Ace of Spades Pet Thread, November 8

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Good afternoon and welcome to the almost world famous Ace of Spades Pet Thread. Thanks for stopping by. Kick back and enjoy the world of animals.

Would you like a treat?

Let's relax a little with the animals and leave the world of politics and current events outside today.

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Our foster Coordinator, Kerri is getting her kitties ready for the Whack-A-Mole competition! 🤣🐯#kittens #kitten #fosteringsaveslives #AdoptDontShop pic.twitter.com/2BfSigwkTb
— Rock N' Rescue (@rock_n_rescue) June 13, 2023

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Is this bear too off-topic?

Meet The PetMorons

Hello, Very longtime lurker here. Attached are pictures are of my Sproodle named Zoey.
On the left is the picture as posted on The Pet Thread on 8/20/2016.
On the right is her from today. She has been a Great Companion and Tremendous Joy!
Many Thanks to Ace of Spades and The Pet Thread!
Tom A.

How great to see Zoey again! What a wonderful dog she is!

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From Pat*

KT, this is for the Pet Thread.
This is the shelter for our barn cat Collin. It’s set against the back of our shed, under a covered porch. You can see the wiring for the heated waterproof pad that’s inside, and the thick foam insulation is visible in the doorway. The inside water dish is just to the right of the doorway (there’s a backup water dish outside). You can see the black top of the automatic food dispenser, and the litter box beside the shelter (Collin hasn’t used it yet, but I put it there for when it’s so cold he may not want to go far from the shelter). The lid has a handle, so I can reach in from the top to refill the water dish. There’s an old blanket inside in the back, where he can sleep.

&&&

Not the best photo from the trail camera, but it did prove to us that Collin is using the shelter. (That log rolled off the woodpile - my husband said he spotted magpies sitting on the pile, so it’s probable they dislodged it and it rolled down. We know the magpies hang around here, and will eat the cat food if any is left in the daylight.)

Thanks, Pat*. Great shelter for a barn cat! Collin looks happy! Interesting detail about the magpies.

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PetMoron Adjacent Animals
Encountered by Members of The Horde

Hi KT
Mostly a lurker and I'll let you decide if the photo is best for the gardening thread or the pet thread.
Could go either way.
It's a wasp nest from the box elder in my backyard. I got too close and gotten stung seven times. It was, unpleasant. Many bad words were said with feeling.
I'm Winston, AKA Pops from Central Washington.
Cheers

Kind of different to think of wasps as almost pets. Perhaps we could discuss some ways to keep wasps AWAY from pets. And perhaps some pet winter care tips.

There are actually some cheerier animals than wasps waiting for my computer to stop acting up. See you next week!

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Thank you for sharing your pets and animal photos and stories with us today.

If you would like to send pet and/or animal stories, links, etc. for the Ace of Spades Pet Thread, the address is:

petmorons at protonmail dot com
Remember to include the nic or name by which you wish to be known when you comment at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.

Until next Saturday, have a great week!

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If you start feeling nostalgic, here a link to last week's Pet Thread, the Ace of Spades Pet Thread, November 1

I closed the comments on that post so you wouldn't get banned for commenting on a week-old post, but don't try it anyway.

Posted by: K.T. at 03:46 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Petsters!

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at November 08, 2025 03:38 PM (WE5Gl)

2 Those AI video of realistic cat and parrot cakes being cut are... odd.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at November 08, 2025 03:39 PM (WE5Gl)

3
Yo, Pet Morons.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at November 08, 2025 03:39 PM (Vm5wJ)

4 Keep forgetting to check corner beer store for the festive little cowboy hats on display. As if Mr Senegal would stand for it.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at November 08, 2025 03:41 PM (WE5Gl)

5 Re: wasps

Let it all end in fire, Muffy.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at November 08, 2025 03:41 PM (zZu0s)

6 Petzzz
doggeh says woof

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at November 08, 2025 03:42 PM (WL2lA)

7 Hey guys,

An update on our cats has been posted.

https://tinyurl.com/4k65zjkx

Posted by: Joyenz at November 08, 2025 03:45 PM (2F0/Y)

8 Thanks for the Pet Thread, KT. Always a treat.

Posted by: olddog in mo at November 08, 2025 03:46 PM (bQ4nt)

9 Are things any better in the future?

Posted by: Boss Moss at November 08, 2025 03:46 PM (5Go8e)

10 Tom A

Your Zoey is similarly colored to my standard poodle Charlie. I understand that is referred to as an Irish tuxedo.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Why Do the Heathen Rage? at November 08, 2025 03:47 PM (L/fGl)

11 Yay! Pets!

Posted by: COMountainMarie at November 08, 2025 03:48 PM (3pxDZ)

12 Meow!

Posted by: Puddleglum, drive by meow at November 08, 2025 03:50 PM (sAmhv)

13 Afternoon, cat, dog, and various species folken!

Wasps as almost pets? No. Dangerous invaders whose abode should be roasted in a fire, with them inside? You make the call.

