Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXXVII

Does the watchcat view you as suspicious?  Maybe--or maybe not.  Sometimes, a watchcat maintains an opaque expression for undisclosed reasons:

Watchcat Lily wasn't giving anything away during one particular visit on June 21, 2026.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXXVI

It's gratifying to know that your assigned sector is safe and secure, thanks to your efforts.  Why not allow yourself a satisfied smile, then, when that's the case?  That was Watchcat Collette's reasoning on August 31, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXXV

Watchcat Lily would rather have been sleeping on July 15, 2026, but she had an assigned sector to guard:

Fortunately, she was still able to keep tabs on things through  her partially open eyes.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXXIV

When everyone in your assigned sector sees you with this expression, there's no doubt who's in charge:

This morning, there was no doubt that Watchcat Collette ruled the roost.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXXIII

A security issue needed to be addressed, but not right away.  This gave Watchcat Lily time to mull over solutions on August 19, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXXII

Watchcat Collette's eyes said it all this morning, conveying, "Of course, everything's fine in my assigned sector:"

I'm not sure why I would dare to think otherwise.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXXI

Sometimes, when you want to look more menacing as a watchcat, you channel your inner fox or wolf.  Watchcat Lily's eyes reflected such an attempt on August 19, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXX

Watchcat Collette was in perpetual motion on August 17, 2026, so I was resigned to not being able to get all of her in the frame:

I wanted her to make her rounds and fulfill her responsibilities, so I just accepted that she had other things to do besides posing for pictures.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXIX

In order to project authority, watchcats sometimes strike intimidating poses.  Other times, however, visitors see their sense of wonder about what their next guard duty session will be like:

Watchcat Lily mused about the possibilities her next security stint would present on August 19, 2026.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXVIII

There usually isn't a reason for legitimate visitors to head right for the kitchen, so Watchcat Collette used the kitchen table as her guard post on August 23, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXVII

On August 19, 2026, Watchcat Lily trusted that everyone knew her verdicts on security issues were fair and just.  The way she sat at her guard post reflected this:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXVI

Most days, watchcats aren't conducting stakeouts or getting into fisticuffs with intruders.  More often than not, watchcats spend their days handing out grocery bags and copies of the Webster-Kirkwood Times to authorized visitors who need them:

Those were Watchcat Collette's main tasks this morning, at least.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXV

Watchcat Lily struck a judicial pose on August 19, 2026 after saying, "Visitor, you may approach the bench:"

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXIV

Thanks to agility training, Watchcat Collette knows when to attack the Cat Dancer toy and how long to keep it within her grasp:

As her demo on July 25, 2026 showed, these lessons also apply to the scratching post.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXIII

Sleep deprivation didn't prevent Watchcat Lily from monitoring her assigned sector on July 15, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXII

If Watchcat Collette's expression on July 25, 2026 doesn't convince you that she has a bloodthirsty zeal for agility training, I don't know what to tell you:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXI

Watchcat Lily didn't let the sideways tilt of her assigned sector distract her from guard duty on July 15, 2026:

Per Watchcat Headquarters, a watchcat who defies gravity is a valuable security guard.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXX

On August 5, 2026, Watchcat Collette's expression conveyed to everyone in her assigned sector, "You know how menacing I am, right?  It's unwise to oppose me:"

As expected, no one crossed Collette after that.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXIX

A certain amount of brooding and internal deliberation is sometimes necessary before attacking a security issue, as Watchcat Lily's expression indicated on July 26, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXVIII

With just one look, Watchcat Collette impressed upon everyone in her assigned sector how fierce she is:

She was not to be crossed on August 4, 2026.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXVII

Watchcat Lily studies visitors carefully when they approach her assigned sector.  According to Watchcat Headquarters and her, you can tell a lot about a person's level of truthfulness by the amount of eye contact they make:

Lily made plenty of eye contact with visitors on June 21, 2026.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXVI

Watchcat Collette could have been sleeping on August 11, 2026.  Instead, she kept tabs on the indoor and outdoor portions of her assigned sector:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXV

When a security issue presented itself on July 26, 2026, Watchcat Lily mulled over a solution from the comfort of her guard post blanket:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXIV

I'm not sure what disturbance Watchcat Collette spotted on the kitchen counter, but she strode over calmly to investigate it on August 2, 2026:

Collette assured me that she quelled the uproarious pandemonium that had erupted.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXIII

Watchcat Lily was skeptical about a visitor's reason for not having identification on June 21, 2026.  Nevertheless, the visitor presented a reasonable excuse and was granted provisional access to Lily's assigned sector:

 

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXII

Watchcat Collette's attitude on toward scofflaws on July 17, 2026 was, "See how I've attacked this scratching post?  Imagine what I can do to marauders who dare to cross my assigned sector:"

That's the kind of feisty confidence I admire in a watchcat.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXI

Before you're granted full access to Watchcat Lily's assigned sector, she might want to lick your fingers first:

As Lily explained on June 21, 2026, there's no reason to take offense at this; it's just standard security procedure.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLX

Watchcat Collette was ready to pounce on August 4, 2026:

I'm not sure why she was ready to strike, but I trust that she was justified. 

