I’m madly in love with Mandarine. We had a cat named Tangeau (same color as Mandarine, but shorter hair) when I was growing up who had a penchant for the same sorts of beds.
Mrs Hands: why would I spend €10 on a cosy cat nest when Mrs Mandarine fits in a shoebox?
Tai: please stand up; no bowing allowed in here.
Emily: was Tangeau named after a tangerine? Because if so, Mandarine must be a reincarnation (mandarine means tangerine). I like the word penchant. I wonder how you pronounce it.
Penchant is a lovely word. I have a professor who got a Ph.D. in French literature before she did poetry at the Iowa program, and she always pronounces words like this in the original French. It makes the Yanks giggle. But she’s lovely. Rather than pretense (or pretence), it’s about her loving the sound of the word in French. I know this without her ever having said so.
Mandarine is quite the cutie. Mango’s dominant color is brown (his coloring is called Ruddy, Tawny, Usual, Lièvre, Wildkleur, Vildtfarvet or ABYn around the world) but his undercoat is mango colored - which caused his name. Typically an Abyssinian’s undercoat is peach colored as that of his his house mate Peaches.
I could return the compliment. Mango looks gorgeous. We’ve had a cat once (name was French for ‘tickles’) who had a plain old tabby coat but definite oriental features (sleek body, high legs, small head, big ears), and some of our feline connoisseur friends were positive he had Abyssinian or Egyptian ancestors.
I take my feline love affairs quite seriously, mandarine–I would not presume to love mandarine until I knew him better. I have the deepest respect, however, for his orangeness. It is an orange of great integrity and purpose. I must also comment upon his ability to curl into a ball. Beyond par.
My son Finn (pictures of him on my website) is the progeny of a silver Somali and a silver Aby. He is pure Aby, Somali being a sub-strain of the Abyssinian, but his markings are quite his own. As a baby he was ruddy, and now he is silver with apricot cheeks and belly. This is my first Aby experience and I must say, it’s hard to stay depressed around them. Wind-up toy doesn’t begin to do justice.
The Aby’s markings are just as you say, Randy–TICA and CFA recognize different color varieties (I don’t think CFA recognizes the silvers yet, for example) but all of them have agouti hair–three-or four-color banded, a trait shared only with tabbies. Their color variety, the agouti marking, is really a tabby strain–and the ruddys have black bands at the top; reds darkest red at the top; fawns peach color; and so on.
Amazing cats, I must say. Finn keeps my other two, both great shelter tabbies, on their toes. Finn was parked in front of the back door this morning watching the birds, and in the foggy daylight, his face looked like that of a great white owl.
My deepest apologies! Middle age has caught up. Of course Mandarine is a she. I will exit immediately from the orangine chamber herewith in abject shame.
Katie is so right. Abys are rocket-powered cats! In addition, they are blazingly affectionate, absolutely loyal, will eat anything you eat (and always expect their share!), demand attention from your guests and are far too much fun. Mango such a character he makes me laugh every day.
I don’t know how I managed to be on this planet for so long without Finn. You’re right, Randy! So far Finn has eaten yoghurt, melon, apples, cottage cheese with hot sauce (to his regret not two hours later), peanut butter, this on top of his usual diet of kibble, canned food and raw meat cat grade. We’re not counting spiders, grass, leaves, branches and wait, he just licked the computer speaker. I live in fear.
He is sooo lovely it takes my breath away. And funnier than the keystone cops.
But I do want to thank Mandarine, most of all, for making this an orange cat moment. It is, after all, Mandarine’s world; and we are mere visitors of her magnificence.
No wonder I caught Finn drinking my chardonnay. He even likes the most awful of concoctions, those fake fruity powder mixes Crystal Lite puts out. I’m just really glad he’s not into espresso. Abys are truly astounding in the diversity of their gastronomie.
I can leave a hamburger or tuna on the kitchen table for a whole day, she will not touch any. It has to be in her plate, and she had rather have disgusting cat food if she can choose.
My mom’s Russian Blue, Pookie, wouldn’t think of eating people food. It’s only kibble or stinky wet cat food. He’s not the least bit interested in what anyone is eating or what’s unattended on the counter. He’s been on the counter but that’s to stand up in the window to see what the neighbor’s dog was doing. He could be Mandarine’s soul mate…
You couldn’t afford a bigger bed?? (tee hee)
It was worth the wait.
I bow to you.
I’m madly in love with Mandarine. We had a cat named Tangeau (same color as Mandarine, but shorter hair) when I was growing up who had a penchant for the same sorts of beds.
Mrs Hands: why would I spend €10 on a cosy cat nest when Mrs Mandarine fits in a shoebox?
Tai: please stand up; no bowing allowed in here.
Emily: was Tangeau named after a tangerine? Because if so, Mandarine must be a reincarnation (mandarine means tangerine). I like the word penchant. I wonder how you pronounce it.
