Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Ocelot II

(128,927 posts)
Tue Dec 23, 2025, 09:41 AM Dec 23

My new cats have settled in!

The other day I posted about the arrival at my home of two big gray cat brothers. They've made themselves at home and they are a delight. After a few days the universe told me their names: Chet and Dave. Maybe we were channeling Huntley and Brinkley, but the names work somehow. They are big boys, and when one of them (usually Chet) decides to occupy my lap I can't do much but pet him. He allows me (invites me) to rub his belly without doing the Venus Cat Trap thing. The vet records that came with them say they are overweight and their diets need to be controlled, but so far they don't seem to be intensely food-motivated like some cats I have known. I did find one of them counter-surfing the other day but I learned a long time ago that I can't leave food out. I even have a covered butter dish, which I purchased years ago after finding tongue prints in the butter. Right now they are sitting at a window sill watching the birds on the feeder outside. Having cats in the house again definitely makes the world suck a little less.





23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
My new cats have settled in! (Original Post) Ocelot II Dec 23 OP
Tongue prints in the butter. murielm99 Dec 23 #1
What a great Christmas present they are! Diamond_Dog Dec 23 #2
Congratulations SuzyandPuffpuff Dec 23 #3
I'm happy for you and for Chet and Dave EverHopeful Dec 23 #4
The first photo is perfect. Polly Hennessey Dec 23 #5
Is Mister Cat still around? How does he react, if at all? question everything Dec 23 #6
He's still around, still uses my front porch as his base camp. Ocelot II Dec 23 #8
I'm so happy for you Ocelot II JMCKUSICK Dec 23 #7
What handsome brothers! MIButterfly Dec 23 #9
"after finding tongue prints in the butter" not fooled Dec 23 #10
Huntley and Brinkley? patphil Dec 23 #11
I'm only vaguely familiar with Chet Atkins and Dave Matthews, Ocelot II Dec 23 #15
le purrrrrfect AllaN01Bear Dec 23 #12
I am jealous, they might be boys, but they look like my baby I lost years ago. I miss her still. Linda ladeewolf Dec 23 #13
Gorgeous !!!! Karadeniz Dec 23 #14
Handsome Guys! tonekat Dec 23 #16
I hope you found the tongue print Mme. Defarge Dec 23 #17
They are so cute and obviously loving their new home. Vinca Dec 23 #18
Meanwhile, Mme. Defarge Dec 23 #19
I have 2 dark gray short-haired tabby's mother/daughter cats ... aggiesal Dec 23 #20
Yes, they put on their invisibility cloaks at sunset. Ocelot II Dec 23 #21
Out 14 lb male tabby, Winston, takes any and all opportunities... 3catwoman3 Dec 23 #23
"A house without a cat is not a home" eppur_se_muova Dec 23 #22

Diamond_Dog

(39,711 posts)
2. What a great Christmas present they are!
Tue Dec 23, 2025, 09:48 AM
Dec 23

I love the first photo. They really do look like a Chet and a Dave. Enjoy them, Ocelot! Happy Holidays!

EverHopeful

(642 posts)
4. I'm happy for you and for Chet and Dave
Tue Dec 23, 2025, 10:33 AM
Dec 23

Your mention of tongue prints in the butter reminded me of my dear Crash's cookie inspection work.

I had cooling racks for cookies that had come out of the oven and finally noticed that Crash felt the need to lick each cookie. Offering her one cookie to lick to her heart's content didn't work. Each cookie needed a single lick to meet her rigorous approval standard.

Ocelot II

(128,927 posts)
8. He's still around, still uses my front porch as his base camp.
Tue Dec 23, 2025, 11:09 AM
Dec 23

He's usually there in the morning when I put food out, especially if the weather is bad; he has a little heated hut where he can go when it's really cold. It's warm today (for here) so he's off somewhere. The food usually disappears during the day, either because he ate it or a neighbor cat did or, like last night, an opossum ate it. I've also discovered that squirrels will eat cat food. So far Chet and Dave haven't noticed him or vice versa, and they aren't very likely to cross paths unless he comes right up to a window.

MIButterfly

(1,992 posts)
9. What handsome brothers!
Tue Dec 23, 2025, 11:27 AM
Dec 23

It didn't take them long to settle in at all. What a wonderful Christmas present for all three of you. 🎄

Here's to a long and happy life with Chet and Dave! 🎉

patphil

(8,692 posts)
11. Huntley and Brinkley?
Tue Dec 23, 2025, 11:31 AM
Dec 23

My first thought was Chet Atkins and Dave Matthews.

I also have to keep my butter dish covered, as my one cat, Houdini, loves to check out the counters for any possible food scraps.
We also have a bird feeder, and our 2 cats love to watch CATV (CAt TV).

Ocelot II

(128,927 posts)
15. I'm only vaguely familiar with Chet Atkins and Dave Matthews,
Tue Dec 23, 2025, 11:57 AM
Dec 23

wouldn't be able to identify them by photo or by music, had to be Huntley & Brinkley!

Linda ladeewolf

(1,095 posts)
13. I am jealous, they might be boys, but they look like my baby I lost years ago. I miss her still.
Tue Dec 23, 2025, 11:41 AM
Dec 23

Mme. Defarge

(8,883 posts)
17. I hope you found the tongue print
Tue Dec 23, 2025, 12:15 PM
Dec 23

before he was caught on camera working on his personal hygiene.

I have 2 sister cats. They don’t jump up onto counters but during rose season I usually keep a bouquet on my dining room table and more than occasionally find “rose vomit” on the carpet in the morning.

Mme. Defarge

(8,883 posts)
19. Meanwhile,
Tue Dec 23, 2025, 12:29 PM
Dec 23

Congratulations on your new family members! Having grown up watching Huntley and Brinkley I definitely approve of their names. That said, I have stayed loyal to NBC throughout the years, except for a brief period when I watched the local news on ABC until I was horrified when I heard their newsreaders spouting Trump “talking points” during the 2016 election.

aggiesal

(10,530 posts)
20. I have 2 dark gray short-haired tabby's mother/daughter cats ...
Tue Dec 23, 2025, 12:56 PM
Dec 23

The one thing I've learned is that if I don't know where they are, I have to turn on the light, in whatever room I'm entering because I can't see them in the dark, and you'll either kick one or step on them.

The daughter likes to walk in front of me, then stops to see where my feet are.
She doesn't realize the by stopping,she increases the risk of getting kicked.
So I have to keep watching her, so I don't kick her.

Have fun.

Ocelot II

(128,927 posts)
21. Yes, they put on their invisibility cloaks at sunset.
Tue Dec 23, 2025, 01:48 PM
Dec 23

But I have motion-activated night lights! mnjhyt5423 - That was Chet's comment.

3catwoman3

(28,543 posts)
23. Out 14 lb male tabby, Winston, takes any and all opportunities...
Tue Dec 23, 2025, 04:08 PM
Dec 23

...to park himself on my laptop's keyboard and has entered some very long gobblydegook topics in the search bar.

Chet and Dave look right at home already. Such a great gift to yourself. Merry Catmas!

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Pets»My new cats have settled ...