The outdoor shelter for barn cat Collin is ingenious and well-made, Pat*. The term "barn cat" resonates with me, as Miss Linda keeps saying my big black Stirling could have been born as, and might have become, a barn cat: "The barn cat lifestyle!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 08, 2025 03:52 PM (wzUl9)

14 The Whack-A-Mole kittie competition is pretty cool.

Posted by: olddog in mo at November 08, 2025 03:53 PM (bQ4nt)

15 Stirling the big black cat is doing well, sleeping with me at least part of every night and afternoon nap. Little Dagny has shown a preference for sitting on the hassock where I put my feet up, and then crossing to the couch and climbing up to its back to nap atop a blanket I keep there. They both used to enjoy sleeping there.

I bought some Bravecto topical flea treatment this week, and we need to administer the first dose this weekend. You'd think the flea business would not be very urgent in November. So it would -- in a sensible climate with less than ten months of summer.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 08, 2025 03:53 PM (wzUl9)

16 The Whack-A-Mole kittie competition is pretty cool.
Posted by: olddog in mo at November 08, 2025

***
I wish I'd seen that when my two were kittens. I could have made up just such a play house.

Come to think of it, they still might like it. I'd just have to be sure the openings are big enough for them as they are now.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 08, 2025 03:55 PM (wzUl9)

17 Collin is a smart boy for using the shelter.

Our kitteh is barn cat adjacent. Her mom was a barn cat who escaped before the spay surgery. She still has an independent streak, and insists on being an indoor-outdoor cat. But she follows us around the property on walks and loves cuddles and making biscuits.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at November 08, 2025 03:58 PM (OUqBw)

18 I like the animal memes up top. FenSpouse is very interested in the names for mixed breed dogs. If he doesn't know thenm, he makes them up. So a Sproodle is a mix of a Spaniel and a Poodle.? Zooey is adorable

And congratulations on your shelter for the barn cat, Pat. That looks both clever and very useful.

Posted by: AliasJonesJones at November 08, 2025 04:03 PM (2sfNr)

19 Personally I don't think Stirling was ever destined to be a "barn cat." His mother might have been one, I guess. She died when he was fairly young, leaving him and his four longer-haired black sisters in the care of the Vicksburg shelter. The reason Linda says "barn cat" is that the shelter is in a fairly rural area south of the city; there literally was a barn there when we visited, and a corral with a friendly donkey in it. Somebody nearby could have brought the kittens to the shelter after their barn cat, Stirling's dam, passed on. Thus Stirling and his sisters were pretty much hand-raised. Humans have been part of their world since they were tiny.

Or so I imagine.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 08, 2025 04:03 PM (wzUl9)

20 Ooops, Jones sock off

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at November 08, 2025 04:04 PM (2sfNr)

21 I really love that cat shelter.

Our local Sonic has a huge cat colony living behind it. The restaurant started a cat fund that people can donate (food and monetary) to that helps take care of the cats.

There are three dedicated feeders and they are working with our town's cat rescue Little Paws to TNR and friendlier cats and the kittens to be adopted.

The community has built several shelters behind the restaurant for the cats so they have shelter in bad weather and warmth in the winter.

Posted by: Joyenz at November 08, 2025 04:11 PM (2F0/Y)

22 I wonder if the paper bag decoy (fake wasp colony) would work for Winston's wasp colony? If it works under porch eaves . . .

Posted by: KT at November 08, 2025 04:12 PM (7vIsy)

23 I thought at some point we had a poster on ASHQ
With parrots. Here is a cockatoo dancing to a beatbox harmonica:

https://tinyurl.com/ys4hdmku

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at November 08, 2025 04:13 PM (8Cor4)

24 Our neighbor's black/tuxedo singing cat came to visit again last night. Hasn't visited in a while. Wonder if they didn't feed him?

