Black Cat Appreciation Day

Posted on August 18, 2024August 18, 2024 by Dusty Roads

Black Cat Appreciation Day

OOPS! Yesterday, August 17 was Black Cat Appreciation Day and I missed it! How could I let Balboa down like that? He’s the best little black cat! Why is he so special you ask? Because he makes me feel special. You know the old what goes around comes around thing?

Balboa photo credit Deb Neumann

Black Cats are Special

I’ve had black cats all my life. We’ve had some really special connections too. Like when my black cat , Shadow, went missing at my folks house in upstate NY. My mother didn’t believe in kitty littler. Cats belonged outside to do their business so she put poor Shadow outdoors. Anyway, when it came time for me to leave to go back to Boston, no Shadow. I waited as long as I could but finally I had to give up and head home. My folks promised to keep an eye out for Shadow if she returned.

Balboa on his Cat Tree Photo Credit Deb Neumann

Every few days I’d call to check in. No sign of her. My Dad insisted she must be dead but I didn’t believe that.

Balboa loves Boxes

After about 6 weeks I got the chance to come back for a visit. As I drove into the yard at my folks my Mom was outside waiting. There was Shadow at her feet. My Mom said 15 minutes before I arrived Shadow came home.

My Balboa

Balboa

Balboa isn’t like Shadow at all. Nope, he’s a “fraidy” cat. After 4 years he’s still shy with strangers but he is the most loving little cuddlebug to me. He’s always in my lap or following me around. When the housekeeper is here he sits right next to me until she leaves. He sleeps with me at night. He’s very much a “Velcro” kitty.

House Panther, Balboa

Black Cats Are Special

I could go on with tales about Buddy who walked on a leash, or Little Joe my Persian or any of my other black & tuxedo cats I’ve had over the years buy yesterday was for them all. Mini house panthers every one!

Buddy, RIP

Happy Black Cat Appreciation Day

Posted on August 18, 2023August 18, 2023 by Dusty Roads

Happy Black Cat Appreciation Day

Yes It’s real. I saw it on Facebook. Black Cat Appreciation Day aims to dispel all the myths and superstitions surrounding black cats. No more bad luck kitties!

Its a fact that black cats are less likely to be adopted than cats of another color. That’s usually attributed to the old superstitions. It is not true that owning a black cat makes you a witch. Maybe that’s just your personality. Its certainly not your cat’s fault! Black cats with their sleek, shiny coats often have an air of mystery.

Balboa- Photo Credit Deb Neumann

Banner wants to know when ginger cats get an Appreciation Day. He says all this fuss over black cats is unseemly. I think he’s just jealous because Balboa is black and he just had a post all to himself. His Birthday post. (I forgot to post Banner’s birthday so BAD MAMA!)

photo credit Deb Neumann

A little Black Cat

Photo credit Deb Neumann

So here’s my little black cat waiting to be appreciated. He’s been helping me type this post as he quite likes the attention.

Balboa

Balboa has many names- since he is a chatty cat (read demanding) he is sometimes called “Sir Talks A Lot”. He’s also a wimp. He is easily frightened and slow to forgive. After the 4th of July fireworks it took him a month to calm down again. He still hasn’t completely forgiven me for the loud bangs. Same with the motorcycles that drive by on the street outside. They startle him and making it hard for him to get his daily nap.

photo credit Deb Neumann

Banner’s Day

By the way. There is an “Orange (Ginger cat) Appreciation Day.” Its September 1st so Banner will just have to wait a couple of weeks for his special post.

Another Belated Birthday

Posted on August 18, 2021August 18, 2021 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

A belated Birthday for Balboa

He arrived at my home November 19, 2020. He was so tiny. Banner looked enormous next to him. He was 13 weeks and 6 days old adopted from Anchor Paws Rescue.

From the beginning he was feisty. He’s also my love bug. If Banner is a Purr Machine, Balboa is the cuddler always on my lap. Always looking for attention.

1 Year Old

Balboa will never be a big cat. He is long and sleek. He’s my funny house panther. Happy Birthday Balboa (8/14/2020)

Insanity runs Rampart in My Home

Posted on December 29, 2020December 29, 2020 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

Insanity runs Rampart in My Home

Yes, I know, I have 2 kittens, both under the age on 1 year. Of course life is insane but as I sat here this morning watching them race around I found myself reminiscing.

I thought back to when Rocky was a tiny kitten. His “Big Brother” was a senior kitty called Little Joe. Little Joe was the original “Grumpy Cat” He didn’t like other cats. He was a smush-faced Persian, kind of slow moving, aloof and just wanted to be left alone. Rocky was a tiny hellion who bounced off walls and loved his grumpy Big Brother. I spend a lot of time separating them so no one would get hurt.

Baby Rocky

I remember one time I heard little muffled whimpering and when I went to investigate I found Little Joe dragging Rocky across the floor…but not by his ruff. No Little Joe had Rocky’ s whole head in his mouth. That was why Rocky’s cries sounded muffled! But both Rocky and I survived his kittenhood and eventually Rocky became the “Old Man”. And now I have kittens again.

Banner

His Highness- Banner

Banner is 6 months old now and starting to look like an adult. He’s going to be a fluffy cat and his tail is still his biggest feature. Banner is kind of slow moving. We play a game of soccer with tiny soccer balls. I throw them down the hall and Balboa chases them. Banner is like the goalie. Only he stretches out across the hall and if Balboa doesn’t catch the ball before it starts down the hall, Banner just bats it away with his paw and lays back down. No racing around for him.

Banner

This morning as I got ready to take my shower I saw Banner get ready to use the litter box. His tail was sticking out over the side of the box. To my surprise Balboa came running and pounced on Banner’s tail! Oh no! I figured that would distract Banner- maybe even cause an “accident” but no, Banner paid no attention to Balboa chewing on his tail. He took care of his needs then calmly pulled his tail away so he could turn and cover up his business.

Balboa

Balboa is the crazy one. They said he was shy when I adopted him. Ha! They lied or else he had them all fooled. He is 2 months younger than Banner. Where Banner is poufy and lazy Balboa is lean and sleek. He’s shorthaired and shiny black with the energy of a formula one race car. Banner is very patient with him but once he wears out his big brother he heads to for me and we play fetch for an hour or two!

Wild Thing

Balboa, often called BB for short is also known fondly as “Sir Talks A Lot”. He mutters. Yup he wanders around the house talking to his toys, to Banner and to me. He doesn’t do anything in silence except maybe sleep. Balboa is my lap cat. Once he finally runs out of energy he just collapses like a limp rag and can stay on my lap all afternoon if I let him. Banner might make a short stop to say hi but then moves on. Not Balboa, He’s my buddy.

Don’t leave anything around where you don’t want it checked out either! I made the mistake of setting a bowl on the table while I got some other items out of the cupboard. This is what I turned around to!