Clance is grabbing a bite to eat while Larenti watches from around the corner of the fence.
Are you gonna eat all that?
Category Archives: Larenti
Show us what you got, honey!
I was so tickled by this that it was an absolute must-share. First, the photo:
That’s Larenti. She’s quite fond of lying on her back. It actually goes further than just lying on her back though, as she gets in that position and wallows and rolls about with much enthusiasm before she finally comes to rest with her belly to the sun and paws in whatever position they took during all the commotion. It’s quite entertaining.
Unfortunately, that video ran too long and cut off before she rolled back over, stretched out her legs, and found that oh-so-right position for some nice sunshine-blanketed rest. But you get the point.
Why do I name them?
I’ve been asked why I name the outside cats. There are three major reasons, one of which is shared with the cause for naming other wildlife (although I don’t post about that).
(1) It’s easier for me to talk to them when I’m not referring to each individual with the same name I use for every other individual. “Hi, kitty” gets rather tired when that’s all I say despite the targets being a dozen different animals. This is also true of other wildlife but only works when I’m certain I can tell them apart.
(2) It’s easier for me to write about them. Whether blogging or writing in my offline journal, constantly referring to an animal as “Kako’s double” or “Vazra’s lady friend” eventually becomes tedious. So long as I know the creature that goes with each name, using anything else is a waste of time.
(3) It’s easier for me to organize my photos when I can go to a specific name knowing precisely what I’ll find.
Given the explanation, I’m announcing three new names and a bit of reorganization.
Let me begin by saying all of the stray/outside/feral cats I’ve named (and will name in the future) have been moved out of the The Kids structure in both categorization and image placement. That includes both Chira and Larenti. They’ve been moved to a new “wildlife” section in both regards. I don’t like including them in the general results for everything about my cats and think this works better. Those changes have already been included in the updated sidebar.
Next, let me tell you the names for the three most recent “regular” feline visitors from the outside world.
Kako‘s newest double will now be known as Henko. The name is a chimera of Henry‘s name (for the white spot on its chest as seen in this photo) and Kako’s name (for being a black tabby).
The first Kako dopplegänger I discovered will now be known as Clance. That name is a modification of Clarence. Because Clance is cross-eyed, I thought it an appropriate moniker based on the 1965 movie Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion. While I can’t argue that the movie itself is horrifically bad and unworthy of viewing by anyone anywhere, the title popped into my head and seemed appropriate given Clance is majorly cross-eyed.
And lastly, the new cat who looks like Larenti will be called Aethon. That’s the ancient Greek god of famine. Why is that appropriate? This poor cat eats an enormous amount of food and gives me the impression it’s starved—or famished. I’ve only observed the feline eating here perhaps a handful of times, yet it never fails the poor thing will consume almost all of what’s available and even waits from time to time for me to put more out there—which it then eats most of before finally scurrying off in a satisfied state. I’m concerned that is a sign of internal parasites but likewise hope it’s a sign it’s been going hungry for a while and isn’t eating anything other than what it gets from me. Only time will tell.
In response to the names and the general change to what I consider related to The Kids, I’ve updated the sidebar and think I’ve updated all of the appropriate posts and links.
[Update] As for the pronunciations, here’s some guidance. Henko is pronounced HANG-koh. Aethon is pronounced A-thawn (a as in hay, and the ‘th’ in thon is hard like ‘the’). Clance is… well, it’s dance with CL in place of the D.
Larenti’s double
Almost a month ago to the day, I mentioned another of the neighborhood cats who at first seemed to be Larenti, yet on that occasion I realized as I watched that what I was seeing was her virtual double. The stranger looked a lot like her but was different in several ways: smaller, darker and more brown as opposed to her light grey, tabby stripes slightly more pronounced, and no tipped ear. Since then, I’ve been watching carefully and have seen more and more of this feline. It’s more skittish than she is (in fact, she’s gone the opposite direction now and is quite comfortable with me) yet not so skittish as to run away when I go outside—although it does step away from the food long enough to be certain I’m not going to attack, and it watches me carefully if I move or make noise.
I was finally able in the last few days to get some photos of this new kitty. First, let’s do a bit of comparison. Here’s a previously shared photo of Larenti:
And here’s a photo of the new kitty:
Now you can see why I was originally confused by this one.
