Ace of Spades Pet Thread, October 4

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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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It's turtles all the way down.

Courtesy Donald Sensing

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I've realized I've never actually heard an armadillo speak and I was not expecting that pic.twitter.com/aquciCJBj0
— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) October 2, 2025

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Courtesy Hrothgar

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A squirrel trying to store nuts in a dogs fur
pic.twitter.com/lxFjaQXUiq
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) October 3, 2025

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Meet The PetMorons

&&&

Hi KT!
Saijo had a big adventure with his fall photoshoot! The only thing missing was a pumpkin spice latte, but the last thing he needed was caffeine!
- Piper

Saijo looks great with pumpkins!

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At the end of June, I was helping my friend transport his neighborhood kittens to the Let the Animals Live shelter to be spayed. Sitting on the counter there was a box with four newborn kittens, two days old; in need of someone to foster them for two months until they could be adopted. Having at that moment more heart than brains, I brought them home with a few supplies. At first, I called them the Marx Brothers, but I couldn't decide which was which, so I ended up calling them Jeden, Dwa, Trzy, and Cztery (1, 2, 3, and 4 in Polish) figuring they would get new names when they were adopted.
I did not realize how hard it would be to return them to the shelter. But . . . I could only adopt two of them (and the vet reminded me that it's a 20-year commitment; I did not mention that in 20 years I will be 97). In the photo are Trzy and Cztery, cozy on a shelf of my bathroom supply cart. The little boys in my neighborhood come to visit them every day.
Sharon the vet told me that if I hadn't fostered them, they would almost certainly have died. In the shelter the volunteers are only there during the day, and would not have been able to manage the feeding schedule; they might have caught a virus or had some other problem. I hope that Jeden and Dwa have gone on to loving forever homes.
--
Alifa

What a wonderful story and what darling kittens! Thanks for sharing!

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New cat species (my idea, but you have to start somewhere)

The American Keyboard Cat (felis domesticus electronica) is a species native to desktops and laptops. They are characterized, not by color or body shape, but by several preferred habits:
- Head-butts hands away from keyboard when she wants attention
- Awakens caretaker at breakfast time
- Sings Breakfast Song to make sure everyone else is up
- Will accept pets but prefers treats
- You are not permitted to move until she does
- Will permit you to work until she decides otherwise
- Responsible for some interesting social media posts under your name

This is Sushi, our Keyboard Cat, helping me edit audiobook files. She was the runt of the litter, the last one in the "Free Kittens" box at a church social. As soon as she arrived home, she declared that I was her property, and she has run my life for eight years now. A sweet, affectionate cat who has established her schedule, and expects the world to work the way she has decided it will. I love her dearly.
Doug Pratt

Sushi looks and sounds wonderful.

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Here's the newest addition to our family. He is 75% Maine Coon and 25% Oriental Shorthair. Just brought him home a few hours ago. He is very friendly and a big time purr machine. So far he's been pretty chill with the situation. Will keep you up to date on the interactions with the other animals.
lin-duh

Wow. He looks exotic and sort of regal in that setting! Thanks for sending in his photo.

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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, September 27.

Last comment of the day:

My pets are wild birdies. When I opened front door this morning there were two Australian Magpies on my doormat. They have a nest and kiddies. I then sat on the porch and they perched on my knee to receive food. Good start to the day.
Must go, a pied currawong has arrived and is singing at my front door. They're wonderfully entertaining and irrepressible.
Posted by: Bruce of Newcastle at September 27, 2025 08:46 PM

I closed the comments on this 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 03:12 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Lovely pets!

I had to look up pied currawong. They seem to be able to remember specific people. Interesting.

