Ace of Spades Pet Thread, August 22

Courtesy BifBewalski

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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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People helping animals:

There was a stork whose mate passed away during nesting season. Unable to leave her eggs for long, she began going hungry.

Local residents started feeding her fish with a long pole so she could continue incubating her eggs. This happened in Vinnytsia pic.twitter.com/kLe3hmHFDw
— Science girl (@sciencegirl) August 19, 2026

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Desert, pigs

Two friends filled a watering trough deep in the woods so the animals could drink.

Shortly after, they captured these incredible images. pic.twitter.com/VjyiyRcDui
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) August 20, 2026

The local fish ad game commission had a watering trough project in our forest area. They had to raise the tank above wild pig height because they fouled the water so badly.

Squirrel Homes

This guy built over 1,000 homes for squirrels and fitted some of them with cameras so he could see how they live

Welcome to the cutest reality TV show out there

Writer: Ianpic.twitter.com/OlnWI4UUTG
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) August 22, 2026

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We have been discussing the color ranges which various animals can see lately. Which of these critters can your pet see well because of its color?

Pink Platypus?

Melbourne fisherman Cody Stylianou spotted an incredibly rare pink platypus in East Gippsland, Victoria.

Affectionately nicknamed "Pinky", the animal was filmed for 15 minutes as it foraged in tannin-stained water.

Experts estimate only about a dozen of these unusually pale… pic.twitter.com/clHifTGjx8
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) August 18, 2026

Pink Katydid?

PINK!!!!!!! 🤯🤯💖
A shiny version of an Orophus Katydid from the Ecuadorian rainforest!!!
I am SHAKING! Look at it!!!! ✨ https://t.co/D3w6GWVRnQ pic.twitter.com/AEsMycWKmw
— Nick Volpe (@nvolpewild) August 14, 2026

Have you ever had a pet katydid? Some people think that they represent good luck.

Blue Pit Viper?

The white-lipped pit viper (Trimeresurus insularis), found on the lesser Sunda islands of Indonesia

the blue variety is rare, and only occurs in places such as Komodo Islands pic.twitter.com/Xqw0ua3EjF
— Science girl (@sciencegirl) August 21, 2026

Meet The PetMorons

Here's a recent photo of MegaRoy (15-year-old Maine Coon / Norwegian Forrest Cat blend) for the pet thread too. He's at the vet, getting treated for olde man constipation. That's about three weeks ago, and he's doing all better now. He weighs in at 15lbs and that's a healthy no fat weight. Paws are the size of 50 cent coins. He's big enough for us all to hear him on the hardwoods when he walks.
I post as BifBewalski.

MegaRoy is a beautiful cat.

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By-Tor's dog Ruger on the way to a hike earlier this month:

Today’s hike- Shabarum Trail Loop, in Hacienda Heights, about 25 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
4.5 miles, 800 foot elevation gain.

Ruger looks excited!

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PetMoron Adjacent Animals
Encountered by Members of The Horde

By-Tor and Ruger met some other animals on their hike:

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And even before their hike, at home:

&&&

&&&

Thought I was dreaming about burglars breaking in via my roof at 5:45am. Turns out it wasn’t a dream.

A family!

* * *

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!

* * *

If you start feeling nostalgic, here a link to last week's Pet Thread, the Ace of Spades Pet Thread, August 15

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 03:34 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Foist?

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 22, 2026 03:36 PM (2Ez/1)

2 Woof

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at August 22, 2026 03:37 PM (cXgQo)

3 Yay, Pet Thread!

Posted by: Barkingmad59, wandering lurkette at August 22, 2026 03:40 PM (ztCYQ)

4 Thank you for the thread.

The cat and dog are adorable. 15lbs - wow.

Back to work.

Posted by: Stateless - keeping 15 year Ralphy happy and alive. Puppy at heart at August 22, 2026 03:41 PM (Sco7b)

5 As if the platypus was not *already* the weirdest creature on earth. Oddly cute.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Trumpy can do magic at August 22, 2026 03:41 PM (0aYVJ)

6 One of our dogs is sprawled out in the middle of my bed. She looks happy.

Posted by: Billythesquid at August 22, 2026 03:45 PM (gN+5I)

7 The ears on those deer are outstanding.

Posted by: KT at August 22, 2026 03:46 PM (1RGZ5)

8 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at August 22, 2026 03:46 PM (sAmhv)

9 Afternoon everyone,

The pets and wildlife are cute. We once had a raccoon family living in our chimney and damaging it a bit, but dad didn't have the heart to call someone to get rid of them. He didn't want them killed. They eventually moved on.