I’ve increasingly seen this cat over the last few weeks and have even learned it’s willing to wait for me to come out and feed it when there’s no food available. While it won’t sit at the fence and rub against my hand like Larenti while I fill the dinner plate, it will sit a short distance away. Sudden movements or unexpected noises frighten it, but it’s not so scared that it won’t eat with me standing right there. I just have to be careful not to interrupt too much. If I do, the first thing I get is this:
Because it doesn’t have a tipped ear, I can’t be certain it’s fixed. If it has already had its privates taken away, it’s like Vazra in that it is or was someone’s pet and has since been abandoned or ejected. Strays will always have a tipped ear if they’ve been spayed/neutered; fixed cats without a tipped ear absolutely came from a home where they were once a pet (tipping the ear is only done on strays to assist with easy identification of those who need the surgery and have yet to be treated/checked by a veterinarian). If you look at Clance, Kako’s dopplegänger, you’ll see it has a tipped ear. You can see from the first photo that Larenti has a tipped ear. One of the other cats I have a photo of (and am trying to get better photos of) has a tipped ear; it’s also a Larenti look-alike except is less pronounced with its tabby stripes and is a much lighter shade of grey (like smoke). Needless to say, this cat is one of two things: not fixed or a former pet who’s been kicked to the curb to fend for itself. Chira’s photos show he doesn’t have a tipped ear and is either another rejected pet or a complete stray who hasn’t been caught and fixed yet.
One thing I’ve noticed about this cat is that it’s been extremely hungry. It’s been a mere two weeks since it’s discovered I’m willing to feed it and try to keep food available at all times, and since then, it’s consumed mass quantities each time it shows up. I can’t be certain and am totally making an assumption, but that at least suggests it’s been abandoned and has only just found a source of nutrition. I hope I’m wrong; I hope I’m just the most convenient and consistent source. I doubt it.
If you look closely at the hi-res version of that photo, you can see its left eye has a minor wound beneath it. After looking closely at all the photos I have, it appears to be minor and healing.
This feline comes around throughout the day and night. It showed up at almost 11 P.M. last night for a very late dinner yet was here around 5:30 A.M. this morning to grab some breakfast right after Larenti had hers. At least it’s learning to trust me and to remember there’s food to be had if it comes and visits.
[Update] Subsequently named Aethon.
Kako’s double
Kako has a dopplegänger. But it’s no mere double. This cat is much larger than she is. Although I’ve only had a few personal encounters with the feline, it seems to be relatively friendly and not so feral that it runs if I’m outside while it’s around. That said, it’s also not completely comfortable with me and does keep a watchful eye on my activities.
I already showed one picture of the little beast as it grabbed a bit to eat while Larenti watched. In fact, I noticed Larenti is now following this cat much like she did with Vazra before I rescued him. She’s a lonely sort that way.
This new visitor to jason’s world of wildlife mayhem is cross-eyed. I’ve noticed this trait as I’ve gotten clearer views. Nonetheless, it’s a spunky cat with a laid-back personality.
And let me apologize ahead of time for the quality of some of these photos. This cat isn’t interested in my direction even when I beg for it to stand still long enough for a portrait. Oh, and I had the camera on the wrong setting and didn’t realize it, so the shutter speed was too slow for moving objects and moving hands. Can I still blame it on the cat?
One, take note of the stripes across the chest. It’s a black tabby like Kako, and just like Kako, it has ferret-like fur that is black on the outside tip but is mostly white. This could be her larger cousin.
Another thing that’s obvious is a problem with the poor cat’s right eye. You can get a closer look (albeit sans focus) here. It’s either a broken blood vessel around the pupil or is damage to the pupil itself.
That’s another view of the eye in question. You can make out through the blur how the damage is part of the pupil and extends to the bottom of the eye itself. I’m not certain if that’s a genetic trait, if it’s related to being cross-eyed, or if it’s from an attack.
After a meal, where do you go? Elsewhere is the answer in this case. Again, pardon the focus error.
You can see some of the stripes on its body and its tail in that photo. While Kako is petite, a trait that makes it hard to clearly identify her tabby traits, this cat is much larger. That makes it a bit easier to see the stripes.
Here’s a much better overhead shot while the kitty was eating.
And a side view.
I’ll continue trying to get better photos of the rascal. I also intend to befriend it as much as possible. I’ll keep you posted.
By the way, this seems to be the cat that makes such a mess of the neat pile of food I put outside the fence. It’s eating habits are… well… let me just say it wouldn’t be invited to any fancy dinner parties if that’s how it was going to dine.
[Update] Subsequently named Clance.