Twin Brook Cats

In order of arrival

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Gertrude
Sophie and Gertrude were the first cats here and moved in with Eleanor.
It took a long time to find old, film prints of lovely Gertrude.


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Gertrude


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Gertrude


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Sophie
Sophie was the most friendly cat in the house.


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Sophie


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Sophie


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Sidney
Sidney was the first cat adopted by Leo and Eleanor for Twin Brook.
He was adopted from "Alley Cat" in New Haven.
Note how his eyes pick up the colors of the kitty bed.


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Sidney


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Sidney


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Sidney


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Sidney


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Henri of Twin Brook
Henri was put out on the street where he lived for 5 years
before moving into Twin Brook to become an author and webmaster.
He is an internationally famous cat who managed three web sites.
After he died cats from Florida and Spain archived the stories of his life at:
http://claw.org/Henri/


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Henri


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Helen
Helen was adopted from the New Haven Cat Project.
Helen is our lovely calico. Note the two tone nose!


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Helen
Helen, a shelter cat, looking at a calico at the New Haven Animal Shelter.


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Helen
Helen on the Kitty Porch outside the computer room window.


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This photo requires an explanation!
Dog Ashley had cornered Helen in the kitchen. There was a standoff allowing me
to get my camera and sit under the kitchen table with them. The dog lay quietly
about a foot from the cat. I told her, "If you don't run the dog won't chase."
Finally Helen decided she would wait no more and would make a dash for the hallway.
She slowly slowly crept forward and when she was even with the dog I took the last photo
just before she made a run for it! A second later Ashley sprang to her feet and ran
after the cat, but she never can catch up.


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Erika
Erika was adopted as an older cat, she bounced around between
shelters until we found her at the West Haven Animal Shelter.
She was pleased to settle in to spend rest of her life with us.


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Erika
There are two kitty perches about 7 feet above the basement floor for observing the
neighborhood. Stella is the only cat left who can still jump up there to watch the birds.


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Erika
Erica setting up her scope before an evening of astrogazing


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Erika
We went through a few couches we thought were "Cat Proof" and as you can see this
one was not. A previous black leather couch turned out to be a veneer and did not last.
It slowly turned white as the cat claws pulled the stuffing up through the leather!
This one was real, thick, leather and "only" showed scratch marks. It's main flaw was
the pillows were not removable for cleaning underneath! Current couch is a futon
covered with a quilt. The quilt can be washed as needed.


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Stella
Stella was adopted as an 8 week old kitten from a teenager whose boyfriend
gave her a cat without first asking the family. Ashley adopted her as her baby.
The two wrestled often when they were young. Nowadays they nuzzle each other.


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Stella as a cute kitty


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Stella as a crazy cat


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All her life Stella has been kneading and mouthing something in the house. It started
with Eleanor and my pillow cases, occasionally her claws would wake us ... Abruptly!
In 2010 it became my chest while I try to read my email in the morning.
I bought a vest at Salvation Army for $3 to protect my shirt and skin from her claws.
It is not the latest off the shoulder fashion, but it did the job!
In 2012 Stella switched back to kneading in the bed at Midnight and 5 AM.


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A very kneady cat indeed!


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For nine years I waited to catch Stella in an embarrasing position.


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WHOSE MAT IS THIS ANYWAY?
For years this has been Ashley's mat, notice the dog motif.
On those mornings when Ashley gets a Chewy Treat she takes it in the bedroom
to knaw it on her mat. Lately Stella has taken to sleeping dead center on the
huge mat. Ashley would not THINK of disturbing her best feline friend.
Here she squeezes onto the narrow space she found that Stella was not using!


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Tonya
Tonya was a cat who attended many adoption events but no one adopted her.
We fell in love with her photo at "Two Smiling Dogs" and adopted her at
The New Haven Aninal Shelter. Two Smiling Dogs adopted out 13 Shelter cats.
Look at those whiskers!


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Tonya

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Tonya
When a new kitty bed appeared on the floor Tonya grabbed ownership from day one.
A large bed for a large cat. She always closes her eyes when a flash camera is used.

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BJ
Though she did not have a home, BJ was a tailless feral who came by for meals.
Here she is seen under the holly in the Circle Garden in the Winter.


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BJ
BJ with a lofty view of the front yard.


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