Watchcat protocol CCLXXXVIII

A watchcat should be able to take the day off on the 11th anniversary of her adoption:

Sylvia is doing that today.  Proxy Sylvia kindly agreed to fill in.

Watchcat protocol CCLXXXVII

As long as your proxy watchcat doesn't mind, it's permissible for a watchcat to use her as a chin rest during slow times:

Summer 2017: Watchcat Sylvia rests her chin on Proxy Sylvia.

Watchcat protocol CCLXXXVI

There's nothing like the feeling of getting to the end of your watchcat patrol shift, stepping out of your assigned cabinet vantage point, and feeling the satisfaction of a job well done.  That's what I hear from Watchcat Lily:

Watchcat protocol CCLXXXV

Want to make sure no one walks off with the Metro section of your newspaper?  Ask a watchcat to guard it:

September 2006: Watchcat Rosie makes sure the Metro section stays quarantined for her household subscribers.

"Oh, person of limited faith..."

I'm not sure what this says about me, but I'm always a little surprised when I replace a light bulb and the new bulb lights up immediately.

Watchcat protocol CCLXXXIV

Need someone to guard areas where a human being would be cramped and too conspicuous?  Hire a watchcat:

Watchcat Sammy guards his assigned sector in April 2006.

Watchcat protocol CCLXXXIII

Proxy watchcats provide valuable functions.  When a watchcat is feeling down, the proxy watchcat provides consolation:

When a watchcat needs a nap break, the proxy watchcat guards the watchcat's assigned sector:

Proxy Sylvia provided these functions considerately for Watchcat Sylvia in late 2017.

Watchcat protocol CCLXXXII

In Spring 2012, Watchcat Headquarters asked Sylvia to guard a cat toy:

Being a cat, however, she couldn't resist playing with the toy:

Watchcats are still cats, after all.

Watchcat protocol CCLXXXI

Every so often, Watchcat Headquarters hosts a watchcat summit.  Watchcats Lily and Sylvia attended today's seminar and listened to each other's ideas about guard tactics:

By all accounts, it was an enlightening meeting.

Watchcat protocol CCLXXX

After a recent bout of vertigo, Watchcat Sylvia wisely notified Watchcat Headquarters:

The powers that be allowed Proxy Sylvia and a watchmouse to finish Sylvia's shift.

Watchcat protocol CCLXXIX

I'm not sure when or why intruders would ever skulk under the bed, but in case they do, Watchcat Lily is ready for them:

Watchcat protocol CCLXXVIII

Watchcat Headquarters usually has a reason for assigning two watchcats to the same sector.  I don't know what the reason was in this recent case, however.  Nevertheless, Sylvia concentrated on the lower half of the living room while her proxy watchcat looked straight ahead:

Only in college XIV

Following up on yesterday's post:

What do you do when an overly forward ad sheet hawker insists that you take an ad sheet?  If you're one person from my dorm, you accept the ad sheet, say, "Thank you," and, upon spotting someone from your dorm nearby, immediately hand it to him, saying, "Andrew, ad sheet?!  I don't want it."

I accepted the ad sheet.  After all, it's part of what being a good human is all about.

Only in college XIII

There was one common experience to which everyone who went to my college in the early '90s could relate.  It wasn't attending a football game, taking a particular class, or living in a dorm.  If you were on campus and knew what was good for you, you took an ad sheet when the insistent hawker on campus offered you one.

"AD SHEET?!" he'd ask, while nearly hitting you in the head with it.

You weren't obligated to use the ad sheet's coupons for local businesses, but you were essentially obligated to at least take the ad sheet.

Watchcat protocol CCLXXVII

A watchcat can rest his head against a brush, be surrounded by cat toys, and still look authoritative:

Watchcat Sammy had this routine down in October 2016.

Watchcat protocol CCLXXVI

It's disconcerting when you realize that a watchcat can stare into your soul.  It's yet another function that watchcats provide, however:

October 2003: Watchcat Rosie fixes her eyes upon those who cross her path.

Watchcat protocol CCLXXV

A watchcat must be able to leap into action immediately, if needed.  Before leaping into action, however, a watchcat will react to suspicious activity:

April 2003: Watchcat Sammy widens his eyes while on gallery patrol.  A tiny bug might have crawled across one of the exhibits, but I'm not sure.

Watchcat protocol CCLXXIV

Sometimes, watchcats must change their strategy.  In August 2003, Rosie and Sammy were keeping watch over their assigned room, when they realized they were both monitoring only slightly different places within the same sector:

Watchcat protocol CCLXXIII

When you're watching the final game of the Stanley Cup championship, and you suspect strangers might be clamoring to knock on your door and watch the game with you, you need security.  Hence, a watchcat, proxy watchcat, and watchmouse:

June 12, 2019: Watchcat Sylvia, Proxy Sylvia, and a watchmouse were on guard as I watched the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup tonight.  This must be what Nick Lowe referred to in "So It Goes," when he sang, "Security's so tight tonight..."

Watchcat protocol CCLXXII

Sometimes, cats become watchcats so they can be extra vigilant in protecting their turf.  In December 2014, Sylvia spent one watchcat session sitting in the middle of her Senses toy.  She was able to protect the toy and her cat bed that way:

Watchcat protocol CCLXXI

Not everyone knows that watchcats will guard antique horses, if you ask.  Watchcat Sammy took on this responsibility in June 2006:

Watchcat protocol CCLXX

When two watchcats are on duty, it's advisable for at least one of them to convey the attitude, "I've got my eyes on you."  While Rosie and Sammy were on duty in May 2007, Rosie fulfilled that role:

Watchcat protocol CCLXIX

As proxy watchcats gain experience, Watchcat Headquarters will ask the primary watchcat to monitor a different section of the room the proxy watchcats are covering:

July 2017: Watchcat Nemo, Proxy Nemo, and Blue Cat monitor their assigned room.

Watchcat protocol CCLXVIII

No intruder will make off with your decorative wooden cats--as long as a trusted watchcat guards them:

Summer 2015: Watchcat Sylvia guards the wooden cats.

Watchcat protocol CCLXVII

Every so often, it's important for watchcats to have a strategy meeting and discuss tactics for handling intruders.  Here is one such meeting between Sammy and Rosie from July 2008:

Watchcat protocol CCLXVI

Is it a harmless toy mouse or a listening device?  Allow your watchcat to suss out the truth for you:

June 2018: Watchcat Sylvia inspects a toy mouse and determines it's a legitimate plaything for cats.

Watchcat protocol CCLXV

In June 2007, Rosie demonstrated why she was such an effective watchcat.  She was able to monitor her assigned post while she was upside down and completing her Cat Dancer agility training course.  Not just any watchcat could pull of such effective multitasking:

Watchcat protocol CCLXIV

Watchcats, like people, deserve positive feedback when they do their job well.  Make sure to pet your watchcat and praise her for a job well done:

June 2, 2019: Watchcat Lily's guardian commends her for keeping her assigned sector safe.

Watchcat protocol CCLXIII

When you need someone to guard your plants and backyard swing, ask a no-nonsense watchcat:

The watchcat will take the task seriously, as Stray Cat did in August 2004.

Watchcat protocol CCLXII

Watchcat Nemo had a kick toy for a weapon in March 2017, and his backup, Proxy Nemo, had a backup watchcat, Blue Cat.  Security is serious business: