Watchcats on break XLVIII

Watchcat Sylvia used to hide in a hard-to-reach spot under a desk.  Initially, I could lure her out by throwing a toy mouse to her.  As time went on, however, she wouldn't emerge until I threw two toy mice to her.  Then, it became four mice, and...the price kept going up.  Eventually, when I threw just one or two toy mice her way, she'd peer out and then dart back under the desk to convey, "Nope.  Not enough mice." 

I was relieved when Sylvia finally stopped hiding under the desk.  If our routine had progressed any further, I might have had to throw 28 toy mice her way, in four alternating rows of seven gray mice and seven white mice.  Even if I had done that, Sylvia might still have peered out and retreated quickly, meowing as if to say, "Sorry, but those rows aren't quite symmetrical enough."

I guess we all have our standards. 

Watchcats on break XLVII

Usually, when Jackson Browne's song, "Stay/The Load-Out," comes to mind, I replace one lyric of it mentally.  Instead of "And the union don't mind," I think of it as, "And the cat will not mind," or "And Collette will not mind."

It amuses me that even in a dream, I want to make sure I have my watchcat's permission before imploring anyone to stay longer.

Watchcats on break XLVI

An '80s memory: I remember being startled the first time I saw Watchcat Rusty walking around on top of the wardrobe in the room where I practiced the bass.  I thought, "Even for a cat, that's an awfully high perch."  I was even more surprised the first time I saw Rusty start prancing around on the wardrobe in a routine unique to him.  I thought, "I never expected to see that, but that's a well-done impression of a horse."

Just when I thought I'd seen everything, a watchcat reminded he that he had layers.

Watchcats on break XLV

On my other blog today, I recommended William Bolcom's piano piece, "Tabby Cat Walk."  I wrote that I could imagine Watchcat Collette washing her fur in time to it.  I doubt, however, that she would walk in time to it.  The rhythm doesn't lend itself to her natural walking pace, and even if it did, I think she'd still refrain from walking to it, just to be contrarian.

As you might expect, watchcats are often impervious to the power of suggestion.

Watchcat protocol MMDCXXXIV

On June 22, 2026, Watchcat Collette stood on her pulpit and decreed, "Hear ye!  Hear ye!  All marauders must disperse now:"

Impressively, her strategy worked.  Who knew that a watchcat's proclamation could be so successful? 

Watchcat protocol MMDCXXXIII

When you have to spend hours on end at your guard post, why shouldn't it be a comfy blanket?

 That was Watchcat Lily's reasoning on June 21, 2026.

Watchcats on break XLIV

In his later years, Watchcat Sammy would let out a loud, "Meowwwwwwwww!" before ascending the small staircase to the sofa.  I'd ask, "What's it all about, Sammy?"  He'd sometimes respond with a loud meow, although not as often when I was recording video of him.

"Well, here we are," I'd tell Sammy.  "We're two old men grousing about the state of the world."

In retrospect, I'd like to think we were mostly commenting on things instead of complaining about them.