Ace of Spades Pet Thread, June 20

Courtesy Terry Glenn

* * *

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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Cat Years

A lot of people are confused by the concept of “cat years" so here's a little guide:

0-1 years - just a little baby

1-3 years - just a little baby

4-9 years - just a little baby

10+ years - just a little baby pic.twitter.com/9aZUTNghuw
— For the love of Missy. (@MissyBBBobtail) June 15, 2026

* * *

What would qualify a spider as a pet for you?

The Maratus, or peacock spider, is a tiny arachnid known for its vibrant colors and intricate courtship dances.

[📹Michael Lun / wa_peacock_jumping_spiders]pic.twitter.com/INZkTxCA0u
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) June 15, 2026

* * *

What about a reptile?

Now here's a cool pet!

💯 pic.twitter.com/QSDlkY3iH1
— Declaration of Memes (@LibertyCappy) June 20, 2026

Meet The PetMorons

&&&

I am a lurker but this brought into the sunlight. This is Gideon, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, from 2018 when he was 6 months until now. Two weeks ago, I let him out for his morning duty. I heard him barking and looked up and saw him barking at a full grown male black bear up a tree. I had to grab him, and he wasn't happy about that, and back away.
lurker MG

Wow! Gideon is charming! And he was super-cute at six months.

Doesn't really look like a bear hunter. Glad you got him away from the bear.

* * *

We'll title this "Transgression." This is the look my brother got from Sammy when he had the nerve to try to brush the belly. Note claws. -
Miley

In that photo, Sammy looks a lot like the black kitten among the four brought to our house by their mother not long ago. He can be held for a few seconds, but then usually gives "that look" and shows the claws.

* * *

Hi K.T.
I had to say goodbye to Emma last week. She was the last of a long continuous line of Scotties we had beginning in 1975. I introduced Emma on AOS Pet Thread back in March 2018. This is her last Christmas picture -- She was such a good girl.
Bill in FL

Oh, how heartbreaking to lose sweet, lovely Emma. She looks so happy in her Christmas picture.

Keep in touch.

* * *

PetMoron Adjacent Animals
Encountered by Members of The Horde

Hello K.T.,
The pictures of all the deer in this week's Pet Thread reminded me of a pic I took some days ago. In the early morning we looked out the front window and there was Mama deer with a newborn. When we first saw them the doe was laying down with the fawn standing next to her. She got up and they both slowly walked away.
Thanks for the Pet Thread. Always a good read.
George V.

I like that photo a lot! And the story even more Thanks for sending it in.

* * *

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, June 13

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 03:00 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 WTF a cat with a black dildo?

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at June 20, 2026 03:32 PM (Kt19C)

2 That is a cat brush, Commissar!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 20, 2026 03:33 PM (w6EFb)

3 Phew

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at June 20, 2026 03:34 PM (Kt19C)

4 Looks like kitty might have an injury so the arm is shielded so they don't have to put on the Cone Of Shame

Posted by: gKWVE at June 20, 2026 03:34 PM (X/a22)

5 Oh yeah I see the brush now

Posted by: gKWVE at June 20, 2026 03:35 PM (X/a22)

6 Greetings from Sakuraza. A year ago, she was living in the streets.

https://is.gd/ZU2Za3

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at June 20, 2026 03:35 PM (f0sNM)

7 Sammy has a rather long face. It gives him a serious expression. I zoomed into that photo when my brother emailed it. So stern!

He was enjoying his back being brushed, then relaxed and showed his belly. Kevin didn't understand that was not an invitation, it was just happiness. So funny, because after the failed belly-brushing, he wouldn't allow Kevin to touch the brush.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 20, 2026 03:36 PM (w6EFb)

8 Happy Caturday everyone
And Doggies too

Posted by: Skip at June 20, 2026 03:39 PM (Ia/+0)

9 Hey guys,

Update on our cats.

https://tinyurl.com/dg65258

Going to read thread thoroughly now.

