Nicknames: My Ginger Girl, Ginger Babydoll, Very Sweet Little Girl Gotcha Date: July 21st 2007 Birthday: May 9th 2005 Arrival Story: Ginger got my attention when I was at the Humane Society looking at Patty (she became my Elsa) on July 12, 2007. Two cages down from Elsa was my Ginger Girl (called Dandelion then) who I previously saw on an adoption website where the Humane Society advertised her as "They Named Me What?" (and having seen her picture previously on that site, I not once considered her for adoption at the time I saw her, but that was before I met her!). Seeing her in her cage at the Humane Society, I remembered her for her unusual name. While spending time meeting Elsa (Patty), Ginger (Dandelion) was meowing, and she kept reaching out to me: she wanted attention (she still does especially when she's hungry!). So I gave both kitties my attention. I thought to myself about the policy of 'if you adopt two cats, the second one is half-price" so I thought about adopting Ginger too, maybe. I went home to think about it; and cried, thinking about how Elsa and Ginger liked me so much. I was sure I'd adopt Elsa. The next day, Friday, July 13/07, I went to see them both again at the Humane Society and all the kitties were sleepy - I thought they must have all just been fed. That night I thought, "Quit just visiting them, Patty (now Elsa) is sweet and just go adopt her and it would be nice to have Dandelion (now Ginger) but for sure, adopt Patty". On Saturday, they let me hold Elsa and I filled out adoption papers for her, and to verify adoption you have to call the Society the next day to confirm. Ginger still liked me but with me asking all kinds of questions about Elsa, my mind was not much on Ginger. Then, Saturday night, it struck me: "Oh No! I forgot about adopting Dandelion (Ginger)!". When I called the next day to verify Elsa, I asked if I could adopt Ginger too, and they said 'Of course. Come and see her today, and decide"; I was Happy!! I went to see both cats on Sunday. Since Elsa was going to be mine, she was already being held in another room and they brought her to the adoption area and also let Ginger out of her cage in the adoption area to see if they got along well. They got along fine - no fighting. Elsa was quiet and inquisitive in a quiet way. Ginger was inspecting everything in the entire room including all the other cats in their cages so the Shelter worker said it looks like she'll be an energetic kitty. (When the Shelter worker brought Ginger out of her cage, they said "Oh she's put on some weight too") (and has put on a little more since then!). I held both kitties separately and wanted both of them. Ginger was added to my adoption papers for Elsa. When you adopt a kitty, you get to put your name on their cage, so that others will know the kitty is being considered for adoption by someone else! So, I did that: and you feel really proud putting your name on their cage! I did not get my kitties right away though, but a few days later, I brought both kitties home on Sat., July 21, 2007 as Elsa had to remain and be spayed before I could have her, and Ginger, though she was already spayed, must have needed to be checked over too. Ginger had been at the Humane Society since May, 2007. They told me to keep the new kitties separate from the rest of my kitties (Felix, Serena & Tabatha) for 10 days so I kept Elsa and Ginger in a bedroom of their own, together, to get used to each other. They were quiet in the car in separate cat carriers, and quiet in the house. Felix came to look at them in their cages and no one growled. I put the new kitties into their room and they inspected the room. Ginger got friendly with me after awhile and purred and laid by me, but Elsa stayed under the bed. Later I checked on both of them and they were both under the bed. I checked them several more times and Elsa was under the bed a lot but Ginger was then mushy and loved to be loved and given attention. Elsa came out to me a few times but she had not eaten yet. Ginger ate several times, mostly food Elsa would not eat! On July 23, after work, Patty went back to the Humane Society to recover more from her spaying. Later that night, I fed Ginger and because of the stressful day worrying about Elsa, I guess, that when I went in the bedroom to see Ginger, I began crying because she was such a lovable cat who was loving me a lot and purring so much. I just loved her greatly and cried quite awhile - who could dare to have not kept her; I was happy she was sent to me! I was sad that she'd be alone in her room and wished she would not have to be alone for her first 10 days here. And I cried again because she loved me so much. The next evening, I saw her watching me out the window upstairs when I was outside; how sweet! On July 28, I gave her a cat scratcher with catnip in it and she loved it and stayed on it, scratching and I thought I might call her Ginger like the spicy dough in a gingerbread boy. And also, because on "The Lucy Show", I liked how Viv said Ginger was just short for Ginger Ale! For awhile I called her Dandy. Felix and Serena would go upstairs, outside the bedroom door wondering who was beyond the closed door. I held Ginger a couple of times so she could meet Felix, and they'd smell each other then Felix would always go back downstairs! I brought Elsa back home on Thurs., Aug. 2, and put her in the room with Ginger. On Aug. 3, late at night, it was time to let Ginger out to meet my other kitties. Tabatha growled at her, Felix watched her from a box he was sleeping on and Ginger investigated all over the house, but at bedtime she slept on my bed with me and has, almost every night, ever since! Bio: Ginger is a calico cat with a little black circle on her white tummy and lots of pretty ginger colors all over her - a ginger shoulder, ginger nose, ginger eyebrow, a ginger wrist, ginger on both ears, two ginger ankles and a ginger knee! She is a good babysitter; when Elsa or Tyson had to be separated from the other cats their first 10 days with me, Ginger would play with them under the door and just sit and wait outside the door, as if babysitting! Her adoption papers show birth date as May 9, 2005. I used to say to her, She's Very Slender but now that she has gained a little, I now just say She's A Very Trim Little Girl! She wants food more often than needed, and she will enthusiastically lean up against me, as if she wanted to climb, and leave little scratch marks on my thigh. But she is a very sweet little girl. She loves me! Lives Remaining: 9 of 9 Forums Motto: A Little Ginger Girl The Last Forum I Posted In: How can a group of people be so authentically caring and I've Been On Catster Since:
Did you all read about Panda, one of the Diary Picks today? Her mom Becky sounds like a very sweet lady who needs help getting a service dog. Panda is very cute!
I think Catster must agree this lady has a worthy cause, as written in Panda, her kitty's diary, since they've chosen Panda as a Diary Pick today!
Our family is going to donate a little to her which is in the link in her diary; it looks like all of us Catster families can donate too - as little as $5.00.
Becky is pictured with her dog Takkera which you can see at "Meet My Family".
Panda, one of today's Diary Picks is at:
http://www.catster.com/cats/1248821
I hope you all agree. Poor Becky, no wonder Panda's diary mentions she's so sad. We can give a little hope. Thanks to all of you!
Dad, have the guests all arrived? I have set up my Catster page with photos where you can see I’m sitting by all my cans of Fancy Feast, and my bowl of dry food – all prepared especially for my Birthday Party tonight!
And in that one picture where I look just exhausted – well that’s how I feel right now after all my party preparations! Whoosh, I never had to work so hard! Being 7 years old today I have just never set a Birthday table before.
I have to get my nails done too. So I will do what I usually do: scratch on all the cardboard boxes I can find in the house. My favorite box right now is near the front door; oooooh it makes my nails so nice and sharp – just purrfect for going out on a date (if your date is a real wolf)!
My makeup has to be just right too. I like my little beauty mark to be beside my nose, a little orange dot right by my nose. I try to line my brows purrfectly; sometimes I forget that I have two eye brows and just make one, with my favorite orange eye brow pencil!
Well, I guess I’ll see what’s in the mail today. OH! A Birthday Card from Pet Smart! I like to pose in photos and point out just how nice the card is.
May I check my Catster page? Oh my goodness I’m so overwhelmed! Thank you every Catster friend for your best wishes! You are making my special day a great celebration with your special stars and rosettes!
There’s some paw mail too. Wow!! Thank you my furriends, for the special paw mails!
Thank you Rory, Tundra, Manytoes & Lynzee and also Pipo & Minko for making me photos! I’m putting them on my page too.
I’m going to set out my pretty ‘Calico Kitty’ ornament for all to see, with thanks to Pipo and Minko for sending it to me!
Dad, may I log in and check emails too? Oh Meow Goodness! I see many emails showing comments on my pictures and yesterday’s diary! Thanks for your comments my Furriends!
I wish you all didn’t live so far away because you could come to my birthday party too, and have Fancy Feast, Whiskas Seafood, Science Diet Light and Catnip Birthday Cake.
The table is set with tulips and red roses, and a beautiful diamond centerpiece. I’ve invited some pretty little blue birds to come and make a musical presentation in song. Some ladybugs and a grey mouse might also stop by and there’s going to be an hour of recreation where the boys will be throwing baseballs as they get ready for the upcoming season! Oh I wish you could come!
Tyson had a birthday yesterday, and Dad kept thinking it was my birthday yesterday, so I’m going to get ready today in case I have a birthday coming up soon! I’m getting ready for it now, while I have a bit of time, because a bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush. A bird to a cat is.…they are fun to watch!
We decided I don’t have enough new pictures on my Catster page so we found some from 2007, 2009 and 2011. I wonder if our camera was broke in those even years of 2008 and 2010!
Last night I scared my Dad a little bit. Every time he comes home from work, I am always either sleeping right at the door, so that he won’t miss me, or if I’m upstairs I come running down because I know we’ll be fed. Last night I was no where to be found when Tyson, Elsa and Tabatha ran into the kitchen when he got home. He did a few things around the house, and still, I had not come to the kitchen.
I do have a favorite spot to sleep on upstairs on a box, but I never usually stay there when he gets home. So he went upstairs and there I was on the box, alert and bright like nothing was wrong! (I wanted him to think just because Tyson has a birthday, I need attention paid to me on his birthday too!).
Lately when he goes in the bathroom at bedtime, I go in with him and jump on the chair because my new favorite thing is to have him brush me in the bathroom. So he brushes me and it’s a lot of fun; and every night I continue going in with him because I know he’ll have to brush me!
Also I have this other new thing of walking in slow motion! This happens because Elsa is learning bad habits from Tabatha. Just because Tabatha growls at Elsa, it does not mean Elsa has to turn around and slap me if I’m nearby! So sometimes when Elsa is in my way, especially heading into the kitchen for food, I walk V-E-R-Y S-L-O-W-L-Y past her.
I guess I think she won’t actually SEE me if I walk almost motionless and tip toe past her. Most of the time it works!
Other times, though, Elsa is sweet as pie to me. We were thick as thieves when we first came here together in 2007. She’s OK, I don’t mind, she’s being a cat! She still comes to lie beside me from time to time, deliberately and on purpose, knowing that I’ll wash her face and clean her off.
So I must go and pretend I don’t know my birthday is coming up (but I'll leave some hints) and try not to think about the nice presents Dad has undoubtedly bought me! If I had a pitch pipe, I could meow “Happy Birthday” in tune, as a hint!
Ask a Cat Lady: Why Does My Cat Love Knocking Things Down?
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