Watchcats on break XXXIV

A veterinary worker once said it wouldn't have surprised her to hear Watchcat Rosie say, "I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille."

As scores of Rosie photos on this blog prove, that's an accurate summary of Rosie's penchant for being camera-ready.

Watchcats on break XXXIII

Occasionally, Watchcat Rosie would walk up to me and put a paw on my foot.  I'm still not sure if she did this to prevent me from wandering into a potentially unsafe area of her assigned sector or if she just wanted to immobilize me on principle.

Watchcats on break XXXII

For the longest time, getting Watchcat Sammy to meow when I recorded video of him was a challenge.  As soon as I stopped recording after several minutes of silence, Sammy would start meowing up a storm.  Occasionally, I was lucky enough to capture footage of him speaking.  Often, however, I felt like I had to put asterisks on videos I'd filmed, such as, "After I stopped recording, Sammy let out a triumphant, elongated 'Meowwwwww!' before sprinting across the room," "Just before I recorded this, Sammy squealed excitedly while zeroing in on birds in a tree," or "Right after I stopped filming, Sammy set up a lectern and recited the Gettysburg Address."

To be honest, I might just have imagined that last scenario.

Watchcats on break XXXI

Thunderstorms often rattle Watchcat Collette.  Two thunderstorms ago, I could tell she was unnerved, so I crawled under her hiding place and offered her two toy mice to play with.  It did my heart good to see her start kicking both mice vigorously.

That routine will likely be necessary again today.  In fact, given all the rain we've already had this morning, I wish I could offer Collette some toy mice retroactively.

Watchcats on break XXX

Before sitting down at the kitchen table, it's advisable for me to feed Watchcat Collette first.  If I dare to eat before feeding her, she'll look at me as if to say, "Your priorities are incorrect.  Now, to show you how disappointed I am, I'm going to scratch the back door instead of using my scratching post."

I always get up before she's too far along in sharpening her claws and feed her.  You'd think I'd have internalized this inevitable sequence of events by now. 

Watchcats on break XXIX

Considering how often Watchcat Collette has sat in the living room window for more than six years, it's puzzling that my brother has never seen her there when driving by.  One recent afternoon, Collette jumped out of the window--just as I saw a white car that could have been my brother's turn onto my street.  I thought, "It wouldn't surprise me if Collette timed her exit that way.  Apparently, she's determined to retain some degree of mystery--or defiance."

Watchcats on break XXVIII

Last night, as I pulled into my parking space, I saw a ghostly apparition pacing back and forth in the living room window.  Was it an end-of-the-world omen or a spirit instructed to walk me through my past?

No.  It was Watchcat Collette, keeping tabs on the street.  It was reassuring to know that the most threatening behavior I could expect from her was biting my feet--and she didn't feel up to doing that last night.