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Thomas Joe
On a rainy Sunday, May 28th, 2000, I opened my antique shop about 11 a.m. , when I opened, I heard some shrill cries from across the busy highway, but assumed they were just mockingbirds, which live all around my shop, but they sounded like a cat. I opened the shop, had customers all day. About 5 o'clock, in the middle of a thunderstorm, I closed, and heard the same shrill cries. Deciding to investigate, I walked across the highway. in the high, soaked grass there, a wet little kitten stalked out to greet me, shivering with the rain. No way could I leave a brave little fellow out there to be run over, so I brought him home. I think his mother was a cat I had seen run over beside the road the day before. This would put his birth about the last week of April. As I type this, he is lying on my feet. He is named after my grandmothers kitty, who passed many years ago.
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5-6 Weeks: May 29th 2000
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June 18, 2000
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July 4, 2000
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July 25, 2000
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September 10, 2000
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December 26, 2000
As you can see TJ is now a big cat. Approaching 18 lbs, and much shaggier. The vet thinks he may be a breed of cat known as a Maine Coon Cat.
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April 29, 2001
Thomas Joe is around one year old now, and as you can see he
has become a handsome fellow. TJ has developed a real sweet tooth. His favorite snack isn't kitty treats, it's raisins. He also likes custard, pudding, cereal milk, and marshmallows. When I give him table scraps, not only will he eat meat & cheese, but veggies as well. He is a very talented mooch. When I sit down to eat, you can count on his showing up. If I don't give him a handout immediately, I get first a paw-paw, then a plaintitive Meow, and if I'm not quick enough a nip on the hand. All in all, a very unusual cat.
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June 10, 2001
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November 22, 2001 Thanksgiving
Well stuffed with turkey, dressing, and sweet potato casserole, it was time for TJ's nap. And nap he did, all afternoon and evening. As you can see he has his full winter coat, ready for the Maine woods. If you look at the size of his paws in the last picture, you will notice he has his own built in snowshoes.
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January 16, 2002
As I was packing for a business trip, TJ decided he wanted to go and occupied my suitcase.
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March 18,2002
As you can see Thomas Joe has taken the art of lounging to new heights.
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September 1, 2002
Must be nice to live a life where you can sleep all the time, eh?
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December 27, 2002
When you are handsome, you have to primp a bit.
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February 12,2003
Sacked out! Anytime I put down a piece of clothing, in this case a jacket, TJ will find it, and snooze on it. |
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Thanksgiving - November 27, 2003
Obviously I was not serving the turkey quite fast enough. |
Day Before Christmas 2006
This time he had to cover up in the Jacket. |
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September 5, 2007
This was just before a paw fight, which Samantha, of course, started. They are getting along a little better, but Samantha knows she is the alpha cat. |
February 17,2008
Poor Thomas Joe now has to have a place to hide, so I put a piece of carpet inside a cabinet. |
Samantha
Sam is new to my household, she showed up as a little stray kitty a few weeks ago, loving, but very skinny. She is now growing quickly:
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June 20th, 2007
She bosses TJ around despite the fact he outweighs her by about 5 times. Sam loves to play. Put all the kitty toys in a basket, and she will empty it within an hour. More pictures to come.
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August 31, 2007
As you can see Samantha is really growing, she can now jump just about anywhere she wants. In constant motion, this is a cat with a turbo. She loves playing with balls, and bedeviling Thomas Joe, I think she considers him a giant, stuffed, play toy. |
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October 23,2007
My favorite chair? No, now it is her chair, her favorite chair. She now gets to watch TV, listen to music, or whatever from the best spot in the room. Notice that she also now has a favorite tartan throw to use as a pillow.
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December 1, 2007
Just trying out a new camera on my favorite subject. Caught her napping in the basement, the flash woke her up. Pardon the mess. |
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December 4, 2007
My bed? My pillow? Of course not. Samantha's bed, Samantha's pillow. What was mine is hers. I expect I will come home one day soon and find the locks changed.
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December 27, 2007
What young lady shouldn't have her own Boyd's bear, and Mousie? Yep, I bought the cat a bear, and mouse, for Christmas, and she loves both. Spoiled little critter. |
Probably one of my favorite kitty artworks of all time is this print of Chessie, from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.
And below are some cute kitten postcards.
Help Another Animal in Need
I was there to save and help Thomas Joe and Samantha, and make them my companions. But I can't help all the animals in the world that have been neglected or abandoned. The folks in the link below are trying to do something to help these animals. Click on the link, then click on the donate food button there. It won't cost you a thing, but will provide one bowl of food for a neglected or abandoned animal:
When you click the button, one of the sponsors gives enough food, or money to provide for the food. Yes it is real. Sponsors include some of the big pet supplies companies and etc.
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Text
and Images Copyright1997-2008 Drexel Grapevine Antiques ©
(Also Courtesy of Thomas Joe & Samantha)
