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My brothers are protons, my sisters are neurons
No wonder Autolycus has spent the entire evening coming between me and my computer. It's National Black Cat Day. He is only seeking the attention that is his due. I regret nothing. His purr is wonderfully reassuring.
Meanwhile Hestia has taken to hanging out on a stack of boxes by the door which put her at perfect drive-by petting height. It is really cool to see her flop over temptingly and then not flytrap at all, vibrating with her own small and distinct purr. She was so protective of her belly for years.
Of course, when I tried to take some photographs of them in honor of the holiday, I found Autolycus curled up next to the kettle like a cat who had forgotten that he once burned his foot running across a recently used stovetop and Hestia nestled into the recyling because it's right by the hot-air vent in the kitchen and both of them looking like cats who were much more interested in being warm than photogenic. I'm not sure if the blurriness is low light or low battery or both. Oh, well.
They are our black cats and I love them.
Meanwhile Hestia has taken to hanging out on a stack of boxes by the door which put her at perfect drive-by petting height. It is really cool to see her flop over temptingly and then not flytrap at all, vibrating with her own small and distinct purr. She was so protective of her belly for years.
Of course, when I tried to take some photographs of them in honor of the holiday, I found Autolycus curled up next to the kettle like a cat who had forgotten that he once burned his foot running across a recently used stovetop and Hestia nestled into the recyling because it's right by the hot-air vent in the kitchen and both of them looking like cats who were much more interested in being warm than photogenic. I'm not sure if the blurriness is low light or low battery or both. Oh, well.
They are our black cats and I love them.
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both of them looking like cats who were much more interested in being warm than photogenic. I'm not sure if the blurriness is low light or low battery or both. Oh, well.
Black cats are hard to photograph! I've heard, actually, that this has become a problem regarding adoptions. Most rescues and shelters these days primarily attract people into adopting animals through websites and photographs, and if they can't get a cute picture of an animal, it's less likely to be chosen. That plus their reputation for being bad luck means that black cats have trouble being adopted, at least in the US. Which is very sad.
But on a happier note, here's my own black cat, Smudge, also preferring warmth to the camera: https://www.instagram.com/p/BMAUSiOh0c4/
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Autolycus is glad you agree with his position. He has adopted it again tonight.
both of them looking like cats who were much more interested in being warm than photogenic. I'm not sure if the blurriness is low light or low battery or both. Oh, well.
That plus their reputation for being bad luck means that black cats have trouble being adopted, at least in the US. Which is very sad.
Yes. We are actually fortunate enough to have a black-cat-only rescue organization in Boston, Black Cat Rescue. We didn't get ours through them—they were fostered as kittens along with their siblings and mother by a friend of mine—but we donate whenever can, because it is important to take care of black cats. Judging by the frequency with which their cat photos change, BCR is very good at what they do.
But on a happier note, here's my own black cat, Smudge, also preferring warmth to the camera
Lovely cat! Now I wish we had a fireplace.
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Oh, that's wonderful! And some very lovely photos to admire currently, though it's good to hear they switch frequently. The animal rescue organization I got my own black cat from isn't black-cat centric, but they do make a special effort to promote them (http://brooklynanimalaction.org/little-panthers/).
Now I wish we had a fireplace.
Ha, me too – the one in the photo isn't real, it's only a space heater designed to look like a fireplace. Something like this (https://www.walmart.com/ip/LifeSmart-LifePro-LS-1111HH-Infrared-Quartz-Electric-Portable-Fireplace-Heater/39649121), though that's not the exact brand I have. They make ones to look like old-fashioned coal stoves (http://www.sears.com/frigidaire-bern-retro-style-floor-standing-electric-fireplace/p-00832271000P?plpSellerId=Sears&prdNo=38&blockNo=38&blockType=G38) too, which I think are also adorable.
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"Little Panthers" is an excellent name for such an effort.
(I hadn't realized "Bombay" was the breed name for black Burmese-type cats. We just have black cats with a Siamese/Tonkinese look. I can't imagine they would count as part of the breed, since their mother came pregnant from a crazy cat-hoarding house; we know nothing about the father. They might have backed accidentally into an adjacent kind of mix, though.)
[edit] Holy blap, that's Autolycus' purr. Maybe their polydactyl mother was Bombay.
They make ones to look like old-fashioned coal stoves too, which I think are also adorable.
That's great.
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Ha, yes! I used to assume that rescue was just calling all of their black cats "Bombays" in order to make mutts seem more appealing to potential adopters, but then I googled Bombay traits, and Smudge has that same weird snore/engine purr. So who knows! Maybe there are more Bombays around than anyone realizes.
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We always thought it was just Autolycus. His sister doesn't have it, just as she doesn't have the extra toes. They both have the small black panther quality, and the sleek coats, and the big-cat sway when they walk (again, Autolycus has more of it; we chalked it up to his enormous paws). She has gold eyes, which would put her in conformation with the breed standard. His are green.
So who knows! Maybe there are more Bombays around than anyone realizes.
We're starting to wonder!