I’m puzzling about Barney’s ruff. Here’s a picture of him in September of last year, not long after he arrived.
Here’s one of him recently.
Here’s another one, from underneath.
Side-by-side for comparison purposes. Left, September. Right, now.
I swear — clippers had no hand in this. He is untouched by human hands in that regard.
I am thinking of two explanations.
He sheds his big hair for the summer. Or —
He has grown into his more mature self.
We have not been together long enough for me to know which is true. Or maybe both are true.
Time will tell.
I myself like to think of him as an Elizabethan.
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About nadbugs
Anita loves cats. This must be because she, too, has had nine lives. She’s been dancing since she could walk, she was a commercial artist and advertising producer, she earned a third-degree black belt in Aikido, she is a drummer with the Afrique Aya Dance Company, she is an attorney, and she’s a meditator and a devoted student of Nonviolent Communication. She also spent one lifetime sidelined with a devastating back injury in 1992. Since then – FELDENKRAIS METHOD® to the rescue. The FELDENKRAIS METHOD is all about dreaming concretely – thinking intelligently and independently by way of a gracious and kind physicality. The work affords all who study it a process by which to reach, with movement, into the mind and the heart, to make nine lives into one whole being.
Here’s one of him recently.
Here’s another one, from underneath.
Side-by-side for comparison purposes. Left, September. Right, now.
I swear — clippers had no hand in this. He is untouched by human hands in that regard.
He sheds his big hair for the summer. Or —
He has grown into his more mature self.
catself 
I think he just grew into his REAL SELF cuz he knows he has a furrever home now…IMFO
Many of us call it the “floof effect” – see: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9kG2q6JxVJo/UP7Qg2BjbjI/AAAAAAAAA20/ZCbUwj698D4/s1600/2012-12-24+22.52.58.jpg
My Manitou begins to floof out as winter approaches, and continues right through Christmas. Come February, we know spring is coming, as we find “floof-bits” everywhere on the floor. He loathes being brushed (although sometimes it is necessary), so he makes every attempt to remove the knots himself. In summer, he has no ruff at all – and I am pretty sure this indicates some Maine Coon – probably Barney has some in him as well.
Cool, huh?
He is beautiful! I think he has become a happy, well cared for cat who gets good nutrition. My cat Sam was adopted from Animal Control. He is not a long haired cat but his hair was very thin when we got him and now he has a rich, full coat of fur. I think Barney looks the way he was meant to look.
Our BuddyOoop has magnificent floof in winter, but loses it when the weather dictates cooler cladding. He’s so floofy all over that we call him a marshmallow! Then summer comes along and the floof is a dim memory.
Do you skritch his floof and growl-say “Ruff, ruff”?! And then laugh maniacally? Oh, that might be me….
Looks l ike a good home and good food has brought him to his full glory
I think he has grown into his full self. I have trapped feral kittens, had them spayed/neutered and moved them inside. They definitely have Maine Coon in them as they have the floof all of the time now that they are full grown! It took a couple of years for their beautiful coats to completely grow in. I trapped them when they were about 8 weeks old and they will be 5 years old this year!
In the last photo you´re like my Nelson!
I love his new floofy self, and I hope he keeps it all year!
He’s grown into his floofy fur fullness. Most impressive and leonine!
It was quite a magnificient ruff. Maybe he just fancied a change. A feline must retain a little mystery. Well, a lotta mystery, actually.
Leo’s ruff gets much bigger in the winter, along with the rest of his floof increasing. Summer means the feathery like quality of his gorgeous tail disappears, more’s the pity. Depending on Barney’s age, he might not have grown into his full ruff yet combined with it still being warm.. Or perhaps he had been trimmed before you got him? Whichever it is, his ruff is gorgeous!
I love that new look. What a beautiful boy!
I think it is a combination of both – I get decidedly fluffier in the winter, even though our climate is mild here.
Its a very studly-looking ruff. His black chin patch kills me. Look at the difference in the tail floofage too, he is just looking magnicent.
I wonder if when you got him, he was growing out a recently shaved coat? That could explain it as well. But either way, he is a gorgeous fellow!
We vote for big boy fur!
He’s definitely sporting his all-grown-up fur. And it is marvelous fur. He should be quite proud so don’t let it go to his head. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Misty May, Mauricio, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Josette
Definitely an Elizabethan mancat ruff! he is a handsome fella 🙂
He has grown into his mature self 🙂
I’ll bet it is a seasonal thing. By Aug, Sept, my girl has lost almost all of her ruff. By Feb it has grown back in all its magnificence.
I vote for the big boy fur, too. What a magnificent cat he is!
Oh wow, that is a very fluffy ruff!
Either way, he’s gorgeous.
I’d have to say (coming from the perspective of working in animal health) that the fluffy ruff is a sign that he is both mature and now enjoying very good health. Good on you.
I agree with Pussincahoots, above: EIther way, he’s gorgeous!! 😉
Blossoming under your care, obviously.
Him’s a good-looking boy!
I think he has grown into himself too! He looks beautiful with that big ruff!