Conversations with Critters
Walk with the animals. Talk with the animals. And thoughts on health and healing and turtles…
Today, Critters, we are sharing with you the news that the incredible indelible pup, Panda, one of our Core Community Critters, continues on the road to recovery after an act of nefarious dietary indiscretion which caused a major set back to her health. Scary. However, we are optimists, and through vigilance and supportive care in consultation with her Primary Care Physician, we are seeing the P-Body get back on her feet. Step by step. Day by day.
During these long hours of rest and recuperation, we recently found ourselves held in rapt attention about the natural history of turtles in a post by the acclaimed author
who writes .Our thoughts have thus naturally turned to the topic of turtles. The Critters are, in a word, intrigued. They are also, in another word, fascinated. Please, join us now in excellent exploratory critter conversation.
Heidi: Hello, Friends! Welcome and wow, do we have a topic of conversation about to unfold!
Panda: Hello, Friends! Thank you for all of your good thoughts for me as I recover my health.
Jasper: Hello, Friends! Welcome welcome.
Chris: I can’t talk today.
Jasper: Chris, that is crazy. It’s time. We have a conversation about to unfold.
Chris: I can’t do it. I’m completely devastated. I had to go to the vet and it was terrible. I also had to ride in the car which was just as bad if not worse.
Jasper: Oh no oh no! Please, Chris, I beg of you! Tell me you’re okay and that you weren’t diagnosed with a dread disease. The vet! The vet!
Chris: Jasper, I have been put on a diet. The end. It’s the end. I’m finished. Or famished. But what’s the difference? Besides that, I’m recovering from a hairball.
Panda: Chris, all is not lost! You can do this. You have to pivot and make some adjustments and it will all be okay. Look at me.
Chris: O’kay, I’m looking.
Panda: I’m making a good recovery from an act of nefarious dietary indiscretion after finding my Special Gluten-Free diet a tad bland. I was sick as a dog for five days, but now I’m slowly slowly on the mend. I’m eating rice and cottage cheese and chicken, staying hydrated, and sleeping. I’m also being completely and utterly doted on. So there’s that.
Chris: Now I feel even more hungry.
Jasper: Oh no oh no! Panda, I want you to be all better! I’ve heard that it takes longer to heal when we’re older and you’re sixteen. I’m only two and that’s a lot of counting for me to get to sixteen. Oh no oh no!
Panda: Correct. It does take longer to recover when you’re older. It is the tincture of time.
Chris: My situation is dire! I mean, Panda I luvluvluv you and you’ll be fine. But, Critters! I am limited to 282 kilocalories per day. Per day! I. Will. Go. Hungry. Furever.
Jasper: Chris, you are being rather dramatic.
Chris: What.
Jasper: We are here to advocate for the welfare of all critters and many of them have a much greater need for care and support. We need to practice gratitude.
Chris: Yes. You’re right about that Jasper. We did find our Furever homes and are examples of what happens when Hoomans take responsibility for reducing overpopulation of pets and feral cats by taking action on a grassroots level to get us spayed and neutered and find luvluvluving homes for us. Foster. Adopt. Furever.
Jasper: Well said, Chris.
Chris: Thank you, Jasper. Thank you very much for helping me have a proper perspective. I am now ready to discuss the topic of turtles.
Jasper: Turtles like water.
Chris: Yes.
Jasper: Well, I can’t see myself taking a deep deep dive about turtles, afterall. The part about water is simply a non-starter for me. It’s too aquatic and I could get wet. The end.
Chris: Jasper, let’s pivot.
Jasper: O’kay, sure. To what?
Chris: What. About. A. Land. Critter.
Jasper: That sounds better to me. I’m all ears.
Chris: Tortoises are a kind of turtle, but they live on land.
Jasper: So, all tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises?
Chris: Correct. All tortoises are technically considered turtles. They are reptiles and part of the order of animals known in the Latin as Testudine. There are over 365 species of turtles and 13 families of turtles. Their shells are permanent and they have longevity.
Jasper: Impressive, Chris. Let’s share a photo of a turtle and a tortoise for the edification and enjoyment of our readers.
Chris: Well, this topic of turtles and tortoises is taking my mind off of my diet, but I could use a nap on the Couch soon. Reducing my daily caloric intake to 282 kilocalories sure is exhausting.
Jasper: Before we go, Chris, is there anything else we need to share with our readers?
Chris: Good question, Jasper. Did you know that turtles and tortoises live all over the world and have habitat distributions that range from coastal waters to ponds and from deserts to tropical forests?
Jasper: Gosh, Chris. That’s well beyond the bounds of our Condo as Furever Indoor Only Cats. Incredible.
Chris: Yes. Furthermore, issues of conservation are vital to their natural longevity.
Jasper: We must focus on their protection, their habitats, their very beings.
Chris: As always and furever, we ask that everybody open their hearts and minds to these amazing and diverse critters. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Jasper: So stay safe and have fun out there, Critters! The. End.
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Poetry with Pets
A tortoise is a turtle
Worldwide distribution
One step at a time
By Jasper Kitten, Chris & Panda
Notes:
Photos: Green Sea Turtle and Giant Galapagos Tortoise as featured mid-text
Special thanks to
for featuring us here:
Sending positive vibes and good thoughts that Panda gets better soon! Re: tortoises and turtles, I'm looking forward to the Snapping Turtles emerging in a few weeks. Such a fascinating reptile!
Pure reading enjoyment each time.