Watchcat protocol CCCXXXVII

It instills confidence in residents to see a watchcat who knows how to stalk people.  Watchcat Sammy demonstrated this in July 2004:

On second thought, maybe he was just stretching.  Either way, he was still a responsible watchcat.

Watchcat protocol CCCXXXVI

Need someone to guard your car?  Ask a watchcat:

August 2004: Stray Cat watches over a car from the base of a tree.

A linguistic irritant LXXXVI

It amuses me when people say they'll reach out to someone instead of just saying they'll call, email, or text that person.  Those are more viable options, after all, than extending a giant robotic arm to someone who isn't nearby.

Watchcat protocol CCCXXXV

Just because a watchcat looks a little drowsy doesn't mean she isn't keeping an eye out for you:

June 2007: Somewhat sleepy Watchcat Rosie does guard duty from her cat bed.

Watchcat protocol CCCXXXIV

Sometimes, you just have to trust Watchcat Headquarters.  I'm not sure why it was necessary to have two watchcats and a watchbear on guard at the same time, but I'm sure there must have been a good reason:

October 2003: Watchcats Rosie and Sammy and a watchbear are on alert, for reasons known only to Watchcat Headquarters.

Watchcat protocol CCCXXXIII

Want to make sure you always have a shopping bag on hand?  Ask a watchcat to sit on it for you, until you're ready to use it:

October 2002: Watchcat Rosie commits to shopping bag guard duty.

Watchcat protocol CCCXXXII

Need a watchcat to guard your groceries?  Know that she might want tap water as a reward, which isn't unreasonable:

2015: Watchcat Sylvia emerges from the sink after grocery guard duty.

Watchcat protocol CCCXXXI

It's important for a watchcat to make sure both sides of an assigned sector are covered.  Watchcat Sammy fulfilled this obligation in November 2015:

Watchcat protocol CCCXXX

It's wise for a watchcat to convey the attitude, "I'm ready to strike when there's danger in my sector."  Watchcat Sylvia demonstrated this in June 2014:

Watchcat protocol CCCXXIX

Reassuring those you're protecting comes with the territory of being a watchcat:

In this Spring 2013 photo, the look in Watchcat Rosie's eyes seems to indicate, "Concerned about your safety and security?  Don't worry; I've got this."

Watchcat protocol CCCXXVIII

Sometimes, being a watchcat means having to cram yourself into a tight space while looking menacing:

April 2013: Watchcat Sammy was on a risky mission.  I'm still not sure what it was.

Watchcat protocol CCCXXVII

When it comes to watchcats and Watchcat Headquarters, the student sometimes becomes the teacher.  Watchcat Rosie's expression says it all in this Fall 2009 photo:

With just one look, she conveys, "I know agility training is useful, but we're on guard duty now.  Watchcat Sammy and I both know that we're not looking at the laser pointer dot.  Our first priority is guarding different sectors of this room.  We both know you're just trying to distract us."

Watchcat protocol CCCXXVI

I don't think any unauthorized visitor ever tried to cross from the laundry room into the room beyond it--probably because Watchcat Rosie was on guard.  Here she is in Summer 2003:

Watchcat protocol CCCXXV

When you're an exemplary watchcat, Watchcat Headquarters allows you to choose your guard post.  Watchcat Nemo had his choice of two guard posts in Summer 2010:

Watchcat protocol CCCXXIV

Per Watchcat Headquarters, it's permissible for a watchcat to stretch out and relax, to an extent--as long as the watchcat's backup is a tiger:

July 2008: Watchcat Sylvia stretches out on the sofa with her backup watchcat, Truman Tiger.

Imaginatively expressed anger

Shortly after moving into a new building at a previous job, the boss told us we'd all have to watch our language.  There was a chance some of the company higher-ups might walk by, and he didn't want them to overhear any of us swearing.  One co-worker came up with some creative censorship, exclaiming one night, to everyone's surprise, "Mother of penguin!"

"Mother of penguin?" another co-worker asked.

I still think that's one of the more clever, amusing euphemisms I've heard.

Watchcat protocol CCCXXIII

I'm not sure what mayhem could possibly break out behind the sofa, but Watchcat Lily was ready for it yesterday:

Watchcat protocol CCCXXII

Need to make sure your power strip outlets are safe and secure?  Ask a watchcat to check them:

August 14, 2019: Watchcat Lily inspects the plugs in an extension cord.

Watchcat protocol CCCXXI

It's comforting to know that when you're asleep at night, a watchcat will be guarding your residence:

November 2003: Stray Cat assumes his guard post behind the wall.

Watchcat protocol CCCXX

It's unusual for Watchcat Headquarters to assign a hedgehog as a watchcat's backup.  Watchcat Sylvia did the right thing and checked to make sure it wasn't a decoy in the Summer of 2011:

Watchcat protocol CCCXIX

When an intruder approaches, it's customary for a watchcat to meow loudly as a warning:

March 2004: Watchcat Sammy proclaims his authority to not allow intruders to pass.

Watchcat protocol CCCXVIII

I'm not sure why Watchcat Rosie was partially concealed at her guard post in February 2008.  Perhaps Watchcat Headquarters asked her to be part of a partial covert ops program:

Truth in advertising? XXXVI

I like that there's a magazine called "Modern Cat."  It's amusing to imagine busy professional cats reading it. I can just imagine a potential headline for an article, such as "Becoming A Mediator: No Need To Hiss At Everyone."

Watchcat protocol CCCXVII

Things may look uneventful in a watchcat's assigned sector, but it never hurts to have a proxy backup watchcat on hand:

2019: Proxy Sylvia adopts a partially hidden pose while Watchcat Sylvia stays on top of a blanket.

Truth in advertising? XXXV

I don't drink gin, but I can't get the "oddly infused with rose and cucumber" line from the Hendrick's Gin commercial out of my mind.  I'm still trying to get an energy fruit and vegetable drink's combination of strawberry and cucumber out of my mind since trying it months ago.  Something tells me rose and cucumber wouldn't be an improvement.

Watchcat protocol CCCXVI

An outdoor watchcat sometimes has the burden of monitoring his surroundings on a hazy day.  Fortunately, in July 2003, Stray Cat was up to the challenge:

Watchcat protocol CCCXV

Admittedly, being a watchcat is often tedious.  Sitting in one place, monitoring an assigned sector while nothing is happening gets mundane.  Fortunately, Watchcat Headquarters permits watchcats to have a chinrest while on guard:

Summer 2012: Watchcat Sylvia rests her chin on a backrest during an uneventful day of guard duty.

Watchcat protocol CCCXIV

Need someone to keep an eye on your shoelaces?  Ask a watchcat.  The shoelaces can also double as an agility training tool:

October 2005: Watchcat Rosie keeps a shoelace in check.

Watchcat protocol CCCXIII

A watchcat's alertness during agility training can be a good indicator of alertness during guard duty.  Watchcat Nemo had this covered in July 2008:

Watchcat protocol CCCXII

A true hallmark of professionalism: Even though these two watchcats were waiting to be fed, they didn't stop watching their assigned sector.  Watchcats Rosie and Sammy set fine examples in June 2007:

Watchcat protocol CCCXI

Want to make sure no one changes the radio station while you're listening?  Ask a watchcat to guard the radio:

September 2011: Watchcat Sylvia takes radio guard duty seriously.