Gingered Cat Dream

The video represents my autumn 2018 sessions of recording Ginger, a calico cat that probably inspired my recent vivid dream earlier this month.

The Vivid Dream

The dream cat was a small, whitish kitten, later looking larger and not so young--its left side looking tawny, its right side very reddish brown.

Initially, his/her appearance started out as a slender kitten, seemingly docile, not skittish, yet reserved in its approach toward me as I cautiously approached him/her. The dream shifted to a stack of newspapers I'd retrieved for a neighbor. Having ditched a few daily papers, I decided to save the 5" diameter Sunday paper for later lollygagging over.

The cat came back into the dream, this time no longer a teeny kitten, but maybe three times larger. I stroked it from head to tail on the tawny side; it then turned around to display its dark-fur side for me to stroke. I cooed it with "I bet you've owned a few people over time."

My significant other came into view. I told him I wanted to feed the cat. I perused a name--Ginger. It wasn't exactly a ginger, and wasn't a calico. I said, "Let's feed it." I pulled out my container of milk. I looked for tuna. Ginger patiently waited, as if it knew patience was the socially correct behavior to exhibit.

The Dream as Mishmash of Events

I awoke from the dream, wondering how I wove it. The dream seemed a mishmash of some events, both recent and long-ago:

• Encountering dog-owner walkers whose dogs were varying sizes, breeds, and colors (more details below)
• Encountering real-life Ginger (friendly calico cat) (more details below)
• Loosely arranging newspapers retrieved while a neighbor on out-of-area trips
• Searching for a pouch of tuna to feed Ginger (actual tuna search on the previous day)

Dog Walkers' Dogs

Maybe I integrated recent encounterings with some dog owners walking their dogs of various colorations. One owner someone walks three of his smallish dogs, two that had similar dark colors for my dream cat. I'd kiddingly call out "Mush!" as they approached or passed by us. Some other dog owners walked dogs of various breeds, sizes, fur types (short, longish, curliness), and fur colors.

Real-life Ginger Encounter (Friendly Calico Cat)

I met a real-life Ginger in fall of 2018. Back then, I uploaded "Eye-caught Snippet, Calico (male, I've been told)".

Four September 2018 "captures", each about a week apart. Friendly enough to snuggle up to my ankles."

For my blog item video, I revisited the original clips from September 2018, editing it anew, and also adding encounters from October and December. For my title page and thumbnail, I pasted some images that somewhat resemble my dream cat Ginger (not an artist), and the real Ginger.

Cat Resources--Mainly Calico and Tortoiseshell

While poking around the web for cats and kittens that resembled my dream Ginger, I also ran across related info. Big takeaway--calico cats are NOT a breed, but color schemes. Calicos are three-color types of cats and can have the colorations across several breeds.

"What Is the History of Calico Cats? Interesting Facts"

Calicos are a coat pattern. There is no such thing as a Calico breed, but there are many breeds that can sport the coloration. ... They are typically white with distinctive patches of black and orange of varying degrees.

"10 Types of Tortoiseshell Cats (With Info & Pictures)"

the word “tortoiseshell” refers to a distinctive color-patterned coat. The bi-colored coats look like the shell of a tortoise, hence the name, and their appearance is similar to a Calico. ... Color combinations are often black and orange, and some have red, ginger, or chocolate mixed into the coat. ... Calicos typically have white mixed in with the fur, whereas a tortie will not.

"Tortoiseshell Cat: Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts"

Tortoiseshell and calico cats resemble each other with their multi-colored patterns. However, there is one significant difference. The latter has the same mix but on a white background. Otherwise, you’ll see the same group of colors, from cream to orange to black—and everything in between! If a tortoiseshell cat has a tabby pattern, people call them torbies.

Other variations ... mosaic, which is a mix of a bunch of colors all over the cat. A pet with a chimera pattern has one shade on one side and another on the other side. You’ll find both long-haired and short-haired kittens.

"Tri-color Cats: Tortoiseshell, Calico, and Everything In Between!"

>calico” and “tortoiseshell” refer to coat patterns, not breeds. These color combinations are the result of genetics and can appear in any breed, though they are more commonly found in breeds like American Shorthair, British Shorthair, Japanese Bobtail, Maine Coon, and Persian. ... A “tortico” is a combination of classic tortie and calico markings, featuring large patches of orange and black brindling on a white background."

"What Is a Chimera Cat? Genetics & Traits Explained"

A chimera cat is a feline whose cells contain two distinct sets of DNA, resulting from the fusion of two embryos in the womb, making it one of nature's most fascinating genetic phenomena. ... chimerism involves two separate zygotes combining into one individual.

"Two-faced and chimera cats – what causes this striking phenomenon?"

calico and tortoiseshell cats are not the same as chimeras, even if they have similar markings. ... some tortoiseshell cats are mosaics. This means a single fertilized egg resulted in a variety of genetic lines. ...Calicos and tortoiseshells display a wide variety of coat patterns and colors. These may include different colored eyes and “split” faces, but that doesn’t mean they are true chimeras.

In case you're inclined to view videos contrasting calicos and tortoiseshell cats, search for YouTube's "calico vs tortoiseshell cats".