Posted by: Joyenz at June 20, 2026 03:44 PM (2F0/Y)

10 Good view of his snaggle ears. He was roughed up pretty bad, but the scabs on his head are gone now. He's very sweet but not shy about setting boundaries. I typically sit on the back porch and he'll jump onto the table and meow hello, then rub his head against me. This is the cat that sent both me and Publius to the urgent care with bites last summer.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 20, 2026 03:44 PM (w6EFb)

11 Victor Tango Kilo at June 20, 2026 03:35 PM

She certainly doesn't look like a street cat now!

Posted by: KT at June 20, 2026 03:45 PM (rdeQO)

12 Meow...

Posted by: Puddleglum, drive by meow at June 20, 2026 03:48 PM (sAmhv)

13 Awww, all the pet morons are cute.

Bill in FL I am sorry for the loss of your Emma. She was beautiful.

Posted by: Joyenz at June 20, 2026 03:48 PM (2F0/Y)

14 Great photos
Red wasp got me again while putting fuel in the tractor. Can’t imagine what snake venom feels like.

Posted by: Billythesquid at June 20, 2026 03:48 PM (nEiEH)

15 A chameleon might have been more successful at catching flies than my two cats when they were young.
Now crickets even in older age they were deadly.

Posted by: Skip at June 20, 2026 03:50 PM (Ia/+0)

16 Afternoon, pet folken!

Cloudy and thunder-grumbling here. Thunder doesn't bother the cats -- not like the arrival of strangers or the roar of the vacuum cleaner.

A King Charles Spaniel -- I expect the breed is named for the second Charles of England? Though when I look it up, I see that the separate breed, the Cavalier King Charles, was developed by John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. He was the husband of Queen Anne's great confidant (and probably manipulator), Sarah (Jennings) Churchill. In any case, Gideon is a beauty. That chestnut color against the pur white is striking.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 03:50 PM (wzUl9)

17 RIP Emma.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 20, 2026 03:50 PM (w6EFb)

18 PETZZZ

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at June 20, 2026 03:53 PM (tcsrY)

19 Sakuraza looks quite fluffy and content now!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 20, 2026 03:53 PM (w6EFb)

20 No, I can't imagine myself raising even a colorful spider as a pet. And most reptiles don't interest me. The chameleon in the video provides a valuable service for his human, though -- much as black Stirling cat does when he spots wasps. His first summer I had several that got in here somehow. I learned to look where he was looking when he would develop that fixed, "I want to kill something") stare.

Naturally I didn't want him to try to kill the thing and maybe get stung. I'd flatten the wasp with a magazine, then give him a kitty treat.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 03:54 PM (wzUl9)

21 Thanks for another great pet thread, KT. Lots of good pictures that go along with good memories, especially of those who have crossed the rainbow bridge. And I loved the spider mating dance video.

Posted by: Retired, thank God at June 20, 2026 03:54 PM (va0Yo)

22 My remaining cats like being scratched on their bellies. They'll even come over to me and flop down on the carpet with their bellies to me...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 20, 2026 03:56 PM (l3cgK)

23 Greetings from Sakuraza. A year ago, she was living in the streets.

https://is.gd/ZU2Za3
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at June 20, 2026

***
Another beauty!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 03:56 PM (wzUl9)

24 Nice looking spider. I wouldn't even mess with it unless it camped out in my bedroom and tried to extract nutrients from the back of my neck.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at June 20, 2026 03:59 PM (fkjGs)

25 Della came outside this morning and actually caught a bird and ate it, then puked. I disapprove of the bird hunting in general, but appreciate that she was bold enough to do it. I guess the buspirone helped with her reticence in dealing with Bunny and Sammy outside.

It has not, however, helped with her peeing in stupid places, like bathmats. I have to toss all of the bathmats and come up with something rubber to replace them. Maybe gel mats like for the kitchen, I don't know.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 20, 2026 04:01 PM (w6EFb)

26 Joyenz, I've done some math on the use of Feline Pine litter pellets vs. Walmart's Special Kitty clay jug. (No, this is not *real* math, but economics.) The 20-lb. bag of FP costs $12, and lasts for about three litter pan changes, at around 7-9 days each. Thus, about $4 per pan change.

