Trinicat Obituary: R.I.P. Tiny Tim

Photo taken by Ian Churnin

 On October 10th, 2010 the well-known and beloved Trinity cat Tiny Tim passed away. This struck the Trinity campus hard and put a damper on the all-campus picnic that occurred later that evening in the celebration of inaugurating the new president of Trinity.

Most recent reports state that the mange that Tiny Tim was being treated for in recent years had come back and likely played a role in his passing. However, Tiny Tim undoubtedly lived a long, happy, relaxing life. Considering his condition, his life could have been taken many years sooner had it not been for the courageous acts of Trinity University to take care of their own in their time of need.

Tiny Tim loved the simple things in life, was wise beyond his years, and in the end will be loved and missed dearly. His place and role on the Trinity campus will never be filled as he will not be forgotten.

Today I spotted Orange, Tiny Tim's apprentice, walking along Tiny Tim's tennis court storage roof. I could tell that she was sad and confused as to where her friend was. It is her initiative now to guard Tiny Tim's former domain and make use of all that she has learned from him while she was in his great presence.

R.I.P. Tiny Tim, you are in a better place now. I know I will miss you every time I walk back to my dorm from class and pass your infamous spot on campus.

Tiny Tim 2 by Ian Churnin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Friends of Tiny Tim

Trinicat Profile
Name: Orange
Location: Storch Tennis Courts
Features:Orange Tabby, average build, thrill-seeking but shy

Photo taken by Ian Churnin

Yeah I know, Orange is not the most original name for an orange cat, but it just works. Orange is one of Tiny Tim's close feline friends. They share the same domain and do not squabble about territory. Orange is very accepting and does not judge Tiny Tim on his appearance, but can see the inner beauty that Tiny Tim possesses. Orange actually looks up to Tiny Tim and understands that Tiny is very wise. I have often spotted these two cats laying or sitting right next to each other, and have even seen them sharing a bowl of food together. Orange is a younger cat, an with youth comes that dare-devil attitude. One time I saw Orange with her back feet on the tennis court storage building and her front feet on a tree branch. As you may guess, Orange is an excellent climber. However, if you are not the one feeding this cat, she is likely going to shy away, as Tiny TIm's shyness has appeared to rub off on her.

Trinicat Profile
Name: Olivia Twist
Location: Storch Tennis Courts
Features:Calico, black back with orange spots, white face, chest and paws, mischievous

Permission of use by Karen Totino

Olivia Twist was originally called Oliver, you know, the famous poor orphan boy. However, I was informed by my mother that calico cats are usually females; hence, the name change. Olivia Twist is one of the newest additions to the Trinity campus. My girlfriend and I first spotted her in a large drainage pipe, not too far from the tennis courts. This first sighting inspired the name, as she was a very young cat who was spotted scavenging through the campus slums, likely looking for a morsel of food. Olivia is also a rather mischievous cat, just check out the video below to see her attempting to sneak up on Orange. When you are a poor orphan cat, sometimes you have to resort to mugging your peers (Orange) to get by. However, despite Olivia's best efforts, her attempt to ambush Orange failed. As you may have also noticed in the video, Olivia does tend to hang out with Tiny Tim as well. And despite how it may look, she typically does get along well with Orange too. Olivia is a rather active young cat so she is usually on the move. So if you are lucky enough to spot her, cherish the moment and give her a holler.  

Orange by Ian Churnin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Olivia, Orange & Tiny Tim by Ian Churnin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Shadow

Trinicat Profile
Name: Shadow
Location: Isabel walkway
Features: Medium build, dark gray fur, bent short left ear, bronze eyes, some matted fur

Photo taken by Ian Churnin

Photo taken by Karen Totino

Shadow is Bearington "Bear" Cat's neighboring feline friend. The only Trinicat that is brave enough to be in the presence of the goliath of a cat that Bear is. Shadow can often be located by her voice, and is said to be the most vocal of all the Trinity cats. If she sees a Trinity student, her first reaction is to call them over for some loving affection. If it were not for her loud and high-pitched meow, Shadow would be very difficult to find. As her name suggests, her beautiful coat camouflages well with all kinds of shadows (as seen in the photos above).

