Mama Miao tells the Tale of the Twins
Time to set the record straight - Tashi insists that I banish the uncertainties in his illustrious history. I spent a good many hours in the house where Tashi and Tantra were born, so I am reporting by direct observation - and correction from Tashi whenever my impressions are a little off. Tashi and Tantra were born to a Himalayan mother and Siamese father. The only adult male cat in that house was the Siamese - he had a harem of 3 Himalayan females. The litter was unusually large - 11 kittens. I visited them, and one of them, a little Boy named Raffi, asked to come home with me (well, they all did, but he was the most insistent). He died two days later. We were all devastated, and the other People wanted to give me another kitten immediately, but I needed to wait 2 months, to be sure that none of my other Boys had been infected, and none of the other kittens were sick. I went to the kittens house, put a little red collar on Tashi, and then returned often to play with him.
Gradually, all the other kittens went to new homes except for the runt of the litter, who was called 'the Gizmo' (because when people first saw him they asked "what is that?"). This is Tantra's darkest secret, and no doubt the source of all his insecurities. He was bottle-fed, and as a small kitten he had short hair with random long tufts sticking out in all directions, and a skinny little bent wire for a tail. By the time the two months were over, he and Tashi were inseparable. I could not bear to leave him alone, and since no one else wanted him, his People gave him to me together with Tashi. All it took was a little love to show him that he was free to become The Most Beautiful Himalayan in the World. (sorry for the length of this, but Tashi insisted)
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Mama Miao will have to answer the 2nd part of the question, though. I wish I knew! I'm not a very good Chronicler, alas.
they remind me of the siamese cats in "Lady and the Tramp"
♫"We are Siamese if you don't please..."♫
I totally need to find good screen shots from the Lady and the Tramp, Bonita. Thanks for the inspiration! :)
Thank you, Indy Bunny. *offers bunny pellet*
Awww, BA, you should share pics of Percy - you've mentoioned him before, I'm sure he's a beauty.
Now that you point it out, LT, I guess that a lot of Siameezers do have a very narrow face. So maybe Tash & BA's Percy get their pleasingly apple-shaped face from some Himmie/Persian ancestry. I was really surprised to find that Himmies are actually a subcategory of Persians now. Tantra's not a subcategory of anything though.
When I want to know the name of a cat who has entered my life, I spend silent time with him, letting him know that he is totally free to be himself in my presence. When we have both reached a point of mutual full trust, I let words arise in my mind, and I present them to him. There has always been an immediate and strong energetic response to the name which is right. The words 'tashi' and 'tantra' come from Tibetan traditions. Tashi is a word element found in many Tibetan names, rather like our English words 'dear' or 'beloved.' His deepest need has always been to know that he is loved for who he is, not that he bears some stigma of 'second choice.' Every time he hears his name, he knows who he is and that he is loved. 'Tantra' is a word used to indicate a variety of spiritual disciplines. Our Tantra's earliest life was one requiring supreme concentration on Me-Me-Me for survival. When he joined my family it was time for him to let go of that, to discover that harmonious life is based on balance and discipline of the spirit. He is learning.
The only one of my Boys who did not reveal his name to me in this way was Merlin. I simply never asked him. It was right to let his name come through LittleMiao and her ElderSister. They will have to tell that story. I find the name acceptable for him - it matches well the energy he has always expressed, but it is not a name which propels him to growth and expansion of the spirit. He has always kept himself somewhat apart from his Brothers, and has changed very very little over the years.
Oh my god, tantra and tashi are *GORGEOUS*!!!!! What BEAUTIFUL, FULL BODIED, FLUFFY, SOFT kitties these two are! And they look so happy and comfortable and loved. Wow.
Thanks for sharing your beauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutiful kittehs with us. And thanks for the truly entertaining commentary. &:o)
Have a good day!
Awwww, they are so pretty! And what a happy ending to the story :)
"Our Tantra's earliest life was one requiring supreme concentration on Me-Me-Me for survival. When he joined my family it was time for him to let go of that, to discover that harmonious life is based on balance and discipline of the spirit."
that. tewtally. gives. me. chills. dawnwoman, thanks for getting through Tantra's barriers and allow him to flourish.
the toof is out there.
Floofitude turned up to 11 there Tantra - what gorrrrrrrrrrgeous cats.
I definitely prefer the old stockier siamese look - the modern ones look as if they might snap. Mind you the siamese who's been staking out my parent's garden is no wuss - he took down a pigeon last week - we were all very impressed - that's a bloody big bird for a cat to handle.
So how long does it take to groom all the floof in your house? Do you have to have a rota?
I've never understood people who name their pets instantly. It took at least a week for us to find the proper names for our current beasties.
Himmies are NOT Persians, they're floofy Meezers. Hmph. Silly cat show people. I have seen ads for breeders who are proud to say they raise "apple-head" meezers, which are the original versions. They look like P. Tashi and not the rat-like things of today.
I believe I remember that Papa Miao was largely in charge of the vacuuming?
Yep, LT, Papa Miao does most of the vacuuming these days. But I'll help with the grooming when I get back home. 2SJ, thank you! Tantra is very proud of his floofitude and he enjoys all compliments.
Awww, you're welcome, YGRS and fatcat! *Tashi purrs and Tantra snuggles to everyone*
hehe, mariser... I think Tantra was very sweet as a kitten. He only turned huffy-puffy and growlie when Lotus entered the scene. But maybe Mama Miao's right and he was selfish as a kitten, but all babies are aren't they...? well, Freud would say so but I am NOT a fan of Freud by any means whatsoever...
I should take some photos of them. They're beautiful cats. [Not as beautiful as his highness Tantra, but still very handsome.]
Sounds exactly like HRT when TK came to stay! Some cats just want to stay the baby of the family.
The Naming of Cats The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, or George or Bill Bailey -
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter -
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum -
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover -
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.