Oh Those Calicos

On one of my trips into the cathouse, Jo-Jo and Autumn both jumped down near me at the same time.  At that very moment, Frosting appeared.  Then it hit me.  There are FIVE Winnie’s Wish calicos right now - Autumn, Jo-Jo, Frosting, Sallie, and Isis.  (Sallie is actually a dilute calico.)  I constantly try to find new ways to highlight the Winnie’s Wishers.  This week the focus is CALICOS.

I looked up Calicos and read what I had heard and already knew from experience.  Calicos share the personality trait of tortoiseshell cats commonly described as “tortitude.”  This is defined as sassy, spunky, independent.  However, calicos are also known to be loving and loyal.  I read one statement about Calicos that promised a cat who is enthusiastically willing to fulfill a human’s need for unconditional love.  I think describing a type of cat in terms of personality is much the same as describing the personalities of breeds of dogs.  Yes, it is true in general.  But of course, individuals are individuals.

Certainly the Winnie’s Wish Calicos are individuals in a variety of color patterns and personalities.  I’m going to spend this week focusing on them - highlighting each one in the hopes of attracting a forever home or two.  Last week I described how I had moved Sunshine and Juice into my office to do some "extra taming" before they went to their new home.  Isis came into their story, so today I’m going to tell you a little more about her.

Isis is the mother of Mickey Mouse (his adoption story was yesterday) and Maverick (a black cat with a wonderful personality - ready for adoption!).  One look at Isis and you will understand why she received her name.


Isis is a gorgeous calico with maybe the most stunning face I’ve seen on a cat.  She was wild and almost un-catchable initially.  When she moved into the cathouse, she went with a group of kittens who had been living in my house.  You might remember that the cathouse can be divided into two separate areas.  There is a door between the original cathouse and the addition.  That door has a lot of glass.  When a new group is being introduced, I can give the old group and the new one a chance to view each other for a while before actually coming into contact with each other.  While Isis was living in the room with the kittens, she did OK.  I can’t say she made a wonderful adjustment.  She did some hiding and I usually had to go TO her for contact.  But after the two groups were introduced to each other, Isis regressed.  None of the adult cats did anything to her.  But she reverted back to her original self - hiding, hissing, and being un-approachable.  Many times when I would step into the cathouse, Juice and Isis would go out on the kitty deck and remain there until I left.  I guess stirring up all the kitties with my presence was more than these two could handle. 


When I moved Juice and Sunshine to my kennel office, I decided to move Isis there as well.  I have already explained that the three did great in that environment.  Isis started coming to me for attention.  She purred all the time and arched WAY up to get me to pet her.  When I would reach down to rub her face or stroke her body, she would grab my hand with one or even both paws.  Balancing on her haunches, she would often wrap her two front legs around my hand to keep it with her.  She even occasionally joined Sunshine on my desk while I was working. 

My aunt asked me if Isis had been moved back to the cathouse after Sunshine and Juice went to their new home.  No.  I know what will happen when Isis has to move back.  Right after the orange boys left, I had a cat in their cage in the office.  Isis was horrified and became impossible to handle again.  She seems so happy when NOT in the company of other cats.  The two she made an exception for were Sunshine and Juice.  Now they are gone.  And Isis remains the single office kitty.  She hides when people come and go doing business at my kennel.  Unfortunately, Isis will be one of my harder-to-place kitties.   She will require a patient person who is willing to accept whatever relationship she might offer over the course of her life.

That doesn’t make her unadoptable, however.  No way.  If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past few years it’s that there is a SOMEBODY for EVERYBODY.  My experience with Isis proves that she is a loving soul.  I can’t say she is really a “lap cat” (at least for now), but she has grown to love me (and I her).  She could love a human of her very own if given the time.  So friends - please help me spread the word.  Isis is a beautiful calico who needs her very own home.  A Special Home.





See you tomorrow for more calico conversation.

Addendum (1/19/13):  We've made some additional progress.   Isis crawled INTO my lap today while I was working at my desk in the kennel office.   She curled up there and stayed until I got up.  Yay!

Comments

[Random Felines]

Love those big eyes...... all things considered, sometimes you can't really blame cats for not wanting the company of other cats. But we will keep our paws crossed that someone out there wants an only cat. :)

[Liz Garcia]

She's beautiful

[Kat & the Teenage Mutant Ninja Kitty Horde]

It sounds to me as if she might be able to be adopted out with a kitten or to a home with a kitten. She probably didn't see the Sunshine Boys as somecat she needed to establish dominance with given their age. I've seen this before. She would make an excellent single cat. I wager that whomever adopts her will find her sleeping on their bed within a week if not sooner!

[ginny & The fur family]

Isis is beautiful and looks like she is wearing eye make up. She would make a pretty house pet for a lone person or a quite couple. It is worth a try for some one to have this sweet soul in their life as a pet. Isias looks like autumn in the eyes and face - Those two would make a pretty couple if they could get along together - some one could have a too fur... Won't some one out there dwell on these one or both Calicos --Ginny & The Fur Family

[Bellen]

Yes, indeed, there is always someone for somebody, at least as regards cats and humans. I have two of the most timid cats I've ever known, and yet now they come out and enjoy the company of people of whom they were scared to death not so long ago. As you write, it takes someone with patience, someone who will let the cat see how things are and realise - however long it takes - that she is safe, and can trust her new person.

[Andrea and the Celestial Kitties]

I adore Isis' eyes! So exotic, so soulful! I can see her looking at her forever home people with those huge gorgeous eyes asking for their attention.. Wouldn't you like the be on the receiving end of those looks and be the one petting that pretty fur? Wouldn't your parents? Adult children? Friends? Coworkers? Someone wants, no, needs this beauty in their life. Help them get her, and help her get them.

Homes needed, forever homes, wonderful homes! We need to Clear Chrystal's Cathouse by Kitten season! Won't you help find at least one of these sweeties their forever?

Donate, adopt, buy a book, adopt, spread the word, adopt! Share with everyone!

[McGuffyAnn@McGuffy's Reader]

I greatly respect what you do, and wish there were more who cared like you do. I know I do, but we need more, don't we. If each person did something, it would be a beautiful thing for all.