Posted by: ScaryMary at October 04, 2025 03:24 PM (UCEkw)

2 You ain't nuthin but a hound dog.

Posted by: Elrond Hubbard at October 04, 2025 03:24 PM (JaGQD)

3 Doggehs iz crazy people!

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at October 04, 2025 03:26 PM (QEnxz)

4 The yard dogs are sad, having chased away yard's feral cats. Game over.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at October 04, 2025 03:27 PM (QEnxz)

5 I really like "turtles all the way down." Sushi's as/ kitten is adorable and it's sweet he's been your constant companion Doug and congratulations Lin-duh on your regal new cat!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 04, 2025 03:28 PM (+V4HG)

6 Pets! Yay! I love the kitty stories.

Posted by: Piper at October 04, 2025 03:35 PM (OoFl2)

7 Saijo is starting to blow his coat so he can stop being a naked summer Shiba and be a round, fluffy cotton ball winter Shiba.

Posted by: Piper at October 04, 2025 03:37 PM (OoFl2)

8 Saijo looks like he's watching a kitteh with great suspicion.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at October 04, 2025 03:38 PM (ULPxl)

9 I thought armadillos were much larger than in that clip. I suppose maybe its young. Toby dog got to come horse camping with my sister and me last week. Other than being locked in the trailer while we rode for 3-5 hours each day he had a ball. He was pretty well behaved but he aint coming when I go to riding events with a lot of horses and more demands on my time.

Posted by: PaleRider at October 04, 2025 03:38 PM (CFj4+)

10 Meow!

Posted by: Puddleglum, drive by meow at October 04, 2025 03:39 PM (igaEy)

11 8 Saijo looks like he's watching a kitteh with great suspicion.
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at October

It’s his ball, 😂we are getting ready to go do the same thing with Halloween decorations before he looks too awful with hair flying everywhere. We just put a ghost bandana on him so he knows something is up.

Posted by: Piper at October 04, 2025 03:40 PM (OoFl2)

12
A double win for The Big Dummy today. He was Best of Breed at the Borzoi Club of Greater Omaha specialty and also at the Cornhusker KC of Lincoln show.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 04, 2025 03:42 PM (tgvbd)

13 My cats Jasmine and Allie realized it's time for the Pet Thread and just showed up in my office...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 04, 2025 03:46 PM (IBQGV)

14 Hi everyone,

Update #334 to our cat blog is up.

https://tinyurl.com/4k65zjkx

Posted by: Joyenz at October 04, 2025 03:46 PM (2F0/Y)

15 You're going to have to stop calling him the big dummy with all those wins Hadrian. Maybe the handsome dummy or something.

Posted by: PaleRider at October 04, 2025 03:47 PM (CFj4+)

16 A double win for The Big Dummy today. He was Best of Breed at the Borzoi Club of Greater Omaha specialty and also at the Cornhusker KC of Lincoln show.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh

Congrats! How's Finn doing?

Posted by: Tuna at October 04, 2025 03:47 PM (lJ0H4)

17 I never realized that armadillos run around on the tips of their claws.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 04, 2025 03:50 PM (IBQGV)

18 100% certified true.

Posted by: Eromero at October 04, 2025 03:52 PM (o/hFZ)

19 Cat finally gets help on the escalator- video

https://tinyurl.com/3rfkzywk

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 04, 2025 03:52 PM (lQ+/f)

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

Posted by: olddog in mo at October 04, 2025 03:52 PM (hoCmQ)

21 Happy Caturday everyone

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 03:53 PM (+qU29)

22 Posted by: PaleRider at October 04, 2025 03:47 PM (CFj4+)

How about "winning dummy"?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 04, 2025 03:53 PM (lQ+/f)

23 The pet morons are adorable.

Alifa, thanks for fostering those kittens!

Posted by: Joyenz at October 04, 2025 03:54 PM (2F0/Y)

24 Saijo is truly handsome.

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 04, 2025 03:57 PM (kTd/k)

25 Critters!

Posted by: Duke Lowell at October 04, 2025 03:57 PM (u73oe)

26 Afternoon, Pet Folken and Servants of All Stripes,

I was astonished too at the armadillo. I had no idea that they "pecked" at the ground as they walked -- always thought they were plantigrade, more like rats ("rats on the half-shell") or hamsters. If one can form a bond with a human, why not?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 04, 2025 03:58 PM (omVj0)

27 The brown tabby up top is the color Miss Linda thinks Dagny La Siberienne is. Gray, with tan ("amber") salted in, is the color she actually is.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 04, 2025 03:59 PM (omVj0)

28 Happy Caturday!

Happy Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of all our petzzzz.

