Friendly Fill-Ins and Photo Fails

Happy Friday, friends! If you're looking to fill in some fill-ins, you've come to the right place, because it's time for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. In case you missed the fill-in statements yesterday, we'll share them again here. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I would love to be a personal assistant to _________.

2. If I had a boat, I would name it _________.

3. I want to improve my _________.

4. Surprises are _________.

If you'd like to know how I filled these in, you'll find that below. My answers are in bold, and are of course accompanied by my usual rambling.

1. I would love to be a personal assistant to shelter animals.

(Being a personal assistant to a celebrity or bigwig has absolutely zero appeal to me. Kitties, pups, and all animals at shelters, on the other hand, they deserve that extra assistance and care on their journeys to finding their forever homes.)

2. If I had a boat, I would name it Rosie Posie.

(Rosie Posie is what I very often called my calico angel Rosie. In my humble opinion, it has quite a nice ring to it. I also often used the lengthier nickname of Rosie Posie Pudding Pie for my angel Rosie. How would that be for a boat's name? Does anyone know the nursery rhyme that starts out, "Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie"? I used to sing to my Rosie a little tune similar to that nursery rhyme, but of course changing it to star a little calico named Rosie Posie Pudding Pie. I'm probably making next to no sense at this point, so I'll stop there.)

3. I want to improve my communication skills.

(I am and always will be a massive introvert, but I do know that it's nonetheless important to stay in touch with people in your life. There are extended family members and even old friends that I should get better about saying hello to every once in a while. All I need to do is send a quick letter, email, or other message, and I don't know why I have such a hard time with that. I also know that I need to get way better at commenting on the blogs of all of you friends of ours. Shame on me for getting us so behind on this! We used to go online every morning and evening around my work schedule, and during breaks at work. Then work at my day job started getting busier over the past few month, and I started getting lazier about visiting our online friends as often as we used to. I really do plan on remedying this!)

4. Surprises are just a little terrifying.

(I'm not a fan of surprises, if this answer wasn't indicative enough of that. Dealing with surprises and spontaneity simply isn't my strong suit. Of course, surprises are not always a bad thing, but they often still make me feel a bit anxious.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

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Do you know what else today is? Do you? It's the Pet Photo Fails! Blog Hop, hosted by Melissa and Mudpie of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows!

Let's start with a blooper from our resident blooper queen. That is, of course, Eddy.

Lately, we've been sharing a variety of non-blurry window whiffing shots of Eddy. That up there is, surprisingly, one of the very few bloopers we have from Eddy's window photo shoots. I guess the open window is the best place to catch a calm and tranquil Eddy.

Eddy isn't the only one who has a blooper to share today, though. Thimble, our usual professional poser of a model, has two bloopers to share. Both bloopers appear to impart her belief that no one but her, no matter what part of her, should be the star of a photo.

Apparently, Thimble didn't want Evan's face to be seen in either of those photos. Maybe that's why she used whatever part of her she could to photobomb his face. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

Have a fantastic Friday!

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Doodle of the Day:

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Did you know?

Did you know that, in general, adult cats do not meow at other cats, but instead only meow at humans? Kittens do indeed meow at their mother cat to attract their attention, but when cats grow into adults, they usually no longer meow at other cats. Instead, adult cats can and do interact with each other using body language, and the occasional hiss or growl, but rarely meowing. It is believed that adult cats started their practice of meowing and making other similar vocalizations in order to attract and of course boss around humans. Since the humans respond to the meows by providing attention and food as demanded, the meowing at humans continues on.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Just as with every Thursday, we have lots of goodies to get through today. We'll start with the Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge, hosted by Angel Sammy.

Every week, our host shares a photo prompt to help us be poets. This image for this week is this one here:

That there image left the poetic options really quite open this week. It is, quite literally, a blank canvas. I thought about what I wanted to do with that, and here's what I came up with:

The Masterpiece

Young Benji had a dream.

He already knew what he wanted to be.

There was something near and dear to his heart,

And that something was none other than art.

Painting was Benji's one true passion,

And on that passion he planned to take action.

Though he had kept it a secret thus far,

Benji knew he had a talent slightly above par.

One day, Benji's grandparents came over to sup,

And they asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up.

He smiled and did decree,

"To be a painter is the life for me!"

Though they remained polite about it all,

Benji's grandparents implied a painter's life would be quite small.

Benji thought about what his grandparents had said,

And decided he would give them new thoughts for their heads.

Benji ran up the stairs in a flash and a zoom,

And removed his paint, canvas, and easel from his room.

Benji set up his painting supplies by the front door,

And told his grandparents he had something grand for them in store.

He readied his paint and held his paintbrush in hand,

And asked that his audience please sit rather than stand.

After all, he wouldn't want them to be knocked off their feet,

Once they witnessed what they would soon see.

Benji already knew what he would paint,

After first considering all options, from wild to quaint.

His decision was inspired by the words of Leonardo da Vinci,

Who once happened to say, "The smallest feline is a masterpiece."

Benji told his grandparents those exact thoughts,

And told them they would not be disappointed, no they would not. 

And so, Benji swished his paintbrush this way and that,

Putting paint on canvas in the shape and color of an orange cat.

He gave it bright eyes and whiskers and an impressively long tail.

It was the next part of the process that made his grandma turn pale.

Benji finished his painting and signed his name,

And after that, nothing was the same.

After all, when Benji painted that final touch,

And when he had put down his paintbrush,

A great meow rang through the room's hush.

No one in the family owned a cat,

And Benji's grandparents looked this way and that.

There was only one cat any of them knew,

And that was the one Benji had just painted at the front of the room.

When his grandparents looked back up at the canvas,

Benji could tell they felt just a tad bit anxious.

That was understandable, truth be told.

After all, a painted cat crawling out of its canvas must be a sight to behold.

Indeed, the painted orange tabby made its way into reality,

Its tail now swishing left and right ever so freely.

Benji gave the cat now on the floor a rub on its chin,

And to his grandparents he said, with a grin,

"Do you still think painting is really such a sin?"

***

In case you've forgotten since the last time we said it earlier in this post, today is Thursday. In addition to it being Thoroughly Poetic Thursday, it's also Thimble Thursday here on our blog. It's also Thankful Thursday, thanks to Brian of Brian's Home.

Today, Thimble (as well as this momma of hers) is thankful for her library and its books. Thimble is, after all, the resident librarian.

What Thimble is not as thankful for, though, is how her mom has turned that bookshelf into a complete and total disaster area. Sorry, Thimble, I'll get right on that.

As always, all of us here are also so very grateful for all of you, for this entire kind and compassionate community. Thank you all for being you!

***

Can anyone guess what's next? Yes? No? Maybe so? It's the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge! Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I would love to be a personal assistant to _________.

2. If I had a boat, I would name it _________.

3. I want to improve my _________.

4. Surprises are _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Did you know?

Did you know that a purring cat is not necessarily a happy cat? Cats do indeed purr when they are happy and content, but they also purr when they are ailing, in pain, or stressed. In such cases, it is believed a cat is purring as a means of soothing itself. We're thinking many of you already knew this tidbit of information, but do keep this in mind when considering your cat's health, happiness, and their related behaviors.

A Dark Snout and Other Stuff

Today, we're here to bring you a photo of a snout in terrible lighting. There really isn't much more to say on the matter than that.

I'm sure we'll be back to our usual pouty-puppy-in-the-window shots soon enough. For today, though, Astrid informed me that you all needed a view up her poorly lit nostrils.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day:

Like I mentioned yesterday, much of the concept art I've been working on lately is also serving as practice, or experimentation. I'm trying to find ways to draw certain subject matter that I either have never before drawn, or that I want to change up a bit. One bit of subject matter I've been wanting to experiment with is a little thing known as the dog. Mainly, I wanted to figure out a way to draw happier looking dogs.

The way I usually draw dog faces, such as my pup Astrid's face, always leaves them looking shocked or terrified. That expression might work sometimes, but other times it's a real bummer to see that I've created a nervous wreck of a dog in an otherwise happy scene. Cat faces have always been easier for me to draw, perhaps because their shape stays relatively the same across the species. Since I'm more comfortable drawing cats and their faces, I decided to try using some of the techniques I use to draw cats to draw dogs. The above was one such attempt.

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Did you know?

Did you know that dogs have up to 300 million scent receptors in their noses? This is in comparison to a human's roughly 5 million scent receptors, and to a cat's 200 million scent receptors. When it comes to a dog's sense of smell, it can vary depending on the breed. The Bloodhound, for example, is the primary breed that has the aforementioned 300 million scent receptors. Breeds such as the Beagle, Basset Hound, Belgian Malinois, and German Shepherd have 225 million scent receptors. This would explain why Bloodhounds are often tasked with sniffing out missing persons, and why German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois often work with police or the armed forces to sniff out drugs and explosives. Many other dog breeds typically have around 150 million scent receptors, even less than cats.

Tonks Tuesday

We don't have any toesies to share on this Tuesday, nor do we have a tummy or a tortie. We don't even have a tuxie or tushie for you today. What we do have, though, is a Tonks!

This Tonks Tuesday post could sort of serve as a Tabby Tuesday post as well. After all, though you might not be able to see it in this photo, most of Tonks's caramel-colored patches include tabby stripes. So, we hope you enjoy this Tonks Tabby Tuesday!

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Doodle of the Day:

As I've mentioned recently, I've been working on some concept art for this, that, and the other. A lot of this art is also some form of practice, especially when it comes to things I don't draw often. This time around, I'm practicing drawing curly hair. I really need to work on this one more, but I guess that's the point of practice. Of course, I simply had to give this curly redhead a kitty friend. Duh!

***

Did you know?

Did you know that in Japan, calico cats are believed to bring good luck? Japanese sailors have even been known to travel with calico cats on board for good luck and protection. And we can't forget the Maneki-neko, which is a Japanese good luck charm, or figurine, that is most often in the form of a calico cat.

Memorial Day Remembrance

In the United States, today is Memorial Day. On this day, we remember those who have lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. Today, we thank and honor all those who have died for our freedom.

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Did you know?

Did you know that a variety of animals have played roles in the armed forces? We've all certainly heard of and respect the many amazing canine war heroes. Did you know, thought, that cats, dolphins, and sea lions, among others, have also played roles in war? Cats have served as mousers and ratters, for example, keeping bases and ships sanitary and safe from rodents. Dolphins have served roles such as detecting underwater mines. The sea lion is another underwater animal who has been trained to serve in the armed forces, such as to detect enemy divers, and even to attach tracking devices to these enemy divers. Animals are heroes in more ways than one, and that includes a great many of them earning the title of war hero.

A Bookworm Sort of Sunday

As we've mentioned before here on our blog, Thimble is our resident librarian. She is known to guard and watch over the books that inhabit our little home library, and she takes this job very seriously. No harm will ever come to her books.

You might want to tiptoe and whisper, just so you know, lest Thimble scold you for disrupting the peace in the library. Like we said, she takes her job very seriously. Thimbles doesn't tolerate any shenanigans around her books.

Happy Sunday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day:

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Did you know?

Did you know that classic author Ernest Hemingway shared his home in Key West, FL, with up to 50 cats? Many of these cats were six-toed, which is why polydactyl cats are sometimes called "Hemingway cats". Hemingway's family of polydactyl cats began with a six-toed cat he received from a ship captain. This cat was named Snow White, and many of her descendants still live at Hemingway's home, now called the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. It is said that up to 50 cats still live at the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, and that roughly half of these cats are polydactyl, or "Hemingway cats".

Another Caturday in the Books

Do any of you ever get tired of seeing me scribble up cats and books? I hope not, because I have so much more where that came from.

This bookish doodle with a side of feline is of course our contribution to Athena's Caturday Art Blog Hop.

Visit Athena to see all the masterpieces our friends have created!

Happy Caturday, friends!

***

Did you know?

Did you know that a litter of kittens is also known as a "kindle"? This is in comparison to a "clowder", which is a more general term for a group of cats, such as adult cats. Granted, "kindle" is a more obsolete term for a group of kittens, but perhaps this could still be considered a fun fact.

Friendly Fill-Ins

It's Friday! We're thinking you probably already knew that, but we told you anyway. Friday means it's time for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. In case you missed the fill-in statements yesterday, we'll share them again now. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I _________ on Memorial Day.

2. I try to avoid __________.

3. If I had a catchphrase, it would be _________.

4. _________ motivates me to work hard.


My fill-ins are exclusively about the furbabies today. My answers are in bold.

1. I spend time with my furbabies and other family on Memorial Day.
(I of course do my best to honor all those who have served in the armed forces and lost their lives on Memorial Day. Thank you to all who have served! In truth, though, I would be lying if I didn't admit to also using this day off of work to relax with furbabies and family.)

2. I try to avoid moving if there's a cat sleeping on my lap.
(Sort of sounds like a hostage situation, doesn't it? I'm thinking you all know exactly what I'm talking about, though.)

3. If I had a catchphrase, it would be, "I'll have to check with my boss."
(And I most certainly do not mean my boss at my 9 to 5 job. I'm referring to my real, true boss. Actually, we shared the bossy face of my real boss just the other day. Remember this stern little face?

I answer to that face. Truth be told, if I had to pinpoint one furbaby in the house who is the boss of the place, it's probably Thimble. She snoopervises absolutely everything that goes on in the house. She often tells me what I need to do and when. Eddy is very close in second place as the boss around here, though, because her distaste for other cats dictates the layout of the house and which rooms certain kitties are and are not allowed to be in. At the end of the day, though, I have an entire team of furry bosses who literally rule my life. I'm totally fine with that.)

4. My furbabies motivate me to work hard.
(Have you ever heard the saying that goes, "I work hard so my cat can have a better life."? That pretty much sums up my life.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

***

Eddy's been allowing for lots of non-blurry photos of her, as long as I give her window whiffies. The problem, though, is that makes for some very, very repetitive photos. You know, like the yet another window shot you see here:

Wishing you all a sunshiny day!

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Doodle of the Day:

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Did you know?

Did you know that cats cannot taste sweetness? Dogs often very well have a sweet tooth, but cats do not. It is believed this is due to a mutation in feline taste receptors.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Happy Thursday! It's a happy day indeed, because we get to do some rhyming. It is, after all, time for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge.

Every week, our hosts share with us a photo prompt to help get our creative juices flowing. The image for this week is this one here:

I don't really have much of an explanation for my poem this week. I don't necessarily know how I ended up in the situation I did in my poem, but I guess it is what it is. So, if you're into weird, wacky, random rhymes, feel free to read on.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

It was a dark and stormy night,

Which is a total cliché, but that's all right.

On that night of thundering horror,

Laura was babysitting the little boy next door.

After the little boy was asleep in his bed,

Laura reclined on the couch to rest her head.

She clicked on the television and settled in,

Hoping to find a comedy to make her laugh or grin.

Before Laura could even watch a single movie scene,

Across the room the phone began to ring.

With a sigh and a groan Laura stood from the couch,

Her tired back inflicted with a bit of a slouch.

The phone rang ring! ring! ring! until she picked it up.

She answered it with a slightly annoyed, "Yup?"

Alas, though, there was no voice at the other end of the line,

So Laura hung up and let out another sigh.

She returned to the couch and continued watching her movie,
The stormy night making even a comedy film spooky.
Laura could barely hear the movie over the thunder booms.
What she could hear was the phone yet again ringing on the other side of the room.

Laura may or may not have cursed.
A ringing phone was the worst of the worst.
Laura picked up the ring! ring! ringing! phone with a brusque, "Hello?"
The only response was breathing, quiet and low.
"What do you want?" Laura snapped into the phone.
With no response, Laura slammed the phone down with a groan.

Back onto the couch she yet again settled.
She was really starting to feel unnerved and disheveled.
What didn't help the matter was that the phone rang ring! ring! ring! yet again.
Laura rose from the couch, muttering something quite profane.

"What?" Laura practically shouted into the phone.
She heard in another room the house a clock's ominous tone.
She indeed heard the chimes in her own two ears,
But she also heard something that sparked a bit of fear.
The sound of the clock could also be heard on the other end of the phone line.
Did that mean the person calling was somewhere inside?

Laura slammed the phone down.
On her face was nothing short of a frown.
She thought to check on the little boy under her care.
He was sound asleep and not even of the storm was he aware.

Laura stood frozen like a statue in place,
Her heart competing in some sort of race.
After all, the phone was now ringing again.
This time, Laura headed to the den.
That was where the chiming clock could be found.
Was the caller on the phone inside the room with that sound?

Tiptoeing, Laura approached the den's door.
She hoped to find no one, and nothing more.
Peering into the barely lit room,
She saw the culprit standing in the gloom.

On a table in the den there was a phone,
And from it sounded a distant, low tone.
Beside that phone, off its hook, sat a cat.
It sat like a shadow, sleek and black.
It slapped the phone this way and that,
Just like, well, any ol' cat.

Laura was not sure whether to laugh or cry,
When she discovered that simple reason as to why.
She had somehow forgotten this nice family adopted a black cat.
She knew all about him, and his name was Mack.

***

Can anyone guess what Thimble is thankful for on this Thankful Thursday?

Sun puddles! We've been having us plenty of sun lately, and Thimble is certainly not complaining. She never forgets to sunbathe that tummy of hers.

All of us here are indeed grateful for the sunny days we've been having, as well as for friends like all of you.

***

Now, are you ready to prepare for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? Below are the fill-statements. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I _________ on Memorial Day.

2. I try to avoid __________.

3. If I had a catchphrase, it would be _________.

4. _________ motivates me to work hard.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Did you know?

Did you know that cats purr at a rate of 26 cycles per second? To put this in perspective, this is roughly the same frequency as an idling diesel engine. Purring is the result of movement of the muscles of the larynx, as well as the diaphragm. These muscles can move roughly 26 times per second, hence the act of purring at a rate of 26 cycles per second.

