 | Home:Twentynine Palms, CA |
Age: 10 Years Sex: Female Weight: 10 lbs.
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Leave a treat for Ding Dong
Nicknames:
Double D, Bullycat
Kitty Complexion:
| | | | | | | | | Activeness | | | | | | Intelligence | | | | | | Curiosity | | | | | | Friendliness | | | | | | Vocal | | | |
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Quick Bio:
Coloration:
Black and White
Likes:
Ding Dong loves her momma Gris Gris, whom she herds around and snuggles with all day long. Recently, she’s decided she really likes pets and sitting in your lap, demandingly.
Pet-Peeves:
being ignored
Favorite Toy:
Anything catnip, little crochet balls, mylar taunter. Boxes – good for hiding in, scratching on, cheek rubbing.
Favorite Nap Spot:
anywhere near where her momma, Gris Gris is
Favorite Food:
Just about any fancy feast you put down.
Skills:
Being alpha cat (that’s not just for dogs) and letting everyone know by laying the biggest poops you ever saw – and not covering them. She’s also a very bouncy and fast runner.
Dwells:
indoors
Arrival Story:
For the full background on Ding Dong and our other ferals, please read the arrival story of Lulu, see our family below. Ding Dong was the 6th feral cat we adopted and socialized, and was part of a little feral family. We had been feeding Ding Dong, her mom Gris Gris and sister Ho Ho for about 3 years outside. Initially we caught them in a humane trap in 1999, had them fixed and released them, thinking they would hate us and never be seen again. Turns out they seemed to be upset that we didn’t adopt them! They hung around even more, were insistent about being fed, and waited to greet us every day. Ding Dong would yowl loudly and plaintively every morning for her breakfast and in the evening for her dinner. There was no way to feed them on the sly without the entire complex knowing about it.
We were occasionally able to entice Ho Ho and her sister into a game of swat-the-taunter. They responded well to our attempts to be friends. Eventually, we could pet Ding Dong and her family. They lost their fear of us, but stayed wary of other people.
We were heart broken that we didn’t really have room to take them in, as we already had 3 cats at that time. But in March 2003, facing possible “removal” (to be euthanized by animal control), I caught Ding Dong in our humane trap a few days after her momma, Gris-Gris, and sister, Ho Ho. We couldn’t see these girls be caught and taken away, after we had cared for them, befriended them and loved them for years. We were so happy to get them indoors, away from harm, although we didn’t realize they would live with us forever. We tried to find a home for the three girls, but there were no takers. Looking back, I’m so glad no one came forward, as Ding Dong and her krewe really were our cats all along…
Bio:
In March 2003, I was in a rush to catch Ding Dong, her sis and her mom. I was mainly concerned about getting them indoors, away from the danger of being caught by animal control. I would figure out homes later.
Ding Dong was the last feral cat that we caught with our humane trap: and she was the hardest. Though she was certainly hungry, Ding Dong waited me out for 3 days! I could only put food out in the trap to ensure the cats to be caught would go in. It worked fine for Ho Ho but Ding Dong was an alpha cat and was smarter and warier than I realized. She probably remembered the FIRST time we caught her – when she was taken to be fixed and have her right ear “notched” marking her as a fixed feral.
I actually had to negotiate with Ding Dong to get her in the trap. Each of those three days I waited her outside, sitting by the open trap, talking to her, even petting her, showing her the tasty food inside. She was so cautious, and was probably very anxious that her companions Gris Gris and Ho Ho were missing (they were already happy indoor cats at that point!). I could see the gears grinding in her head – debating about whether to go in the trap. She’d go away, and come back, morning and night. Since she waited so long, I was so worried that she would run away or become ill from not eating!
Finally, one evening, while I was there talking to her, she made the decision to trust me, and she went into the trap. Such a brave girl! Up we went to our new life together, and to be reunited with her family. She didn’t struggle, she wasn’t angry, but I know she was scared. She was SO HAPPY to see her mom and sister again, and it was so sweet to see them all touch noses and realize they were safely together. After a trip to the vet to get a checkup and testing, she was able to start her new indoor life.
We kept Ding Dong, sis Ho Ho and mum Gris Gris separate (in the bedroom) from our other kitties while I made friends with them, and they rapidly got used to being indoors. They took to the litter boxes just fine and loved sleeping together on our bed. They were safe and happy girls. Eventually, over a long period of time, I introduced the new girls to our “old” girls – our three kitties became six. Basically, they have had to sort things out ever since, and things change all the time.
Ding Dong excluded her sister Ho Ho (see our family below) from hanging around too much, and was always at the feeding trays first. Ding Dong has always herded her momma, Gris Gris around, and still does to this day. They play with, sleep with and groom each other, and Gris Gris tolerates her daughter pestering her as only a mother could. They are really cute together.
Ding Dong has a special skill we call “wheelies,” it’s her enthusiastic style of getting pets. She jumps up with her front legs, raises her shoulders up just as your hand comes down to pet. It’s like a bucking horse, and very forceful, but friendly. Ding Dong has recently learned to become a lap cat, and enjoys both her mom and her dad’s lap. She’s learned how to keep those claws in and to relax enjoy pets and snuggle in your lap. We can even pick her up and put her in our lap, versus her jumping in our lap when SHE wants it. Our next milestone is to be comfortable getting hugs and kisses when she’s on my lap (now she nips and meows at me to let her go).
Ding Dong is has always been a protective bully cat. She passively bullies other kitties around. Her presence causes the other kitties to move along. She rules without having to do much fighting.
Ho Ho hates her sister Ding Dong. This goes way back to kittenhood living outside as ferals. They are getting along better, but there will always be a grudge between them. Double D chases Mocha around or just ignores her.
Ding Dong and Lulu don’t like each other. Prior to Ding Dong’s adoption, Lu was our other fine alpha cat (see her link below). Lu Lu’s having trouble coping with not always being the top cat. I think there’s some jealousy thing going on. Lu Lu acts out and attacks other cats when Ding Dong attacks her. These two will never be friends, but their tolerance of each other is improving.
Interestingly, Ding Dong has begun to be bullied by Bon Bon (see her catster page too). Bon Bon’s typically very timid, but happens to be much taller than all our other cats, and so seems larger from a cat’s perspective. I think Bon Bon mischievously enjoys challenging the top cat, Ding Dong.
Our kitties don’t pal around together much, but Ding Dong dotes on her mother, Gris Gris. They cuddle, groom and sleep together. I think Gris tolerates it, and would really like a break (see her catster page too).
Ding Dong is named for that delicious chocolate snack cake with cream filling…her twin sister, Ho Ho, is named for another snack cake. Ding Dong is not exactly the smartest cat of our bunch, but she is a very affectionate girl, she comes when she is called and loves to sit in your lap to get pets.
Lives Remaining:
8 of 9
Forums Motto:
I Rule You!
The Groups I'm In:
Black And White Units, Cow Contentment - Black and White Cats and Dogs, Fabulous Ferals, feral cats united, The Tuxedo Gang
I've Been On Catster Since:
| August 11th 2005 |
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More than 4 years! |
Rosette, Star and Special Gift History
Catster Id:
180347
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