Welcome, Franklin!
Franklin’s Gotcha! Day was October 25, 2018. We were fortunate to be able to adopt a black cat that time of year, right before Halloween. Some rescues and shelters don’t adopt black cats out in October; others say that with strong vetting criteria for potential adopters, this time of year is no different. In this case he was given to us by a friend who had known us for 40 years, a fellow black cat enthusiast. Living in one place for many years can feel limiting, but it also has its perks.
(Black cats, black dogs and other animals, should be kept inside and safe during October; in fact, I would advise that for animals of any color.)
Franklin was an ear-tipped former feral who was friendly. The picture was taken the first day as he checked us out from couch, using the arm as a sort of shield on one side. What a savvy, bright-eyed little guy!
Franklin the Smoothie
Franklin soon got used to comfy surfaces, a reliable food source, and two humans to blink at and meow to!
Franklin with Blue
Franklin prefers to sleep on higher places at times. It might be a holdover from living outdoors, where trees and roofs are safer sleeping spots.
Franklin looks spiffy with orange
Franklin relaxes in style
Franklin does the panther stretch!
Early Spring Franklin
By spring Franklin had gained some weight, and grown up a bit – he was a youngster, a teen-aged cat, when we got him.
Frankie may have some Siamese ancestry
So it’s a little early but Happy Gotcha! Day, Frankie!
Here is a lovely card made by Meezer’s Mews and Terrieristical Woofs for Franklin:
Franklin and I say, Thank you so much!
Frankie says, click this link and order our Catwoods book, Volume 1, so we can go on to publish the important Volume 2, in which Frankie arrives!
I live near a creek in a forest, in close observation and awe of the wildlife outside, as well as the domestic animals of the household. I'm writer Leah T. Alford. I was "catwoods" on this site Catwoods Porch Party, Itchmo Forums for Cats and Dogs, and a few other sites that may or may not exist now. I have now published a book, and the publisher wanted it called Catwoods. I never expected the book title to be the same as my username, so for now I've changed the username to Leah. For more info, click the "About" button above.
He’s so handsome! I love black cats and it’s sad how they are often over looked by people. My daughter just got four kitties, one is black and her name is Luna.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Franklin and I thank you, Cheryl! I too adore black kitties; we’ve taken whatever kitties of many colors who came our way, and many have been black. I just think they are especially beautiful. Good for your daughter, with four kitties. We had four for many years, the most harmonious group we ever had. Luna is a fantastic name!
LikeLike
Love the black cat against all those colored surfaces you have…very dynamic…even it the cat is a bit staid. LOL..not the eyes though, very dynamic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m happy you liked the pictures! Franklin is a master chillaxer for sure, but also very active at times. I’m relatively new to photography, especially digital, so if I snap him in motion he’s blurred . . . I know there’s a “stop action” function somewhere LOL . . .
LikeLike
Man, I’m late to the party — but I’m here! 🙂
I’ve never heard of Gotcha! Day, but what a perfect name for adoption! Franklin, looking as dapper, as handsome as ever, has the same little ear-clip that our Kenzie has, and they both wear it well. I’m so glad you were able to take in Franklin, Leah, and I know Franklin’s equally thrilled — you can just see in his photos how relaxed, happy and loving he is! My husband and I volunteer for the local SPCA — once a month we go to a local PetSmart and clean cat cages, feed the kitties. Last Saturday was our day, and boy oh boy were there a lot of cats! Two cages had two kitties (paired) and if we could have taken them all home, we would have. Wishing you and your husband and Franklin a very happy autumn and Happy Halloween! We’re hoping to be in Michigan next week — and believe it or not, MI and IN are both supposed to get our first snow that day! Sorry I’m late on this — and I’ll be getting around to your latest post soon! Deb
P.S.: My husband and I are going to hear a blues guitarist tonight — Jimmy Thackery. If you like the blues and he’s ever in your area, go see him, he’s great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deb, no worries about when you show up, I’m just so glad that you always do! Those little ear clips can be so cute and they give a kitty some feral bragging rights! That’s so good of you your husband to go and volunteer at the shelter! I know what you mean, I would like to have every cat in need of a home I see. And, there seems to be a record number of homeless and feral cats, and their kittens, being found this year in my area too. Glad to have the tip on Jimmy Thackery, I do love the blues; I’m in an area with a really rich blues heritage. I used to get out and about and see the local and the traveling musicians but as my health is declining more I rarely get out these days. If Jimmy Thackery does come nearby I will certainly try! Wow, snow already! It’s really pretty but it can be a nuisance if you are not prepared to just be snowed in for a time. Hopefully everything will all work out for your trip to Michigan! Cheers, Leah
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Kenzie is a feral kitty all right. I feel badly that she’s still somewhat shy — I blame myself for not working with her more. She is coming around, likes to get under the covers and sleep with my husband at night, but boy oh boy is she skitterish! Seems like Franklin is so much more domesticated (is that the right word?). He’s so adorable! Yes, Thackeray was great! Just a trio—the bass player and drummer were terrific as well — and yes, if you ever get the chance to seem them, by all means do if you can. Very entertaining! Well, today it was gorgeous in Indiana — the trees are gold and red and it makes everything seem golden. But … rain is coming back. In fact, last night on the highway the rain was so strong it was hard to see in front of us. And yes, snow — I like to look at it, but after a while it gets tiresome — and cold! LOLOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Having seen it take many years for a former feral to become socialized in our home, I think they usually come around eventually. In our experience kitties have to come to you on their own terms and there isn’t a lot you can do to hasten the process. One former feral we had was green-eyed in more ways than one and warmed up, I think, through watching us interact with the other cats. Franklin isn’t quite as socialized as he looks; he retains some feral traits and he isn’t a lap kitty very often. We’re crazy about him anyway, of course. We’ve had tons of rain and gray days too and it’s turned colder. Hopefully tomorrow will be sunny and I can make it to the creek.