Posted by: KT at November 08, 2025 04:15 PM (7vIsy)

25
Waiting for The Big Dummy to go into the Hound Group competition.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at November 08, 2025 04:16 PM (/qNvF)

26
We used to get our dog food from a local feed mill. Went there one cold day and the barn cat was sitting on the dock sunning itself. Asked if he earned his keep. They said he was the best.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at November 08, 2025 04:18 PM (/qNvF)

27 Collin has got it made. His humans are very lucky.

We don't have any fulltime outdoor cats anymore but we have done the shelter on the porch thing too. Sometimes even an extra cat will show up!

Posted by: fd at November 08, 2025 04:22 PM (vFG9F)

28 So my new Maine Coon(75%) kitten can't meow. He sounds like he has laryngitis. He is a tad over 7 months old and got fixed last week.

Posted by: lin-duh at November 08, 2025 04:24 PM (VCgbV)

29 I don't know about a pet wasp but a pet Murder Hornet would be cool.

Posted by: fd at November 08, 2025 04:25 PM (vFG9F)

30 a poster on ASHQ With parrots.

You rang?

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at November 08, 2025 04:25 PM (/eH1B)

31 You could teach it to fly and attack prey, like a falcon.

Posted by: fd at November 08, 2025 04:26 PM (vFG9F)

32 So my new Maine Coon(75%) kitten can't meow. He sounds like he has laryngitis. He is a tad over 7 months old and got fixed last week.
Posted by: lin-duh at November 08, 2025

***
That is odd. Little Dagny La Siberienne we suspected was mute, or close to it; she never meowed . . . until Linda brought her out into the cold and snow back in January. She let out a yowl you could have heard across the street. We dunno if it was the cold -- the snow had stopped -- or the sudden big scary world. But we got her back inside quick.

What color and pattern is your kitten?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 08, 2025 04:29 PM (wzUl9)

33 The trouble with wasps and hornets near where you live is that their behavior patterns, especially aggressiveness, vary widely, and you don't know what you have until they're pretty well established. I've gotten along fine with carpenter bees in the scrap wood pile -- they're practically friendly -- and have had paper wasp nests in overhanging trees so subtle that I didn't realize they were there until the leaves started falling. But then I've never met a ground hornet you could co-exist with (I have a bias: they killed a customer of mine once). In the last two years, I've had cicada-killers around, and they're not as dangerous as they look, which is lucky because they're Biblical.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at November 08, 2025 04:33 PM (zdLoL)

34 He is silver and black. He makes plenty of other noises that I've never heard from a cat but meowing sounds very quiet and hoarse.

Posted by: lin-duh at November 08, 2025 04:33 PM (VCgbV)

35 I have two light colored cats that come by to eat. One was pretty regular but haven't seen him in a week. They only come by after dark, so I see them on the game cam. There are two possums. One is polite and a dainty eater. The second is large and slurps like crazy. Then there is the skinny black cat that belongs to someone. I won't encourage it, since it tries to fight with Trouble.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at November 08, 2025 04:34 PM (znHU2)

36 No to pet wasps or hornets but I would consider a pet spider--not the usual tarantula but I think jumping spiders are cute.

Posted by: Still lurking up north, read some, don't comment much at November 08, 2025 04:35 PM (kTd/k)

37 With yellow eyes

Posted by: lin-duh at November 08, 2025 04:36 PM (VCgbV)

38 He is pictured in this pet thread when I first got him. https://ace.mu.nu/archives/416738.php#416738

Posted by: lin-duh at November 08, 2025 04:39 PM (VCgbV)

39 Free Vaccine Clinic Helps Local Pet Owners Keep Their Animals Healthy

https://tinyurl.com/petfreevax

Posted by: Joyenz at November 08, 2025 04:42 PM (2F0/Y)

40 Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at November 08, 2025 04:25 PM (/eH1B

Thanks. I thought there was another guy who raised them from tiny chicks, but I thought that you both would enjoy the cockatoo video.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at November 08, 2025 04:43 PM (oT1li)

41
Hound Group 3 for The Big Dummy.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at November 08, 2025 04:46 PM (/qNvF)

42 Speaking of animals that you see on game or security cams, a couple of nights ago we saw what I described as a bowling ball with four legs and a tail come sniffing across our back porch at around 4 am. After reviewing the recording several times husband and I concluded that the animal was a young porcupine--or, as I learned to my delight, a porcupette.