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at October 04, 2025 04:01 PM (dE3DB)

29 What lovely kittens and thank you for your warm heart., Alifa!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 04, 2025 04:02 PM (lQ+/f)

30 Lin-duh, the Maine Coon/Oriental Shorthair fellow is impressive indeed. The ears and muzzle are clues to his Coon ancestry for sure. What are you thinking of calling him?

Years ago, when I had big Wolf and Chekov and thus no room for a third cat, there was a big silver tabby Coon or Coon mix like yours at the local SPCA. Name of "Rembrandt," which seemed so appropriate I wouldn't have changed it had I adopted him. But, no room.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 04, 2025 04:03 PM (omVj0)

31 24 Saijo is truly handsome.
Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple

Aww, he says thank you!

Posted by: Piper at October 04, 2025 04:03 PM (Wmg4n)

32
How's Finn doing?
Posted by: Tuna at October 04, 2025 03:47 PM (lJ0H4)

__________

Finn is home and will be a house dog for a while. He's on antibiotics for a skin burn and Carprofen and Gabapentin for pain.

One theory is that he's having a prostate problem and another is he's having some skeletal issue. So he'll go to the vet on Monday and I'll make an appointment with the doggie chiropractor.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 04, 2025 04:04 PM (tgvbd)

33 Very nice Fall picture of Saijo with the gourds, Piper! It's good to see a picture after hearing about him.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 04, 2025 04:04 PM (lQ+/f)

34 Armadillos are quite something, aren't they?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 04, 2025 04:07 PM (lQ+/f)

35 My cats Jasmine and Allie realized it's time for the Pet Thread and just showed up in my office...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 04, 2025

***
My two were on the bed with me when I woke up from my nap just now. They don't normally sleep next to each other, even when it's cold -- and it certainly is not cold today.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 04, 2025 04:07 PM (omVj0)

36 So he'll go to the vet on Monday and I'll make an appointment with the doggie chiropractor.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 04, 2025

***
Crack!

"Woof!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 04, 2025 04:08 PM (omVj0)

37 Finn is home and will be a house dog for a while. He's on antibiotics for a skin burn and Carprofen and Gabapentin for pain.

One theory is that he's having a prostate problem and another is he's having some skeletal issue. So he'll go to the vet on Monday and I'll make an appointment with the doggie chiropractor.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh

Aww..poor baby. Hope he recovers soon.

Posted by: Tuna at October 04, 2025 04:11 PM (lJ0H4)

38 "I ended up calling them Jeden, Dwa, Trzy, and Cztery (1, 2, 3, and 4 in Polish) figuring they would get new names when they were adopted."
-------------------

When a local alley cat birthed four kittens in our downstairs sofa, we designated them Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Tango, with the idea that their future owners could name them once they were adopted.

Well, Bravo and Charlie kind of won us over. Charlie had the derpiest little face, and Bravo just fell asleep on my arm one afternoon.

Anyway, this morning they posed for a rare picture.

https://is.gd/fOzmWp

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at October 04, 2025 04:11 PM (vKEG1)

39 Armadillos are on our property but we don't see them often except on game camera. Sometimes0 we see where they have dug for grubs.They don't see very well and jump straight up when they are frightened.