A small update on our cats. Our new kitten Onyx is doing really well.

https://tinyurl.com/dg65258

Posted by: Joyenz at August 22, 2026 03:48 PM (2F0/Y)

10 The ears on those deer are outstanding.
Posted by: KT at August 22, 2026 03:46 PM (1RGZ5)

A lot more mule deer out west than whitetail. But on the east slope of the Bighorns (Sheridan/Buffalo area) the whitetail are big, healthy and plentiful.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Trumpy can do magic at August 22, 2026 03:49 PM (0aYVJ)

11 Meow!

Morning for me. I woke up a bit ago.

I saw those wild pigs and thought they need a hunter near by, start picking them off.

Posted by: Puddleglum, drive by meow at August 22, 2026 03:50 PM (sAmhv)

12 By-Tor's dog , Ruger ,looks really happy about talking a walk , and Bif's cat is quite handsome

Millard ( named for Millard Fillmore) the kitten is currently talking a nap after being wild cat racing around and playing with his toys for most of the day. Dad and I are exhausted. LOL.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at August 22, 2026 03:52 PM (wuyOQ)

13 PETS! YAY!

My own kitties are doing fine.

I assembled some bookshelves this morning (and they are still standing!).

Naturally, I had a lot of "help" and "quality assurers" during the process.

Also, the bookshelves came with lots of kitty toys! (cardboard packing materials)

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 22, 2026 03:52 PM (FZ29D)

14 And the blue snake and the pink platypus are amazing!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at August 22, 2026 03:53 PM (wuyOQ)

15 I saw those wild pigs and thought they need a hunter near by, start picking them off.
Posted by: Puddleglum, drive by meow at August 22, 2026 03:50 PM (sAmhv)
---
Pigs = mobile bacon delivery system

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 22, 2026 03:53 PM (FZ29D)

16 Hello, Horde! 😊💕

I dunno about the rest of you, but anything named "pit viper" is something I'm staying FAR away from, even if it is an incredibly rare (and admittedly beautiful) color of blue.....

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, AoSHQ's Plucky Wee One - Eat the Cheesecake, Buy the Yarn. at August 22, 2026 03:54 PM (SRRAx)

17 I lost my best buddy last Saturday. Darcy was a great cat. His heart and kidneys failed too young. He was affectionate with me, we bonded quickly when he was little and we had a great 12 and a half years together. He was "my" cat. He was loved and doted on by my wife and I every single day we shared the house. We still have his mom and sister. It was just him and his sister born to a to a young and tiny mom. I buried him in the yard where he loved to roam and hunt and used my bare hands at the end.

We have a bunch of cats, and he is the first of them to die and he was my favorite. I haven't lost a pet since I was a kid decades ago. I always knew it would come but not for years still. I think my mom dying 5 years ago prepped me for the loss but I'm devastated. Our cats are like kids for us because my wife was unable to carry to term. I probably overcompensated by rescuing and taking in too many, but we manage and everybody is spoiled and happy.
Thank you for reading my vent. No need to reply. Sorry if it saddened you. I just want to say to cherish your pets and that's probably not needed if you are reading these comments.

Posted by: SamIam at August 22, 2026 03:56 PM (wlfXV)

18 >>>The ears on those deer are outstanding.

Posted by: KT

>Those ears can hear you pull a water bottle out of the refrigerator.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at August 22, 2026 03:56 PM (FR9Sb)

19 Millard ( named for Millard Fillmore) the kitten is currently talking a nap after being wild cat racing around and playing with his toys for most of the day. Dad and I are exhausted. LOL.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at August 22, 2026 03:52 PM (wuyOQ)

My great-great grandfather was named Millard Filmore K----. A stern Presbyterian I hear from family stories.

I want to get a cat and named him Milburn. I like that name. A girl kitty would be Mathilda, or maybe Esther.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Trumpy can do magic at August 22, 2026 03:58 PM (0aYVJ)

20 Everyone is adorable, as always. We went for a hike earlier this morning before it got too steamy out there. Everyone is just laying around now on the bed. Hate to tell them, but I need to change the sheets…J comes home tonight and nothing is better than your own bed with fresh sheets, along with a dog and a cat or two. Lol.

