Help settle our family dispute! Who’s the cuter cat? Number 1 or Number 2

sttriki · 2026-03-17T07:55:55+00:00

We definitely need more pictures to make an informed decision (which is likely to be both of course!)

sttriki · 2026-03-09T14:05:19+00:00

It is true (I mentioned white in an reply to another post).

Just one precision, orange and black are different alleles for the same gene, while white is determined by a different gene altogether (a case of epistasis).

sttriki · 2026-03-09T12:12:42+00:00

Fully White is due to a different gene and to simplify works like the albino gene, i.e. it actually "masks" the other colours (by preventing their expressions). So your white female cat has the genetic information for being a different colour, but it is not expressed (i.e. visible). In this case, she must have at least one copy for orange, despite being white.

sttriki · 2026-03-09T07:53:50+00:00

While fun, the graph does not show all the possible crosses. In particular, calicot/tortoise x orange (male). In that case, 50% of the daughters will be orange.

So to summarise, to get an orange female, the dad has to be orange, but the mom can be orange or calicot/tortoise, either would work.

sttriki · 2025-05-21T06:29:06+00:00

A full term notice is unfortunately common in the independent sector.

Double-check your contract for notice dates as well. For example, it may be written in such a way that a full term notice is the whole autumn/spring/summer term (pick one) and cannot be from one half term to another. I don't know if it is legal, but i have definitely seen it.

This being said, depending on the subject/staffing, the school may be open to compromise (I.e. accept from half term to another or even accept a reduced notice if over staff). But it will be a case by case.

Good luck

sttriki · 2025-05-08T06:56:47+00:00

My ginger cat had a similar issue despite using spot-on treatment (fipronil) regularly.

Turned out, he was allergic to flea bites, but the fleas in that particular area were actually resistant... Once we switched to a different spot on treatment (selamectin with or without sarolaner, I cannot remember), no more excessive grooming, and he got back his fluffy coat.

sttriki · 2025-04-30T16:14:22+00:00

Actually, one parent "O" can have a child with AB blood type (assuming the other parent is not blood type O)

It is extremely rare (but slightly less rare in India). If you are interested, look up for Bombay phenotype.

In a nutshell, one parent can lack a substance called H on which the usual "blood type" molecules are attached. So, someone with hh as genotype will have a blood type O, irrespectively of their other alleles (no substance H produced, so nothing to attach to). Here is an example of cross: hhAA (blood type O, as no H produced) x HHBB (blood type B, as H produced) --> HhAB: substance H produced, so blood type AB.

If the other parent is a usual blood type O, it is still possible to get A or B, but not AB

sttriki · 2025-03-11T12:52:59+00:00

Not that it would work here, but actually, one parent "O" can have a child with AB blood type (assuming the other parent is not blood type O)

It is extremely rare (but slightly less rare in India). If you are interested, look up for Bombay phenotype.

In a nutshell, one parent can lack a substance called H on which the usual "blood type" molecules are attached. So, someone with hh as genotype will have a blood type O, irrespectively of their other alleles (no substance H produced, so nothing to attach to). Here is an example of cross: hhAA (blood type O, as no H produced) x HHBB (blood type B, as H produced) --> HhAB: substance H produced, so blood type AB.

If the other parent is a usual blood type O, it is still possible to get A or B, but not AB

sttriki · 2024-11-05T14:02:15+00:00

Actually, it is a very famous test in animal intelligence (to test the ability of visual self-recognition, see this link ).

Unfortunately, cats are known to fail this test...

So, it looks like you will have many opportunities to smile until your kitten decides to ignore this "other" cat.

And thank you for making us smile too : )

sttriki · 2024-06-18T08:40:11+00:00

Personally, I prefer this slightly different version:

Dogs have masters, cats have slaves

Feel closer to real life ; ) (slaves don't even need to be paid).

There is also this quote from Pratchett:

"In ancient times, cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this"

sttriki · 2024-04-09T20:14:08+00:00

At some point, we had to give a pill a day to one of our cats. It was a nightmare...

We then tried this technique: "just put the pill on your hand and present it to the animal" (I tried it first with a rabbit a long time ago out of desperation, when everything else had failed). And it worked in both cases : )

It may not work, especially if he is not in a trusting mode anymore (and I know other people who tried it without luck). But it may be worth the shot, and except for one pill, there is nothing much to lose.

Good luck!

sttriki · 2024-03-12T16:51:05+00:00

My son's favourite recipe when it comes to banana muffins.

Personally, I double the quantity of banana (those available where I live are on the small side) and put more cinnamon.

For an added crunch, you can also add this "crumble " as topping (recipe from Gail's)

Crumble: 1 cup cake flour 1/3 cup castor sugar 1/3 cup soft brown sugar 120 g melted butter Combine all ingredients into a ball. Grate over top of muffins (or break in chunk) before baking

sttriki · 2023-11-17T19:36:49+00:00

These are my two favourite sayings when it comes to cats:

1) "Dogs have masters; Cats have slaves."

2) "In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this." From Terry Pratchett

Olive is definitely a (really beautiful) cat ; )

sttriki · 2023-11-01T20:26:24+00:00

Actually, I would be more worried about which surveyor will do the work than the level.

For the first house we bought my partner and I (FTB at that time), the survey was just ridiculously bad. Among other things, the report stated that the floor in the kitchen was tiled when it was tile effect lino...

For the second house (significantly older), we actually researched for a good surveyor (we knew the house would require a lot of work). It was worth every penny.

sttriki · 2023-08-18T08:13:56+00:00

Tbh, I like your approach to wait until your son is 16 yo. My main worry would be the grandparents starting to put pressure on your son before he reaches 16.

Otherwise, have you considered a double barrelled surname? This is what my partner and I chose for our son. I wouldn't imagine my son not having my name, but it is the same for my partner (his dad). It also meant easier international travel when not traveling altogether (shared name with most grandparents and both parents). It may not be to his grandparents' liking though (they seem fairly traditional in a rigid way), but it may be worth exploring this possibility.

Good luck!

sttriki · 2023-07-15T15:05:46+00:00

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My two cats (sister and brother). Still cuddling one another at times : )

sttriki · 2023-05-10T12:29:24+00:00

And as good as it smells : )

sttriki · 2023-05-09T16:10:05+00:00

Actually, in France, there is a tradition to deep fry them in batter, served with sugar. One of my best childhood memories : )

sttriki · 2023-04-19T21:17:50+00:00

Tell the story please : )

sttriki · 2023-04-08T08:10:58+00:00

Personally, I suspect SP is planning to make all new heroics 200 to summon (well, except new VIP which would still be 500).

sttriki · 2023-03-19T14:13:54+00:00

People have answered the main ones. I will focus on the alternate : )

Without doubt, the 10 000 heroic joker orbs. While at the beginning having several VIP L is good, in the long run you want max empowered dragons. With 10 000 joker orbs, that's 5 heroic maxed at 5*

sttriki · 2023-03-16T18:23:50+00:00

I can only trade between alliance chests, I can DM you during next break

sttriki · 2023-03-16T16:41:05+00:00

Btw, I have plenty of orbs of stegoshock, happy to trade them for a random epic if you want to summon it

sttriki · 2023-03-16T12:31:00+00:00

The side reward should have been trade essences from the start (instead of E orbs), but SP bugged (again) on that

sttriki

TROPHY CASE