Posted by: ScaryMary at October 04, 2025 04:12 PM (UCEkw)

40 Very nice photo, Victor Tango Kilo. So nice you kept a couple of the cats

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 04, 2025 04:15 PM (wZvvl)

41 Hadrian congrats to Big Dummy and prayers for Finn.

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at October 04, 2025 04:18 PM (J5RCE)

42 Is it true armadillos are carriers for leprosy?

Posted by: olddog in mo at October 04, 2025 04:19 PM (hoCmQ)

43 Thanks Fenelon. And Bravo is making quintessential Bravo face in that picture.

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at October 04, 2025 04:20 PM (vKEG1)

44 Is Lex of blueberry fame around?

Posted by: MkY at October 04, 2025 04:21 PM (cPGH3)

45 Stepdad has been feeding the chipmunks at his place. There are apparently two varieties - a slightly-larger-than-mouse sized one with long tails and several stripes from head to tail tip, and a hamster-sized one with a short tail, more like what Chip and Dale were always drawn as.

There's at least one of the long-tailed ones that will jump up onto the birdseed ramekin as he's holding it. And one of them has come up to the door and looked in when he was slow getting seed out to them.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at October 04, 2025 04:24 PM (i00+Z)

46 Thanks. Now the wife wants an Armadillo.

Posted by: Reforger at October 04, 2025 04:32 PM (pEdFq)

47 Olddog in mo, yes armadillos can carry leprosy. I do not know how easily they could transmit to humans.

Posted by: ScaryMary at October 04, 2025 04:36 PM (1Gs0z)

48 We have armadillos around here but they don't look like that. They are big and ugly and dumb and don't appear to give a flip about anything except digging up stuff.

Posted by: fd at October 04, 2025 04:42 PM (vFG9F)

49
And Hound Group 1 for The Big Dummy.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 04, 2025 05:00 PM (tgvbd)

50 We have armadillos around here but they don't look like that. They are big and ugly and dumb and don't appear to give a flip about anything except digging up stuff.
Posted by: fd at October 04, 2025 04:42 PM (vFG9F)
----
They're common enough around here that they are frequently seen as roadkill.

But you can also see them wandering around at night when walking along the darkened pathways in town.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 04, 2025 05:01 PM (IBQGV)

51 Why did the armadillo cross the road?

Posted by: fd at October 04, 2025 05:03 PM (vFG9F)

52 He was trying to show the possum.

Posted by: fd at October 04, 2025 05:04 PM (vFG9F)

53 50 We have armadillos around here but they don't look like that. They are big and ugly and dumb and don't appear to give a flip about anything except digging up stuff.
Posted by: fd at October 04, 2025 04:42 PM (vFG9F)
----
"They're common enough around here that they are frequently seen as roadkill.

But you can also see them wandering around at night when walking along the darkened pathways in town."

There are 21 species of armadillos. I expect that some are cuter than others. There is a "screaming hairy armadillo".

Posted by: KT at October 04, 2025 05:12 PM (7vIsy)

54 Not a lot of armadillos in my neck of the woods. But I did see a dead one on the highway when we were driving from ATL to Statesboro last week when we visited Mom.

Also saw a few (dead ones) in Texas when we were at the MoMe a few years ago.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, I Have Become Comfortably Lame at October 04, 2025 05:14 PM (0aYVJ)

55 Armadillos are related to anteaters and sloths, which are also kind of weird.

Posted by: KT at October 04, 2025 05:14 PM (7vIsy)

56 Greezy Wheels named for armadillo roadkill.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at October 04, 2025 05:15 PM (e8Sk7)

57 There is a "screaming hairy armadillo".
Posted by: KT at October 04, 2025 05:12 PM

I'm not sure I want to encounter one of those.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at October 04, 2025 05:16 PM (4tFle)

58 We had an armadillo try to tunnel under the house one time. It was a big one, a couple of feet long plus it's tail. I came around the side of the house and there was dirt flying out of a hole going up under the house. It was so far in there I could just see the end of it's tail , by which I attempted to pull it out by. It wasn't going to allow that so I stuck a water hose down there and turned it on. After a while it emerged and took off into the woods with a couple of freaked out dogs chasing after it.

