Vella and Justin

[finn's mom]

Hey, everyone. I'm still scanning. This first pretty girl is Vella. She's alive and well in Texas, with my ex's family. She could be in a better place, but, I'm grateful she's at least taken care of and safe. I'd have taken her but she needs to be where there aren't any other animals. My ex and I found her in Washington and took her in. SHe was about 8 months old and pregnant. We decided we'd keep her. She had five kittens, and, we kept one, and, named him Justin McCloud. When my ex and I split, his family took her and Justin. I kept Bruno and my guinea pig, Angus. It was devastating to not have those two cats around. But, I just couldn't keep all the pets. Well, Justin ended up getting out (the kids were horrible about closing the door, I was always worried, and, I live with the regret that I should have done something about it) and getting hit by a car. He was about four.

Vella is the sweetest, daintiest little girl ever. Always putting her feet just right, always the queen. She's a tiny thing, about 8 pounds at a healthy weight (she's a little fat, now). Justin was a dopey, wonderful, clumsy old boy. He was three feet long from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail and topped out at a healthy 16 pounds, no fat. We think we saw his dad once at the apartments, a big solid white tom cat. His fate was the same as Justin's, only much sooner (Justin was barely a week when the tom cat died). Justin was probably the most beautiful cat I've ever known, and, he was so much fun. Our roommate had a husky named Nikolai, and, Justin and Nik would play so hard, it was great! Anyway, here's Vella and Justin.....RIP in Justin....

my ex and Vella, pregnant!





about ready to pop!



sorry that's all I have of Vella. I have a lot more of her (and of all five kittens being born and growing up!) back in Texas.

Justin in the next post....

[finn's mom]

Here he is, on some road trip. I think this was going from Washington to DC/Virginia, but, it could be from Virginia to Texas. God, he was so beautiful. He had the softest fur, it was unlike anything I'd ever touched. And, so, thick. His little belly looked like a cloud when he was a tiny kitten, that's how he got his last name (and from "man without a face", mel gibson's character was Justin Mcleod). He used to climb under my tshirts at night and sleep right on my chest, with his front feet around my neck and his back legs hanging off either side of my tummy, he was so silly. and, he would groom everyone. we'd wake up, and, our hair would be nasty from him licking us. All of his littermates were shorthaired, too. I love that he got Vella's yellow eyes, though.



that glass tank was my guinea pig's home! we had a full load!



me holding my baby boy

[finn's mom]

Justin would always find the weirdest places to hide and sleep. We looked for two hours one day and finally found him asleep in a huge steel pot (like one you could use for a lot of chili) in a cabinet. Crazy boy.

Here he is, putting hair all over my ex's clothes.





on a shelf in the closet



in a drawer



in a box





and, in the dryer...



Anyway, thanks for letting me post all these pictures of my kitties....

[catmandu]

NO,THANK YOU,FOR POSTING,ALL THOSE PHOTOS,OF YOUR HANDSOME JUSTINHE ERTAINLY,IS A HIDER,AND LIKE ROCCA,HE CAN FIT,INTO THE SMALLEST SPACES.AND LETTING YOU,ITS MORE LIKE,BEGGING,FOR MORE PHOTOS,OF JUSTIN,AND VELL,WHO HOPEFULLY WILL BE GOING,IN FOR SPAYING.

[finn's mom]

Originally posted by catmandu
AND VELL,WHO HOPEFULLY WILL BE GOING,IN FOR SPAYING.

Ah, no worries there. Those kittens were born in 96 or 97 and Vella and Justin were both fixed as soon as they were able to be. I'm assuming, because she was so young, that it was her first litter. But, I can vouche that it was her last. And, all of their other pictures are in albums back in texas. it'll be awhile before I get all my pictures back in my possession again, but, they are safe.

[finn's mom]

Originally posted by catmandu
AND LETTING YOU,ITS MORE LIKE,BEGGING,FOR MORE PHOTOS,OF JUSTIN,AND VELL

And, trust me, I'll post some more when I get my albums and things from Texas! I have so many good ones of Vella's litter and of Vella and Justin. I'm glad you liked the photos, though. Vella is doing well, they feed her good food and take her to the vet regularly. They just don't spend as much time with her as I would, but, that's mainly because I treat my pets like family! But, she's not abused or malnutritioned or anything. I do miss her, though. And, of course, I miss Justin, and, wish I had split he and Vella up sooner, he might still be alive. She just had gotten to the point where she really didn't like to be around him, he could be such a pest. But, I thought, at first, it would be best for them to stay together. It's one of the few regrets I have in my life.

[jazzcat]

Gorgeous kitties! Thanks for sharing their pictures. I'm sure you miss them very much.

[finn's mom]

Originally posted by jazzcat
Gorgeous kitties! Thanks for sharing their pictures. I'm sure you miss them very much.

I do. But, I know it's a part of pet ownership. It can still suck, though.

[sirrahbed]

Those are great pictures of beautiful cats!! That Justin looks oh so soft!!! I am sorry you can't have them with you though

But, thank you for sharing here!!

[finn's mom]

Originally posted by sirrahbed
Those are great pictures of beautiful cats!! That Justin looks oh so soft!!! I am sorry you can't have them with you though

Thanks! And, like I said, Justin was incredibly soft! Yeah, I'd love to have Vella, but, she's about ten now, and, it would stress her out so much to be around Finn. I know she's all right. Obviously, I wish things had gone very differently with Justin. I was sick for a week after he died. Ugh. I have very fond memories of him, though, and, I know he lived a crazy, full life, even if it was too short. I carry his photo, along with others of my RB buddies, Bruno and Dusty.

[rg_girlca]

What a pair of absolute gorgeous cats. I am looking forward to seeing more of them when you get your things back from Texas, especially Vella with her babies.

Justin is drop dead gorgeous. I love the way he just hangs on your shoulders. I'm so sorry to hear of his passing. Such a shame that he was so young.

Rest in Peace dear Justin.
You are missed but definitely not forgotten.

[finn's mom]

Originally posted by rg_girlca
Justin is drop dead gorgeous. I love the way he just hangs on your shoulders.

I know! He was like a big floppy rag doll. you could hold him any way, and, he would just chill. As opposite as he and his mother look, they were like night and day in personality, too. although they were both sweet, good cats.

[catcrazylady]

What BEAUTIES!!! Justin is incredibly handsome! Look how is eyes just seem to pop in every picture. He sure does look cuddly!

[finn's mom]

Originally posted by catcrazylady
What BEAUTIES!!! Justin is incredibly handsome! Look how is eyes just seem to pop in every picture. He sure does look cuddly!

He was the cuddliest. Vella's fur was always so silky and shiny, and, Justin's was just so soft and plush....

[kittycats_delight]

I think everyone has the same opinion here....Justin is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G !!!!!! He was just soooo absolutely beautiful and Vella is quite a beauty too. It's wonderful that you are sharing this lovely photos with us. And we are looking forward to those pics of Vella and her babies. It's such a horrible shame about the loss of Justin.

R.I.P. magnificent Justin Mcleod. You were taken from this world far too soon but I know you are watching over your family from RB and one day your meowmie will scoop you up again and get to cuddle and kiss that super soft fur. Until then play hard and have fun at RB. You are loved and missed.