Rob's Birds
Critters Without Feathers

Please read if you love parrots.

Cats

Lil' Bit -- Named for her tolerance of new things, i.e. gradual.

She was far-sighted when she came to live with me, became very near-sighted, and I think now sees only light, dark, and movement. This photo is a few years old; her pupils are completely dilated now. The vet said vision changes often happen with Siamese. As far as I can tell, she's domestic shorthair, Siamese, and Persian. (One of my nieces brought her home from the pound. She was lost, starving, and pregnant. So, not long after, she had her kittens -- two long-tailed tabbies, two Siamese-type, and one short-coupled gray puffball.) She has the most amazing coat, very thick with an extremely fine gray undercoat. She's darkening with age as Siamese do; she was white and cream with gold and tan spots when I got her.

She has become Mom's cat, or rather, Mom is her security blanket. She stays by Mom's feet, and sleeps in Mom's bed whether Mom is in it or not.

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Smokey was 6 or 7 years old when I got him (1991), and he understood so much English that even spelling in front of him didn't work long. He had been abused, and I sometimes wonder if he learned English in self-defense.

Still doing well, altho' like many of us he's developing some memory problems with age, and his hearing is going.

(He has huge green eyes.)

Smokey was adopted from the Minnesota Valley Humane Society in Burnsville, MN. A few years later, I created their website.

Axle and Lilly, my sister's cats -- The white in Axle's coat is pigmented, like white paint. Lilly's fur is white like sugar or salt, i.e. no color, so her ears always look pink. She always looks gorgeous, with her long silky fur and big gold eyes.

Axle is gone now. It feels odd not to have him greet me or ask for samples during dinner.

Diane adopted Ashley several months ago. She is a very funny little cat -- and will always be small.

Please read if you love parrots.

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