All 4 Love...

Proud pet parent of:

Aspen, (my photo of her featured in National Geographic Magazine for December 1, 2007).
***AND***
Although they are not pets, a feral cat colony of dozens and dozens of kitties are considered to be my "shared" pets too! I have become able to pet several of them. I spend some time almost every day out there with them, although it is hard not to pet all of them or pick them up and hug them--I do consider them to be my adopted group of shared pets.

How we met:

Stumbled onto the colony when I was with a friend...They were pretending to be starving-then I met Steven, who feeds them everyday, for the last 19 years!

Pet likes:

So many kitties, its very hard to give specifics here. They all love to play and eat. Sleep, play and eat...what else is there?

Pet dislikes:

to have to share some food! They also don't care too much for my showing up without treats such as chicken, tuna, steak, ham, did I say CHICKEN!? I don't think they enjoy having to share the catnip I bring them either!

Pet’s favorite spot:

In a pile of loose catnip! It's a drug to them! Feeding and watering spot. There is one cat who won't come down off the roof-her name is Roofie! Now her sister is up there with her too, I call her Groupie! Another spot for some is right under my feet up on their hine legs waiting for their treats!

Pet’s favorite toy:

balls any type or size, toys with feathers, catnip loose piles, each other, catnip sprayed toy mice, remote controlled furry mouse (they don't know it's me behind the wheel), laser pointer (red dots). Oh yeah, another favorite toy to them is each other!!

Pet’s silliest habit:

All of the kitties at the colony are silly! Every thing they do, every look I get, every toy I bring, nothing but pure silliness! I think the standing up on back legs and catching the treat with two paws is the topper! Oh and hopping after crickets on their hine legs with arms straight out to the side like 2-3 times non stop makes me squeek! You have never seen anything like this I am completely sure!

Pet’s sweetest moments:

I think it is difficult to describe the feeling of all these kitties seeing my vehicle upon arrival and watching them run over to me. Because there are so many moments and so many kitties, it's difficult to describe just one sweet moment. I think that maybe the best of all is the first petting of one of the wild ones. There is nothing sweeter than seeing a wild animal show a sign of trust or comfort with me. It is heart warming, heartfelt and cherished! Every moment we share together!

I crack up when my pet:

do the kitty dance (see photos). I "crack up" when I arrive to feed what appears to be 40-50 "STARVING" kitties. Then Steven will show up minutes after as he does everyday and I see the very same "STARVING ACT" I just got. Such believeable actors! Maybe the little fat bellies would be a sign, but who could turn these cuties down? Funny stuff!

My pet is unique because:

All of them are unique, whether they are feral or domestic, each one is different having their own little thing and cuteness. When I visit the cat colony, it is so neat just to see the little guys recognize me and run to me! So many little faces, each different, all unique, no two alike! Such a joy each one of them! They are all unique because I NEED THEM, ALL OF THEM!