Fellow cat lovers,

[NancyFalsoPhotos]

A quick little family intro since I just joined this team -

I've got an almost-one-year-old Egyptian Mau named Alice, and an 11 year old gray cat named Ozzy, who I found abandoned outside back when he was about 2 months old. He's been through a lot in his life, from allergic reaction to a vaccine which almost killed him, to urinary blockage which also almost killed him, to stomach issues that required an operation, to otitis that left him permanently imbalanced, and most recently he was diagnosed with diabetes. =/

They are both featured in my 2012 cat calendar (Ozzy is the January cat, Alice is April and December) along with several other friends' cats and random outside cats:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/85760746/2012-cat-calendar-sale-desk-calendar

I'm planning on putting the money I make from selling photos and calendars toward his well-being right now, since the vet visits and medication are quite expensive.

I'd love to know about everyone else's cats, too. Include pictures if you've got 'em!

[GryWinther]

Wow, your cats are beautiful! I've never seen an Egyptian Mau before.
I feel so sorry for your Ozzy going through so much, I hope is doing OK. In Norway where I'm from: we say that cats have nine lives.


<------------This is my Agnes, she is about 3 years old. A Maine Coon mix we adopted from Humane Society.

Here is some more photos of her :) http://www.pbase.com/sc_20170/image/133171611

[Former_Member]

Hi guys, I have four cats that try to control my life currently. Two rescues and two foundlings. For a laugh and to see what they look like please visit my blog and check out the short videos on the side bar.
http://balmyatticarts.blogspot.com/

[LegendaryPetToys]

Hi everyone,I have a total of nine cats all rescues,I've even had to bottle feed four of them, want to see some pictures:
wwwlegendarycrochetcom.blogspot.com

[Former_Member]

Hi Francie, see we share the same blog background. :)
Love your tabbies.

[Former_Member]

Is your Egyptian Mau a purebred? I had never heard of them before until I was watching Cats 101 on Animal Planet one day, while standing in front of the TV holding one of my cats who loved to watch. As I watched, I became convinced he was at least part Egyptian Mau. I'll never know for sure since I got him at the Humane Society, but he has a lot of the characteristics, one prominent one being the "worried" look they are supposed to exhibit. His fur is also only colored on the tips, if you look below the surface, it's entirely a creamy brown color.

I'm not sure if these links below will work, since I don't think you can attach photos in replies!

Rico:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/227900_10150194255432287_840882286_6721724_6353...

Harley:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/25211_380613302286_840882286_3501433_2990892_n....

[NancyFalsoPhotos]

Yes, she is a purebred - I got her from a breeder and have her full pedigree. I actually discovered Egyptian Maus on Cats 101 too, and fell in love with them. I did a little more research on them before deciding to get one of my own, and I haven't regretted the decision for even a second. She's really amazing.

Hard to tell from the photo you posted; I would need to see the face shape better as well as the pattern on his back. However, it doesn't look like he has the skin flaps going from his belly to his hind legs, which is the main Mau characteristic. When they are fully grown the flaps tend to have white tufts of fur on them, as you can see here on Alice:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiatingeye/5886200221/in/set-72157626419564918

Or here on a bronze Mau:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0LwSSOgwAUM/ShIiO23kAHI/AAAAAAAAE-w/H-hf3ZtnneY/s1024/DSC_2093.JP...

This is what allows them to run so fast, and when they sit it tends to cover most of their back legs (often only their toes will be sticking out, making them kind of look like they're wearing a skirt). You'll notice the same characteristic in Egyptian cat statues.

If he doesn't have those skin flaps he is definitely not 100% Mau, and since they are a pretty rare breed I'm not sure what the chances are of him having Mau blood... but I suppose there's always the possibility that there was a careless breeder somewhere out there who either crossed lines or just let his/her cats roam around outside.

[NancyFalsoPhotos]

Oh and as for Ozzy, he came very close to dying in December (had to force feed him honey at that point) but we seem to have finally figured out the correct dose of insulin he needed, so he is doing much better nowadays. He's got his strength back and is no longer walking funny on his hind legs. He's even able to run once in a while, which is nice to see. Here's hoping he still has a few years ahead of him... <3

[Former_Member]

I wanted one badly after seeing that show. I did a lot of research but decided two cats is enough for me. I'm allergic to them so one more in the house would probably send me over the edge!

He doesn't have those tufts or flaps, although ever since he was a kitten he always had what I called a pouch, because there is definitely extra skin there. There's no way he could be 100%, but there are so many similarities that it made me think he might have some in him.

Regardless of what he is, he's quite a character and I'm evidently the love of his life :)

I call my other one my neurotic cat...he thinks he needs to be petted the entire time he's eating. I'm surprised he hasn't wasted away!

Enough about my cats! I'm glad Ozzy is doing well. Hopefully he's got many more years in him!

[ChicChixnChampagne]

Nancy,
I just wanted to say that my sister's cat contracted diabetes when he was older, at about 18 yrs. old. I guess it's the feline form of Type 2 human diabetes?
I hope he's not suffering and that he gives your family many more years of companionship.

Marcia, ack ... our cat wants someone to stand by and wait while she eats and then let her out ... she wakes me up in the middle of the night for that and sometimes just goes back to her sleeping place!
If I walk away to do something else, she comes and finds me and meows at me to follow her back to her dish.

I guess we all know who the Queen is at our house?
Alysen

[NancyFalsoPhotos]

Thanks Alysen, he is definitely not suffering now and is actually looking even livelier than before, since he also lost a bit of weight. (He was being fed special food to control urinary blockage, but it was higher in carbs so while helping that issue it also made him gain weight and probably had something to do with the diabetes, too.)

I even caught him batting a little jingly ball around a bit the other night - he hadn't done that in forever! Made me very happy.

[Former_Member]

I have three cats...all rescues... And all try to control my life! My oldest is a tuxedo named Mao. My momma's boy is a ginger named Spunky (who is INCREDIBLY jealous) and my youngest is Manja. She can either be the sweetest little girl you've ever met...or.... (I'm beginning to think we should have named her two-face...)

[Former_Member]

poor ozzy, my sister's cat when we were growing up had urine crystal blockage that almost killed him and then developed diabetes, too.
I'm glad Ozzy is feeling better!

[LegendaryPetToys]

Hi everyone, This crazy cat lady added some new super cute cat pics to her blog check it out!!!!

wwwlegendarycrochetcom.blogspot.com