The SK clay litter is 14 lbs., and costs $7; and I get only one litter filling out of it. The FP runs, then, a bit less than half the cost of the clay litter per pan change. The Pine also seems lighter in weight when it's turned into sawdust at the end of a 7-9 day period, so it's less trouble to lug out to the dumpster.

Winning!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 04:02 PM (wzUl9)

27 Sammy just arrived and drooled into my coffee cup. Ugh.

He's a big-time drooler.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 20, 2026 04:04 PM (w6EFb)

28 Time for the porkchop seasoning ritual.

Posted by: Eromero at June 20, 2026 04:05 PM (LHPAg)

29 I wonder if we'll get a picture or two of Ace's crows.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at June 20, 2026 04:07 PM (qx7Zg)

30 Oops -- I meant to say "The FP runs, then, a bit more than half the cost of the clay litter per pan change." If you extend the comparison over three weeks, you get $12 for Feline Pine, and $21 for Walmart's clay litter.

Which is getting hard to find in the small 14 lb. jug. At some stores, so is the Feline Pine.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 04:08 PM (wzUl9)

31 29 He really needs to send KT a photo.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 20, 2026 04:08 PM (w6EFb)

32 Red wasp got me again
Always have a small child to dab jam on

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at June 20, 2026 04:08 PM (Kt19C)

33 The dancing spiders are amazing.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at June 20, 2026 04:09 PM (CHHv1)

34 And I loved the spider mating dance video.
Posted by: Retired, thank God

"Dude, could you be more gay?" - male black widow, chilling at the bar

"At least I'll be alive tomorrow morning." - male maratus, dancing fabulously

Posted by: mikeski at June 20, 2026 04:09 PM (VHUov)

35 I've moved Publius' ficus out of the bathroom and onto the back porch. Maybe a put a fourth little box there for Della.

Purry is a litter box asshole. He kicks it around like crazy and breaks up the poop into little pieces, and I think it offends Della.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 20, 2026 04:10 PM (w6EFb)

36 ice looking spider. I wouldn't even mess with it unless it camped out in my bedroom and tried to extract nutrients from the back of my neck.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at June 20, 2026

***
My mother, who grew up on a farm, always told me to leave spiders alone, as "They eat other things you don't want in your house." So I still leave them be.

Spiders on my car, however, I don't want getting inside it. (I've had it happen on other cars. You haven't lived until you've had a big pale spider swing down in front of your face while you're driving.) If I can brush the spider off the car without killing it, I will, but if not, c'est la vie.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 04:11 PM (wzUl9)

37 Litter box, not little box.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 20, 2026 04:18 PM (w6EFb)

38 You haven't lived until you've had a big bee swing down in front of your face in a motorcycle helmet while you're driving.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at June 20, 2026 04:19 PM (Kt19C)

39 Winning!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 04:02 PM (wzUl9)

Great to hear. We love it and makes the house smell nice. We won't use anything else again. With the cats we have, we buy the 40lb bag.

Posted by: Joyenz at June 20, 2026 04:20 PM (2F0/Y)

40 Stirling is dozing in his favorite spot on the floor, at the far end of the couch. I don't know where his little sister Dagny is; probably in her sauna, the bedroom window.

He tried to bully her the other day, and I actually heard her growl at him. I'd never heard her growl before -- and I've never heard him do it at all. I keep telling her, "Swat him across the nose; he'll leave you alone." But she does not have his reach, I guess.

He thinks she's fun to play with and chase; I somehow think she doesn't like him that much. I never see them sleeping together or grooming each other, not recently anyway. They did sleep together, with me, during the cold times this past winter.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 04:21 PM (wzUl9)

41 Great to hear. We love it and makes the house smell nice. We won't use anything else again. With the cats we have, we buy the 40lb bag.
Posted by: Joyenz at June 20, 2026

***
I did buy the 40 lb. bag at first, but now the stores near me, if they have the stuff in stock, offer only the 20. If I see a 40, I'll grab it.