LikeLike
Franklin is extremely photogenic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Franklin and I thank you Charlotte, and he sends purrs!
LikeLike
Franklin, you are a rare gem. We see your ear has been cropped. This is the amount of ear I would imagie woud be cropped. Budd has lost much of hs ear but we think this is due to frostbite. It is horribly cold up here in the winter and ferals must really fight for survival.
Shoko
LikeLiked by 1 person
Franklin and I thank you, Shoko and Canadian Cats! I think it was indeed a crop as he had been neutered when we got him. I’ve seen crops that didn’t take quite so much and I’ve been thinking maybe they overdid it a bit. He was friendly but he has retained some feral behaviors, so I can see where someone might have thought he was feral. So sorry about Budd’s ear! I know cold weather is hard on ferals, and even in the much milder climate here, we do get some low temperatures at times. I really feel for the ferals.
LikeLike
Franklin is one beautiful cat.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you so much, Pam!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Franklin is proper sweetie though. Happy Day Franklin. Best Wishes!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I say, Thank you so much, Ashraf!
LikeLike
Pingback: Tick-Tock-Tober Selfies | Meezer's Mews & Terrieristical Woofs
Time flies when you are having fun – Happy Gotcha Day! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you so much, Eliza!
LikeLike
I hadn’t realized there’s a danger for black cats in getting adopted in October. That’s very sad. I adopted Midnight in March so it wasn’t an issue then.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The reports are scattered and occasional, but are enough that advocacy groups recommend caution at those times. It’s sad that people can be so mean. But it’s marvelous that we can adopt lovely black kitties like your Midnight and my Franklin!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree we are lucky to get Midnight and Franklin and that it’s sad some people are mean. (Stupid is more like it — they are missing out on great cats)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Charlee: “Happy Gotcha Day, Franklin!”
Chaplin: “Gotcha days are the best days ever!”
Charlee: “And the safest place for a black cat on Halloween is definitely in a good home!”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Charlee and Chaplin, thanks so much for you Gotcha Day greetings! Franklin and I appreciate it!
LikeLike
We’ve had two black cats. They bring good luck and are terribly understood by people to lazy to find out the facts. Hats off to keeping him safe. He deserves it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Agree all the way, David! I adore black cats and all cats really, but I find the black kitties to be especially beautiful. And like you, I’ve had some black cats as pets; they were incredibly sweet and they are treasured in memory.
LikeLike
Precious baby house panther! I want to give him a kiss!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you, Whisker Times! We appreciate it!
LikeLike
Adorable !!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He looks just like me Poe 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool cat! Lucky to have found you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Robin, Franklin and I thank you so much! We too were lucky a friend found Frankie and gave him to us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We had a beagle adopt us 2 week before she delivered 7 fat pudgy little pups We were also lucky she found us. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww, they do seems to find us. I bet those pups were cute!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mama kept coming back, no matter how often we shooed her away. Then she would love up on me . . . so I couldn’t say no. They were adorable. We kept the mama and one pup.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is so handsome and very photogenic…and all legs! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you so much, CatLadyintheCanyon! He is indeed a really leggy boy!
LikeLike
Happy early gotcha day, Lovely Franklin! How passed the time I can’t believe… I love you, we love you, Happiness and Blessing to you all. Thank you, Love, nia
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you so much Nia, time flew for us too! Thanks you the good wishes, Love and good wishes to all from us too! Love, Leah
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy early gotcha day, Franklin!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you so much, FACE Foundation!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Franklin is adorable xxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you, Rosie, and he agrees!
LikeLike
Happy Birthday, Franklin! Such a handsome kitty!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you, Lavinia!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think this is actually the anniversary of his coming into your life?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the day we brought him home. We don’t know his actual birthday, but we are happy to have your birthday greetings for him!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Anniversary!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you, Cate!
LikeLike
Happy Gotcha! Day, Franklin. I was adopted in December, but we celebrate my birthday in October (thanks for visiting my blog on my birthday). I’ve also read that many shelters have given up the idea of not adopting black cats around Halloween because there’s no more risk and it just reduces the number of chances we have to find wonderful homes. Kitties of all colors should have equal adoption opportunities. You sure do look comfy on all those colorful blankets.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you, Raven! Happy October birthday! (my pleasure visiting). I agree that as long as a shelter or rescue has the same criteria for for potential adopters as any other time of year, it should be ok to adopt out black cats in October. A few do still say they won’t, though. Franklin is indeed one to look for comfort!
LikeLike
Happy October Gotcha day Franklin.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you, Crystal!
LikeLike
Happpy Gotcha Day to Franklin! Like looking at the changes in you in the pictures taken in your new home. You are a lucky boy! Maybe one day I will have room for a black cat too!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you Greg! He was a thin little guy when we got him. You have gorgeous cats and a black cat would fit in nicely with them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Purrhaps!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Franklin and my Roc could be brothers. Roc just posted a pic of himself in his new Halloween collar on Twitter @CatsWorking.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ll found Roc’s picture on twitter! My he is handsome, and dashing in his collar. He and Franklin do look alike!
LikeLike
He is such a handsome boy, Leah. I felt happy and sad looking at his lovely face. Missing Toffee terribly.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awww Kerry, I’m so sorry about Toffee. ❤ I understand for sure, I'm still missing Ultraviolet. Franklin and I thank you for your kind words about him!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We miss all our little kitty cats and Ultraviolet was special. Hugs. K x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kerry, hugs in return!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Black cats and dogs are actually under peril during October? I never heard that before. But…just like buildings without floors labeled “13”…it confirms for me that humans, despite our inventions and increased brain capacities, haven’t evolved as much as we like to think. Anyway…great photos, and Happy Halloween to you and Franklin!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much greenpete, I’m happy you enjoyed the pictures. Reports are scattered and occasional but there are enough so that animal advocacy groups recommend pet owners take precautions. Then there are those who adopt black cats as props for Halloween parties and return them to the shelters when the parties are over . . . Agree with you totally, often we humans don’t do much with these large brains of ours. Happy Halloween to you also!
LikeLike
He looks lovely. I have four – or is it five? – black cats myself, and roughly the same number of back and white ones. The black ones seem to be the most affectionate and easy-going of them all.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wonderful to have that many black kitties! I have certainly had some sweet black kitties.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Gotcha Day, Franklin!
We made a card for you and sent it to your FB page:)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you so much, I just went to see it, that is so cute and so cool! When the day comes around I will try to post it on the facebook page. I guess I can just download it? I’m not too good at computer stuff. Maybe I could just add it to this post too.
LikeLike
You are welcome!
We sent it to your FB page cause we can’t/don’t know how to post it in comments…
If you right click on it you can save it that way, else it will be on our next blog post, where I put all the cards I made.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll try that! I don’t know how to put a picture in comments either! And I’ll look for it on you blog post.
LikeLike
Its up in our blog now…petcretary was half asleep when she made it earlier as she worked last night…sheesh!
And we see it here now too, Hooray!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a sorry statement about people that they would harm animals on Halloween only because they happen to be black. 😦
LikeLiked by 3 people
Sure is, Tanja, sometimes I don’t understand humans at all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are not alone!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both of you are lucky. Franklin is such a handsome fellow. Franklin’s gotcha day is the day before my birthday. One black cat we had was a stray rescued off the street and given to us for safe keeping right before halloween.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you Tim, and we wish you a Happy Birthday in advance! Good for you rescuing a street kitty! I haven’t heard of anything happening in my area for many years but I just somehow felt better when we were able to get Franklin off the street before Halloween too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is so handsome. Of course, I’m a bit partial to black cats.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Franklin and I thank you so much! I tend to favor black cats too, although, I just sort of adore all cats!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Gotcha Day Franklin!! May you have many more Gotcha Dayss!! Miss Leah you are so lucky to have such a hansum man cat!! An you know what Miss Leah mee AGREESS with you…Franklin does look Siamesey….did you know that when you cross a Siamese with a Tabby you get catss like us! An wee are called Oriental Shorthair catss…
Fancy shmancy rite???
***purrsss*** BellaDharma
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you BellaDharma! I think I am fortunate to have handsome Franklin too! Our vet also thought he looked a tad Siamese! I had heard of the Oriental Shorthairs but did not know they are Siamese crossed with Tabbies; that is very interesting! Fancy indeed, purrrrs from Franklin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sung to “WEE are Siamese” song: Franklin “WEE are Oriental Shorthairss if you please! Wee are Oriental Shorthairss if you DON’T please!!” Mew mew mew……
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL I do remember that tune!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wee are THE kewlest rite Franklin?
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are, BellaDharma, we most definitely are!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Gotcha Day! Franklin is beautiful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you so much, Correne!
LikeLike
Happy Gotcha Day handsome boy! I am glad Franklin got such a good home.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franklin and I thank you so much, Ellen!
LikeLike
Humans do fall into a cat’s blinking urges quite nicely … the truly feral ones don’t realize what they’re missing. Franklin seems to have taken well to humans!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Franklin has become more and more friendly but it did take awhile. I think he wasn’t born feral, he must have had a human home but was abandoned or lost young. So he became a little wary, but still had a friendly streak.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think Franklin is gorgeous and wise.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Franklin and I thank you Lauren! You have him pegged! Sometimes I think he even knows what we are thinking!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think he does.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Franklin is a cutie! Black cats rock! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Franklin and I thank you, Tom! You are so right, black cats do rock!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person