Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The elf with one big ear and one little ear

Rosebud, you sure look cute but you need to work on the jolly part.

Maybe later. I'm busy keeping the chair warm.


As the indoor cat with the most seniority – 14 years – Rosebud can do whatever she darned well pleases. She leads a very good life.

I adopted Rosebud from the Albuquerque Humane Society in 1996. I was a dog person at the time and had no intention of ever owning a cat. But Wynonna was spending her nights in the garage that winter because it was ridiculously cold, and I didn't want her to be lonely. So I got her a cat. Well, the cat immediately developed a respiratory infection, as most shelter cats do, and the next thing I knew, Rosebud was living in the house and I was a dog/cat person.

I have many Rosebud stories from the early years, but my favorite involves the story behind her Indian name. (Thank you, Carolynn, for triggering this memory in your recent post about your cat, Nibbles on Fingers.) I'm a very sound sleeper; in fact, my Indian name could be Sleeps Like Dead Person. Anyway, for several weeks, I kept waking up to find my bangs wet. For the longest time, I just figured I had a sweaty forehead. Then one morning, I awoke in time to catch Rosebud in the act. The mystery was solved and Rosebud had her Indian name – Chews on Bangs.

About two years ago, Rosebud scratched her right ear very badly. It puffed up something awful and I rushed her to the vet. The vet took one look at it and said, "ahh, sopaipilla ear." If you've ever eaten a sopaipilla, then you know exactly what Rosebud's ear looked like. If you've never eaten a sopaipilla, then you haven't lived and you need to get yourself to New Mexico and have dessert. But back to our story...

The vet had to do surgery on Rosebud's ear to reduce the swelling and repair the damage. As a result, she now has one little ear and one big ear...


...and one delightfully charming personality.

27 comments:

  1. What a story came out of the elf picture this morning. Too funny about your bangs, and oh so sad about Rosebud's ear, BUT she seems to be doing ok to be with you 14 years and counting!

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  2. I think you are not limited to "dog person" or "dog/cat person." I think you are an Animal Person. And better yet, a Rescued Animal Person.
    Rosebud is beautiful, especially with her one diminutive ear...it is the imperfection that highlights her beauty.
    ...although the story might have ruined my enjoyment of sopaipillas for a while. I don't get them that often anyway, so no matter.

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  3. Rosebud looks pretty jolly in her own way.

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  4. You have such delightful stories - and photos! Sopapilla ear? Never heard of the 'condition' but sops. with honey are the best! Thanks for my morning chuckle and sigh of contentment.

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  5. I have a 13-year old cat, Loki, which means "mischievous one" and he sure has lived up to HIS name! He has swatted every dog we've ever owned and they give him a wide berth! He's been coming in at night here as it is freezing and he plops himself in the middle of our bed!!!

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  6. Cats rule!
    Sincerely, Sandra

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  7. In my book, Rosebud wins the 'cutest' elf competition, paws down !

    What a GREAT Christmas card that would make !

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  8. Just when you think it couldn't possibly get any cuter, the 7MSN pops out another adorable member of the gang. Love the background story of how Rosebud came to be in your life. She is a lucky girl and beautiful too!

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  9. Yes, cats have a way of conveying that "drop dead, eat dirt" look very well. She is definitely non-plused about the hat. :)
    Love the story. Love rescues. She is one gorgeous kitty.

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  10. Animal people are the absolute best and Rosebud is darling. What a face she has.

    Alecia

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  11. Move over Deets, Rosebud is cuter in the elf hat! I love the color of her eyes.

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  12. you don't see too many female orange tabbies, mostly all males. I have always adored orange tabbies, and Rosebud is especially cute. We also had a cat that had to have part of the ear removed, the Vet said it was due to the ear being light skinned and getting sunburned a lot.

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  13. I like how June put it, a rescued animal person. Yep yep!
    Love the sopaipilla ear. I've never heard it called that, but you can bet I'll be calling it that from now on. We call em hematoma ears, and 2 of my dogs have them. It was genetic for them. They're cute though! Rosebud looks like a beautiful happy cat, especially doing well at age 14!!

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  14. Aww shes got such a pretty face, little ear and all.

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  15. I've got a 14 yr old cat also. Her name is Tinkerbell. She's solid white with beautiful, bright blue eyes. Rosebud is gorgeous! Love your stories.

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  16. The sweetest ones seem to have suffered some trauma at one point. How could you not fall in love with that little dickens. Her eyes are hypnotizing me in that one photo. So green & intense. LOVE the little stunted ear. Too bad she had to go through surgery to get it.

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  17. Awwww, look at that little face! Soooo, Wynonna wound up lonely after all, huh? It was a very good idea, though.

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  18. What a great story! Rosebud looks just fine with one little ear and one bigger ear.

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  19. Ahhhh...ear mites I would guess, right? And the resulting "cauliflower" ear? So glad Rosebud had you that recognized it was a "veterinary moment". We had a white Persian who was the clinic cat where I worked decades ago. She was named Cauliflower BEFORE she developed ear mites, just cause of her bigness and whiteness. Then came the ear and lack of circulation from the scar tissue from the ear mites and she was really a Cauliflower!

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  20. That's pretty funny, buying a cat to keep a pig company. Did it work while they were together?

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  21. She awful cute in that hat! She is adorable even with one short ear!

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  22. Oh I have a soft spot for older (elderly ...) cats, and Rosebud's personality talks to my heart. Keep on keeping the furniture warm, darling!

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  23. Rosebud is a kitty. A Torti-cat, right? Her markings are just stunning. She has the best home with you. There is a special place in heaven for folks who rescue unwanted critters. Linda.


    ~Lisa

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  24. I wondered what happened to that poor baby's ear. You are such a good person.

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  25. Rosebud is a perfect name. Sounds like she has bloomed in your heart. That's a calico for you!

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  26. I never cared for cats until I adopted one to take care of a mouse problem. Now I love them. I also posted a cat story today

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  27. Aww she makes me want to snuggle up!

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