As mentioned earlier, Shadow can often be found in the same area that Bear roams; however,she has also been spotted in areas as far away as the lower-campus Trinity pool parking lot. So always keep your ears pinned for her voice, for she may be lurking near. If you don't mind touching a few patches of matted fur, then give her a good petting, you will surely make her day. You will know if she likes you because you will be followed by both her physical and vocal presence. Since we have now introduced you to Bear's sole companion, next time be ready to learn all about the friends of Tiny Tim!


Shadow by Ian Churnin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Tiny Tim

Trinicat Profile
Name: Tiny Tim
Location: Storch Tennis Courts
Features: Small build, bony, long gray fur, very shy, serious demeanor

Photo taken by Ian Churnin

Many people may recognize the name Tiny Tim from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", who was a very ill young boy who despite all of his misfortunes in life, was remarkable gracious and had one of the biggest hearts. It is not a coincidence that the Trinity cat who can most often be found sitting in between Storch and the tennis courts has this name, he shares many of those same characteristics as the little boy in that classic tale. The story goes that our Tiny Tim too had an unfortunate skin disease; however, unlike the little boy, he was lucky enough to receive treatment. The effect of this treatment led to a some loss in hair. Considering that his hair was already pretty thin and his bony stature, many shied away from this poor feline. His serious facial expressions as he observes Trinity students led to many circulating rumors. Such rumors include being possessed, evil, or even a zombie cat, but these are just silly presumptions that have no validity. Tiny Tim has a heart of gold and is just a little misunderstood.

The first time I saw Tiny Tim was last year, as I spotted him crawling out of a drainage pipe coming from the tennis courts. As you might expect, I was shocked and a little disturbed by what I saw. I had to ask myself, "What did I just see?" But as I became more familiar with Tiny Tim, I had discovered his unfortunate history. I also found out that he is a veteran Trinity cat, having been here as early as 2005. But don't fret too much about his lack of fur, his fur is longer than ever now as he continues to recover from what once was a terrible sickness. In the end, Tiny Tim is a wonderful cat who enjoys the simple things in life, like sleeping, eating, watching tennis, and scaring freshman. He is grateful for everyday and everyone around him. So next time you pass by him, don't be scared or worried, just smile and say "Hey Tiny Tim!" because despite his shyness, he loves the attention.

Tiny Tim by Ian Churnin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Bearington Cat

Trinicat Profile
Name: Bearington "Bear" Cat
Location: Isabel/South Walkway
Features: Large build, brown Tabby, tail full of prickly seeds, very friendly

Permission of use by Karen Totino

For my first blog entry, I chose to talk about one of the most recent Trinity stray cats that I have had the pleasure of meeting. Bearington Cat, who goes by Bear or Bear Cat, is the largest of the cats that I have encountered in my 2-plus years at Trinity. Don't get me wrong, he is not an overweight cat, but appears to descend from a larger breed of feline. His unique size and demeanor is the origin of his name, as he is definitely a "Bear" of a cat. Do not be fooled, Bear is not a ferocious creature nor one to fear; he is the most outgoing cat on campus in my opinion. He loves being pet and talked to and will embrace the hand of anyone who passes by. One unique characteristic of bear Cat is his tail, which is full of tiny prickly seeds that he lays in throughout the day. The reason for this hoarding of prickly seeds is currently unknown, but some believe he uses his armored tail as a weapon when hunting unsuspecting vermin.
 

Karen and Bear

I first met Bear Cat this year, when my girlfriend and I were walking from her dorm (Isabel) to mine (Lightner). There he was, lounging on the walkway, making his presence known. But unlike most of the cats on campus, Bear showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, bear heard our greetings and sauntered over to us, walking figure-eights around us as we pet him. Once it was time to make our way, Bear decided to keep us company, walking with us nearly all the way to the Lightner door. Our friendship with Bear has only grown since, in fact, just last night Bear was nice enough to sit in my girlfriend's lap as we pet him (see photo on right). Bear is a fantastic cat and if you are lucky enough to cross his path, your day will definitely be brightened.



Bear & Karen by Ian Churnin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.