Watchcat protocol MMDCLIX

When you reward your watchcat with a chin stroking as she sleeps, you'll need to step in temporarily as a watchhuman:

Watchcat Lily and her guardian had such an arrangement on July 26, 2026.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLVIII

Watchcat Collette has been licking her chops today at the thought of admonishing scofflaws:

Sometimes, I fear she pursued her guard duty vocation for the wrong reasons.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLVII

It's permissible to inform Watchcat Lily about a security issue during guard duty, even when she's having her chin stroked:

Trust me.  She's listening.  She told me so on July 26, 2026.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLVI

With just a look, a watchcat can convey to everyone in her assigned sector, "The rules here are what I say they are.  After all, I'm the enforcer."  That was Watchcat Collette's attitude this morning:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLV

Watchcat Lily was fighting a daunting battle with sleepiness on July 26, 2026.  Nevertheless, she remained awake during guard duty:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLIV

Intruders knew better than to confront the triple threat security team of Watchcat Collette, a watchbird, and a watchrabbit on July 30, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLIII

Visitors knew not to barge into Watchcat Lily's assigned sector on July 26, 2026.  First, she perused the area to make sure it was free of marauders:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLII

Watchcat Collette mastered the art of attacking the scratching post and the Cat Dancer toy simultaneously.  She had a good reason for smiling during agility training, then, on July 25, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLI

What watchcat doesn't enjoy a good chin-stroking as a reward for guarding her assigned sector responsibly?

That was Watchcat Lily's view on July 26, 2026.

Watchcat protocol MMDCL

I didn't doubt Watchcat Collette's confidence for even a second on July 25, 2026.  Clearly, she had her agility training moves down to a science:

Watchcat protocol MMDCXLIX

Watchcat Lily was comfortable on her blanket guard post, but it didn't mean she wasn't watching all visitors' movements on June 21, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCXLVIII

Watchcat Collette was so at ease during agility training that she washed her paw while holding onto her Cat Dancer toy:

It was reassuring to see such confidence on July 17, 2026.

Watchcat protocol MMDCXLVII

If you're going to approach a watchcat with a security concern, make sure it's a valid one:

That's what Watchcat Lily's eyes conveyed on June 21, 2026. 

Watchcat protocol MMDCXLVI

Watchcat Collette was ready to receive any security-related concerns with an open, unbiased mind on July 17, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCXLV

Watchcat Lily trusted that the visitor had an important security-related reason for waking her up on July 15, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCXLIV

Watchcat Collette fielded security-related questions from her living room window guard post on July 19, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCXLIII

While intruders wouldn't likely approach the desk in her assigned sector, Watchcat Lily was ready for them on July 15, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCXLII

Watchcat Collette displayed a satisfied smile on July 17, 2026 after guarding her assigned indoor and outdoor sectors successfully:

Watchcat protocol MMDCXLI

Watchcat Lily asked visitors to back up while she surveyed her assigned sector on July 15, 2026:

Everyone complied, as they knew it's important not to compromise a watchcat's field of vision.

Watchcat protocol MMDCXL

Watchcat Collette was so at ease during this morning's agility training session.  She held onto her Cat Dancer toy without breaking a sweat and even smiled while she did so:

Watchcat protocol MMDCXXXIX

Watchcat Lily appreciated having her efforts rewarded with a belly scratch on July 15, 2026:

Watchcats on break LXII

While attempting to move from room to room this afternoon, I walked much slower than I would have.  Watchcat Collette insisted on walking ahead of me and taking her time.

Some people would call this her form of control.  I say it's a watchcat securing the premises, ensuring they're safe for the person she's guarding.

That's the spin I'm choosing to believe, anyway.

Watchcats on break LXI

At least once when I've been barely awake, I've heard what I thought was a meow and called out to my cat in another room, "Collette, was that you?"  Then, I've mumbled to myself, "Of course, it was you.  Who else around here meows?"

Naturally, it was Watchcat Collette.  It's always Watchcat Collette.  Why wouldn't it be? 

Watchcats on break LX

Another recommendation of music to enjoy with your watchcat during a siesta: Astrud Gilberto.  Some of her vocals have that winding-down-for-the-day aspect I mentioned about Toots Thielemans, while others have life-affirming energy.

Watchcat Collette has responded equally contentedly to both aspects of Gilberto's singing during her breaks from guard duty, so I'm pleased that my musical selections are being well-received.

Watchcats on break LIX

Whenever I listen to harmonica selections by Toots Thielemans, I always enjoy the mellow, winding-down-for-the-day aspect of his music.

Watchcat Collette appreciates it, as well, as it inspires her to stretch out and purr near me.

After a long day of guard duty, a watchcat deserves a siesta and appropriately pleasant musical accompaniment.

Watchcats on break LVIII

Watchcat Collette has adopted the habit Watchcat Rosie had of walking in front of me when feeding her.  A few mornings ago, I said, "Rosie, I mean Collette, I can't get to the food when you block my path."

Collette considered this and allowed me just enough space to reach her food.  It's heartwarming to see common ground between past and present watchcats--even when it makes things slightly awkward.

Watchcats on break LVII

Watchcat Collette and I reached a stalemate this afternoon.  She dug one claw into her scratching post and another claw into her Cat Dancer toy.  She refused to let go, so eventually, I let the Cat Dancer drop and told her, "Congratulations.  You win."

With that kind of steadfast determination, I know I can trust Collette to guard her assigned sector masterfully.

Watchcats on break LVI

I'm tired today.  A little while ago, I mused to myself, "I've yawned almost as much as Watchcat Collette does in a day."  Then, I thought, "Come to think of it, why does Collette yawn more than I do most days? She spends a lot of time sleeping, and it's not like she has a job."

Then, I remembered...She does have a job.  Presumably, monitoring an assigned sector for hours must take a lot out of a watchcat.

Whenever possible, I've heard it's wise to give one's watchcat the benefit of the doubt.

Watchcat protocol MMDCXXXVIII

When there was wisdom to be dispensed, Watchcat Collette and her watchrabbit were there to dispense it on July 7, 2026: