My Cat loves the Pet Shop Boys!

[JoeKv99]

My cat Harley is a most unusual sort- a polydactyl American Bobtail calico- meaning he has multiple extra "fingers" on each paw and no tail (He actually has a tiny stub there about the size of the last joint of your little finger and a puff of hair so he has a bit of a bunny-butt). He has loads of personality and is very strong willed. He was a stray who, as a kitten came to our front door looking to be fed. He was very demanding and, if we didn't respond to his polite "knock" at the door would jump onto the window sill in the living room, or if we were sleeping, the bedroom. (I still don't know how that teeny kitten made that jump to the small piece of trim under the windows.)

One day when we had our other cat, Fiyero, out on the patio with us, he came charging up and began rolling around with Fiyero, purring loudly and nuzzling him. He sat with us for an hour or so but never let us come near enough to pet him. But from that time on, whenever Fiyero was looking out the window, he'd jump up and "talk" to him through the screen. He'd still come to be fed and eventually let me pet him. One night, when we opened the door to put his food out, he trotted inside and just moved in. It took a while for him to learn to be an "Inside cat" and for while he'd go out for about half the day and stay with us the other times. Then one day he came back pregnant.

Last June Harley had three adorable kittens- one tailless tabby, one black kitten with a short tail and one tabby with a huge tail like a Pomeranian. Since having the kittens he's shown no interest in going out and is a full time indoor cat.

He has lots of other quirks but one is that he absolutely loves the Pet Shop Boys. He was being a pain this afternoon- running around like a kindergartner with a sugar buzz and so I put on "Go West" which I knew from experience he loved hoping he'd curl up on the speakers as he does. I accidentally hit on a 45 minute "Megamix" of the Boys and Harley has been contentedly listening ever since. He also loves Audra McDonald, especially her "Climb Ev'ry Mountain." It's fun to play new music for him and watch his reaction.

And no, he DOES NOT like Carol Channing, either.

[Eris0303]

That's adorable.

My tortie Storm loves tenors - especially Paul Byrom. If she's acting up or acting mean (as she tends to do) all I need to do is put on some Paul and she calms right down.

[FindingNamo]

Harley I can understand. But really, Joe, Fiyero?

[JoeKv99]

My boyfriend named him. It's actually the perfect name for him- Dan got him at a shelter and as soon as he picked up the cat and took him from his cage, the cat started "dancing" (using his front paws to knead) which pet psychologists say is the sign of a VERY contented cat. Dan decided he was "Dancing Thru Life" and by the time he'd gotten the cat home to introduce me to it, he was named Fiyero. We mostly call him Buddy however.

Harley got that name because when he moved in he'd walk around purring very loudly and my motorcycle enthusiast boyfriend observed he sounded like a tiny Harley circling the living room.

[FindingNamo]

See. I thought they kneaded cuz that's how they got milk from their mama's teats.

[JoeKv99]

That's how it starts- they knead as they nurse, feeling all loved and warm and happy. Then later, when they are particularly happy, they reflexively do it again. It's a good thing.

[FindingNamo]

I almost kneaded a transit cop the other day.