Here is a beautiful cat, who is lonely.

[Flaxbee]

This is Yuri (aka Stranger from my earlier thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018235359 )

This is a webpage I put up for him: http://www.novamir.org/yuri.html

He showed up last week, and I think he was dumped, or has wandered so far astray I can't find his home. I went door to door this weekend and no one claimed him or knew anyone who was missing him.

He is by far one of the sweetest cats I have *ever* had the pleasure of knowing. If I sit down outside, he crawls in my lap and starts to purr. He'll reach upward as if to get or give a hug. Once I was scratching him in a way he didn't like, and he gently took my hand in his mouth, and then let go (the message was very clear, though). Didn't bite, just politely asked that I not scratch him along his spine.

He's precious. If there was any way I could integrate him into my family, I would. I have 5 cats in a house where I'm supposed to only have 3, and my personal situation is just not very stable right now. Sweetest Yuri needs love, affection, and a forever home with a very loving family.

Here are some photos. I have more if you would like to see them (there are two more at the link). I will also try to deliver him to you if you live within a day's driving distance of northern Virginia. And I promise, if things didn't work out for some reason, I'd take him back until I found him the perfect home. He deserves it. I am also going to post this tomorrow in Pets and some state forums.

[MissHoneychurch]

1. He is really a beauty

Too bad I live across the ocean, otherwise I would be very tempted. Thank you for being there for him until he finds a new home.

[Flaxbee]

5. MissHoneychurch!!

So nice to see you!

Yes, he's not only beautiful, but a sweet, affectionate, gentle boy.

I worry about him being out of doors, though - I have no where to put him safely at night... so he's on my porch.

[luv_mykatz]

2. You are breaking my heart, Flaxbee.

I also live much too far away (the West Coast) to take this sweet kitty.

And I have an orange cat...she is VERY territorial...and although I feed and care for her the best that I can, I don't have enough income to get her the routine veterinary care that any pet deserves.

I am super grateful that you are doing what you can for this deserving guy, and I hope someone who is both able and willing to adopt Yuri steps forward very soon.

Hugs and catnip, and best of luck attracting a wonderful furever home (typo is deliberate) for Yuri. Hugs to you, also, Flaxbee.

[Flaxbee]

7. He's a sweetheart. Thank you for your wishes and support.

He's too precious of a cat to not find a good home.

If I had a different living situation I'd take him.

[MissB]

3. He is gorgeous.

I have an orange male. He would love Yuri. I just lost my 17 yo torti.

Unfortunately I live on the west coast.

[Flaxbee]

10. Isn't he, though? I think all kitties are beautiful, but this guy has some gorgeous coloring

Plus, he's just an incredible sweetheart, a complete love bug.

[HopeHoops]

4. Damn that's a beautiful cat. I've got friends in N. VA. I'll call around (well, e-mail around).

[Flaxbee]

12. He's got the best disposition, HopeHoops.

And he's smart, too -- very in-tune to humans.

[HopeHoops]

13. I'll ask around. I love tigers. Shit. I'll ask my wife. Is he neutered?

We don't spay the females (all indoor cats) but we neuter the males. Their dispositions are best that way.

If she says yes, I could meet you in Frederick. I honestly don't think she'll go for it, but perhaps the pictures will help. I had a tiger when I met her in '84. He lived to 16. My big boy is pushing 16. The kittens are pretty mellow, but it's mostly a matter of my wife. She just told me I couldn't get another rabbit (our 6 year old mutant hermaphrodite passed away).

[Flaxbee]

14. Not yet - but I'll spring for all shots and neutering if you're game

There's a clinic where I can get all of that taken care of for about $100, which I should be able to manage. Or I might be able to get one of the local vets to do the same if they know there is a family waiting.

He is still in full possession of his balls, though I have warned him that that won't be the case for very long.

I can send more photos if you like.

I do understand, though, about spouses - my husband is being a bit grumpy about Yuri-cat (my husband spent many years working in Russia, hence the Russian name, which is also in honor of Yuri Gagarin).