Fortunately we did not let our dog out until a while later.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at November 08, 2025 04:47 PM (FEVMW)

43 This is my animal story for today. I was driving home from the dry cleaner and a saw a box turtle in the road. I parked the car and went to get it . It was about the size of two of my palms put together and had a lovely brown and orange pattern on it shell. I put in down in my yard and it was gone by the time I got back from another errand It made me happy. It's been a long while since I picked up a box turtle.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at November 08, 2025 04:53 PM (L2PcB)

44 Earlier today I was laying in bed reading my book and eventually 4 out of 5 kitties joined me in the bedroom.

Kaylee, Penny, and Jasmine were in bed with me and Hexie was laying on the floor behind my television.

That's very unusual.

The only outlier was Allie, who was hanging out in the library instead.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at November 08, 2025 04:56 PM (IBQGV)

45 I put some straw around my rose bush. I noticed that there is a cat sized space next to the trunk that Mr Trouble found. He was curled up in it when I went inside. He will come in at night but likes to sleep outside during the day. The possums like to sleep under the house, so he hasn't been hanging out there as much

Posted by: Notsothoreau at November 08, 2025 05:03 PM (znHU2)

46 Howdy y’all!

Pops, that’s a nasty looking wasp nest, yikes!

Lucy the Fink is upstairs in her kitty tree nest overlooking the courtyard, street and beach. She chatters at the birds and the squirrels. She has a window hammock in the guest room she likes to hang out in as well.

The taller cat tree downstairs has a little heating pad in the lowest level.

Spoiled much?

Posted by: nurse ratched at November 08, 2025 05:05 PM (mT+6a)

47 Joyenz, that's so sweet! Someone's trying to get TNR in our county again- if that comes through, hopefully one of the local restaurants or coffee shops can start something like this.

I need to send in pictures of our miscreants- but, as cats will, they make a point of not cooperating with the camera. Still, it's a good goal.

Fenelon, I haven't seen a box turtle in ages! What a nice surprise. (I saw your response in the prayer thread. Thank you.)

Posted by: barkingmad59, wandering lurkette at November 08, 2025 05:07 PM (R3yzU)

48 He is a tad over 7 months old and got fixed last week.
Posted by: lin-duh at November 08, 2025 04:24 PM (VCgbV)

See how talkative you are after getting your balls cut off!

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at November 08, 2025 05:12 PM (zZu0s)

49 Don't raise chicks, am owned by a parrot.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at November 08, 2025 05:15 PM (3Qh2+)

50
So my new Maine Coon(75%) kitten can't meow. He sounds like he has laryngitis. He is a tad over 7 months old and got fixed last week.
Posted by: lin-duh
***
That is odd. Little Dagny La Siberienne we suspected was mute, or close to it; she never meowed . . . until Linda brought her out into the cold and snow back in January. She let out a yowl you could have heard across the street. We dunno if it was the cold -- the snow had stopped -- or the sudden big scary world. But we got her back inside quick.
What color and pattern is your kitten?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

MegaRoy doesn't meow either. He kinda mrrrps with a little squeaky chirrup. He's (mostly) maine coon, maybe the rest is norwegian forrest cat. Monster sized at 16 pounds and it's mostly muscle and four bigg a$$ed paws the size of an Eisenhower silver dollar coin.

Posted by: BifBewalski - at November 08, 2025 05:16 PM (QVmho)

51 Top Pic:

My horny black cat (passed away a few weeks ago) one got on the stove (where the pizza box, with pizza was), opened it, stole pepperoni, closed the box back down...what a smart a$$hole. Would always try to steal human food and especially liked Chinese food.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at November 08, 2025 05:16 PM (ynpvh)

52 Colin looks a lot like my friends' cat Snowflake currently outside my patio door.I just mowed the lawn and leaves. Snowflake was so cute playing in the piles of leaves.

Yesterday, Ralphy ate my dental floss. I was texting and he did it so fast. I was upset, gave him hydrogen peroxcide but he didn't throw up. His vet is closed until Monday.

He seems fine. I'll be checking his stools for the rest of the week. He has been eating, drinking water and been active.

AOP pointed out animals used to eat tinsel. I'll look for symptoms of anything wrong. He's 14 with arthritis. He still has life in him. That being said, he has small growths on his skin and the vet would be hesitant to put him under to remove those.

Hopefully the floss will just pass, but still. He's never done anything like that before.

