The thing about a "snow schedule" is that one tends to stay on it even if, as today, there's hardly any snow on the ground. Snow, as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reminds us, does not melt at 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but when the sun hits it the snow quickly reaches temperatures above 30 degrees Fahrenheit and starts to melt, so even though the air temperature has stayed below the freezing point of water you see much less snow in the sunshine than in the shade. When there was less than an inch of snow before the sun came out, the snow vanishes in a few hours--in the sunshine. So today I'm still seeing an inch of snow in shady spots but hardly any left on most of the ground...and, nevertheless, I am running on a snow schedule.
This is because, instead of relying on an alarm clock, I let Silver and Serena join me in the office, then immediately leaned over on the bench and fell asleep. Exactly six hours later, I felt my warm velour robe being pulled away from my head. Something solid but furry bumped my forehead.
"Is that you, Serena?" I said.
"No, it's Silver," Silver nonverbally said, sniffing my face in the way cats do as a friendly greeting, "and I hope you slept well and feel good and all that, and I really want to go out now."
At which point the computers, which are set to "go to sleep" after six hours so that their faint blue glow leaves some confusion about whether anyone is in the office, went black. And the cats went out.
Cats' digestive systems generally work on a six-hour schedule, very efficient. Even if they've been encouraged to use a litter box regularly and stay indoors all the time, they still have an instinctive tendency to wake their humans after letting us sleep six hours. Possibly they think we need to be exercised and encouraged to use the bathroom. Too bad about those of us who feel a need for more than six hours of sleep every night. That is a concept only very old cats understand.
If you, too, would like to be awakened in a quiet, friendly way after exactly six hours, consider adopting a cat. Dogs' sleep cycles may be more variable depending on the age and size. Both dogs and cats basically sleep in short naps rather than sleeping through the night, though older dogs and cats take back-to-back naps and can stay in the same sleeping spot all night. Smaller and more energetic dogs' digestive cycles can be even shorter than cats', while bigger, older, and generally slower-moving dogs' digestive cycles are much longer. Both species normally total at least twice as much sleep time in a 24-hour period than their humans do. Most humans, however, find it easiest to get up during the night at 90-minute or three-hour intervals, so it may feel more tolerable to put the cat out after exactly six hours than to go through the run, sniff, scoop routine with an Australian Shepherd after four hours' sleep at night.
Alternatively, of course, some people succeed in training their pets to rest in a crate or cage with a litter box. The crate or cage should be big enough for the animal to stand, sit, lie, and change positions comfortably. Room for puppies to run a few steps, for kittens to climb and jump, is a great asset. A secure water container can be harder to build in, especially if the temperature is warm and the animal learns to cool off by tipping out water and rolling in it, but also enhances the probability that the animal will think of its crate or cage as its comfort zone. Most animals I've known showed no interest in toys unless a human was playing with them, but some do like to have a favorite toy in the crate.
In theory, at least in the country animals stay outdoors at night the way nature intended. In practice, I'm not sure whether Silver really feels the cold so much or just learned to associate being indoors at night with her few months of being treated like a Queen Cat; anyway, since she's come in from the woods, when the temperature dips into even refrigerator range she wants to be indoors, preferably curled up against Serena or me or, if possible, both.
Beside Drudge and Serena Silver looks tiny, but it's fair to mention that she's not exactly a midget; she lost weight while living in the woods and is getting back up to eight or nine healthy pounds. \
In honor of the cheerful sight that was the first thing I saw this morning, today's Petfinder post celebrates animals whose coat color is a flat, even shade of pale black that's often called "blue" or "silver," though it's nearly always a shade of gray with warm brownish undertones from the drab undercoat. Anyway, they're not tabby-striped, as a majority of gray cats are. (In a bright light you can see faint tabby stripes on "blue" cats; in most lights they look flat gray.)
As always, if you can't adopt or foster a shelter animal but would like to help it find a good home, just sharing the photos and links helps improve its chances, and you can also sponsor its adoption.
Zipcode 10101: Mush from NYC
Few details are available about Mush. She is believed to be ten years old and shows no major health or behavior problems.
Omaha from NYC
Are you the sort of person who should adopt a Siberian Husky? Omaha is not all that husky--38 healthy pounds and, at two years old, unlikely to grow bigger. She was brought up as a pet and has a friendly, gentle pawsonality, but she was born and bred to run long distances in snow. If you're not sure about your willingness to run with her, you could apply for a "foster to adopt" arrangement where you provide a healthy environment out of the shelter (preferably with a big fenced yard) and let her meet other potential adopters until you decide you can't bear to let her go.
Zipcode 20202: Troll from DC
Described as the leader of his litter, sassy and sweet, Troll is a lovable adolescent cat. They warn, though, that he's not completely "housebroken" and they offer no refunds, Male cats do often show status by scent-marking their favorite things, sometimes including their humans' legs, feet, or shoes. When neutering doesn't "fix" this behavior, the cats are probably best off in a barn.
Zipcode 20202:
His web page: https://www.petfinder.com/dog/tatum-217ea641-a48d-433f-a25e-012739cfbda3/dc/washington/k-9-lifesavers-dc19/details/
Thought to be a Catahoula Leopard Dog, or more that than whatever else he is, Tatum is about a year old and weighs about fifty pounds. He is still a puppy and needs some training, and this organization specializes in supplying professional training for dogs. He is available as a foster pet. He is friendly with humans but not with other dogs. Guarding a big fenced yard would be a suitable job for him.
Zipcode 30303: Glacier from Marietta
His web page: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/glacier-a78c425b-826a-4e3f-8808-d210ce2cae01/ga/marietta/homeless-pets-foundation-ga140/details/
His paws are exaggerated in the photo, but they really are large. He is still growing into them. He is described as very sociable, perhaps even social, inviting attention from humans and friendly with other cats. He will need another kitten to play with and has a look-alike brother who might be a good choice.
Buster from Texas
His web page: https://www.petfinder.com/dog/buster-29e55e21-6bee-43b5-ae4f-efb4c00be426/ga/atlanta/spring-branch-rescue-tx2397/details/
Buster is believed to be a Staffordshire Terrier, a popular breed for house pets. The dominant trait of all terriers is that they are built for digging, and may dig out terroirs whether there are mice or moles to hunt or not. Buster does not like cats or other male dogs, but does get along well with medium-sized female dogs, although he's neutered. He is regarded as house-trained and has had some veterinary care. He can meet you in Georgia or Texas, as you prefer. (Points in between? Ask.)
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