I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Kam - I don't like the look of them - sorry - their ears are too weird. I'm sure they are nice kitties though.

Kam, he had a cat or cats once who he says tore down the drapes and scratched the furniture. My guess is that they did not have adequate scratching posts. I love my husband, but once he gets something into his mind, you will not convince him otherwise! But we both love dogs so it's OK.

GG - yes, our local market sells Prather Ranch.  Are you impressed with their meat?  As I said, it is organic (if not technically), but I'm not so la la on it, but then, I eat beef about 2x a year, if that, so not a good judge.  Oh - the good thing about Devons are they are almost, if not 100%, hypoallergenic.  This is what Wiki says:  They are often associated with being one of the most hypo-allergenic cats available because of their type of coat.  However, they are technically not hypoallergenic.

Yorkie - gotta find the common denominator and I'm glad he has you as a good moderator on the declawing!

Suzie - Ya see - I love the big ears.  Bigger the better, but I kind of like all cats.  I'm treating myself as I think this will be the last one I will ever own in my life.

Wildstein says Governor Christie knew about the George Washington Bridge Lane Closures.  Christie Christe - your pants are on fire now!

Maybe grass-fed is leaner meat?  I don't find it mouth-watering, but then that probably means the other option, grain-fed and sitting on their arses equals fatty rich meat.  I would probably prefer the latter and one reason for me to avoid it.

That would be tough to have allergies, but love animals.  What about the one Obama got - the Portuguese Water Dog?

Don Diego is such a cutie! 

I shouldn't really join in here as I love them all and don't fuss much with "breeds".  I will say that one of our all around nicest and loving cats has been our Shortie.  A Japanese Bob-Tail.  He is Mr. Mellow personified for the most part.  Having said that.....we found him wandering ( lost or abandoned ) near a small creek full of water moccasins.  He was about 9 weeks old and he is now 15. 

I think the Devon Rex is extraordinary and could easily have a roomful.  I do find Bengals stunning.  While I really don't know, I just would find it amazing if any were to actually attack.  I had two of them ( gal couldn't keep them ) and found them a home together.  They did poorly with the  "alley " cats already here -- just too high falutin' I guess.  The man who took them absolutely adored them and was thrilled.  Well -- anyone should be that is getting over $2000.00 worth of cats for the $18.00 boarding bill............but really, it was that he wanted them and would take both....as they had been together always and they actually liked men much more than women. 

I hope it all works out for you Kam.  Just beautiful.

On another note....sort of wonder just how much we will ultimately learn from Bridgegate.  I'm sure much more than we ever thought.  Hard to fathom how much corruption really goes on.  I'm sure I've been very, very naïve' for a really long time so there will be more jaw-droppers on the way I know.

Jackie

TEE, HEE..pants on fire!  Yeah, Gov Christie, way to go, learning what it feels like when someone takes REVENGE on you..

but no gloating, that wouldn't be polite, giggling allowed...tee, heeeeeeee, teeeeeee, heeeee ;-)

Ah, Bren.  I lived in California for 25 years.  Mainly Ventura, but we were in Santa Barbara for a few years too.  I liked it there well enough....especially the early years as it was sort of exciting -- always lived very close to the ocean.  I really am glad to have had that long and often rewarding experience. 

Still, there is no place like home and the minute my Mom moved back here permanently...California no longer "felt" like home.  I was more of a Daddy's girl, but more due to my sister and Dad not getting along well ( she was rather mean to most people ).  When Mom came home here I realized almost immediately a sense of loss and so 6 mos. later we had sold everything, had the moving van come, packed up our car and truck.....and came home too.  Best thing I ever did.  My Mom only lived about a yr. and a half after we arrived ( no wonder I got all the 'mental pushes' to come home ) and I had the wonderful privilege of helping her through to the end.  What a gift for me. 

Meant to say how cute little D. Diego is in the picture.  Your not too bad either.  Great Pic.  Anyway, the man who took the Bengal's had been through a divorce and his ex took all four cats they had.  After about 3 months he kep feeling lonesome and out of sorts.  Knew it wasn't his ex he was missing  -- so had to be the cats.  Originally only wanted one -- a mouser so to speak.  I talked him into the two......and he prepared two litter pans, two sets of toys, etc.  I still insisted that he meet the cats first......and then decide for sure.  I did not want them separated and would have found someone else.  It was love at first sight for both the kitties.  One was the spotted leopard type and the other....the bigger circles....but both had the higher hind quarters....and bigger foot pads. 

