Introducing my pretty girl...

[Meecer]

I've been on this forum for a few months and have been so focused on the mouse section I forgot to introduce my kitter to the cat forum!

My family had three cats, but unfortunatley two of them passed away over the past couple of years (they were about 12, one had liver cancer, one had stomach cancer). So now we have a ten year old cat, who I don't have a picture of just now, and my one year old baby, Rags.

I've worked at an animal shelter for many months now in the cat area, and from the minute she came in I was in love. So of course I had that dilemma where I hoped she would get a good home, but at the same time didn't want her to leave :p But a few weeks ago my parents gave in, admitted the family cat could use the company now that he's on his own, and said I could adopt her!

So here is my baby doll, Rags, the prettiest and sweetest kitty ever. Cutest little meow and so huggable! Here she is.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/jayids_gunclub/ragsrolls.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/jayids_gunclub/ragslook.jpg

[TiaMaria]

Nice looking cat you have adopted. Way to go and good for you! :)

[kittykat05]

So cute, she looks like a Turkish Van. Is that right or are you not sure. I love those breeds, I had one a few years back but she passed. Very beautiful!!

[Geminigirl]

What a cute kitty! she does look like a turkish van I have two.

[Punkygirl0101]

She is adorable!!

[acfrogg]

What a pretty kitty Meecer! I don't know how you can work in a cat shelter, I'd be taking them all home, lol! You picked a great one though, I want to cuddle her!

[Meecer]

Thanks everyone :) And I don't know if she's a Turkish Van, she might be one, or a Van mix, but as she was a stray the shelter had no idea what type of cat she is. Don't Vans have something special about their coat that makes it dry faster or something? Does it feel different from normal cats? Because hers does, its kind of medium length (shorter than most long hairs) and softer than any other cat I've felt. Very fine hairs. Also when she lies on her side I can see longer hairs sticking up above her normal coat but that might just be all cats, I don't specifically stare at them lying on their side against the sun often enough to know its thats normal :)

And as for working at a cat shelter, I love it! There is that urge to love and cuddle and keep everyone (especially the kittens!!! since its summer, we have over 30 kittens right now... tis the season). But its not a public shelter, its a private PAWS (Pet Animal Welfare Society) shelter, so its a nice shelter, not like rows of metal cages on a hard cement floor. More like rooms, with no more than about eight cats to a room, with cages that the cats go in only at night. During the day they run around the rooms together, and there are toys, cat beds, cat jungle gyms, all that. And the volunteers do more than just clean up, there is a big emphasis on socializing and brushing and loving and playing with the cats. They have something called the Cat Buddy system, where a volunteer can be assigned a specific cat that needs extra attention (shy cats, abuse cases, that sort) so the cat is garunteed love and attention by at least that one person every day. Its a great place.

[ratbrat21]

awww adorable cat! :) Wish felix had a friend lol

[animalmagic]

I wish my cat had a friend too..

Wow, Rags is beautiful. I'd love to work at a shelter or rescue. Anyway, she's such a pretty cat! Congrats :D

[kittykat05]

I don't know about the drying faster. But here are the characteristics for the coat of a Van

"Semi-long with a cashmere-like texture; soft to the roots with no trace of undercoat. Due to the extremes in climate of their native region, the breed carries two distinctive coat lengths and allowances must be made for the seasonal coat. The summer coat is short, conveying the appearance of a shorthair; the winter coat is substantially longer and thicker. There is feathering on the ears, legs, feet and belly. Facial fur is short. A frontal neck ruff and full brush tail become more pronounced with age. The above description is that of an adult, allowances must be made for short coats and tail hair on kittens and young adults."

And here are some pics
http://www.pusscats.com/Turkish_Van_Cats.jpg
http://www.catsinfo.com/breeds/turkish/turkishvan3.jpg

[Meecer]

Cashmere sounds about right, she really is very soft! And she has shed down to a shorter coat since earlier in the summer but thats all cats really. But the short face fur and fluffy tail all sounds right too. Maybe she is a van, she sure looks like them. :)

[kittykat05]

Vans are great cats, mine was very loving, and always wanted to cuddle.

[acfrogg]

Sounds like a great shelter! We have a sad one here that I am not fond of. They are about o get shut down because they have been found pocketing the money instead of taking care of the animals, makes me sick!

At least you have learned to restrain yourself from taking them all home :) :)