The FP does provide a better scent. The local utility guys were here Monday installing a new thermostat and other items, and were surprised that I had cats. "It doesn't smell!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 04:23 PM (wzUl9)

42 Speaking of animals: The film version (1945?) of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' novel The Yearling with Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman, is on Movies! this evening at 7 Central. I've never read it, and thought the title animal was a colt, but apparently it's a fawn.

The film is in color, so even Miss Linda should enjoy it. She dislikes B & W films. It depends, I suppose, on what you grew up with. At home we only had a B & W TV. Didn't get my first color set until 1984.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 04:30 PM (wzUl9)

43 Not sure what's going on here, but the number of people killed by dogs seems to have soared. Too many links to list, but search "killed by dogs NC"

Posted by: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at June 20, 2026 04:32 PM (XeU6L)

44 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 04:23 PM (wzUl9)

We order the 40lb from Walmart online. My sister works at Walmart, so she gets a 10% discount and Walmart+ for free, so it works really well for us financially.

We have never found the 40lb in-store. For in-store purchase, we would have to drive an hour down to the closest Petsmart.

Posted by: Joyenz at June 20, 2026 04:32 PM (2F0/Y)

45 You haven't lived until you've had a big bee swing down in front of your face in a motorcycle helmet while you're driving.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats
-------

This leads to a very abrupt, barely controlled stop.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at June 20, 2026 04:36 PM (XeU6L)

46 Afternoon, All. Back from the MoMe.

Posted by: Bulg at June 20, 2026 04:38 PM (77rzZ)

47 1 CBD = Cat’s Black Dildo

Posted by: Bulg at June 20, 2026 04:41 PM (77rzZ)

48 We have never found the 40lb in-store. For in-store purchase [of Feline Pine], we would have to drive an hour down to the closest Petsmart.
Posted by: Joyenz at June 20, 2026

***
And they probably charge 50% more at Petsmart than at Walmart.

Once I move and get settled, I may buy it online at WM. My experience with WM delivery is not great, though it could be the kind of people they hire to run deliveries here.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 04:43 PM (wzUl9)

49 47 LOL!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 20, 2026 04:44 PM (w6EFb)

50 The thunder continues to roll. (Apologies to the writer of Garth Brooks' early song.) Good thing I did not wash the car this am.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 04:46 PM (wzUl9)

51
Not gonna click that "pet" spider. Watching a spider move is worse than watching one parked.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at June 20, 2026 04:47 PM (XJ22o)

52 You haven't lived until you've had a big bee swing down in front of your face in a motorcycle helmet while you're driving.

I once inadvertently rode into a swarm of cicadas doing 60 mph. That was...uh...interesting.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at June 20, 2026 04:47 PM (ceJ0R)

53 Bugs generally don't make good pets. Sorry to go off-topic.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at June 20, 2026 04:54 PM (ceJ0R)

54 Afternoon, All. Back from the MoMe.
Posted by: Bulg at June 20, 2026 04:38 PM (77rzZ)

Hey Bulg!

Posted by: Joyenz at June 20, 2026 04:55 PM (2F0/Y)

55 Hey, Joyenz! How art thou?

Posted by: Bulg at June 20, 2026 04:56 PM (77rzZ)

56 Once I move and get settled, I may buy it online at WM. My experience with WM delivery is not great, though it could be the kind of people they hire to run deliveries here.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 04:43 PM (wzUl9)

My sister works in the OGP department (online shopping). We have had no issues with the delivery people. I've noticed a lot of people complain about doordash etc in other cities and states, but we have never experiences those issues where we live.

Posted by: Joyenz at June 20, 2026 04:58 PM (2F0/Y)

57 Hey, Joyenz! How art thou?
Posted by: Bulg at June 20, 2026 04:56 PM (77rzZ)

Doing alright, how about you? How's the job going?

