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| Name: |
Bell
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Age: |
Six years old
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| Gender: |
Male
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Kind: |
Tabby
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| Home: |
Mountain Park, Georgia, USA |
We joke Bell is believed to be a velocitabby (like the velociraptors) and Rhode Island Red mix! At his convenience, Bell runs up and down the very tallest trees with lightning speed and ease. He also "crows" with the break of dawn
every morning, just to not waste any time cuddling.
I originally saw a color copy taped to a library's check-out desk one day about 6 years ago showing a dozen little 4-week-old fur babies in a box begging for homes... and I couldn't resist the thought of a possible kitty gift to mark an anniversary of sorts coming up soon. I responded and set an appointment to meet the kids.
Once I was actually on the floor with a kitten box dumped before me and the two of them in particular climbing up my shirt to kiss my neck, I was hopelessly hooked. Although all the boys were all taken, they did have one tabby who was a female (our Bell) who was obviously bonded closely with the littlest, most active one (a tuxedo we named Shadow) and those were the two who climbed up my shirt as I sat there on the floor for our first meeting. I didn't have it in me to run away fast enough nor to split those two perfect babies up from each other... so I said I would take them both when they were ready.
My partner of 10 years (Susan, a.k.a. "Mommy." to Bell and Shadow now - as they both come when called by name and will go to "Mommy" or "Daddy" when told to) had a brush with death as a result of a burst appendix which she survived and I then marked that 1 year anniversary by bringing us home our new babies to join her existing pod (of 6 rescue cats and a 110 pound German Shepherd rescued a year earlier and already living with us). She about melted when I held up two palm-sized fuzzballs at her crying to be held. Thus, I entered my new life of cat service (LOL).
Numerous cat people have since commented that these are likely two of the smartest cats ever seen or heard of. They are both so communicative and cuddly, friendly and clever that it is hard to not sound like "grandpa Cat" braggin' on my grandkitties when giving examples. They are both "family" cats and wary of the outside but ALL personality and brains from the start.
Our day begins with Bell (who turned out to be a boy in disguise and is often called Mr.Bell and Mr.B as a result now) crowing like a furry rooster to the sunrise each morning. This "meeer-rooolw-rolla" is his call to rise and love him (morning hairbrush massage, treats,a faucet turned on for drinking out of and to be let outside for all such catting purposes). He will do this until his name is spoken or you snap your finger from under the covers... upon which you will be love smothered until rising from your pillow.
He is among the most amazing athletic cats I have ever seen (thus the Jurassic Cat reference of the "Veloca Tabby" suspected breed) as he freely runs up and down 80' tall pine and other huge trees with ease. He loves all the neighbors and their cats and dogs (as able) and loves to come home for scratches, tummy rubs and dried cat nip toys (versus the fresh stuff we are growing outside)... and surfing the throw rug down the long hallway (hilarious) with his sister and generally power napping and looking cute. He is an exceptional hunter and patrols the neighborhood for fun and food.
He is the man of the house among the clan (and both of the "babies" control the German Shepherd, as funny as that seems, but he is a big bunny rabbit himself, so no huge shock really once you know them). Us three "guys" - Bell, Buck (the dog) and me - all have a special bond as well and they come to me to all hug together while they rub faces on my lap at the table every afternoon for scratches and loving on. It's pretty awesome. They love their Daddy.
Bell has a pretty solid "vocabulary" but not as extensive as Shadow's (which is pretty amazing) in communicating with us about what he wants. He brings us love gifts (a whole rabbit to our door last week, sorry to say but you see the point) and will walk right up to me and ask me to bend over and then he stands and reaches up to hug around my neck or shoulders - to be picked up and hugged and carried around like a little kid. He loves his sunny/shady front deck and his dog's air conditioned memory foam bed or his Mom's computer chair equally at any time and is always a sweet heart of a boy to approach and listens really well.
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