fanci

Hello! Welcome to Fanci's page. Fanci is my recently adopted kitten. I will begin by giving you some background information about Fanci.

Fanci was born in a barn just west of Abilene, Kansas on or about October 1, 2001. She was one of a litter of three kittens, and she was the only kitten with long hair. Fanci's mother is a black with white domestic short-hair cat. Apparently, Fanci's father was just passing through, so no one knows what he looks like, except Fanci's mother... and she's not talking. Fanci has a solid black face, solid black ears, solid black feet, and a black-ringed tail. I am only speculating when I say that in certain photos Fanci resembles a young raccoon... but that's not possible, is it?

The people, with whom Fanci's mother resides, work where I work. They kept telling me about their latest "adorable litter" of kittens. I was, naturally, interested. At the time, however, I felt I was not in a position to adopt a kitten. They persisted, telling me they would email me some photos of the kittens. That, of course, was my undoing.

Having seen the emailed photos, I now had to "see" the kittens up close and personal... A BIG MISTAKE FOR SOMEONE NOT IN A POSITION TO ADOPT A KITTEN! Early one morning, about a week later, I drove out into the country. My mission: to check out the three kittens born in a barn. The kittens were, of course, totally adorable... especially the one with the long black and silver-frosted hair. I picked the kittens up, one by one... to gauge their individual reactions to me. The kitten with the long hair settled right into my arms purring loudly... and I was a gonner! Fanci came home with me that very morning.

On the way home I discovered, much to my delight, that my newly adopted kitten was not only totally adorable, but she is also very clever, even for one so small and with such limited life experience. I had the forethought to bring a small "pet porter" along, when I went to "see" the kittens. Just in case, mind you! Obviously, being born in a barn, Fanci had never seen the inside of a "pet porter", and she was not at all happy being forced to spend the drive back to the city confined to one. Her little paws kept darting out through the wire mesh door of the "pet porter", as she tried unsuccessfully to unlatch the latch that kept the door secured.

Never underestimate the intelligence of a cat... young or old. Fanci knew exactly what was keeping the door secured! I was amazed... and pleased! I knew without a doubt, this was the beginning of a very special relationship between me and this precocious kitten.

I suppose I should tell you how I arrived at a name for Fanci. While driving back to the city in my Cherokee with my precious cargo safely installed in the "pet porter", I turned the radio on... already tuned to my favorite country station.

I am a huge fan of country music. I was thinking about Fanci being born in a barn, her questionable parentage, and her beautiful long black hair frosted-with-silver. As if on cue, Reba McEntire's song, Fancy, came on the radio. I knew instantly, that my newly adopted kitten was Fancy... but spelled with an "i" on the end instead of a "y".

Within three days, Fanci had learned her name. She comes bouncing over to me eager to touch noses (... it's a cat thing), whenever I call her.

Fanci at home in the city.

After getting Fanci home, I gave her a much needed bath with a mild shampoo safe for cats and dogs. Next, to help her settle into her new environment, I confined her to a room of her own, along with plenty of nutritious food, fresh water, and a litterbox. I then called my veterinarian to arrange for Fanci's first check up. Two days later Fanci was pronounced "healthy" after being innoculated, de-wormed, and de-fleaed. She will go back to the vet the beginning of January for a routine follow-up exam. Three months after her January visit to the vet, Fanci will go back once again, to go under the knife... for her sake and mine, she will be spayed.

I believe that a happy pet is a well-socialized pet. Since bringing Fanci home, I have been exposing her as often as possible to other people, including children. She is adjusting well to my life style and my home. A kitten that has been lovingly and gently handled by people from birth will easily adapt to living with people and is less likely to become a "problem cat". As with children, the more quality time you spend with your pet, the more likely your pet will become a loving and lovable member of your family.

Fancy is growing fast and getting bolder. Nothing seems to bother her and everything interests her.

Recently, Fanci has been tempting fate by climbing to the top of the wire and wood gate that separates my Bull Terrier, in the utility room, from the kitchen. At the top of the three-foot-tall gate Fanci teeters, temptingly, mere inches from the "jaws of death". I am not quite certain what Keye really thinks of Fanci, but I am quite sure it is not entirely nice. For the most part, Keye just stands or lays on the other side of the gate staring back at Fanci with a very interested expression, which I have yet to decipher. Sometimes Keye can even be seen wagging her tail at Fanci's kittenish antics... so, there is hope that eventually they will become friends, but I'm not holding my breath.

Bull Terriers have olfactory sensors that rival those of the Bloodhound. However, Bull Terriers are difficult to train... mainly because they are extremely tenacious, totally territorial, and basically, self-serving. Otherwise, they would make excellent Search and Rescue dogs, or Drug Sniffing dogs. If there is "food" anywhere within a 300 yard radius of a Bull Terrier, no cat, dog, or other animal is safe. Keye DOES NOT SHARE food. As a result, I must be extra cautious when I am preparing food, and I cannot leave any food out when Keye is about.

Toys are another HOT ITEM OF DISSENSION. In Keye's mind, ALL toys belong to Keye. Just as with food, toys bring out the "Bull" in the Bull Terrier. Without a shred of conscience, Keye "sees red" whenever and wherever food and/or toys are present.

FYI, did you know that a Bull Terrier can totally trash the interior of a house in the blink of an eye while chasing a cat??? Nothing stops a Bull Terrier on a mission. Bull Terriers have tunnel vision. When a Bull Terrier is about, no running cat is safe unless he/she can stay just ahead of the Bull Terrier. The fact is no self-respecting Bull Terrier would pass up the opportunity to chase a cat... even a cat with which he/she is friendly.

Therein lies the problem, I think.

If the cat would stop running, the GAME would be over. I am not saying the cat would or would not be in danger if it suddenly stopped running (this is something that needs further investigation and not too many cats or cat people would approve of such research). What I am saying is that the "chase" is the "game", at least from the Bull Terrier's perspective.

Another interesting tidbit... you might think age would put a different spin on things. WRONG! A Bull Terrier, no matter how old, is still a Bull Terrier. An aging, arthritic Bull Terrier will suddenly morph into a quick, agile, devilish adolescent when a cat is about. A Bull Terrier is always a force to be reckoned with, no matter how long he or she has been on this planet. If you MUST have a cool looking dog with muscle, get a Bull Terrier... but be prepared to spend the next 10-15 years restraining it.

Interestingly, I have discovered that a three pound kitten can summarily embarrass a 52 pound Bull Terrier. Recently, Keye was on her side of the gate, engaged in her whining and barking routine, to let me know that she wanted to come out into the rest of the house for a while. A couple times each day I allow Keye the run of the house... under strict supervision, of course. For safety's sake, Fanci gets a "time-out" in her own room while Keye is out and about in the house.

Since I was busy at my computer, I explained to Keye that she would have to wait. Being a typical "Bully girl", Keye persisted with her whining and barking. Like a moth to a flame, Fanci headed for the gate to see what was bothering Keye. Keye immediately launched into a deafening, ferocious "barking barrage" intended to send even the most courageous cat skittering for cover. The sudden uproar jolted me right out of my desk chair, for heavens sake!

Needless to say, Fanci was not even slightly impressed. With her hair standing on end, her back arched, and her ears layed back, Fanci gave her best impression of "Rambo" kitten as, she side-hopped right up to the gate and thrust her tiny paw through the wire mesh right into Keye's face. Miffed that her raucous "barking barrage" did not get the desired results, Keye slunk off to her bed to re-think her strategy, leaving Fanci looking somewhat puzzled at the sudden turn of events.

The last couple of weeks we all have been glued to our televisions... watching the Winter Olympics and cheering for "Team USA". We love our athletes! Cats are the athletes of the animal world. I have been forever in awe of the innate athletic ability of cats.

Recently, while in the bathroom drying my hair after my shower, my diminutive feline athlete came charging through the open door. In mid-stride Fanci executed a gravity-defying vault over the edge of the toilet seat. Unfortunately, the lid was up, and her graceful leap culminated in a soggy but near-perfect four point landing, which she "stuck", in the bottom of the toilet bowl. I "fished" an obviously vexed Fanci out of the toilet and promptly gave her an unscheduled bath in the tub.

As often happens, time and gentle persuasion can defuse a potentially explosive situation. I am not sure exactly when "it" happened, but much to my surprise and joy, Keye and Fanci have decided to be friends. One evening, not long ago, I discovered Keye and Fanci nose to nose in a corner of the utility room (Keye's room). The confrontation was obviously amicable to both parties. Food, however, is still an issue for Keye, and probably always will be. So, I am careful to keep Fanci out of Keye's way during feeding time.

As you can see, at eight-plus months of age, Fanci is now nearly grown. Isn't she gorgeous?!!! Fanci's beautiful color is known as black smoke (the smoke being the silver hair).

Although Fanci's background is decidedly obscure, I feel certain there is at least one Norwegian Forest Cat lurking in the shadows... with, perhaps, a dash of Mainecoon and Turkish Angora. From all I have seen and read about those breeds, Fanci resembles them most closely, both in looks and temperment.

Below is Fanci as she appears today... she is a petite, fiesty, healthy five year old now (October of 2006).