Update on the Cats

White and black cat sleeping

Introducing Driftwood

A Melanie’s Mondays Post:

People have been asking what’s going on with the co-pets. This post is going to update you on the status of the cats.

The photo above is Driftwood. Many of you know him. He is Skipper’s cat from back when they were both babies. Driftwood is a Turkish Van cat. They are supposed to like swimming, which is why I got him for Skipper. Unfortunately, he doesn’t.

Black cat looking up at the camera

Introducing Mamba

Our second cat is Mamba. Mamba was a feral kitten whom we got at about six weeks old. I call him a “shadow cat” because no one can ever see him. That’s not because he’s black, which helps, but because he always hides when people come over. Once he gets used to someone he will come out, but it takes a lot of visits for that to happen.

Brown and white taby sleeping in a cat bed

Introducing Flopsy the Killer Cat

Flopsy is not our cat. He lives with my daughter, Coral. Flopsy was a “homeless cat” when we got him. He came to my house and wouldn’t leave. He was so friendly but so skinny. Someone had to take him in.

Capybara (Garibaldi Rous) hugging Cat (Flopsy)

Gari hugging Flopsy

Lately a photo of Flopsy with Garibaldi has been making the rounds on social media and popular websites. This week the photo showed up on Reddit’s front page. Not for the first time. The photo shows Garibaldi Rous hugging Flopsy. The entire internet seems to think this image was photoshopped. It wasn’t. The photo above is an uncropped version of that.

Capybara, Garibaldi Rous, hugging a brown and white tabby named Flopsy

Garibaldi hugging Flopsy

Another photo of Garibaldi hugging Flopsy

Another photo of Garibaldi hugging Flopsy

And, as you can see, that is not the only photo I have of Gari hugging Flopsy. Gari was a very loving, happy capybara and Flopsy is a very tolerant cat.

Brown and white tabby cat (Flopsy) lying on the floor

Flopsy chillin’

Above is a recent photo of Flopsy. He’s still a big, healthy cat.

Black cat (Mamba) slinking around

Mamba sneaking around

It is nearly impossible to get a photo of Mamba. As it turns out, a black cat always comes out looking like a hole in the photo. Only Mamba has eyes. And claws. And teeth. They don’t always show up. He also has a tiny white spot on his side consisting of three hairs, literally. They never show up in a photo.

Black cat with green eyes staring out of the photo

Mamba. Evil of no?

Sometimes Mamba comes to watch me work on the computer. It always makes me a little nervous.

Black cat (Mamba) looking up from his perch on a cat tower

Mamba on cat tower

I think our sense of distrust is mutual. Except at feeding times, when he loves me.

White and black cat (Driftwood) carrying a floppy red toy

Fetch, Driftwood!

Driftwood likes to play fetch. Weird, yes? This is one of the traits of Turkish Vans. He is so adorable carrying a toy around.

White and black cat (Driftwood) lying on his side reaching for a toy

I can’t reach it!

After he gets tired of fetch, he’ll play with the toy by himself. As long as it’s in reach.

White and black cat (Driftwood) sitting with black cat (Mamba) on a cat tower


Even though Mamba is two years old now, I still refer to him as “the kitten.” That is at least partly because he is so much smaller than Driftwood. Driftwood weighs in at 14.5 lbs and Mamba is around nine. He’s only small relatively speaking.

Photographing this two together is practically impossible. Mamba is either a black hole or Driftwood is a white hole. Or both.

You can see a device on their collars. This is part of a system to keep them from going outside. Otherwise Skipper’s pet door is a free ticket. The collar gives them a warning beep when they get too close to the base and then a mild shock when the get really too close. After the first few times, they have never gotten close enough to get the shock. It is safer for the cats and the wildlife if they don’t go outside.

So, got any cats? Photo tips for black ones? Do your cats play fetch? Comments are always appreciated.


3 comments to Update on the Cats

  • Amanda

    Our cat, Clementine, is a calico tabby. Her mama was a Siamese and her dad was a mystery suitor. She loves to play fetch, but she only will play with those little sponge balls that look like soccer balls. She also plays a “funny joke” sometimes and soaks the ball in her water dish before she brings it back to us. Nothing like picking up a soaking wet, squishy ball without knowing about it beforehand. The best advice we ever got about calico tabbies is that they engage in “complicated play” and that’s absolutely correct. She’s got a lot of games she plays with very complex rules. Clementine is a very vocal weirdo that we are really happy to have in our lives.

    I only have black dog photo tips, but they might still apply– defuse light instead of direct (cloudy days instead of sunny.) Simple backgrounds so they don’t blend in (either light or for a fun shot, something completely black.) Focus on the eyes, which you already do!

    All of your kitties (and adjacent-kitties) look well-loved and happy!! I enjoy reading about the adventures of Skipper and friends very much.

  • Kenneth Harry Klibaner

    Great post. Cats are really cool creatures. I have owned many during my life. Some were like dogs and followed you from room to room. Only two fetched. They were super athletes and could catch soft toys thrown to them. All creatures need love and safe homes. You do so much more than most.

  • Francine

    I remember Driftwood objecting to the kiddie pool. “NO!”, he mewed. “I don’t like being wet!”

    Flopsy is super tolerant until he sees Driftwood… Otherwise he is awesome.

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