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Of the Three Sisters, Frieda most resembles her father, Wild Red, a neighborhood feral that we fed for years until his final disappearance in 1995. Her siblings were bi- or tri-colored, but aside from a small white star on her chest, Frieda is a solid red tabby, like her father. Our vet mentioned that orange females are rather unusual--about 80% of orange cats are male for genetic reasons. She was the largest of the kittens at birth but is now the smallest of the sisters--at least in physical size. In her mind, she is formitable. She earned one of her nicknames, "Braveheart", because of her undaunted spirit. This is the cat I have had to restrain from going after intruding dogs, the cat who wants to climb trees after spruce grouse and yowls defiant challenges to over-flying eagles and owls. She is our dog-soldier, the first at the scene of any feline altercation and the last to leave, ready to defend her sisters or break up a fight. A few years ago, Frieda lost the last two inches of her tail to a fast-growing tumor. The surgery was a success and its only lasting effect is that--as I often tell her--the shorter tail makes her look fatter. It takes more than a little surgery to dash her spirits, as she continues to stride self-confidently through life with her stubby tail straight and proud. |
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