Not Yet, Roger
July 16, 2023 8:43 AM Subscribe
Really careful....not yet Roger..... Roger! (SLYT 30s). In which a feline friend demonstrates athletic non-prowess.
Roger!
posted by Glinn at 8:55 AM on July 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Glinn at 8:55 AM on July 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
This is what the Internet is supposed to be for
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:01 AM on July 16, 2023 [17 favorites]
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:01 AM on July 16, 2023 [17 favorites]
So when my family were young, we acquired a set of cats without knowing anything about cats. One was tied to our door and the second followed soon after as a companion (because the vet said we should have a pair).
No knowing anything about cats, and both of them being really young and active, we would take them on the family hikes. The cats both hated leads and harnesses so we used to let them off lead and have their own heads. For the most part, this worked really well. They would both follow us along even on wilderness trails.
However one thing that freaked out one of the cats was boardwalks. Julie purely hated water and found board walks over water, even short bridges, freaky as fuck. Even hearing the sound of water lapping under a dock messed her up.
Anyway, we used to love going on a particular hike that went through a muskeg bog (highly recommended if you're in the area). Because of her issues, we used to either carry Julie through the bog portions or have her on leash. One of my brothers was carrying her, and being 7 or 8 at the time wasn't able to hold on to a freaked out cat who suddenly wanted down NOW when she flipped her lid hearing some waves thumping against the underside of the little bridge we were crossing at the time.
So a few things to know. Julie was cross-eyed as I've ever seen in a cat. She couldn't see very well. The bog surface was covered by green duckweed and looked kind of like solid vegetation and perhaps even grass. Finally Julie was roughly shaped like a bowling ball, being both a cat who was soothed by food, and naturally high-strung.
Seeing her chance to get off this cursed bridge we insisted on being on, Julie bee-lined for the shore by scrambling out of my brother's arms and leaping, much like the cat in the vid in the post, directly into the duckweed. It was a glorious leap.
Fortunately, being essentially spherical she floated quite well. Dad had to get wet to the waist to pull her out. We left directly, cutting short the picnic. Duckweed and bog water stank so badly even Charlie, her best friend in the world, refused to groom her. She had to wait for a bath that evening in the kitchen sink. A sadder cat I have never seen.
Julie stayed at home on future trips. She hated travel anyway; that was Charlie cat's thing.
posted by bonehead at 9:05 AM on July 16, 2023 [44 favorites]
No knowing anything about cats, and both of them being really young and active, we would take them on the family hikes. The cats both hated leads and harnesses so we used to let them off lead and have their own heads. For the most part, this worked really well. They would both follow us along even on wilderness trails.
However one thing that freaked out one of the cats was boardwalks. Julie purely hated water and found board walks over water, even short bridges, freaky as fuck. Even hearing the sound of water lapping under a dock messed her up.
Anyway, we used to love going on a particular hike that went through a muskeg bog (highly recommended if you're in the area). Because of her issues, we used to either carry Julie through the bog portions or have her on leash. One of my brothers was carrying her, and being 7 or 8 at the time wasn't able to hold on to a freaked out cat who suddenly wanted down NOW when she flipped her lid hearing some waves thumping against the underside of the little bridge we were crossing at the time.
So a few things to know. Julie was cross-eyed as I've ever seen in a cat. She couldn't see very well. The bog surface was covered by green duckweed and looked kind of like solid vegetation and perhaps even grass. Finally Julie was roughly shaped like a bowling ball, being both a cat who was soothed by food, and naturally high-strung.
Seeing her chance to get off this cursed bridge we insisted on being on, Julie bee-lined for the shore by scrambling out of my brother's arms and leaping, much like the cat in the vid in the post, directly into the duckweed. It was a glorious leap.
Fortunately, being essentially spherical she floated quite well. Dad had to get wet to the waist to pull her out. We left directly, cutting short the picnic. Duckweed and bog water stank so badly even Charlie, her best friend in the world, refused to groom her. She had to wait for a bath that evening in the kitchen sink. A sadder cat I have never seen.
Julie stayed at home on future trips. She hated travel anyway; that was Charlie cat's thing.
posted by bonehead at 9:05 AM on July 16, 2023 [44 favorites]
I get the feeling Roger HATES being on the raft.
posted by mmrtnt at 9:39 AM on July 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by mmrtnt at 9:39 AM on July 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Assume a spherical cat...
posted by Naberius at 9:41 AM on July 16, 2023 [10 favorites]
posted by Naberius at 9:41 AM on July 16, 2023 [10 favorites]
I feel like Roger believes as all cats do that the rules of physics do not apply to him. He is also majestic AF (as floof).
posted by tafetta, darling! at 10:51 AM on July 16, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by tafetta, darling! at 10:51 AM on July 16, 2023 [7 favorites]
I found Roger at TikTok. She's a girl cat! And an excellent swimmer.
posted by Miss Cellania at 11:26 AM on July 16, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by Miss Cellania at 11:26 AM on July 16, 2023 [7 favorites]
I was glad to see from the tiktok that Roger does own a pet lifejacket, which she should wear more often!
