Finally, here are photos of the two three-legged cats we picked up at Spokane County's animal shelter last week. Alayne took these photos of me with them this afternoon outside our isolation cottage. For a rash, fleeting moment, I pondered the idea of trying to hold both of them together for the same photo, one in each arm. But then my 20+ years of cat experience, now hardwired into my brain, suggested that this was probably not a good idea. (Although that might have made for some great blog photos.)
Ironically, as it turns out, both cats are missing the same leg -- the left front, although the gray one has a stump of a leg still left.
The tortie, named Honey Girl, was found as a stray by an animal control officer back in October. The cat had a mangled leg, and the shelter took her to a veterinarian to have the limb amputated. Although this cat is just as sweet as can be and loves people, no one was interested in adopting her. Hence the call to us.
The gray one, also a female, had been hanging around a school for five weeks. The students and staff had taken to feeding her, and eventually an animal control officer took her to the shelter. This cat is sweet, too, but isn't quite as outgoing yet as Honey Girl. Honey Girl is the kind of gal who would come right out and ask a boy to dance. The gray one would wait to be asked.
In this photo, it looks like she's missing the right front leg, but she has her right foot pulled down and tucked underneath my arm. That's the stump of her left leg you see hanging over my hand.
You can see there are a lot of similarities with these two -- they both came from the same shelter, both are females, both are missing the same limb, both are very nice girls, and both arrived at the same time. But the gray one doesn't have a name, and thus suggestions are welcome! (But no "Tripod," please.)
There's something else about the gray one that may be different, too. The shelter thinks she may be ... pregnant. Oh, no! Yep. She sure feels round in the middle, so we'll be taking her in for an ultrasound. We're just hoping the schoolkids were feeding her too much!
(Click on photos for larger image.)



Name this cutie Felice or Felicia -another holiday suggestion.
Peace and Joy to all
- Jane
Posted by: Jane Tunnicliff | December 20, 2007 at 08:51 AM
How about "Acacia" to go along with Honey Girl?
Posted by: rachel | December 19, 2007 at 11:24 PM
That's my Honey Girl looking very comfortable in someone's arms. For those who don't know, I am the foster home of Honey Girl. We do fostering for SCRAPS here in Spokane. When they come across a little critter that they think is too special to give up on, we are one of the homes they call. And they couldn't have been more right about this one. I wish, more than anything, that we could have kept her. Give her love for me; I miss her.
Posted by: LaVel | December 19, 2007 at 09:32 PM
I of course recommend naming this lovely girl Phoebe (some people also enjoyed calling her three-be :O) in loving memory of my lovely three legged girl who passed away in April
Merry Christmas everyone!
Posted by: Sarah NZ | December 18, 2007 at 12:43 PM
I think she should be named "Sugar Pie" then you will have "Honey Girl" and "Sugar Pie"...both very sweet indeed!!
Posted by: Brenda | December 18, 2007 at 07:05 AM
A big welcome to the RDR to the two beautiful kitties. How about naming her Eira? It's Welsh for snow, and you certainly seem to have plenty of that!
Posted by: Mary | December 17, 2007 at 07:37 PM
A girl that waited to be asked to dance would probably be named Annabelle. You could also call her Sweet Annie.
Posted by: Lisa Simonds | December 17, 2007 at 07:18 PM
What beautiful cats! My suggestion for the grey one that needs a name are Pewter or Mica. I'm so glad that they have found the RDR to be their home. She looks so soft! Looks like they're both pretty good snugglers. Thanks so much for taking these two beauties in.
Big hugs,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | December 17, 2007 at 02:07 PM
For both girls, particularly the new gray...by Lee Ann Womack
"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance."
Posted by: Margaret | December 17, 2007 at 01:14 PM
Since they share a few similarities how about keeping the names alike? If one is Honey Girl how about Sugar or Candy for the other one? Welcome home girls!
Posted by: Mircat | December 17, 2007 at 10:10 AM
What beauties! The unnamed cat looks like a real gem, so I suggest Gemma.