[HopeHoops]

15. Those two will do. If she doesn't melt with those, it's hopeless.

The main shot would be feline leukemia. Nut clipping would be essential. If she goes with it, I'll split the cost with you.

Ю́рий Алексе́евич Гага́рин - I'm quite familiar with his history. Russian is a cool language.

[Flaxbee]

16. I've made half-hearted attempts to learn Russian for years...

I need to get serious about it. My husband understands it, but hasn't lived there since 1994 so much of the fluency is lost.


Those are both great photos upthread, but here are the other two from the site. The color of his eyes just knocks me off my feet.

I'd just ruffled his fur in the first one.



Sweet Yuri profile

[HopeHoops]

17. I'm melting. That aside, Russian is not all that difficult. Korean is easier.

You just need to grasp the alphabet (or combination alphabet in Korean). "Vodka" is the English translation of "Voda" (water). Yeah, okay, most US vodka is water. The syntax of both Russian and Korean are very similar to English. Then there's German, where if you need to say "The creature that farts on the table in the middle of the night while ejaculating" is all one 86 character word. I took that too. Much harder to learn.

Don't count on it, but I'll see what I can do to persuade my wife. That's one beautiful cat.

Shit. I've already got three cats of my own. Hell, I guess another won't hurt any.

[Flaxbee]

18. kam sa ham ni da!

Yes, Korean, of all the Asian languages, seems like it'd be manageable since there is an alphabet the western mind can grasp...
Husband spent some time in Korea, too (his specialty is satellite communications, radio/tv broadcast, etc. -- and he spent a lot of time installing massive dishes, uplinks, etc.)

You think German is harder than Russian? Interesting. One of the reasons I'm fluent in nothing but English is because I took French in high school (typical), a semester of Spanish, Italian in college and it's just one big Romance language mix in my head. My dad's family was German (though he didn't speak it, unfortunately) so I've toyed with trying German. But then again, we have many Russian friends so I could easily practice speaking with them...

Decisions, decisions.

I think your family needs an even number of cats.

I won't count on it - and I will understand if the answer is nyet. He's just such a sweetheart, he needs a family that loves him.

[HopeHoops]

19. Curiously we have an even number. My youngest took her's to my dad's house.

Korean is rather simple. There's a lead, middle, and terminal symbol. They don't correspond. For example, in Korean, the syllable "RUL" has an S over a bar and an S below it. The leading S is an "R" and the terminal S is an "L". There's no way of saying "LUR" without three syllables. It's a very calculated language.

And no, I haven't talked to my wife yet. I need to show her the pictures first.

[Flaxbee]

20. oh, well, then you need an odd number. Obviously

No rush. It's a long holiday weekend and I don't yet know the date of the clinics (they're every other Monday, I think)...

Are you fluent in Korean, or Russian, or ? Sounds like you've studied quite a few languages.

[HopeHoops]

22. Yeah, I've even studied Arabic. I'm not even fluent in English.

[HopeHoops]

21. The written language was actually commissioned and created to be accessible to the masses.

It is technically a dialect of Chinese (of which there are something like 40), but even within Korea there are dialects (much like we have in the US). Hangul was created in the 15th century or so to spread literacy. It worked. Each "character" is really three - lead, vowel, terminal. Once you grasp the sounds associated with each, reading it is easy. The vocabulary on the other hand is not so easy and it's easy to make some "Engrish is Funny" mistakes. Been there, done that, got the laughter.

I'll show my wife the pictures of Yuri and try to get her to melt. I'm thinking she needs a cat, but I have to get my timing right. We'll still have to get him fixed and the FLV is a must. Ours are all vaccinated (even though they're indoor cats), but it's still a must. I've lost two cats to that (both strays). It's heartbreaking.

I took French in jr. high (2 years) and all I remember is "Je ne parle pas français". I figured it was the most important sentence I could take away from the classes. It actually served me well in Montreal.

[Flaxbee]

23. Interesting. I didn't know that about Korean.

I'll probably default to Russian or German. Russian or German. One week it's one, the next it's the other. I'm a dingbat.

