Beyond providing vaccinations and, especially at Tabby’s Place, saving lives by treating acute and chronic problems, veterinary care can lead to helpful educated guesses about the felines we know and love. Cats, being fairly close-mouthed about disclosing personal histories, often require a fair amount of eloquence on the part of savvy veterinarians and technicians to translate everything that is never said.
When it came to the intake of very many cats during the summer of 2024, much guesswork was necessary. Pinning ages on over 150 cats that came in from a sickly colony and an overstuffed house was one challenge. Identifying and treating various ailments was another. The scope was legion. The Medical Department, under the leadership of the fantabulous Denise, was proven (again and again and again, as for YEARS) up to the task, no matter the mountains to be climbed. Did I mention the part where cats don’t disclose their personal histories?
Taking the long way around to the point, a veterinary visit for a recently adopted cat from one of these enormous intakes provided some insight into his brethren, sistren, and all the other “rens” comprising parents and grandparents, aunties and uncles, third cousins thrice removed, and the like. That insight? As volunteers (myself included) have speculated, there now seems to be a significant supply of some sort of Rex DNA floating around the suites and hallways of Tabby’s Place. No, we can’t be positive, but there are stronger-than-hints in the form of clues.
Nirvana, for one, seems to be the great-grandaddy Rex of all of these seeming Rexes. With his impressive ears, jauntily missing eye (Oh, yes! ‘Tis a great jawn!), and distinctive lack of topcoat, it is difficult to think of a plausible alternate family tree for the grey and white tuxedo. Coming up on a year into his life at Tabby’s Place, Nirvana still prefers that humans stay on the far side of whatever cat tree or other space he is occupying. Peoples’ presences, however, are more tolerable when balls and wand toys are provided for energetic entertainments. Exactly as he is, and with no papers to prove any kind of pedigree, Nirvana is a king of cats. That definitely makes him a Rex. Yet Nirvana does not reign alone.
Joining his father-uncle-grandpappy-second cousin twice removed, or whatever, in suite E, Polaroid is vying for the right to rule from under blankets and assorted other bedding and linens. Oh, he does love to come out from the beneaths! Overneath is especially wonderful when human hands are present to scritch the exactly right itchy spot.
It did take Polaroid a hiccup and a bit to acclimate to his relocation from the suite of the extremely undersocialized cats whence he came. But, now, he is all in for enrichment activities and the attention that accompanies them…and the treats…and the fish mush.
Always the fish mush.
Somewhat more shy, but no less royal, Cobalt shares Polaroid’s dark grey curly undercoat that is all the fur that either of them has on display. Fancy purple robes would not make Cobalt even a hint more regal. When it suits him, a person will be received formally, yet warmly, then more warmly still. With the statuesque stature of a statue of the Egyptian goddess Bastet, Cobalt is thoroughly Rex through and through. As with his host of relatives, if the fur isn’t a clue, his magnificently proportioned ears tell a convincing tail tale.
But are these beautifully regal felines really Rex relatives? Based on the evidence, educated guesses lean towards possibly/probably/definitely/maybe/sure/why not. Actual recognized Rex breeds include German, Selkirk, Devon, and Cornish. But, there is no tracing the precise ancestry of the apparent-Rexes that are melting hearts all over the ark that Jonathan built. Interestingly (and having no real bearing on any of the above), there is a relatively new breed called the Tennessee Rex. This breed is often referred to as T-Rex.
Therefore, the proposal herein is henceforth to refer to any and all Tabby’s Place cats that have appearances and behaviors that are similar to those seen in any Rex breed as Catasaurus Rex.
That’ll be C-Rex to friends and family.
And, we are all friends and family here…just like the cats.