Posted by: Piper at August 22, 2026 03:58 PM (ZdaMQ)

21 Posted by: SamIam at August 22, 2026 03:56 PM (wlfXV)

Condolences, friend.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Trumpy can do magic at August 22, 2026 04:00 PM (0aYVJ)

22 Posted by: SamIam at August 22, 2026 03:56 PM (wlfXV)

So sorry for your loss of Darcy

Posted by: Joyenz at August 22, 2026 04:03 PM (2F0/Y)

23 Oh SamIam, I am so sorry. Losing a pet IS hard. We love them and they love us right back, he was lucky to have you. I am wishing you peace as you grieve.

Posted by: Piper at August 22, 2026 04:03 PM (ZdaMQ)

24 Squirrels are messy thiefs. That said, I like to see 'em... just, not dumping the birdfeeder.

Posted by: RandomDave (if you can spare a bit, please click) at August 22, 2026 04:04 PM (aJQbY)

25 Posted by: SamIam at August 22, 2026 03:56 PM (wlfXV)
----
Condolences. Sounds like he was a great companion.

It's always sad to see them leave us, but we manage.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 22, 2026 04:06 PM (FZ29D)

26 Afternoon, pet folken!

MegaRoy is impressive at fifteen lbs. None of my cats have matched that; the biggest, including Stirling now, have been fourteen. True, big red Arizona the part-Coon ballooned up to sixteen when he was about seven years old. The vet admonished me -- "He's a big cat, he can carry it, but it's not good for him" -- gave me a diet for him and a booklet on obesity in cats. Embarrassed me, but his only reaction was to hate the diet.

I got him back down to fourteen lbs. in good time, and he stayed at that weight until his first serious illness at age fourteen, so I must have done something right.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 22, 2026 04:08 PM (wzUl9)

27 I want to get a cat and named him Milburn. I like that name. A girl kitty would be Mathilda, or maybe Esther.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Trumpy can do magic at August 22, 2026

***
I think of Milburn Stone, the actor who played Doc Adams on Gunsmoke!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 22, 2026 04:09 PM (wzUl9)

28
Millard ( named for Millard Fillmore) the kitten is currently talking a nap after being wild cat racing around and playing with his toys for most of the day. Dad and I are exhausted. LOL.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at August 22, 2026

***
Strangely, kittens can recover from high energy exercise with a brief nap, and then rev right back up again. Their humans, not always.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 22, 2026 04:11 PM (wzUl9)

29
Back reading the comments. Replying to Helena-Handbasket from the Prayers Thread.

Bif, one of these days I would like to meet you for lunch or a beverage or something as you're not that far from me at this end of your drive, and I can explain why you and Smash (and maybe grandma would like it too!) really ought to come to the TX MoMee one of these years.

Not sure if I've got the email linky thing correct but Ben Had has my contact info as well. Running off to get critter feed before the feed stores close for the weekend.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket

I try to stop and see Ben Had when I run through Corsicana each year for the TxSEF judging at TX A&M. I wanna attend a MoMe, but have been unable to ever since I promised I would come.

Posted by: BifBewalski at August 22, 2026 04:11 PM (3pypM)

30 Happy Caturday everyone
So far only outside animal here is s rabbit, female I think. I try not to disturb it.

Posted by: Skip at August 22, 2026 04:13 PM (Ia/+0)

31 Sorry, SanIAm about the death of Darcy. We just lost our cat, Pynchon, after 14 years. I miss him a lot. My husband is still calling Millard, our new kitten, by the name of Pynchon. You and Darcy obviously shared a special bond.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at August 22, 2026 04:16 PM (JrHfD)

32 That reminds me, Skip. Was a time I occasionally saw a neighborhood rabbit in my yard. I think it hasn't managed to get in since I replaced the fence.

I may also have a turtle around somewhere - I haven't seen him in about a year, though, so he may have moved on. If so I wish him well.

Posted by: RandomDave (if you can spare a bit, please click) at August 22, 2026 04:17 PM (aJQbY)

33 SamIAm, not San. Sorry for the misspelling.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at August 22, 2026 04:17 PM (JrHfD)

34 SamIam, remember your good feline friend as he was: loving, exasperating, easygoing, stubborn, affectionate, standoffish at times, like all cats. At least you have his sister and mom to keep and hold, so the house won't seem so empty.