Yes, Tangeau was named after a tangerine. No wonder I have a penchant (pronounced the way Barbarians prounounce it, of course) for Mandarine.
Penchant is a lovely word. I have a professor who got a Ph.D. in French literature before she did poetry at the Iowa program, and she always pronounces words like this in the original French. It makes the Yanks giggle. But she’s lovely. Rather than pretense (or pretence), it’s about her loving the sound of the word in French. I know this without her ever having said so.
My favorite orange cat site is this one:
http://www.mango-madness.com/
Do you mean your favorite orange cat site is not mandarine?
(I mean, thanks for the link)
Mandarine is quite the cutie. Mango’s dominant color is brown (his coloring is called Ruddy, Tawny, Usual, Lièvre, Wildkleur, Vildtfarvet or ABYn around the world) but his undercoat is mango colored - which caused his name. Typically an Abyssinian’s undercoat is peach colored as that of his his house mate Peaches.
I could return the compliment. Mango looks gorgeous. We’ve had a cat once (name was French for ‘tickles’) who had a plain old tabby coat but definite oriental features (sleek body, high legs, small head, big ears), and some of our feline connoisseur friends were positive he had Abyssinian or Egyptian ancestors.
I take my feline love affairs quite seriously, mandarine–I would not presume to love mandarine until I knew him better. I have the deepest respect, however, for his orangeness. It is an orange of great integrity and purpose. I must also comment upon his ability to curl into a ball. Beyond par.
My son Finn (pictures of him on my website) is the progeny of a silver Somali and a silver Aby. He is pure Aby, Somali being a sub-strain of the Abyssinian, but his markings are quite his own. As a baby he was ruddy, and now he is silver with apricot cheeks and belly. This is my first Aby experience and I must say, it’s hard to stay depressed around them. Wind-up toy doesn’t begin to do justice.
The Aby’s markings are just as you say, Randy–TICA and CFA recognize different color varieties (I don’t think CFA recognizes the silvers yet, for example) but all of them have agouti hair–three-or four-color banded, a trait shared only with tabbies. Their color variety, the agouti marking, is really a tabby strain–and the ruddys have black bands at the top; reds darkest red at the top; fawns peach color; and so on.
Amazing cats, I must say. Finn keeps my other two, both great shelter tabbies, on their toes. Finn was parked in front of the back door this morning watching the birds, and in the foggy daylight, his face looked like that of a great white owl.
Mandarine is (was?) a ’she’. And yes, her orangeness is total, even her eyes are as orange as they come (in the banner).
My deepest apologies! Middle age has caught up. Of course Mandarine is a she. I will exit immediately from the orangine chamber herewith in abject shame.
Katie is so right. Abys are rocket-powered cats! In addition, they are blazingly affectionate, absolutely loyal, will eat anything you eat (and always expect their share!), demand attention from your guests and are far too much fun. Mango such a character he makes me laugh every day.
I don’t know how I managed to be on this planet for so long without Finn. You’re right, Randy! So far Finn has eaten yoghurt, melon, apples, cottage cheese with hot sauce (to his regret not two hours later), peanut butter, this on top of his usual diet of kibble, canned food and raw meat cat grade. We’re not counting spiders, grass, leaves, branches and wait, he just licked the computer speaker. I live in fear.
He is sooo lovely it takes my breath away. And funnier than the keystone cops.
But I do want to thank Mandarine, most of all, for making this an orange cat moment. It is, after all, Mandarine’s world; and we are mere visitors of her magnificence.
Mandarine certainly is a gracious hostess. Mango and Peaches both like exotic foods; chicken with a mandarin orange glaze, vegetable pakora, chicken masala, any pasta in marinara sauce, fresh papaya… Peaches once stole an escargot from the briochet and gobbled it down. Little Peachie also loves wine, preferably white. She will sip a red or rosé but loves a nice white (sauternes, moscato, chardonnay…). She even has a favorite and that’s a Gewertzaminer. She will drink until someone takes it away! Her vet says wine isn’t bad for her in moderation, however, we often disagree as to the definition of “moderation”.
No wonder I caught Finn drinking my chardonnay. He even likes the most awful of concoctions, those fake fruity powder mixes Crystal Lite puts out. I’m just really glad he’s not into espresso. Abys are truly astounding in the diversity of their gastronomie.
What does our hostess Mandarine like, I wonder?
I can leave a hamburger or tuna on the kitchen table for a whole day, she will not touch any. It has to be in her plate, and she had rather have disgusting cat food if she can choose.
My mom’s Russian Blue, Pookie, wouldn’t think of eating people food. It’s only kibble or stinky wet cat food. He’s not the least bit interested in what anyone is eating or what’s unattended on the counter. He’s been on the counter but that’s to stand up in the window to see what the neighbor’s dog was doing. He could be Mandarine’s soul mate…
[…] And then I’ll be ready to knock at the door of the 9rules network, just in case they have a spare shoebox for mandarine to squeeze in. […]