Posted by: Moon Rani | December 17, 2007 at 09:22 AM
In honor of it being nearly Christmas, how about Mary?
Posted by: jeanne | December 17, 2007 at 09:10 AM
What beautiful cats! Wish I had room for one more.
Since you said the gray cat "would wait to be asked to dance," I suggest the name Wallflower. :-)
Posted by: Susan | December 17, 2007 at 09:04 AM
How about Ellie--since she was found at an elementary school?
Both are beautiful.
Posted by: Maxly | December 17, 2007 at 08:56 AM
I second the motion for the name, "Grace"
Can I have a kitten if she is pregnant?
Posted by: Lynn | December 17, 2007 at 08:25 AM
What pretty girls!! They do look sweet and in good health too.
The names that come to mind when I see the grey cat are:
Maggie (Margaret)
Faith
Dove
Welcome home girls; we look forward to seeing more of you soon!
Posted by: Boundforglory | December 17, 2007 at 08:05 AM
I hesitate to suggest Grimalkin because of its less than lovely connotations, but the "malkin" part really only means cat (albeit older cat). But that's my suggestion and I'm sticking with it.
Posted by: Janet | December 17, 2007 at 06:44 AM
Our Leo, who, too, is missing his left front leg, says "welcome home, girls" to Honey Girl and her gray companion!
May I suggest an Italian name for the latter?:-) Bimba Dolce (sweet baby).
I'm sure they're going to have a great Holidays' Season at the Ranch!
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | December 17, 2007 at 03:04 AM
How about Angel, as in Christmas Angel? She does seem to have a heavenly aura about her :)
Posted by: Kristen D. | December 16, 2007 at 10:17 PM
We had a three-legged cat for 17 years--I can't believe nobody wanted to adopt these beauties! RDR to the rescue!
Posted by: Shirley & James, Portland, OR | December 16, 2007 at 10:15 PM
How about Sugar? Then you'd have Honey and Sugar, two sweet girls!
Posted by: Heidi and the Kitties | December 16, 2007 at 08:58 PM
Since she was found at a school, I was trying to think of a name that would honor the students and staff who fed her. I don't know the name of the school, but how about Christa in honor of Christa McAuliffe... the teacher who was on the Challenger Shuttle crew? Just a thought. She and Honey Girl are beautiful... and very lucky to be with you!
Posted by: Linda | December 16, 2007 at 07:52 PM
I think the second kitty looks more like a Sorcha. :)
I can't help but notice you call her 'it' a lot, tho.
Posted by: Christine | December 16, 2007 at 07:39 PM
They are beautiful ! My three legged cat is also a Tortie :) Welcome to the ranch girls !
Posted by: Leigh | December 16, 2007 at 06:49 PM
Her color reminds me of the color of the sky just before it starts to snow. So, I was thinking along the lines of Snowy Skye and call her Skye for short. No matter what her name is, she is beautiful - they both are. It is a shame that no one wanted to adopt them. I guess poeple would be afraid that they couldn't afford the medical treatments. Fortunately Rolling Dog Ranch is there for these gals and others like them!
Posted by: Karen | December 16, 2007 at 06:48 PM
Suggested name: Grace. Meant to be a play on the name of the old picnic game; Three-Legged Grace instead of Three-Legged Race.
Posted by: Jerry Stemnock | December 16, 2007 at 06:35 PM
Welcome home pretty girls!! Thank you Alayne and Steve for giving the girls a wonderful new life at this most special time of year. I think Holly would be a good name for your new bundle of joy!! Many blessings to you and the animals
Posted by: Beverly | December 16, 2007 at 06:26 PM
I think she looks very regal, like Jacqueline Kennedy, so I think Jacqueline or Jackie would be very fitting. She is a lucky girl. Thanks for all you do, RDR!
Carolyn Kupferschmid
Posted by: Carolyn Kupferschmid | December 16, 2007 at 05:03 PM