I'll take him to Tim's and get back to putting out Christmas lights.

Posted by: Posted by: Stateless - VERY GRATEFUL, BLESSED, LOVED AND HAPPY! -- - New Life Creation - 18.1% at November 08, 2025 05:16 PM (Sco7b)

53 I'll take him to Tim's and get back to putting out Christmas lights.

Posted by: Posted by: Stateless - VERY GRATEFUL, BLESSED, LOVED AND HAPPY! -- - New Life Creation - 18.1% at November 08, 2025 05:16 PM (Sco7b)

Weren't you two at Tim's this morning? Or was that a different pet? Not that there's anything wrong with going there twice in one day. I've done it.

Posted by: Vendette at November 08, 2025 05:20 PM (MR1yy)

54 Posted by: barkingmad59, wandering lurkette at November 08, 2025 05:07 PM (R3yzU

You are most welcome, barkingmad59

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at November 08, 2025 05:21 PM (oT1li)

55 Lessssgo Iowa!

Beat the Ducks!

Posted by: nurse ratched at November 08, 2025 05:22 PM (mT+6a)

56 So my new Maine Coon(75%) kitten can't meow. He sounds like he has laryngitis. He is a tad over 7 months old and got fixed last week.
Posted by: lin-duh
---
My cat Kaylee doesn't meow at all either. She sort of whispers or squeaks.

Except when I put her in the cat carrier to take her to the vet. Then she can howl with the best of 'em.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at November 08, 2025 05:24 PM (IBQGV)

57 Wizard of Oz on TCM right now. One of the very few musicals I enjoy.

Posted by: Archer at November 08, 2025 05:26 PM (YGRGv)

58 I must admit I was surprised by the reactions to the wasp nest. I was stung because I was trimming branches and got a defensive reaction. Usually, they don't bother me. I simply didn't realize how big the nest was. I have been stung by ground wasps before with no ill effect. This thing impressed me very much when I took it down. I have a number of cats my neighbor keeps, and they have shown no ill effects from stings. There are a couple of insane dogs in the area that might benefit from the wasp's attention. All that said, thanks KT and everyone for the remarks.

Posted by: Winston AKA Pops at November 08, 2025 05:29 PM (rQASa)

59 Weren't you two at Tim's this morning? Or was that a different pet? Not that there's anything wrong with going there twice in one day. I've done it.
Posted by: Vendette at November 08, 2025 05:20 PM (MR1yy

We went this morning. I'm doing a lot of work today.

And it makes Ralphy happy. They give him free Timbits,

Smart business move.

Posted by: Posted by: Stateless - VERY GRATEFUL, BLESSED, LOVED AND HAPPY! -- - New Life Creation - 18.1% at November 08, 2025 05:30 PM (Sco7b)

60 Snowing here in western South Dakota today.

Posted by: Archer at November 08, 2025 05:30 PM (YGRGv)

61 We went this morning. I'm doing a lot of work today.

And it makes Ralphy happy. They give him free Timbits,

Smart business move.

Posted by: Posted by: Stateless - VERY GRATEFUL, BLESSED, LOVED AND HAPPY! -- - New Life Creation - 18.1% at November 08, 2025 05:30 PM (Sco7b)

Happy dog and owner, happy employees too, seeing happy dog. I'm assuming not the chocolate glazed, though.

Posted by: Vendette at November 08, 2025 05:32 PM (MR1yy)

62 Happy dog and owner, happy employees too, seeing happy dog. I'm assuming not the chocolate glazed, though.
Posted by: Vendette at November 08, 2025 05:32 PM (MR1yy

Just plain.

He doesn't bark anymore. I used to go a lot more often. As soon as I'd open the window to order, he would howl. And the employees would say 'Hi Ralphy!'

He doesn't do that anymore. That makes me sad.

Posted by: Posted by: Stateless - VERY GRATEFUL, BLESSED, LOVED AND HAPPY! -- - New Life Creation - 18.1% at November 08, 2025 05:43 PM (Sco7b)

63 About keeping wasps away from pets, while still enjoying them:
Make a fake wasp nest (with NO entrance or exit.)
Put it up near where you pets hang out.
Wasps assume it is occupied by bigger, meaner wasps than themselves and stay away.
One of these has worked for us for years.

Posted by: Nan G at November 08, 2025 06:28 PM (lV9qu)

64 Noodus hobbyana

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 08, 2025 06:30 PM (wzUl9)

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