9-25-23 Monday

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Breaking news!

Uhura’s Basepaws DNA test results are back!

“So exciting, lady. NOT.”

So is Uhura a purebred? Is she BURMESE? Is she SIAMESE?

Ha ha ha NOPE.

Western
Broadly Western: 23.36%
(Basepaws describes “Broadly Western” as “a portion of your cat’s genetic sequence that isn’t pinpointed to one specific Western breed, but we can still categorize the genes to be most similar to this genetic group.”)
Maine Coon: 12.94%
Siberian: 10.9%
Ragdoll: 10.57%
Russian Blue: 7.04%
American Shorthair: 3.1%
Turkish Van: 0.63%
Norwegian Forest Cat: 0%
Abyssian: 0%
Turkish Angora: 0%

Eastern
Broadly Eastern: 2.07%
Oriental: 1.84%
Peterbald: 0%
Burmese: 0%
Birman: 0%
Thai (aka Modern Siamese): 0%

Persian 8.9%
Broadly Persian 3.3%
Persian 3.07%
British Shorthair 2.52%
Exotic Shorthair 0%
Himalayan 0%

Exotic 6.51%
Bengal 4.47%
Egyptian Mau 2.04%
Broadly Exotic 0%
Savannah 0%

Polycat 12.15%
A domestic polycat is a remarkable result of many generations of mixed breeding between different types of cats, which is why the ancestry and origin of these kitties can be very difficult to determine.

Also of interest:

Carrier: Dilute coat color
The dilute coat color phenotype in cats is related to both the
eumelanin and phaeomelanin pigment pathways. When two
copies of a mutation in the melanophilin gene (MLPH) are
inherited, the pigment deposition in hair is affected and the
original coat color is altered. For example, black fur becomes gray,
and orange will turn cream.

Likely to have: Chocolate coat color
Brown coat color variations are caused by various mutations in
the gene coding for tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TYRP1). The
chocolate coat color is a consequence ofinheriting two mutated
copies of the TYRP1 gene.

Like all the DNA tests we’ve done before (on Khal, Charlie and Jake), the results were surprising and interesting, but really it doesn’t mean anything in the end. We’re not breeding cats here, it doesn’t MATTER what breeds led up to these wonderful kitties, it’s just interesting to see.

I will say, though – those Maine Coons really get around! I wouldn’t look at Uhura and think “Oh, definitely some Maine Coon there,” but I think with Kirk and Kes (especially Kirk), you can definitely see the Maine Coon in them.

Also, nice to get confirmation from Basepaws that she’s “likely to have” a chocolate coat color. She’s not faking it!

If at any point in the future you suddenly want to see these test results again, they are listed on the Trekklings page, which you can get to by clicking on any of their pictures in the sidebar. If you’re reading this in the future and they’re not in the sidebar anymore, you can click on the “All fosters” link in the sidebar, which will take you to this page, and you can scroll on down to their picture, click on that, and get to their page. Yeah, that’s a lot of scrolling and clicking. Probably the truly easiest way is to use the search bar to search on “Uhura DNA,” but whatever works for you works for me.

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Kirk is so very pleased with himself.

Troi and Janeway have a snuggle.

I moved this big cat tree into the foster room, and Uhura immediately climbed up to look out the window.

“To be honest, I thought it’d be a more exciting view.”

Janeway went as high as possible, and Spock and Troi thought about their next move.

Janeway is so freakin’ adorable.

Spock checked out the window sill, and Troi took in the view.

Later, Kes checked it out and decided it met with her approval.

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Newt’s just chilling on his scratcher couch.

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Posted on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Tumblr) this weekend.

An Uhura pie with a side of Kirk! (My favorite!)⁠

In 2021, we fostered awesome mama Canasta and her kittens, the Cardsharks. One of those kittens was this cutie, Fizzbin, who has grown up to look a LOT like her mama! Michelle reports that as an adult, “She is such a talker, super nosey, she’ll play fetch, she loves to lay on our laps and has the best purrs. She really does love her brother Cotton Tail!” ❤️

PS: You can follow three of Canasta’s kittens (Uno, Pinochle & Whist) here on Facebook.
Rummy and Slapjack here on Facebook and here on Instagram.
And Canasta herself here on Facebook and here on Instagram.
PPS: I swear to you that making a list of all former fosters on social media is on my ever-growing list of things I need to do!

YouTube link
Kes and Janeway are having a good time racing around the room and pouncing on each other (and there’s a brief moment of Kirk purring.)

I decided it was finally time to move a tall cat tree into the foster room (can the kittens be trusted not to launch themselves from the very top of the cat tree? I think so, but we’ll see!) and it’s turned out to be a big, BIG hit. Especially with mama Uhura.

YouTube link
Suddenly, Kirk and Troi are obsessed with the drawer where the (clean) cleaning rags are stored. I don’t know what’s with the sudden interest, but I wonder if I can train them to clean the floor?

Kes is all “What? What you want, lady?”

Good night innernets. (Troi 👑)

Kirk prepares his slappin’ paw for the busy day ahead. (This litter certainly keeps their slappin’ paws super clean and ready for action.)

Kes has some fabulous floof (and whiskers), indeed.

YouTube link
The kittens, as usual, are having a blast. Also, at one point Uhura spots me in the mirror and goes to check out the view. (Those mirrors are one of my favorite things about the foster room.)

If Janeway were to close her eyes, she’d be perfectly camouflaged.

Good night innernets. (Uhura is out cold. And that purple toy looks like a thought bubble.)

I think a Janeway pie (my favorite!) is the perfect way to start the day.

The Trekklings are 9 weeks old! They’re all eating solid food (while still nursing whenever Uhura allows it), using the litterbox perfectly, and playing like crazy. They’re perfect miniature cats.⁠
⁠
Kes only gained an ounce this week (she had a few days where she wasn’t feeling great, but she’s back to normal now), and I find it amusing that the tiniest (Troi) and biggest (Kirk) each gained the same amount of weight. You can see their weight chart here.

Line ’em up! Left to right: Kes, Kirk, Spock, Troi and Janeway.

YouTube link
This is a super-long video (4 1/2 minutes), but what better way to spend your Sunday afternoon, am I right? I’m tossing toys for the kittens, and they are having a BLAST.

Good night innernets. (Kes & Spock)

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Previously
2022: No entry.
2021: No entry.
2020: I like how Athos is using his back feet to push Rochefort’s head closer to his mouth so he can really get in there and get that ear clean.
2019: Fleur, floofing for no reason at all.
2018: Croc full o’ monkeys.
2017: “What doin’ weird lady?” wonders Stardust.
2016: Lying in wait.
2015: All 8 in one picture!
2014: “You’re INSANE!” says Ralph. “A BALL. Of all the crazy ideas!”
2013: She wubs the babies.
2012: He’s such a Magoo.
2011: No entry.
2010: No entry.
2009: “What you MEAN ‘no more belly rubs’?!”
2008: No entry.
2007: Look who’s back!
2006: She might have a ways to go in the brain department though – really, what can you expect from a one-month old? – because she’s not quite getting the whole “doorway” concept.
2005: No entry.

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