Franklin is a little smoothie!
“I have a black cat for you,” said the friend on the phone. (The sound of the universe making other plans.) That was the same friend who found our late sweetie Ultraviolet amongst ferals, and homed her with us. Friends all know we have a soft spot for black kitties.
We’d thought we might look for an older settled girl kitty, after a time; this was a young boy kitty. (Creaks and squeaks as mental machinery went, “New info! Please stand by while we do a reset.”)
“Um, well hmmm, okay,” we’re discussing when the phone rings again: “He’s used the litterbox!”
So we laughed, and the next day we brought home the new young cat guy. He’s a live wire and loves to climb! You’ll notice the tipped ear. Somehow Franklin (named for Ben Franklin) had been TNRed. He showed up suddenly and wanted to enter our friend’s house. He was friendly, enjoyed being petted, and would sleep on a lap. He’s still a tad skittish about some things, especially noises, so maybe that’s why he was taken for a feral. He’d been living on the streets and was really thin when taken in, but he’s eating well and gaining weight. The vet also said his slimness and general slinkiness is partly due to some Siamese ancestry.
Franklin is less than a year old, I’d say and so did the vet, so he moves a lot and it’s hard to get a good photo of him. He’s chilling out and making himself comfortable.
Catching Franklin at rest is the only time to take a picture!
I’m still heartbroken about losing this one, I miss her so much:
Our sweetie Ultraviolet, always in our hearts.
Even the cat advocates doing TNR can’t always tell which cats are feral and which are socialized to humans. This will be the subject of a future post about feral cats, and the friendly and abandoned cats they hang out with, like Franklin and Ultraviolet. I’ll probably get to that next year.
Meanwhile, stay tuned. Next up will be autumn creek pictures.
I live near a creek in a forest, in close observation and awe of the wildlife outside, as well as the domestic cats and dog of the household. I'm writer Leah Alford. For more information, click the "About" button above.
Gorgeous! We have two black cats that we feed. One, Daddy, (our most original name!) lives in the backyard but won’t let us close at all. He was living here about a year when he showed up to supper one day with a tipped ear. Lol. The other one, Prissy, comes and goes on the front porch and is friendly but scary. We’re pretty sure he has another home he visits. 😸
Franklin and I thank you, Charlotte! Glad you’re feeding Daddy and Prissy! I’m sure Prissy could be getting fed elsewhere – we’ve known several cats who would make the rounds at several houses – but I’m sure you food you provide is also much needed by these cats who are out on their own.
Franklin is a sweet kitty! Can see he is used to home. Wasn’t in the streets too long I reckon. Ultraviolet would approve the black orphaned boy ❤
Franklin is indeed making himself right at home! I agree, he wasn’t out there long. I wish they could tell us exactly what their histories are! I imagine UV is looking over fondly from the Rainbow Bridge.
She sure does ❤
What a sleek beauty. Love his eyes. Not a replacement for Ultraviolet, but looks like a great addition to the family. Congrats to all of you. 🙂
Franklin and I thank you, cat9.984!! We are indeed very happy to have Franklin here, while still missing our girl.
He’s a beauty. Glad he’s found a good home.
Franklin and I thank you, Ellen!
Sweet!
Thank you! He really is a sweetie!
Budd came to us in August. He is a street kitty that wanted to live here. The vet says he’s about 4 or 5. Him and Tyebe are the best of buddies. Shoko is rather reserved around him. Think she’s a little scare because he is male but fixed and a big cat. Budd is starting to lose some weight…..I can only hope. Everyone must’ve been feeding him.
Your little kitty will be a challenge.
Jean
Jean, congratulations on also having a street kitty! Hopefully Shoko and Budd will eventually become more relaxed around each other. Our groups of cats usually did eventually but it took a long time. You are right, Franklin will be a challenge but I hope he will mellow out. In the past we’ve raised some pretty boisterous kittens and have taken in cats who were much more feral than he is.
