Watchcat protocol DCCCXXIX

When two watchcats are on duty at the same time, one of them might hog the spotlight:

Watchcat Headquarters doesn't encourage this but doesn't forbid it, either.  Fortunately, in Winter 2004, Watchcat Sammy was content to let Watchcat Rosie have the attention she wanted.

Watchcat protocol DCCCXXVIII

Although the positioning of watchanimals in Summer 2014 was decent, Watchcat Nemo thought something was amiss:

Thus, he consulted Watchcat Headquarters and received permission to change the security configuration:

Watchcat protocol DCCCXXVII

Per Watchcat Headquarters, wooden backup watchmoose are an underused security resource.  Watchcat Sylvia made amends for this.  She asked for her watchmoose's input on July 4, 2011:

Watchcat protocol DCCCXXVI

What was Watchcat Sylvia thinking when an unfamiliar visitor wandered into her assigned sector?  She covered her mouth on that day in April 2010, so it was hard to tell:

Watchcats are sometimes inscrutable that way.

An inherently mild reprimand

Regardless of how sternly you say it, saying, "Kitty cat!" to your cat when she has done something wrong isn't much of a rebuke.  Even with the sharpest tone, it doesn't sound especially commanding.

Watchcat protocol DCCCXXV

Per Watchcat Headquarters, a watchcat shouldn't accept just any excuse for an unauthorized person's visit.  On April 19, 2021, Watchcat Lily practiced looking skeptical:

Watchcat protocol DCCCXXIV

I'm not sure what captured Watchcat Rosie's attention on a Summer day in 2003, but presumably, her focus was justified:

Watchcat protocol DCCCXXIII

There's a time for frivolity and a time for seriousness.  Watchcat Sammy showed that he knew the difference during guard duty in November 2006:

Watchcat protocol DCCCXXII

When is it appropriate for a watchcat to sit up on a guard post?  When is it appropriate to crouch instead?  Stray Cat used his best judgment in March 2004:

Watchcat protocol DCCCXXI

I was surprised to learn that The Cult Of Cats In Bags has multiple sects.  Yesterday, Watchcat Collette used her grocery bag as a guard post...

...but also as a base from which to channel another cat who looks just like her:

Although this isn't something all watchcats do, Watchcat Headquarters doesn't prohibit it.

Watchcat protocol DCCCXX

Yesterday, Watchcat Headquarters assigned Lily to admonish any intruder who mussed up the cover of her guard post:

Admittedly, there's a bureaucratic, work-for-work's-sake aspect to some of the assignments Watchcat Headquarters doles out.

Watchcat protocol DCCCXIX

Even if Watchcat Sammy's guard post had started moving while he was on it, he would have stayed on it and kept monitoring his assigned sector:

Actually, I'm not sure that's what would have happened.  That was the promise Watchcat Headquarters made, however, in April 2003.

Watchcat protocol DCCCXVIII

Watchcat Headquarters takes shoe guarding seriously.  So, for that matter, does Watchcat Collette.  Neither she nor her backup dragonfly allowed anyone near the footwear on April 15, 2021:

Watchcat protocol DCCCXVII

Watchcats and backup watchanimals must trust each other.  In Spring 2014, Watchcat Sylvia showed confidence in her backup watchchickadee; Sylvia watched one portion of the assigned sector and trusted the watchbird to monitor another part of it:

Watchcat protocol DCCCXVI

Admittedly, a watchcat doesn't have to look tough all the time.  When determining that someone poses no threat, it's permissible to give the visitor a friendly nod or smile:

July 2009: Watchcat Sylvia acknowledges that a visitor means no harm.

Watchcat protocol DCCCXV

"So, intruder...Thought you'd slip past without a reprimand from the watchcat, did you?  Well, think again!" That appeared to be Watchcat Rosie's mindset in February 2008:

Watchcat protocol DCCCXIV

Guarding the laundry basket isn't a job for just anyone.  No, it's one job that requires a serious watchcat.  In June 2006, that was Watchcat Rosie:

Watchcat protocol DCCCXIII

Not just anyone was permitted to read the newspapers and magazines waiting to be recycled in June 2006. Watchcat Rosie made sure to enforce this edict from Watchcat Headquarters:

Watchcat protocol DCCCXII

What creature stirred beneath the trash can in April 2006?  Watchcat Sammy knew.  I don't know what happened after that, but I trust that Sammy handled the situation appropriately:

Watchcat protocol DCCCXI

Intruders didn't stand a chance in October 2012 against the triple threat team of Watchcat Nemo, Proxy Nemo, and a watchmouse:

Watchcat protocol DCCCX

When Watchcat Collette conveys to trespassers that "none shall pass," she means it.  You could read it on her face on April 4, 2021:

Watchcat protocol DCCCIX

Sometimes, a neighborhood watchcat will take a subtler approach to her duties--by monitoring her assigned block through the living room blinds:

April 9, 2021: Watchcat Collette keeps tabs on the neighborhood without calling attention to herself.

Watchcat protocol DCCCVIII

A brightly colored cat toy didn't keep Watchcat Nemo from monitoring his assigned sector in Summer 2010:

Watchcat protocol DCCCVII

Woe to the intruder who dares to challenge a double team of watchcats:

April 2014: Watchcats Sammy and Rosie had their eyes on you--from two different perches.

Watchcat protocol DCCCVI

Does The New York Times really contain "all the news that's fit to print?"  In April 2012, Watchcat Sammy attempted to find out:

Watchcat Headquarters isn't above doling out esoteric assignments.

Watchcat protocol DCCCV

Watchcat Headquarters expects its watchcats to multitask when necessary.  In April 2012, Watchcat Rosie kept tabs on a shoe and a hallway at the same time:

Watchcat protocol DCCCIV

Are your Easter eggs safe to eat?  Ask a watchcat to check them for you:

April 4, 2021: Watchcat Collette inspects the Easter eggs--and stops just short of eating them.

Watchcat protocol DCCCIII

Expect your watchcat to be vocal about getting her cat food rewards as scheduled:

April 1, 2021: Collette demands cat food as payment for watchcat services rendered.

Watchcat protocol DCCCII

A skillful baseball or softball hitter knows not to swing at every pitch.  This learned behavior also applies to watchcats.  During agility training, watchcats aren't expected to leap at every cat toy's movement.  It's important to know when to hold back and when to strike.  Watchcat Lily demonstrated this yesterday:

In addition, watchcats have the right to give feedback on which aspects of agility training suit them best.  Watchcat Lily offered her perspective yesterday:

Watchcat protocol DCCCI

Although an intruder wouldn't likely have broken in through the roof and tried to escape by running down the stairs, Watchcat Rosie intended to stop such a rapscallion from causing further mayhem in Spring 2013: