Hours: Thurs-Mon, noon-6 pm
We have an #adoptionupdate from Sarah who adopted King Arthur aka Arty this past September! Sarah saw Arty online and immediately knew she wanted to adopt him. He’s 13, had been in the shelter since January, and is diabetic. Sarah knew he had to come home with her!
“Arty is doing great! He has settled in very well. Other than the occasional spat with his big brother, Buddy, things are blissful. He’s such a goofball and very chatty. He likes to talk to the walls at 3am more than any other time of day. He’s a big loafer — always loafing near mom. He loooves the catio and usually hangs out in the sun during the day.
“Arty has been great about getting his insulin and we’re always ready for food promptly at 8 am and 8 pm. He does not let me forget it!
“He’s such a goon. I hope he loves his very spoiled life. What the boys want, the boys get.”
Arty was a former member of the Lonely Hearts Club at CCS. These cats typically need some extra help finding their new home. They may be older, not as eye-catching, have specific medical needs, or just haven’t found a loving family yet. They may have been overlooked in the past, but we believe they can bring so much love to someone’s life, and Arty is an excellent example of that!
Have you adopted from CCS in the past? We’d love to hear how it’s going! Send us your adoption success stories (and photos!) to be featured in our #adoptionupdate series on social media or on our website.
We have an #adoptionupdate from Dayana who adopted Mozart (now Echo) this past August! Dayana came to CCS looking for a gray cat that had medium/longer hair.
“He has adjusted wonderfully to his new home and adapted great to his new pet siblings.
“He loves to play fetch and play with our dog, he loves to cuddle us humans and loves to explore new spaces.”
Have you adopted from CCS in the past? We’d love to hear how it’s going! Send us your adoption success stories (and photos!) to be featured in our #adoptionupdate series on social media or on our website.
We have an #adoptionupdate from Elizabeth who adopted Kato (now Winslow) in September! Elizabeth came in to pet the cats without a specific one in mind and never expected to fall in love with one right away. Kato/Winslow was super friendly and loved to roll around for belly loves. It was love at first sight!
“He got a kitty cold not too long after the move but he’s been starting to recover from it quite well.
“He is incredibly friendly. A bit shy when new people come over but he quickly warms up and demands cuddles. He loves to sleep next to me at night, and has been since I got him. He loves playing with any form of string. He also purrs and makes air biscuits when he’s happy.
“He is a very good and very happy boy. Everyone loves him!”
Have you adopted from CCS in the past? We’d love to hear how it’s going! Send us your adoption success stories (and photos!) to be featured in our #adoptionupdate series on social media or on our website.
We have an #adoptionupdate from Mattilda and Zach who adopted Lottie (now Minerva Moon or Minni) in August! They weren’t searching for a specific cat. Earlier this year, they had unexpectedly lost their senior tortie to bladder cancer. Since then, they kept checking the Cat Care Society page and visiting us, hoping to find their perfect new fur baby. After some time, they saw Minni online, went to meet her, and instantly knew she was the one!
“It took a little bit to get Minni to come out from under the bed and feel comfortable exploring the whole house but after a couple of weeks it’s like she’s always been here!
“Minni is doing exceptionally well. She’s gained some weight, her fur is shiny and soft, and you can just see how happy she is. She’s a great eater and LOVES her wet food treats. She loves her human brother (my step son) and is obsessed with playing with all of her mouse toys! Minni snuggles up and sleeps with us every night.
“After losing our last kitty so suddenly I never thought we would be this happy again. Minerva Moon is truly the most loving cat I’ve ever seen in my life. All she wants is cuddles and kisses and to love and be loved. I truly believe our last cat sent her to us. We are so glad we found her and she picked us. Thank you Cat Care Society!”
Have you adopted from CCS in the past? We’d love to hear how it’s going! Send us your adoption success stories (and photos!) to be featured in our #adoptionupdate series on social media or on our website.
We have an #adoptionupdate from Emily who adopted Butterscotch (now Whisky or Ski for short) in July of this year. Emily had been grieving the loss of two cats and had stopped in to donate supplies and give some attention to the special needs cats in particular. Whisky jumped right up and sat next to Emily, and even bonked another cat who got in her way! She did the same thing during another visit, so Emily figured she’d made up her mind.
“She settled in faster than any cat I’ve ever seen. She’s chatty and affectionate and loves visiting when friends come by.
“She loves playing fetch! She’ll carry a little catnip toy up to me and meow and trill until I toss it for her over and over again. She also runs around like wild chasing feather toys, and likes to stretch along with me when I roll out my yoga mat.
“I did a lot of research on caring for FIV+ cats before adopting her, and CCS staff helped dispel the myths. She’s healthy and happy and I’d encourage others to not be scared off by the diagnosis!”
Have you adopted from CCS in the past? We’d love to hear how it’s going! Send us your adoption success stories (and photos!) to be featured in our #adoptionupdate series on social media or on our website.
We have an #adoptionupdate from Camila who adopted Cake Pop (now Potato) this past July! They originally went to the shelter with an orange cat in mind, when they met him, he was a bit fearful. However, once he saw them playing with a wand toy, he cautiously approached, and they noticed his adorable yellow eyes. It was love at first sight for their whole family.
“The day we adopted him, my daughter heard the story of a 16-year-old cat named Potato who had also been adopted that week. She loved the name and the idea of our kitten living a long, happy life like that other Potato.
“We took him home and by the second day, Potato had completely transformed. The fearfulness was gone, and he became a confident, playful kitten, quickly settling in with us. Within a few weeks, he started showing interest in going outside, and before long, he was joining our family on short hikes. Now, he’s officially an adventure cat!
“Our vet says he’s in excellent health, eats well, has good litter box habits and is doing great with his leash training. We’re so happy to have him as part of our family and excited for all the adventures to come!”
Have you adopted from CCS in the past? We’d love to hear how it’s going! Send us your adoption success stories (and photos!) to be featured in our #adoptionupdate series
on social media or on our website.”
We have an #adoptionupdate from Allyson, who adopted the 1-year-old June in June (what a fortunate name and timing)!
Allyson came in looking for a cat with a chill temperament who could adapt to the unique lifestyle of living in a bus with their new owners. “We chose June because she was super relaxed when we met her, and she climbed into my lap immediately when I knelt down,” she said. “She is still the sweetest and we’re so glad we chose her!”
June, who is now mostly called Junie, adjusted to her new home almost immediately. “We made sure to give her her own cozy corner with a bed and toys, and she loves sleeping in the dash of our school bus. She does really well in the car and either sleeps in the passenger seat or in my lap.
“She eats and drinks well and doesn’t make any messes or scratch anything she’s not supposed to. June had a cold and was sneezing a lot when we adopted her, but is doing much better now and is in perfect health. She is so snuggly and loves to be in our laps, go for walks outside with her harness, and watch chipmunks from the window. She is perfect 🙂
“We’re thankful for you all and how well you take care of your cats! We would definitely adopt from you again in the future! We are also so grateful that you allowed us to adopt a cat even though we live in a bus.”
Have you adopted from CCS in the past? We’d love to hear how it’s going! Send us your adoption success stories (and photos!) to be featured in our #adoptionupdate series on social media or on our website.
With Halloween approaching, it’s the perfect time to spotlight a particular type of cat—and no, we’re not talking about black cats! Instead, we’re focusing on tri-color cats, whose coats feature a mix of black, orange, and white in varying patterns and ratios. While “tri-color” and “calico” are often used interchangeably, calico cats have a distinct coat pattern. Tortoiseshell cats are also considered tri-color, even though they usually lack white and have their own unique pattern. It’s important to remember that “calico” and “tortoiseshell” refer to coat patterns, not breeds. These color combinations are the result of genetics and can appear in any breed, though they are more commonly found in breeds like American Shorthair, British Shorthair, Japanese Bobtail, Maine Coon, and Persian.
There are also diluted and tabby variations of tortoiseshell and calico cats—so many colorful kitties to love! In the rest of this article, we’ll explore the different markings and patterns that define each type of tri-color coat. By the end, you’ll be able to recognize the unique beauty of every tri-color cat you encounter.
Tri-color cats are almost always female, with approximately one in 3,000 being male. This is because two X chromosomes are needed to have a distinctive tri-color coat. Typically, if a cat has an XX pair, she will be female. Male cats have an XY chromosome pair, so they’re not tri-color unless they have at least one extra chromosome (XXY). Unfortunately, these males often suffer from Klinefelter’s Syndrome, a condition that can negatively affect their health and longevity.
Calico cat coats feature patches of solid orange, black, and white. The white color is a result of a genetic condition called piebalding, which occurs in a range of other domestic and farm animals. In a diluted calico, the colors are more muted to cream, gray, and white, due to a gene inherited from one of the parents that diminishes color intensity.
“Tabico” is a term for cats that have a combination of tabby and calico markings. These cats have large patches of orange and black on a white background, with tabby stripes overlaying some of the black and orange areas. When tabby stripes cover the forehead, they form the distinctive “tabby M.” A diluted tabico’s coat features cream, gray, and white fur.
Tortoiseshell, or “tortie,” cats have brindle patterns (irregular stripes or streaks) of orange and black with little to no white. A diluted tortie has gray and cream colors and is a result of both parents carrying a recessive gene that impacts the intensity of the colors.
A torbie cat exhibits both the multi-colored brindle pattern of a tortoiseshell cat and the characteristic stripes or spots of a tabby. Like the tabico, if there are tabby stripes on the cat’s forehead, they will display the “tabby M.” Diluted torbies usually have a cream, gray and white coat.
A “tortico” is a combination of classic tortie and calico markings, featuring large patches of orange and black brindling on a white background. A diluted tortico is relatively rare, and will be gray and cream, and white.
As you can see, there are many variations of tri-color cats but you can still count yourself lucky if you run into one! In many cultures tri-color cats are connected with good luck and good fortune, and in the U.S., they are sometimes called “money cats.”
People who have tri-color cats often report that they’re equally sweet and sassy and tortoiseshell cat owners often refer to their feisty side as having “tortitude.” However, since tri-color cats aren’t a breed, research hasn’t been able to confirm that this extra feistiness is a distinct trait related to their coat pattern. That said, if you haven’t taken our “Whats Your Cat Purrsonality” quiz on our Just Fur Fun page, now’s your chance! Discover which cat breed or color pattern best represents you—maybe even find out if you have a bit of tortitude!”
About the Author: Beth Dokolasa is a volunteer for Cat Care Society and serves on the Board of Directors. She is an instructional developer for Natural Grocers and lives in Indian Hills, Colo., with her husband, daughter, and two cats, Techno and Digit.
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