OK, re Yuri. The next clinic isn't until Dec. 17, but our local rescue group called me back this afternoon with other vets in the area who try to match the clinic's prices give or take... I totally hear you re FLV/FIV. I am going to make sure he gets the full treatment: FIV/FLV test, then if he's clear, neuter, rabies, and the 4-in-1 FVRCP booster. I'm calling the other vets tomorrow; hopefully they'll be in their offices so I can get pricing.

And if your wife is unmoved, that's OK. But from what I can tell, he looooves wimmen (he crawls in my lap, purrs, and tries to hug me whenever I sit outside with him). And he's such a handsome mancat.

[Taverner]

6. Would he like a beagle as his pal?

[Flaxbee]

8. I don't see why not.

He's a little skittish around the giant, slobbering German shepherd our neighbor has, but I think - if he was properly introduced - he'd love to have a buddy.

I'm not being facetious when I say he's lonely, either. This cat needs companionship. He craves it.

You know someone?

[Taverner]

9. Well, us, if I can convince wifey to accept cat

[Flaxbee]

11. Aren't you on the west coast?

I mean, there are ample cat-transport groups ...

For some reason I think of you as being in San Diego. But I could be totally mistaken.

He is INCREDIBLY affectionate. And I'll spring for his neutering and his shots... so he'd arrive to you guys all ready to be a part of the family!

[Flaxbee]

24. kicking for my sweet Yuri

[Liberal_in_LA]

25. +10

[Flaxbee]

26. thanks, Liberal_in_LA

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Rowdyboy]

27. Here's hoping for a good home with lots of love....

Kick

[Bertha Venation]

28. I haven't been the best

about keeping up with your feline travails and good works. Yuri is wonderful, and if I could take him you know I would in a heartbeat.

[Flaxbee]

34. I know you would

[luv_mykatz]

29. Kicking for Yuri.

Please, please, Goddess Bast, find Yuri a furrever home.

Signed, luv_mycat

[mnhtnbb]

30. Posted on my fb page. Have friends and family in your area. Hope it helps!

[mnhtnbb]

31. I have someone who lives in Maryland interested. Does Yuri get along with other cats?

Have you let any of yours around him?

Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Flaxbee]

33. I have let my two inside/outside cats around him ...

One is a big male tuxedo -- they stare at one another and get puffy and yowl, but that has lessened over the last few days. Has not been a fight yet. Yuri has NOT been aggressive at all. He is not neutered yet, so once he is I assume he'll mellow out even more.

He charged my female once, but I said "no!" and I swear to god he just shrugged and walked away.

He's a very cool, mellow, gentle guy. There might be some territory issues when he's first introduced, but he's MUCH more interested in sitting in someone's lap and being loved than fighting.

I really have not ever met such a "lap cat" before. Whomever adopts him needs to be prepared to be sat on

[mnhtnbb]

39. Thanks! Passing the info along to the friend who thought she might know someone...we'll see!

[cliffordu]

32. Kicking for Yuri!!!

Sweet boy..

[Flaxbee]

35. thank you, cliffordu

I just continue to be amazed by how gentle, mellow, and affectionate he is. Really quite a heart-melting combination.

[MissHoneychurch]

36. Are you sure you want to give him away

sounds like you are already in love with this boy

[Flaxbee]

37. I do love him.

But I just can't integrate one more cat into the household -- for a variety of personal and financial reasons.

If I can find someone I trust to love him wholeheartedly (and maybe send me photos) I'll be OK.

[grasswire]

38. remember, everyone, that Feliway can resolve territorial issues

It comes in plug-in or atomizer. It's a pheremone that calms cat issues. Veterinarians recommend it and sell it, as do pet supply shops.

And......orange tabby cats are unusually personable. Mine passed almost two years ago, and I would have another in a heartbeat if I could.

[Flaxbee]

40. ***The YURI photo link is moving***

I have to do some webwork this weekend so the page where Yuri's photos are hosted will be moving shortly... here are all four photos, plus the new link.

http://www.petrotele.com/yuri.html

[Quantess]

41. That's a good looking animal!