posted by tavella at 11:44 AM on July 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by tavella at 11:44 AM on July 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Had I been told this story in person sans the accompanying YouTube video, I might have bet Roger was either a Maine Coon or Norwegian Forest cat -- as it it is, the jury is still out for me on Roger regarding this matter as my research has revealed both breeds come in more colors and patterns than I realized.
posted by y2karl at 11:47 AM on July 16, 2023
posted by y2karl at 11:47 AM on July 16, 2023
Cats carefully calculating their jumps and totally faceplanting is kind of a guilty pleasure for me... Mostly it just hurts their dignity, though, so I don't know how guilty I should be.
posted by Harald74 at 12:22 PM on July 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Harald74 at 12:22 PM on July 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
An attempt was made.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 1:15 PM on July 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 1:15 PM on July 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
It's okay, Roger... come back here...
posted by humbug at 2:02 PM on July 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by humbug at 2:02 PM on July 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Thanks so much for finding the original video, Miss Cellania. I tried but couldn't.
To the Mods, could you replace the link in the FPP with the now-discovered original one:
https://www.tiktok.com/@svphoenixstudio/video/7249157372789296430
I'd like to give credit where credit is due.
posted by storybored at 7:43 PM on July 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
To the Mods, could you replace the link in the FPP with the now-discovered original one:
https://www.tiktok.com/@svphoenixstudio/video/7249157372789296430
I'd like to give credit where credit is due.
posted by storybored at 7:43 PM on July 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
It appears that a mod did replace that link, but the FPP still says "SLYT", and it's not a Youtube link anymore :) I'm in huge agreement with going to the proper source and providing proper credit, but personally I will also not click on TikTok links, sooooo ... Here's a Youtube search that probably provides that video in one of the first search results. Lots of reposts / reworks about two weeks ago.
posted by intermod at 5:29 AM on July 17, 2023
posted by intermod at 5:29 AM on July 17, 2023
I’ve been watching this clip frequently and sending it to friends since it made the rounds a few weeks ago and as soon as I read the words I heard her slightly exasperated mom’s voice. “Roger!”
Also, another girl kitty with a boy’s name who likes to swim: Nathan the Beach Cat!
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:05 AM on July 17, 2023
Also, another girl kitty with a boy’s name who likes to swim: Nathan the Beach Cat!
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:05 AM on July 17, 2023
The exasperated mom's voice makes that video pop! Also Roger's butterfly technique.
posted by storybored at 7:41 AM on July 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by storybored at 7:41 AM on July 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
I came in to say "Needs more grouchy soggy post-dive Roger" and am pleased to report that the TikTok link posted by Miss Cellania does provide.
posted by doift at 9:53 PM on July 17, 2023
posted by doift at 9:53 PM on July 17, 2023
Recently I had the enormous fortune of getting to sail around Vancouver Island with an old friend. If you ever get the chance, go there, it's a national, and global ecological treasure.
Anyways I lived on his boat for 16 days and he has 2 giant 17lb boat cats, who live with him on land when he's not sailing. They are such a delightful addition to a boat. When we were under sail, in sea swells, or in bad weather, they would crawl under a duvet in one of the two berths and act like little hot water bottles when you came belowdecks to warm up.
When we stopped to anchor they would come up on deck and lounge in the sun, watching bald eagles and crows fly over head, and sniffing the air. One of them likes to hide on the canvas dodger and attack your head when you're coming up from belowdecks. At night, when you just want to get warm, they'd crawl under the covers again and purr. It was a lifesaver during the colder nights.
These cats had emergency vests and were not permitted on deck during sail movement. One of them has fallen in once, and otherwise they are wise to the cold waters of northern BC and avoid it. We were mainly concerned with an enterprising eagle trying out a new meal source.
When we came into port at Tofino my friend had Roger come across his feed, and we watched it so many times while laughing. Boat cats, so long as they like the boatlife and are kept away from the wildlife, are a great addition to any vessel.
posted by robot-hugs at 2:01 PM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
Anyways I lived on his boat for 16 days and he has 2 giant 17lb boat cats, who live with him on land when he's not sailing. They are such a delightful addition to a boat. When we were under sail, in sea swells, or in bad weather, they would crawl under a duvet in one of the two berths and act like little hot water bottles when you came belowdecks to warm up.
When we stopped to anchor they would come up on deck and lounge in the sun, watching bald eagles and crows fly over head, and sniffing the air. One of them likes to hide on the canvas dodger and attack your head when you're coming up from belowdecks. At night, when you just want to get warm, they'd crawl under the covers again and purr. It was a lifesaver during the colder nights.
These cats had emergency vests and were not permitted on deck during sail movement. One of them has fallen in once, and otherwise they are wise to the cold waters of northern BC and avoid it. We were mainly concerned with an enterprising eagle trying out a new meal source.
When we came into port at Tofino my friend had Roger come across his feed, and we watched it so many times while laughing. Boat cats, so long as they like the boatlife and are kept away from the wildlife, are a great addition to any vessel.
posted by robot-hugs at 2:01 PM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
This is what the Internet is supposed to be for
In a just Barbieheimer world.
posted by y2karl at 7:06 AM on July 21, 2023
In a just Barbieheimer world.
posted by y2karl at 7:06 AM on July 21, 2023
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