Woof Woof Wednesday With a Side of Thimble

Astrid didn't want to snap a photo for today, so Thimble took matters into her own paws.

Do you see the pup back there? Thimble wasn't about to let her get away with hiding from the camera. Thanks, Thimble!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day:

That's just another bit of experimental concept art, of course starring a specially abled furbaby.

***

Did you know?

Did you know that, worldwide, there are 360 officially recognized breeds of dog? This number is likely to increase, though, due to the common practice of experimenting with and registering hybrid breeds. As for cats, the most breeds recognized on an official registry is 71. Some registries list far less cat breeds than this.

Tonks in Trouble

Last week, Tonks helped Evan show off his toesies. At that time, it was also revealed that Tonks enjoys playing with those toesies of Evan's. This may or may not have something to do with the fact that Evan is hind limb paralyzed and his back legs dangle and scoot along behind him. Talk about tempting.

Last week, some of you asked what Evan thinks of Tonks playing with his toesies. Evan was happy to let you all see what he thinks of his little sister being a...little sister. This here, this is what he thinks:

Siblings. Can't live with them, and can't live, well, with them. Is that the same for all of you? If you have a sibling, do the teeth and claws often come out when they're around?

Happy Tuesday!

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Doodle of the Day:

I'm still working on lots and lots of random concept art for some story ideas I've got going on. This really is just concept art, and is primarily helping me brainstorm and peg down some atmospheric and character details. There is no science behind these doodles. It's all pure chaos and utter randomness at this stage of the game.

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Did you know?

Did you know that cats and dogs sweat through their paw pads? This is why you might see wet paw prints left behind by your nervous cat on the counter or table at the vet's office. Cats and dogs might sweat through their paw pads when they are hot, though paw pads are often not a sufficient means of dissipating heat in extreme summer conditions. That's why they also pant, seek out water and shade, and so forth. Keep this all in mind this summer, and make sure to help your kitty or pup stay cool and safe!

Mancat Monday

Our post might be short today, but it has something worth a thousand words. And what might that be?

A handsome mancat named Evan!

Wishing you all a magnificent Monday!

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Doodle of the Day:

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Did you known?

Did you know that cats' and dogs' nose prints are as unique as human fingerprints? No cat or dog will have the same ridge pattern on their nose as another cat or dog. No two noses are alike!

In Honor of Grumpy Cat

Our post today is dedicated to the one and only Grumpy Cat, who made her journey to the Rainbow Bridge this past week. Her name was actually Tardar Sauce, and this here human was a huge fan of hers.

In honor of Grumpy Cat, Thimble wanted to snap a selfie showcasing one of her own disapproving poses. She got so excited to dedicate this selfie to Grumpy Cat that she had trouble sitting still, which means her photo is a tad bit blurry. We didn't think you all would mind.

Thimble, all of us here, and the entire world will miss you, Grumpy Cat. Thank you for the smiles, and for the frowns.

***

Did you know?

Did you know that cats have 32 muscles in each ear? To compare, humans have only 6 muscles in each ear. The 32 muscles in a cat's ear allows the cat to move each ear separately, and their ears can swivel and rotate 180 degrees. As you've all certainly witnessed, a cat's ears can indeed face a different direction than the rest of their head, and this is thanks to those 32 muscles.

A Caturday in Honor of Crockett

As all of you likely already know, the Lone Star Cats lost their sweet Crockett to a tragic accident earlier this week.

Crockett's mom recently posted that today would have been his fifth Gotcha Day. In honor of Crockett and his Gotcha Day, his mom created the Wear Orange for Crockett blog hop.

Our housemate Toby of course wanted to honor Crockett and the wishes of Crockett's mom. So, Toby asked his humans to find him something orange to wear. We did just that. This is for you, sweet Crockett.

On behalf of all of the rest of us, our resident orange boy Evan is also here to honor handsome Crockett.

Crockett, everyone in this community will always remember you. Your memory will live on and on.

Our most heartfelt thoughts and prayers remain with Crockett's family. What a sweet and handsome angel the Rainbow Bridge gained. The Rainbow Bridge must have needed Crockett's bright and lively soul, and it is surely all the more bright and lively in his presence. Crockett, we know you'll be watching over your family, until you all meet again.

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Did you know?

Did you know that over 75% of orange tabbies are male? This is because the gene for an orange coat falls on the X chromosome. A male is XY in terms of chromosomes, which means a male needs only one X chromosome with the orange gene in order to have an orange coat. This is in comparison to females, who are XX in terms of chromosomal makeup. This means that females need two orange genes in order to display an orange coat.