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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / July 2007Island stories: Caliban's swimming lesson
I wrote up a couple of the cats' adventures while on the island. Here is one of them: The swallows had their nest under the jetty again this yea, on a shelf just above the pontoon that holds the jetty afloat. Naturally, the cats were intrigued by the nest, but they had no way of reaching it. One day, Caliban and Emil were out on the jetty, trying to peer at the nest underneath (see http://flickr.com/photos/45867313@N00/ for pictures of this). Caliban didn't know where the nest was, just that a lot of chirping and cheeping was coming from under the jetty. He tried peering over all the sides, and hung over the edge with his forepaws, like he often does. Then Emil showed him where the nest was, and they jostled each other as they tried to peer into the nest. Emil soon tired of looking at the birdies, but Caliban was fascinated and hung over the edge to watch... and a little more over the edge... and a little more... I can almost reach them... just a little more... SPLASH! Caliban was in the sea and Meowmie was freaking out on land. My niece and I ran out onto the jetty. It is fastened to the cliffs by a long bridge, and as I peered into the water, I saw Caliban come swimming around the edge of the jetty and then he climbed up on the bridge and ran ashore. At this point, I'll admit, I was laughing hard, but I think it was as much from relief as from the spectacle of Caliban, with his fur wet through and clinging to his legs and tail, his eyes huge and round and black, and his running with his tummy nearly touching the ground. He rushed straight into our shack and left a big wet spot on my bed. I tried to dry him off with a towel but he was too upset to submit to such indignity, and since it was fairly warm outside, I figured I could let him dry himself. After he had calmed down a bit, I towelled him some more and then he took it from there. For once in his life, his white stockings were sparkling white that day. The image of Caliban in the water, his very serious face resolutely sticking up over the surface while he purposefully swims to safety will be perpetually imprinted on my memory. At least it's good to know that (like most mammals) he instinctively knows how to swim.  SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. heheh and you know he totally MEANT to do that. suuuuuuuuuure........... Love the visual! Kristi > I wrote up a couple of the cats' adventures while on the island. Here is > one of them: My niece's pictures of events leading up to Caliban's dip start here: http://flickr.com/photos/deinin/838197803/ Or rather, they end there, so click on Back (arrow to the left). My niece didn't get the fall itself, but she did get Emil showing Caliban where the nest was. SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. >> I wrote up a couple of the cats' adventures while on the island. Here is >> one of them: [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >niece didn't get the fall itself, but she did get Emil showing Caliban >where the nest was. That's so cute. But imagine having to lick off seawater - yuck! I think Nikki would have just swum under and gotten the birds. :) >I wrote up a couple of the cats' adventures while on the island. Here is >one of them: [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > perpetually imprinted on my memory. At least it's good to know that (like > most mammals) he instinctively knows how to swim. OMG! I'm so glad he's OK. You are also a very talented photographer, there's at least 20 photos that deserve to be made into proper posters in there, and thats not the food ones (and they were droolworthy too). I was particularly taken with IMG_122 and IMG_1321 Yowie > OMG! I'm so glad he's OK. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > I was particularly taken with IMG_122 and IMG_1321 Those are my niece's photos, and yes, she is very talented. SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. > Then Emil showed him where the nest was, and they jostled each other as > they tried to peer into the nest. Emil soon tired of looking at the > birdies, but Caliban was fascinated and hung over the edge to watch... > and a little more over the edge... and a little more... I can almost > reach them... just a little more... SPLASH! LOL!!! That's too funny!!! I'm glad Caliban is ok though, even if his ego got a bit bruised. :) SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com aw, poor Cali. He must have been so scared. So glad everything turned out ok, though I'm sure you and your niece would have jumped into the ocean to get him if it ever came to that. Give Cali tons of extra kisses from us. Lily & her mama SignatureIrulan from the stars we come to the stars we return from now until the end of time. >I wrote up a couple of the cats' adventures while on the island. Here is >one of them: [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > perpetually imprinted on my memory. At least it's good to know that (like > most mammals) he instinctively knows how to swim. > The image of Caliban in the water, his very serious face resolutely > sticking up over the surface while he purposefully swims to safety will > be perpetually imprinted on my memory. At least it's good to know that > (like most mammals) he instinctively knows how to swim. SFAIK, cats CAN swim - it's just that most of them would rather not, thank you. In fact, some of the BIG cats (I forget which - snow leopards, maybe?) don't hesitate to swim to get to the other side of a stream. >> The image of Caliban in the water, his very serious face resolutely >> sticking up over the surface while he purposefully swims to safety will [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > you. In fact, some of the BIG cats (I forget which - snow leopards, > maybe?) don't hesitate to swim to get to the other side of a stream. And tigers like to play in the water. I love to watch the tiger