Rainy and warm here today -- maybe I should say moist.  It is not raining now but I think will do it again later.

Jackie

Pip, maybe de-clawing is better there....not sure it is here.  All the ones I saw de-clawed here were not as I recall ( my memory  is not what it used to be ) bandaged, but they did for several weeks have to use ripped up, or shredded newspapers in  their litter trays.  I will have to investigate how it is done here now, though I've never even considered doing it with any of the cats I have.  I do have one beauty....a rather big gal too.....and her former owner had ALL of her feet declawed.  I was a bit horrified.  So...Autumn bites a bit.  She isn't too forceful about it thank goodness.  The problem is....claws are natural defenses for a cat and they are at a loss for awhile over it. 

You are right -- they can damage things not meaning too ( getting a claw or two caught in the curtain or couch fabric ) or other things as well.  I don't keep things that I'll "suffer over" if damaged though I do my best to avoid things like that as it is nicer for everyone.  Your kitties sound just find.....and of course, if they are 'insiders' and are not called on to defend themselves....its fine.  I would want to absolutely know ( its routinely done here too when the cat is being "changed" to non-sexual ) that there would be no pain involved for the animal. 

Hope you are all having a bit of a heat-wave.  Sure nice outside if moist here.

Jackie

When I did my research while deciding whether or not to declaw, I found that there are a couple of techniques used.  The old way, which used to be the only way, was faster (so probably cheaper) and involved severing a nerve.  The nail could also begin to grow again even though it may not be visible.  That is something I would never do to my cat.  

The newer way does NOT involve the nerve.  A block is also given so that there is no pain right after the surgery.  And, I would only do this while still kittens so that they don't have to relearn how to manoeuvre without claws.  The neutering and spaying are much more invasive and painful procedures.

Wow Bren...about the only thing I can think to say is....if things are so important that you'd feel the need to de-claw a cat, then maybe just sticking with those things ( although they won't purr and rub against your legs and talk to you ) is the thing to do.  If other people do it ( I've ended up with more than one cat that was de-clawed ) I can't say much, but it does increase the burden on me as a multiples cat keeper to monitor "spats", be more vigilant that the de-clawed don't accidentally get out and things of that nature.  Also, the declawed  ( more hissy ) are going to suffer a bit more since they all go through a "hazing" of a sorts when they first come in.  Tribal bashing until they "get" the pecking order settled.   Much harder for the de-clawed as they start out with a chip on their shoulder from lack of defense. 

As far as neutering/spaying.....they make better pets.  It also helps cure massive over-population and tends to give us fewer feral societies.  I don't know that it is all that painful for them ( I really don't have info on that ) but starving, being abused, used as lab animals, or used as quarry to stimulate fighting dogs and others things, I will always vote for neu/spay.  The humane societies, no kill, breed rescue  -- all are pretty much over-run with populations as too many owners ( even a couple of my good friends ) thought it horrific to  negate the animals hormones...especially a male friend in regard to male animals.  These animals go for miles and miles, get lost, hit my cars etc.  all because they are "chasing". 

I hope you know I'm not trying to be disagreeable, but just presenting this not very pretty side to things.  I have far too many for a number of reasons and have beautiful Autumn....with no claws at all so she turned into a biter for a long, long time.  It has taken almost three years to get her to stop.  She is still a "soft" biter and how do I know but that she might have been one before her claws were removed.  I don't  know that, but it makes sense to me that it became her "defense" because she lost all the others. 

Jackie

EDIT:  Also meant to add that I think it is a good move on your part to not be too upset over  your work.  If they are a bit 'confused' themselves, you'll end up ok.  Also a good way to bring in some extra cash.  Also, in time you may find yourself sailing through.  I use to type about 125 wpm but with the all the brain upsets from disease processes....even though I'm still fast, my accuracy ( often have trouble with spelling now ) slows me down since I often realize I'm not spelling correctly and so I stop and fix it.  I think that is called obsessive/compulsive.  Sigh !!!!

Jackie, when I was doing volunteer work at our local animal shelter, they also stated that declawed cats are biters, because they lost their primary defense and rely on the second. No matter how humane, I cannot see deforming an animal by declawing. If nothing else it would make him/her much more emotionally insecure and aggressive. That's why I will stick with dogs.

Bren, I hear you about the litter boxes. Although if you stay on top of them it's not too bad. I think one more dog is in our future. Assuming that one has a normal lifespan, we will just be too old to take on the responsibility again. Wouldn't be fair to the animal.

 P.S.   THAT TOOK ME 45 Minutes!!!!!!!!