April 8, 2004

Pet of the Week: Tasmanian

A day fishing in Pleasanton for Caprice Endeman and her 9-year-old daughter Shanna netted more than the catch of the day. At a rest stop, they spotted three tiny kittens in a box in the back of a truck being offered for adoption. The smallest tiger striped kitten had no tail. So small was the kitten, Endeman placed her in a T-shirt pocket and it’s been love ever since.

The 2-year-old cat is a Manx breed. The breed includes cats with or without tails or they may have a “rumpy riser,” a short tail, as Tas has.

Tasmanian, named after Endeman’s devil collection, has the run of the house. Supervised visits outside is where Tas’s true catlike nature appears. In his element, the feline climbs trees, stalks squirrels and birds and chases butterflies to his heart’s content.

“I just got a chip in her,” Endeman said while petting the cat. “It only took a few seconds. I’d hate to lose her. She’s my baby.”

Endeman is talking about the microchip now available for pets. The chip, the size of a grain of rice, is implanted, similar to a routine vaccination, in the scruff of the animal’s neck. If the animal is lost, a scanner device will pick the identification number in the chip and the owner will be notified.

Besides Tas’ stalking adventures outside, he loves to chase string and rope, pouncing as Endeman moves the cord away from him. The garage is another favorite destination for the feline, always finding the highest point to gaze at his people. At bedtime, the pampered puss sprawls on his own pillow on Endeman’s bed.

Besides regular catfood, Tas loves Pounce treats, carefully licking his paws and then scrubbing his face after he eats. Not surprisingly, he has an affinity for real tuna and salmon. Perhaps he remembers the day he first came home with his new family after a fishing trip.

—By Jeanne C. Lewis

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