If I have a yard as I plan to when Stirling or Dagny goes on to intrigue in Cat Heaven, I may lay him or her to rest there. But all the other cats are in their cremation boxes on my bookcase, and it will seem odd not to have them join the club. In any case I have time to think about it.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 22, 2026 04:19 PM (wzUl9)

35 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 22, 2026 04:11 PM (wzUl9

He always "revs up"
right after he eats as well. Itv makes me laugh. He eats and....off again. It's like car and gas. I think I may take advantage of a nap myself before he wakes up again.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at August 22, 2026 04:20 PM (JrHfD)

36 Okay, that stork video was just awesome!
(I hope that pole they were using wasn't metal!)

I always thought there would be a big market for a carpet with JFK and Elvis playing poker with dogs.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at August 22, 2026 04:24 PM (VyBeY)

37 Cat comforts his friend, a blind dog. Video from "Faithpot":

https://tinyurl.com/4zx8whak

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at August 22, 2026 04:25 PM (2qV0m)

38 Chloe the Bengal Klutz and Hexie the Polydactyl Wonder both say, "Hello!"

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 22, 2026 04:26 PM (FZ29D)

39 "I want to get a cat and named him Milburn. "

first one I thought of was Milburn Drysdale, the Clampett's banker.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at August 22, 2026 04:27 PM (VyBeY)

40 Condolences, SamIAm

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at August 22, 2026 04:28 PM (VyBeY)

41 SamIAm

So sorry about your Darcy. Our little fur friends certainly are the best, aren’t they.

Posted by: nurse ratched at August 22, 2026 04:46 PM (yEz+x)

42 Please send a picture of you’re up to it.

Posted by: nurse ratched at August 22, 2026 04:47 PM (yEz+x)

43 Doc Adams wasn't even his real name, he left Baltimore to escape murder charges. His name was Calvin Moore. Dillon found out, but decided to let the matter drop.

Posted by: Common Tater at August 22, 2026 04:47 PM (EFUZI)

44 Normally I don't give cats human names. Or so I used to say. But there was big black Wolf, which is a man's name, and now Stirling and Dagny, both human monikers. And there was Tatiana Romanova, the Wonder Siberian, named for the James Bond heroine.

I didn't name Chekov, he came pre-labeled from his cattery. And Arizona was named by the former Mrs. Wolfus No. 2. So . . . maybe I do have a habit of giving cats human names.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 22, 2026 04:50 PM (wzUl9)

45 Doc Adams wasn't even his real name, he left Baltimore to escape murder charges. His name was Calvin Moore. Dillon found out, but decided to let the matter drop.
Posted by: Common Tater at August 22, 2026

***
He told a guest character in one episode that his first name was "Galen," after the ancient Roman physician.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 22, 2026 04:51 PM (wzUl9)

46 You definitely don't want raccoons hanging out under your eaves. They'll find some weak spot in the siding and start tearing their way into your attic.

Posted by: Oddbob at August 22, 2026 04:52 PM (vTZFs)

47
It's a good idea to run off any raccoons. They can do a lot of damage, and carry a parasite that can kill dogs.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at August 22, 2026 04:52 PM (PquBa)

48 A girlfriend of mine had a Cat, an orange Tabby she named Kevin, which always seemed appropriate and hilarious somehow.

Posted by: Common Tater at August 22, 2026 04:52 PM (EFUZI)

49 Love the painting at the top of the thread. I've had a print of it in my office for years. Can't help smiling when I see it.

Posted by: JTB at August 22, 2026 04:59 PM (yTvNw)

50 Lucy the Fink is still pretty funky smelling after the infected cyst at the base of her tail exploded yesterday. The vet clipped and cleaned, but there’s still a lot of foul smelling dried yag on her haunches.

Ugh.

Posted by: nurse ratched at August 22, 2026 05:04 PM (yEz+x)

51 Lucy the Fink is still pretty funky smelling after the infected cyst at the base of her tail exploded yesterday. The vet clipped and cleaned, but there’s still a lot of foul smelling dried yag on her haunches.

