The Haul : August 2023

Should have posted this last month, but just got around to resizing photos.

I've owned a lot of cats over the years, but haven't owned one for about 20 years. Mitzie is unlike any kitty I've ever had. When people say that Maine Coons are different, they really mean it.

Some unusual facts about this breed:

They don't really care for their heads being touched, but love belly rubs and scratches.
They will follow you around like a dog.
They vocalize and even point at things they want.
Mousing/hunting instinct cranked up to the max.
They don't mind being wet.
They consider everyone in the household part of their "family," even other pets.
They prefer ground level, and will spend much of their time on the floor, rather than on tables and countertops.
Their thick coat not only helps keep them warm in the wintertime, it also helps keep them cool during the summertime.
They are curious, and will generally be fascinated by whatever you are doing.
They don't tend to roam, and will stay near their humans, to the point of following them both inside and outside.
They reach their full growth between 3 and 5, and are still considered kittens at a year old. (They transition off kitten food at 15 months).
These gentle giants also have a shorter lifespan than other cat breeds, living for about 13 years.
Their tails are about twice as long as a regular cat's, and can be up to 24" long.

Mitzie is a free range opportunist, and moves from lap to lap, and doesn't seem to care who that lap belongs to. My wife claimed she was a "man's cat," then had to eat her words when Mitzie snuggled up to her in her sleep, and then choose her lap for a nap the next afternoon.

We also have three dogs, two of which are confirmed cat chasers. They don't seem to know what to make of a cat that steadfastly ignores them, aside from the occasional hiss when she's tired of being pawed at or nose poked.

She also doesn't seem to mind car rides, and spent the 2 1/2 hour journey home riding on the center console, and has taken other trips with me since.

In short, if you're considering getting a cat, there's valid reasons for choosing a Maine Coon (despite the expense) over other breeds. And apologies for the long-winded post.

 

Thank you!

Mitzie is still a kitten, so she hasn't exactly developed an adult personality yet, but when she wants something, she puts her feet on my chest and yowls in my face a few times from about 4 inches away.

Today, it was to let me know that she was done with riding in the truck for the day. Yesterday it was to inform me that she didn't like the sound of the shopping cart wheels on the floor. She's remarkably chill about being around large noisy crowds. Some of that is probably just a kitten being a kitten, but some probably has to do with the breed's natural laid back temperament.

 

Nice score. Those are great little shavers, and the case is usually nearly a write-off anyways, as the stitching does not endure the passage of time well. They have a very heavy chrome plating, and usually clean up nice. The shave is near identical to a Cooper MonoBilt, should one of those ever cross your path. I suspect the Cooper was designed around the BP razor, which predates it by about 10 years.

 

Nice! I'm a fan of the stainless set myself. At least the case. It lets me travel with two spare blades in addition to the one loaded in the razor. If it had a spot to hold the strop dressing too, it would be the perfect box.