Petfinder Links: Tabbies and Torbies

Ahhh, Google's brought back the pictures! Thank you Google! 

Today's Petfinder theme is Tabbies and Torbies--the most common kind of cats. Their coats are gray with black stripes, orange with deep red stripes, or sometimes mostly gray with black stripes and brownish patches (the Torbie). Some of these cats also have white fur underneath. Because tabby cats have agouti-type hair, in which sections of different colors on the individual hairs form the stripes and shading, Torbies don't have to have two X chromosomes and can be fertile males. (Years ago, I posted that I'd considered calling our Mackerel kitten "Small Change" because he had coppery as well as silvery patches. He was a Torbie. So not only can Torbies be male, but male Torbies can be fantastic once-in-a-lifetime pets.)

1. Zipcode 10101, New York: Simon from New Jersey

For those who've liked all that orange hair from New Jersey that's been in the news lately, here's an example of the red Tabby type. 

Simon is thought to be about eleven years old. In describing him as "sort of social" his human's not claiming that he's a social cat, but that he's gradually become human-friendly. He is not noticeably a social cat. He's described as quite a typical older male who likes to be brushed and petted until he tells you he's had enough. He's intelligent, though, in his way--he's learned to pose well! Bonding with him will be the challenge. If you do bond with him you'll love him. To find out whether that will happen, or whether you'll bond with another adoptable cat first, paste or click: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/simon-7410949/nj/fair-lawn/cozy-cottage-cat-adoption-center-fobas-nj158/

2. Zipcode 20202, Washington: Athena from Virginia 

Worth driving down to Dale City for? Quite likely. Isn't that coat special?

Some tabby cats' coats form a striped pattern like a tiger's coat. Other cats, like Athena, grow fur that forms a swirl on either side. Though it looks as if this pattern would be harder for nature to produce, it's actually thought to be produced by a dominant gene. Athena's age is unknown. She's described as clean, healthy, already spayed, vaccinated, and generally not much trouble, though she does share the calico cat's special ability to shed contrasting hairs on everything. (Cats like for everyone to know that you already belong to them, and so--admit it--do you.) To meet this splendid example of natural camouflage, click or paste: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/athena-30380114/va/dale-city/vip-rescues-and-adoptions-va570/.

3. Zipcode 30303, Atlanta: Eloise from Greensboro 

Here's a tip for shelter staff. Searches for tabby cats have to be filtered somehow--there are so many! People who've lost a pet search for the newest additions to shelters. There's something to be said for this filtering option (Petfinder makes it easy) from a humane point of view, too, since the newest shelter animals may be the least traumatized and easiest to adjust, but today I filtered for the pets who've been languishing longest in a shelter. That pulled up a lot of pictures of obese animals. Fat animals are not photogenic. They look like a lot of veterinary expenses looking for a place to happen. Please help the shelter animals get exercise as well as food.

This young adult cat is not obese.

Pale, pretty Eloise is described as shy and skittish with humans but social with other cats. That's the sort of cat Heather might have let me adopt if Samantha hadn't found me, or the sort Serena would be likely to allow to stay at the Cat Sanctuary--but why bring her to the Cat Sanctuary? She's in Greensboro, Georgia, looking for a Purrmanent Home. In between Georgia and Virginia, there has to be a good home looking for a lovable, young, healthy barn cat. To meet Eloise, paste or click: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/eloise-32314895/ga/greensboro/oconee-regional-humane-society-ga70/

4. Bonus: Winona from Arizona

And today's bonus pet is from Arizona. (Flagstaff, to be exact.) In honor of a theme that got out of hand--I suggested that the fiscal conservatives in that State organize a GoFundMe page for Miguel Ochoa, which has been done at https://www.gofundme.com/f/uber-driver-attacked-medical-bills-aid , and haters immediately used the automatic shadowbanning mechanism to hide my tweets from followers--I've received a lot of tweets and links from a State I don't actually intend to visit again in this lifetime. It's a great State, though, for those who like that kind of thing, and here is a blurry but charming photo of the photogenic cat Winona from Arizona.  

About all the shelter care to say about her is that she's a light brown, black, and gray tabby (Torbie) with short hair. Well, you can see that she's more interested in checking out the camera than in posing or snuggling, and from the fact that a "Humane Association" are holding her for adoption you know she's friendly and gentle. If you are in Arizona, click here to meet Winona: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/winona-45138838/az/flagstaff/coconino-humane-association-az126/ .