It May Be A Different Breed Of Cat

Hey, Johnston: I am 13 years old and was wondering whether, because different species of cats can interbreed and create "mixed" species, there could be a time when the original species will no longer exist?

Answer: You know, Geoffrey, when Mr. Johnston was 13 years old, he used to think of other things than the interbreeding of cats. But because you took the time to nicely type your letter, we took the time to find an answer for you.

Yes, it is possible for a cat species to breed itself out of existence - but not very likely. A male cat won't ask a female cat for her papers before breeding, and that breeding will mix up the species. A cat will also breed among its own family and this will pass along undesirable flaws, much like some humans in certain parts of this country.

But it's unlikely a feline breed will disappear unless civilization itself collapses and cat lovers don't care anymore. There are clubs to make sure a certain breed will stay around forever. Even if a breed disappears, those genes are passed through other generations of cats and the breed might be brought back. You must have seen "Jurassic Park" and the new line of dinosaur they're bringing back.

Not only are feline breeds staying around, but cat lovers are adding to the species. They recently created a cat called a "Rag Doll" out of different makes of cat. But if you don't think it's possible for a line of cat to disappear, try remembering the last time you saw a saber-toothed tiger.

Hey, Johnston: What are they doing with the building on the corner of 108th and Northup Way that used to be Pica Petes and before that Bravo and before that the Velvet Turtle? They're tearing it up and we're curious.

Answer: The Velvet Turtle?!? You have to go back to the Disco and Hep Cat eras in Bellevue to remember the Velvet Turtle. That building was put up by a California hep-cat firm in the '70s and that should be enough said right there, but we will continue.

The place went through a bunch of owners until a few months ago, when it was purchased by Fresh Start Restaurants. They got a permit to tear out some walls and windows, but when they got inside the walls, they discovered the California firm didn't put in weather barriers. These are things that protect the building from the rain. In California, it's not big deal to forget them; in the Northwest it is a Big Deal. Lots of dry rot, lots of work. New permit needed.

Bellevue's building guy, Mike Brennan, says the restaurant company is now thinking about what all this means and are looking at costs.

DEAR READERS: Some people may think we are ignoring them because we're not answering their questions. But there are too many questions and too little space. As Abe Lincoln used to say: You can ignore most of the people most of the time, but you can't ignore all of the people for a very long time. Have patience. We'll get to your questions in time.

How to Just Ask Johnston: This column appears Tuesdays on the Local News cover of the Eastside edition, and Thursdays on the cover of the special Eastside Life section. Leave your questions about any aspect of Eastside life on Steve Johnston's voice mail at 464-8475. Or write: Just Ask Johnston c/o The Seattle Times, Suite 100, 10777 Main St., Bellevue WA 98004.