Posted by: fd at October 04, 2025 05:16 PM (vFG9F)

59 Ah, Pet Thread is still on top. Yay. Daisy the madcap Malinois tried to get me up an hour ago, but I rolled over and went back to sleep.

Yesterday, as Daughter was taking her two dogs home, Daisy bolted out the door and out into the pasture to try to herd the scattered cattle. Not a good time to do so. Besides the big ol' bull, there are pregnant cows and mamas with calves, one who is notoriously dangerously protective. Give Daisy her due, instinct keeps her back from danger, usually, but dang it we have to drive 'way out to the pasture to coax her back.

Went out this morning with her without a leash, to walk down to the fenced graveyard area. This usually works, and I had the control collar on her, but there was a small white-tail out in the pasture. So irresistible that Daisy was over the wall and chasing after the doe in a flash, ignoring my yelling and even the high-shock button on the collar. She came back pretty quickly, but I cut the walk short. She just has her untamed streak. Still working on it.

I don't use the phrase "bad dog," but I have to bite my tongue sometimes. She's … spirited and independent. And still kinda young.

Posted by: mindful webworker - chasing Daisy at October 04, 2025 05:18 PM (fevhA)

60 My understanding is that those very utilitarian big ole claws on an armadillo's feet is the way they can transmit leprosy.

Si, if you get scratched, your nose just might fall off.😱

Posted by: naturalfake at October 04, 2025 05:21 PM (iJfKG)

61 I seem to have one stray cat that is a regular. I've never seen him in daylight, so don't know if he's cream colored or white. I'll set up the outside shelter for him, when it gets colder.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at October 04, 2025 05:22 PM (kUxzU)

62 Armadillo tells Sloth 'You stay back on this one. You're not wearing armor and you're too damn slow. You too, Anteater. I got this one. gimme your ammo.'

Posted by: Eromero at October 04, 2025 05:24 PM (LHPAg)

63 Armadillos are not aggressive at all and usually just ignore people. More than a few campers have been scared witless by one rooting around the tent at night.

Posted by: fd at October 04, 2025 05:24 PM (vFG9F)

64 Here's a dog vid and a cat vid, c/o IOTWreport.

Amusing canine
https://bit.ly/434H89j

Thieving feline
https://bit.ly/489TMHD

and a reminder that BluebirdOfBitterness.com has a couple of Caturday posts, as usual.

Posted by: mindful webworker - linking critters at October 04, 2025 05:26 PM (fevhA)

65 God bless the animals and all the people who love and care for them. Amen.

Posted by: gp at October 04, 2025 05:29 PM (Hsvnl)

66 Emerson Lake and Palmer had an album cover with an armadillo with tank tracks. Was it Tarkus? I am very 29 about some things.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, I Have Become Comfortably Lame at October 04, 2025 05:29 PM (0aYVJ)

67 Hobby thread is NOOD

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 05:30 PM (+qU29)

68 Had a cute little stray kitty hanging around our apartment complex for a while. Have not seen her for a while. I hope someone adopted her.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, I Have Become Comfortably Lame at October 04, 2025 05:32 PM (0aYVJ)

69 LAST!!

Posted by: Pug Mahon, I Have Become Comfortably Lame at October 04, 2025 05:32 PM (0aYVJ)

70 There was an armadillo in The Clash's video for "Rock The Casaba". Check it out.

Posted by: fd at October 04, 2025 05:32 PM (vFG9F)

71 " So irresistible that Daisy was over the wall and chasing after the doe in a flash, ignoring my yelling and even the high-shock button on the collar.

Our girl has graduated from the shock collar but we did have one experience like that. We were at a "keep dogs on leash" state park in the early morning and there were no people or dogs around so husband let her off the leash. Uncharacteristically, she took off like a bullet. After her elderly pet parents chased her down the beach--and several high-shocks later--she returned with an "I regret NOTHING!!" look on her face.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at October 04, 2025 06:04 PM (FEVMW)

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