Ugh.
Posted by: nurse ratched at August 22, 2026

***
Her nose is much more sensitive than yours. Imagine her reaction!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 22, 2026 05:08 PM (wzUl9)

52 50 Lucy the Fink is still pretty funky smelling after the infected cyst at the base of her tail exploded yesterday. The vet clipped and cleaned, but there’s still a lot of foul smelling dried yag on her haunches.

Ugh.
Posted by: nurse ratched at August 22, 2026 05:04 PM (yEz+x)

Will she let you wipe her down with a cat wipe?

Posted by: Piper at August 22, 2026 05:14 PM (ZdaMQ)

53 Afternoon all

So, pigs acting piggish.
Squirrels in the attic are also treacherous creating access for all kids of critters.
I started putting out seed for little birdies.
My son said"if you feed them, they will come".
Sure enough. Had a dozen sparrows hopping around and a couple,of ourning doves.
Question: does anyone know why sparrows congregate? I'll walk by a bush and it's like a bird condominium. I don't think any other common bird does this.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at August 22, 2026 05:16 PM (kJmSS)

54
The weird thing about Platypuses is that they have a poison spur on their hind legs.

The poison won't kill human but it's supposed to be painful as heck.

So, if you try to pick up cute Lil' Pinky, he/she will use his/her cute pink spur to load up up with sparkling cute pink toxin...It's like being poisoned by fairies!!!

Posted by: naturalfake at August 22, 2026 05:17 PM (iJfKG)

55 Will she let you wipe her down with a cat wipe?
Posted by: Piper

I’m trying to use a warm rag and it’s a challenge. I don’t want to irritate the area at all. And she is already miffed about the cone of shame.

Poor stinky cat.

Posted by: nurse ratched at August 22, 2026 05:18 PM (yEz+x)

56 55 Will she let you wipe her down with a cat wipe?
Posted by: Piper

I’m trying to use a warm rag and it’s a challenge. I don’t want to irritate the area at all. And she is already miffed about the cone of shame.

Poor stinky cat.
Posted by: nurse ratched at August 22

I am sure, and not the easiest area. I have manuka honey wipes I use on Saijo’s feet after walks since he gets on the bed. They are unscented and don’t have a ton of ingredients in them. I was wondering if they would work on poor Lucy, because of the antibacterial / microbial properties. I certainly would not wipe the wound itself, of course. They are made by Woof, and even though they are for dogs, nothing in them would hurt a cat.

Posted by: Piper at August 22, 2026 05:24 PM (ZdaMQ)

57 >>>By-Tor's dog Ruger on the way to a hike earlier this month:
Ruger looks excited!

Ruger looks hilarious!

Posted by: m at August 22, 2026 05:27 PM (odBC9)

58 I’m trying to use a warm rag and it’s a challenge. I don’t want to irritate the area at all. And she is already miffed about the cone of shame.

Poor stinky cat.
Posted by: nurse ratched at August 22, 2026

***
You're lucky she accepted the cone. When we put one on Dagny right after her spaying, she panicked and went "bing-bing-bing-Ricochet Rabbit" all around the living room crying. We nabbed her and got it off, and everything was fine; she never bothered her stitches, so there was no need for the cone at all.

I dread the time when she needs it for real.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 22, 2026 05:30 PM (wzUl9)

59 Speaking of Dagny: She's still asleep on the bed, where she was curled when I woke from my nap with Stirling. Apparently her sauna, her west-facing bedroom window, is too hot even for her today.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 22, 2026 05:32 PM (wzUl9)

60 19 A girl kitty would be Mathilda
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Trumpy can do magic at August 22, 2026 03:58 PM (0aYVJ)

No Math!

Posted by: m at August 22, 2026 05:33 PM (odBC9)

61 46 You definitely don't want raccoons hanging out under your eaves. They'll find some weak spot in the siding and start tearing their way into your attic.
Posted by: Oddbob at August 22, 2026 04:52 PM (vTZFs)

I wuz gonna say.

Posted by: m at August 22, 2026 05:36 PM (odBC9)

62 Noodus hobbyana radio control

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 22, 2026 05:38 PM (wzUl9)

63 48 A girlfriend of mine had a Cat, an orange Tabby she named Kevin, which always seemed appropriate and hilarious somehow.
Posted by: Common Tater at August 22, 2026 04:52 PM (EFUZI)

haha!

Posted by: m at August 22, 2026 05:38 PM (odBC9)

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