enclosure at our Marine World or whatever they call themselves now. The tiger enclosure has a pool with Plexiglas on one side so you can watch the tigers play in the water from underneath. Don't we have several cats on the group that don't mind getting wet? Jo > And tigers like to play in the water. I love to watch the > tiger enclosure at our Marine World or whatever they call [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Don't we have several cats on the group that don't mind getting > wet? (Waves at group) We have one here! Pine Cone loves to climb in the shower with Amanda, then try to convince us that she forced him into the water. In return, she styles his fur into spikes and he parades around so that we can see how evil she is to him. Pam S. > (Waves at group) We have one here! Pine Cone loves to climb in > the shower with Amanda, then try to convince us that she forced > him into the water. In return, she styles his fur into spikes > and he parades around so that we can see how evil she is to him. > > Pam S. Great story! Best wishes, Polonca and Soncek > In fact, some of the BIG cats (I > forget which - snow leopards, maybe?) don't hesitate to swim > to get to the other side of a stream. Tigers swim - they love water. I think jaguars also swim. And I would imagine that the fishing cat swims, though I guess it wouldn't count as a big cat. Joyce >> The image of Caliban in the water, his very serious face resolutely >> sticking up over the surface while he purposefully swims to safety will [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > you. In fact, some of the BIG cats (I forget which - snow leopards, > maybe?) don't hesitate to swim to get to the other side of a stream. Tigers love to swim. I once visited Shambala, a big cat shelter owned by the actress Tippi Hedren. They have one enclosure with both lions and tigers. There is a pool of water at one end. They give the cats bowling balls, which they play with just like our cats play with balls. However, the tigers know the lions hate to get wet, so they often deliberately bat the balls into the pools. Joy > Tigers love to swim. I once visited Shambala, a big cat shelter owned by > the actress Tippi Hedren. You visited Shambala? I didn't realize people were allowed to see the animals there. I seem to remember Tippi Hedren saying that when she was on a program about her sanctuary on TV. Maybe she changed her mind. If so, that's great! Another place goes on my list of big cat sanctuaries to visit. :) Whereabouts is it? Is it near LA, or further inland? > They have one enclosure with both lions and > tigers. There is a pool of water at one end. They give the cats bowling > balls, which they play with just like our cats play with balls. Wow. Even though lions and tigers are much bigger and stronger than our cats (or us, for that matter), bowling balls are *heavy*. It's hard to imagine them being toys for cats of any size. I guess lions and tigers are stronger than I thought. > However, the tigers know the lions hate to get wet, so they often > deliberately bat the balls into the pools. Hee hee! :) I would like to see a tiger get a bowling ball out of a swimming pool, though. Can they actually lift them in their mouths?? These are the really big balls, right - the ones with holes in them? I can barely lift those things myself. I certainly can't aim with them. (I'm from Boston, where we had civilized bowling balls that you could hold in the palm of your hand.) Joyce > I would like to see a tiger get a bowling ball out of a swimming pool, > though. Can they actually lift them in their mouths?? These are the really > big balls, right - the ones with holes in them? I can barely lift those > things myself. I certainly can't aim with them. (I'm from Boston, where > we had civilized bowling balls that you could hold in the palm of your > hand.) Ever taken a good look at a tiger's mouth? (Remember, circus lion tamers used to put their heads in a lion's mouth, as one of their tricks, and tigers are somewhat larger that lions, aren't they?) A full-grown tiger weighs considerably more than a large man, and can bring down a water buffalo - bowling balls are heavy, true, but not THAT heavy! >> I would like to see a tiger get a bowling ball out of a swimming pool, >> though. Can they actually lift them in their mouths?? These are the [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > weighs considerably more than a large man, and can bring down a water > buffalo - bowling balls are heavy, true, but not THAT heavy! They seem to handle more wear and tear then beer kegs they also let them play with. But it is the elephants that really like the bowling balls. You just need to be careful because they throw them Jo > I wrote up a couple of the cats' adventures while on the island. Here is > one of them: [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > perpetually imprinted on my memory. At least it's good to know that (like > most mammals) he instinctively knows how to swim. ===== Gee! If I had seen this, I wouldn't have had time to laugh -- I'd been having a heart attack. Purrs that he learned his lesson. MLB > I wrote up a couple of the cats' adventures while on the island. Here > is one of them: [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > be perpetually imprinted on my memory. At least it's good to know that > (like most mammals) he instinctively knows how to swim. What a hilarious series!! But I think this is my favorite pic of Cali: http://flickr.com/photos/deinin/888444102/ > What a hilarious series!! But I think this is my favorite pic of Cali: > > http://flickr.com/photos/deinin/888444102/ I know. LOL! He found a feather and carried it around proudly, like a long cigar. SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. > What a hilarious series!! But I think this is my favorite pic of Cali: > http://flickr.com/photos/deinin/888444102/ Oh, wow - I didn't see that one! I'm telling you, he's a Man With a Plan. Just look at him - he has places to go and a schedule to keep. :) Joyce > Caliban was in the sea and Meowmie was freaking out on land. My niece > and I ran out onto the jetty. It is fastened to the cliffs by a long [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > through and clinging to his legs and tail, his eyes huge and round and > black, and his running with his tummy nearly touching the ground. That must have been very scary for you at first. Yikes! And I apologize to Caliban for laughing at the picture of him all wet ... Susan M Otis and Chester > That must have been very scary for you at first. Yikes! And I > apologize to Caliban for laughing at the picture of him all wet ... Ooh, I forgot my niece got a picture of him when he was wet! http://flickr.com/photos/deinin/839063076/ I've never seen him look so disgruntled before. LOL! (I can laugh now.) You can see from the pictures how he likes to hang over the side of things (he does that at home, too) so I guess it was just a question of when he would fall in, not if. My heart used to jump into my mouth each time he hung over the side of the jetty like that, but at least now I know he can handle it. He was really cool in the sense that he didn't panic and swim outwards, but he immediately headed for the place where it would be easiest for him to climb onto the jetty. He showed much more sense than I ever expected of him. SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. > Ooh, I forgot my niece got a picture of him when he was wet! > http://flickr.com/photos/deinin/839063076/ > I've never seen him look so disgruntled before. LOL! (I can laugh now.) I notice that he managed to keep his head dry, kind of like women who go swimming but don't want to ruin their hairdos. :) Joyce > > Ooh, I forgot my niece got a picture of him when he was wet! > > http://flickr.com/photos/deinin/839063076/ > > I've never seen him look so disgruntled before. LOL! (I can laugh now.) > I notice that he managed to keep his head dry, kind of like women who > go swimming but don't want to ruin their hairdos. :) I think cats have some kind of levitation ability! Betsy once fell in the bathtub, and got out so fast she barely got her paws wet. I love that picture of Caliban, though. He so clearly is really mad about something! SignatureCheryl >> > Ooh, I forgot my niece got a picture of him when he was wet! >> > http://flickr.com/photos/deinin/839063076/ [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I think cats have some kind of levitation ability! Betsy once fell in the > bathtub, and got out so fast she barely got her paws wet. My accompanist's mother used to feed every stray in the neighborhood, and they'd drink out of the swimming pool. He was there once when a Siamese new to the arrangement fell in. According to him, that cat hit the water and the roof of the cabana almost simultaneously - levitation, indeed! > >> > Ooh, I forgot my niece got a picture of him when he was wet! > >> > http://flickr.com/photos/deinin/839063076/ [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > I think cats have some kind of levitation ability! Betsy once fell in the > > bathtub, and got out so fast she barely got her paws wet. > My accompanist's mother used to feed every stray in the > neighborhood, and they'd drink out of the swimming pool. He > was there once when a Siamese new to the arrangement fell > in. According to him, that cat hit the water and the roof > of the cabana almost simultaneously - levitation, indeed! Cats are part Superball. They bounce quickly and very high. Joyce > > Ooh, I forgot my niece got a picture of him when he was wet! > > http://flickr.com/photos/deinin/839063076/ > > I've never seen him look so disgruntled before. LOL! (I can laugh now.) > > I notice that he managed to keep his head dry, kind of like women who > go swimming but don't want to ruin their hairdos. :) It's really strange, since he must have fallen head first into the water, but he was certainly holding his head as high out of the water as he could when he came swimming round the corner of the jetty. I'll never forget that sight. SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. On Jul 26, 3:08?am, jXwXeXrXmXoX...@sonic.net wrote: > > Ooh, I forgot my niece got a picture of him when he was wet! > >http://flickr.com/photos/deinin/839063076/ [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Joyce You can see the swear words in his eyes. Suz&Spicey > That must have been very scary for you at first. Yikes! And I > apologize to Caliban for laughing at the picture of him all wet > ... I'm not apologizing. I thought it was a hoot. Caliban is a natural comedian; witness the picture of him running around smoking a feather. Pam S. still giggling at Marina and her niece's awesome pictures >I wrote up a couple of the cats' adventures while on the island. Here is >one of them: [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > perpetually imprinted on my memory. At least it's good to know that (like > most mammals) he instinctively knows how to swim. ROTFLMAO! Oh my, that does *NOT* look like a happy camper! http://flickr.com/photos/deinin/839063076/ Hugs, CatNipped > I wrote up a couple of the cats' adventures while on the island. Here is > one of them: [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > -- > Marina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. LOL, Poor Caliban! But in the pictures, it really DOES look as if Emil is trying to play a trick on his gullible "cousin." And poor wet Caliban looks as angry as only a wet cat can. Thank goodness though that he so ably survived this assault on his catly dignity! Melissa > I wrote up a couple of the cats' adventures while on the island. Here is > one of them: [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > be perpetually imprinted on my memory. At least it's good to know that > (like most mammals) he instinctively knows how to swim. Caliban looks really mad on the pic where he is all wet. I'm so glad he was able to swim to safety. Best wishes, Polonca and Soncek |
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