h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Two weeks ago we got a new Maine Coon kitten, and have named him Mars. He's a red classic tabby in color, with white chest, stomach and feet, and is 3 months old. It would be hard for him to be any cuter.

He's very vocal for a Maine Coon, issuing announcements before he eats or uses the litter box, and if his ball goes under the sofa. He asks very politely for breakfast or dinner, but becomes more insistent if you dawdle.

He's the spitting image of the cat in the left-most photo of the second row from the top in this link (the one that says 'redfern'):
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=red+tabby+Maine+Coon+cat&btnG=Google+Search

He's very affectionate and LOVES sitting in your lap. He'll stay there, purring and/or sleeping, until you put him down. I LOVE this because the cat I've had for 11 years (see below) will sit in my lap for only about 20 seconds at a time and WILL NOT let me pick her up at all.

Mars and Tabitha (age 11, brown classic tabby with white) have achieved detente. She is tolerating him as long as he isn't jumping in her face -- which elicits growling, slapping and hissing -- but has shown no signs of affection for him yet. But give her time.

You can tell I have no children by the way I go on and on about my cats!

Mars does sound like a real cutie Big Red...& I can just imagine the tenuous detente between the 2 of them, got laundry to get out of the dryer but will check the link before too long. How've you been?

Hi, Jazz! I've missed everyone here tremendously. I'm doing OK but work has been totally crazy, so I've had no time to post to Hootoo for several weeks. Very heavy workload and the pressure all falls on me to figure out how to get it all done in the time allotted.

Wednesday night I couldn't stop crying for *four hours* when I left the office, just because of the stress. So THAT won't do, and since then I've been trying to disengage myself from it some. Just trying not to CARE so terribly much.

That's probably more than you bargained for with your question, but I had to get it off my chest first!

How are YOU?

Hey, why can't someone have children AND go on about their cats? Eh??? (that's me being Canadian )

And what's this about crying for four hours? Actually, sometimes it's a good thing to cry all that crap out.

Anyhow, haven't heard from you in ages, so I'm glad you're back. But you should also post your Mars story on the weird cat thread. Fabulous name, by the way.



az

Thanks! It just sort of popped into my head when I thought if him being a redhead (god of fire, Red Planet, etc.)

I put a post on the weird cats thread referring folks to my page for the details.

I've missed you too! Seen any good movies lately? I'm waiting for "Cold Mountain" and the "Lord of the Rings" finale.

No need to appologize, I'm a good listener, it's a valid prolem, & obviously really affected you! I've been fine, things've been going very smoothly & I've been catching a variety of great ...think (?) I'd mentioned I volunteer at a local Jazz & Blues club http://www.yardbirdsuite.com . In fact, I was there Fri., Sat., & Sun. evenings then I'll be there tomorrow for their Jam Session evening.

I'm also waiting impatiently to see The Return of the King. Didn't even bother to go see the last Matrix. Saw Love Actually last week and it was fine. The usual, but a wonderful performance by Bill Nighy which helps keep the film from being TOO syrupy. Then went to see Intolerable Cruelty and felt like walking out after about half an hour.

What can I say? Just not enough selection of original version films here in Seville.

So, are you feeling better now?

az

Yes, I am, thanks for asking. Sometimes I have to hit a wall, and then realize I have to detach myself some from my work. I get too caught up in it. So trying not to give a flip is helping!

Plus Thanksgiving was last week here, and that was really fun. We had a great time cooking and eating and drinking.

Thanks for the review of "Love Actually." I've been trying to decide whether to see it or not. I really liked "Four Weddings and a Funeral," but didn't care for "Notting Hill" too much. (I have a Julia Roberts issue.) Also glad for the "Intolerable Cruelty" review -- didn't see that either.

We didn't bother with last "Matrix" either, but probably will rent it eventually just to satisfy the curiosity. The first one was one of my favorite movies, but I worry that my opinion of it will be tainted now when I try to watch it again!

Cute !

I procrastinated with Matrix until it was off the list in my hometown. Perhaps I'll look it some boring summernight. I haven't been at the movies for ages. But I went to the theatre for couple times.

Awwwww! AMrs is such a cute liddle puddy tat (if anything like the photo!) I'm jealous. I just got two new cats myself, but they is both toys. (but purrrfect for head rests on the sofa!

Zantic

He is incredibly cute, and loves to cuddle. I HOPE Tabitha gets jealous because she, while very affectionate, doesn't like to be held or sit in a lap. Maybe she'll change her ways. (Nah, she's a cat.)

Oh, I dunno. The family has changes beyond all recognition from when we first got her.

She was a stray, found by a freind of mine on the roof of Waverly station. We got her after two years, when he got divorced and moved into non-pet apartment. She was an outdoor cat, who didn't like being held, or stroked, or even being near humans. Now she rules the roost, we are her slaves (well, at least Mum is, as I can't have her in my flat), yowls at you if you are not sitting in the proper cat acceptable fashion (lap readily avaliable) and is currently rarely out of the hose because it's winter and her arthritis is playing her up.

Poor old thing. Don't think she's gonna be with us much longer

Zantic

It's hard when they die. Our old cat Beckatt died a year ago at age 14 and a half. Long life! We were so sad to see him go.

hi Big Red,

I just now checked out the photos. My goodness, what an adorable little thing Mars must be! And nice to finally have an affectionate one that likes to sit on your lap, I'm sure. My female cat Lua sounds a lot like your Tabitha. She is the crankiest thing on four paws and has NEVER sat on my lap, though she does like sleeping on my head. Sunny (Lua's massive son) thinks he is a dog. And Azar, my little gypsy street cat, loves to cuddle.

I sometimes get the urge to hear the pitter-patter of tiny paws about the house, but really, three cats are quite enough. And I keep remembering when Sunny was little, climbing curtains and eating holes in my clothes! Happily he doesn't do this anymore. But he is the only one I had since birth as I adopted Lua when she was 2 (now she is 13!) and Azar was five months old when I rescued him from the street. And since his front left leg was broken and disfigured (it looks like a hocky stick) he wasn't into climbing curtains.

So how are you doing these days? Still managing to feel good? I hope so.

az

just a list upper

Hi, Dent: What's a list upper? May be cross-pond communication problems again.

Hi, Az: Yes, I'm still holding the work woes at bay. Plus things have slowed down a bit as Christmas approaches, which REALLY helps.

compliment returned have good christmas
http://public.fotki.com/harrysheardthis/cats/
..... ^---^....
== (*@*)==

Thanks! Whose cats are those?

every single one a rescue cat,fostered,funraised for C.P.L for 8 years have a lot more,will be puting more on as soon as i get round to it,have a good one

hi logicus,

How lovely! At the moment I have a full house. Two rescue cats and one born almost into my hands (gosh that was amazing).

Perhaps not surprisingly the two rescue cats are quite neurotic in their own special ways. Bless their little furry hearts. The one born in front of me, who had me hold him since he was just a few minutes old and has never left my hands since, is sooooooo laid back and confident. Well, now he weighs about 7 kilos so I can no longer hold him in my hands But he is just so SURE about being loved all the time. The other two love being cuddled as well, but they are more nervous in general.

At least the two rescue cats (Lua and Azar) are way more affectionate than when I first got them. And as for Sunny, I keep wishing I could be him, just one day a week. Just imagine how that must feel! To be Sunny for a day. . .

az