seem to do any better, and the names of the photos don’t carry over so every photo is “untitled.”
I’m not sure why exactly, but lately my life has just gotten a lot more hectic than usual. I’m still shooting for a post a day, because this is “The Daily Abyssinian.” I just fell behind this weekend.
These are from when I got home from BlogPaws. I missed my Jakeman so much! I really wish he could have come with me.
This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Touch.”
Abys are very touchy-feely cats. They use their paws like little hands.
Jacoby loves these plastic spring toys. I happened to get a bunch in my swag bag at BlogPaws.
See? There he goes, using his hands to hold the spring down.
I think he likes the way the springs feel.
In his teeth…
…and in his paws.
It’s fun to watch Abys use their hands.
They also like to touch their humans. Jake is always touching my hand, putting his full weight on it to see something I have, trusting me to keep my hand there and support him. I haven’t had many cats who would do that.
The Daily Abyssinian...and Singapura 