We found an all black one-month-old two Thanksgivings ago on our dirt road. We love her but she is a devil! Bottom teeth are so obvious on a black kitty! Congrats on your find. Yeah, he does look like a Siamese.
Thanks, Lee! Congrats on your kitty too! Cats can be disruptive and strong-willed but I love their sweetness. Franklin is a still a little live wire guy, just a big kitten. And the more I look at him the more he reminds me of a Siamese.
That’s awesome, congrats on your new kitty! Such beautiful green eyes! ❤
Franklin and thank you, FACE Foundation! I think his eyes are gorgeous, too.
Looks like Franklin will be celebrating his first Christmas in a new home! How lucky is that?! I am sure you will be having lots of fun teaching him “the ropes”. We look forward to seeing more of him.
Thank you Greg, Franklin’s presence is certainly a great Christmas present for us! I hope to post more pics of Franklin soon, they are in the camera but they may require some photo editing which I’ll need to make time for.
Seems in my case photo editing takes the most time when it comes to the blog.
True for me also! I actually enjoy working with pictures, but I have such limited time and energy these days.
Leah, this is the BEST NEWS I’ve read today! Congratulations! Franklin is adorable, and I know UV would agree (someone once told me you honor the previous pet by getting another and sharing your love). Our Kenzie is a TNR (with a tipped ear). She’s doing great — still a little skittish, but now come around and even sleeping with us at night! (This morning I woke up thinking I had Chuck with me, then realized it was a cat, so I thought it was Albert, our boy, but then felt claws and knew it was Kenzie — she just burrowed in and slept soundly!) Congratulations again — I am so happy for you both! Deb
Thanks Deb, for sharing in our happy news! I do hope Ultraviolet is happy about this and doesn’t grumble and phssst like Bud did when we got UV after he left us (I miss that big ole grumpy boy too.) That’s great news about Kenzie! Years ago we had a definite feral who eventually became a lap cat, but it did take time. My mother had two that went through the same transformation, and one that didn’t. I think Franklin is somewhere in between, but I’m sure he’ll become really sweet, especially once he grows up a little. ~ Leah
I’m sure UV will be quite happy with the new little one, Leah. She, and Bud, will be looking on from afar, spiritually coaxing that little fella to do the right, cat thing. LOL Our Kenzie was about a year old too when we found her. Funny, but when we first brought her to our home she wouldn’t leave my side, sat on the couch beside me looking down on the other 3 (and Chuck) looking up at her. Now, she runs and plays with them all the time. Enjoy your new addition! Deb
I’m sure Ultraviolet is happy with Franklin. And I hope Bud and UV and all our other cats of the past will soon whisper to Franklin that he really shouldn’t explore the kitchen counter at night, LOL He’s one smart kitty and has already learned that if he waits until night there is usually no one to lift him down! He’s very attached to my husband which seems similar to Kenzie staying by your side when she first came in. He’s turning into a very adventurous and active little guy! He’ll be fun, for sure! ~ Leah
Well, enjoy! What a wonderful holiday gift — for you … and for Franklin. 🙂 More photos, more photos!
Precious, precious baby.
Thank you Sharony, Franklin and I appreciate it!
Yay. I am glad you rescued another cat. For me/to me, my heart will always be broken at the loss of my cat. They do that, pets . . .
Thank you terrepruitt! I’m sorry you lost a kitty, I know how much it hurts. I stay brokenhearted about UV, and so many others.
My kitty died in 2014! But my heart still hurts. It always will. Doncha think? They just do that. Right now one of our present kitties is talking to me. I have no idea what she is saying, but she is saying it LOUD!
I understand and agree, I still miss kitties who left us long ago. I try to recall the good lives we had together. Present kitties and their insistent meowing, they are a help with grief.
Very happy for you, Leah, that this blessing came into your life! Franklin is a lucky fellow. xx ellen
Ellen, thank you, we are indeed very happy about this! Hoping Franklin is as happy as we are! All the best, xoxo, Leah
Congratulations on taking in another black kitty. They need homes so desperately. Franklin’s big green eyes are beautiful. My youngest cat Roc is black and lanky with maybe a touch of Siamese as well, but his eyes are more yellow. He and Franklin may be cosmic cousins.
Thanks catsworking!! I really do prefer the black kitties, I just think they are extra beautiful. Franklin’s eyes are looking a little greener in the pictures than they actually are, he too has eyes that are closer to gold, so he and your Roc may be related indeed!
Congratulations, Leah and Franklin! My Tyler also has a tipped ear, and though he’s skittish, the big, affectionate boy is anything but feral. It really is hard to tell for the wonderful volunteers who do TNR. And being altered is a good idea, whether stray or feral. Oh, and PS- have fun living with a katten!
Thanks Mollie! I too admire those doing TNR, and I know it’s hard to sort out true ferals from borderline friendlies – I think Franklin might actually be in the gray area between the two. Good for you taking in Tyler! I’ve even seen a few (uneartipped) cats who were definite ferals, do complete turnarounds in homes. Franklin’s definitely a big, bouncy kitten!
Oh happy day, and even the same color as pretty UV! Franklin clearly has the loving gene, and the loveable gene! Congratulations on your pretty new kitty! I have no doubt this will be an enduring and loving alliance for all of you. Franklin rocks!!
Thanks Lauren, Franklin and I appreciate your thoughts and enthusiasm! We are indeed very happy. Franklin is essentially a big kitten and I think he will grow into a fine and sweet cat.
Yay! I am so happy for you and for Franklin. Ultraviolet is probably showing him the ropes — and assuring him of his good fortune — in that special dimension inhabited by cat spirits. 🙂
Thanks Cate, it’s a happy time for us for sure! Now I’m wondering just what Ultraviolet is telling Franklin, LOL and hmmmmmm.
He’s beautiful! So happy for you all!
Franklin and I thank you Susanne! It is a happy time!
shy cutie…ears look like Mr. Spock
Thanks, ginnietom! He does look like Mr. Spock, now that you mention it! Kind of wish I’d named him that! But I don’t want to overturn the name my husband chose, I did that several times in the past. I do sometimes call the kitty Frankie, though, LOL
Welcome, Franklin!!
Hey you have Meezer in you?? Petcretary says wonderfur!! She too prefers the so called apple headed styled ones like all the meezers that have lived here, including me, Pipo.
You sure are a handsome fella and were glad you were found and given a great new home to call forever!
Thanks very much Pipo, Dalton, and Petcretary, from Franklin and me!! Pipo, you are quite the handsome meezer yourself!
Congratulations on your new arrival, Catwoods! He is a sweetheart.
Ultraviolet was a dear kitty. I feel for your loss. It will hurt a long time.
Thank you so much Lavinia, Franklin and I thank you! And thanks also for your kind sympathy about Ultraviolet, we appreciate it.
What a handsome lad! As soon as I saw the top photo and the size of his ears I decided he had some Oriental ancestry, so I felt very pleased with myself when I read that the vet had said the same. Franklin must be very happy to have found a home.
Franklin and I thank you, toutparmoi! That was a sharp observation about the Oriental ancestry! I didn’t pick up on it myself but after the vet said that, it made sense. You can’t see very well in these pictures but his muzzle is long and slender also, much like the slim Siamese being bred nowadays. We are certainly happy with him and I hope he is with us, too!
I have a very soft spot for Siamese cats, but I prefer the slightly more solid “old style” that Franklin resembles. He looks a lot like the very first Siamese I had many years ago. A lot of the modern ones are just a little too elongated in head and body for my tastes.
I agree with you, I like the older Siamese – I’ve seen them called “apple-headed” – and I think they are breeding them just a little too thin these days.
Omg look at him. So happy for you, Leah! Welcome home, Franklin.
Franklin and I thank you, Lesley! We’re happy he’s here, too!