Posted by: Joyenz at June 20, 2026 04:59 PM (2F0/Y)

58 Horse bedding pellets work well for cat litter and much cheaper than feline pine.

Posted by: argie at June 20, 2026 04:59 PM (6lIeU)

59 57 Joyenz, my sister died on Sunday. I was about to forswear the MoMe (too soon, I thought), but the Horde talked me out of it, and I’m glad they did. It did me a lot of good.

Since it’s summer, the tutoring biz has kinda slacked off. Hopefully, it will pick up again come late summer.

Posted by: Bulg at June 20, 2026 05:04 PM (77rzZ)

60 "She certainly doesn't look like a street cat now!"

But she is still not quite used to the idea that she has safety and food now.

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at June 20, 2026 05:04 PM (f0sNM)

61 58 Horse bedding pellets work well for cat litter and much cheaper than feline pine.
Posted by: argie at June 20, 2026

***
I guess you'd buy those at Tractor Supply or any of the farm and feed places?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 05:05 PM (wzUl9)

62 Time I got cleaned up a little before dinner. I'll stop back in for the Hobby Thread.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 20, 2026 05:06 PM (wzUl9)

63 Black cats blacks what you gonna do,
what you gonna do when they come for you?

Posted by: Eromero at June 20, 2026 05:08 PM (LHPAg)

64 Gideon barking at the black bear in the tree reminds me of Travels With Charley. Steinbeck describes Charley, an elderly standard poodle, as tender hearted toward a biscuit and wouldn't disturb an earnest caterpillar. Driving through Yellowstone Park every time they saw a bear Charley went crazy trying to get at the bear seeking victory in combat or death. There seems to be something between a small dog and a bear that outweighs the pooch a hundred to one.

Posted by: JTB at June 20, 2026 05:09 PM (yTvNw)

65 Posted by: argie at June 20, 2026 04:59 PM (6lIeU)

Have to be careful with just using any kind of pellet. What isn't toxic to a horse can be toxic to a cat. Oils etc need to be considered carefully.

Posted by: Joyenz at June 20, 2026 05:09 PM (2F0/Y)

66 Posted by: Bulg at June 20, 2026 05:04 PM (77rzZ)

I'm sorry to hear about your sister. Sending hugs your way.

Posted by: Joyenz at June 20, 2026 05:11 PM (2F0/Y)

67 Complete strangers helped to save her dog's life. Sunny Skyz site;

https://tinyurl.com/5yccfe4y

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 20, 2026 05:11 PM (OYsYV)

68 Lucy the Fink sends snorty snotty greetings.

Vet appt Monday. I think she needs abx for her long term sinus issues. At least I hope they let me try. I’m not going to do the X-rays and ct scans I know they will try to sell me. I don’t spend that much on my own “healthcare (such that it is).

Posted by: nurse ratched. at June 20, 2026 05:11 PM (A5RD0)

69 66 Thank you, Joyenz.

Posted by: Bulg at June 20, 2026 05:12 PM (77rzZ)

70 That sign in the top picture is so funny and so true.

Posted by: JTB at June 20, 2026 05:14 PM (yTvNw)

71 HOBBY NOOD

Posted by: Skip at June 20, 2026 05:31 PM (Ia/+0)

72 My daughter, who introduced me to cat ownership, uses lightweight litter. When I tried it, my marmalade boy sent it flying to the next room. So I use heavy gravel. No dust.

I was told 1 more litter box than number of cats. So I have 3, identical, bought at the same time. They both use the one in my bedroom 90% of the time to pee, the one in the laundry 90% of the time to poop, and the one in the garage, which is the most convenient, hardly at all. Anybody else find that kind of behavior?

Posted by: Wenda at June 20, 2026 05:32 PM (iIAkP)

73 Thunder bumpulations going on here, too. Mostly off to the South, so far. Wind coming from the North.

Sunshine one minute, showers and clouds the next.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at June 20, 2026 05:35 PM (1z8ji)

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