Watchcat protocol MMDCCVIII

Checking the current temperature at Watchcat Collette's guard post is fine, but using a kitchen sponge without Collette's permission?  That crosses the line:

I don't understand the reasoning behind that restriction, but Watchcat Collette assured me this morning that it's a Watchcat Headquarters edict.

Watchcat protocol MMDCCVII

Watchcat Nemo pulled off the contradictory task of looking relaxed yet steely during guard duty in October 2009:

Watchcat protocol MMDCCVI

Watchcat Lily was prepared to stare down any visitor who challenged her authority on September 15, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCCV

I didn't doubt that Watchcat Sylvia was looking out for me in August 2011:

With an expression this serious, how could she not have meant business?

Watchcat protocol MMDCCIV

Watchcat Sammy stepped off the treadmill in October 2004, satisfied that his guard duty work for the day was done:

Watchcat protocol MMDCCIII

It's reassuring when a watchcat uses you as her guard post and assures you that she has your back:

That was Watchcat Rosie's guarantee in September 2010.

Watchcat protocol MMDCCII

Watchcat Collette had no trouble looking menacing when she needed to on September 10, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCCI

Watchcat Lily had plans for scofflaws traipsing into her assigned sector yesterday--legal, non-lethal plans, mind you--but plans nevertheless:

Watchcat protocol MMDCC

With a cool, self-assured look, Watchcat Nemo convinced marauders not to trifle with his backup watchmouse or him:

He employed this effective tactic regularly in March 2009.

Watchcat protocol MMDCXCIX

Sometimes, it's challenging for a watchcat's mind not to wander during guard duty.  Watchcat Sylvia  resisted this temptation and stayed focused in October 2008:

Watchcat protocol MMDCXCVIII

Watchcats aren't always as confrontational as visitors might think.  In October 2010, with just a look, Watchcat Rosie conveyed to potential scofflaws, "Don't think I don't know your plans:"

The aspiring outlaws in her assigned sector behaved, as a result.

Watchcat protocol MMDCXCVII

Watchcat Sammy didn't want Watchcat Headquarters to think he was too passive during guard duty.  To demonstrate his vigilance, he adopted the pose of a sentry in June 2009:

Watchcat protocol MMDCXCVI

Despite the rainy, gloomy morning of September 10, 2026, Watchcat Collette stayed optimistic during guard duty:

Watchcat protocol MMDCXCV

There's a time to pounce, and there's a time to study visitors' movements.  Watchcat Lily was in study mode when I took this photo on September 3, 2026:

 

Watchcat protocol MMDCXCIV

Occasionally, Watchcat Collette summons visitors to the kitchen table for top secret conferences, as she did on September 8, 2026:

Watchcat protocol MMDCXCIII

Watchcat Lily sat at her guard post on September 3, 2026, ready to say, "Halt!  Who goes there?" when necessary:

Watchcat protocol MMDCXCII

This afternoon, Watchcat Collette asked me, "How safe are the foodstuffs in your refrigerator?"

She then leaned in closer and asked me, "No, really...How safe are they?" 

Fortunately, everything was safe to consume.  I appreciated Collette's concern.

Watchcat protocol MMDCXCI

Watchcat Lily stayed alert at her comfy guard post on September 3, 2026:

She assured all visitors that she would spring into action at a moment's notice.

Watchcat protocol MMDCXC

Generally, it's ill-advised to interrupt a watchcat's undercover assignment, but it's necessary sometimes to open the blinds partially and deliver pertinent security information:

Watchcat Collette understood this and took the interruption in stride on September 1, 2026.

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXXIX

Per Watchcat Lily, her guard post on September 3, 2026 wasn't confining; it was a domain that was rightfully hers:

Watchcat protocol MMDCLXXXVIII

Watchcat Collette could have fallen into a blissful slumber this morning, but she chose to focus sharply on her assigned sector instead:

That's the sort of can-do spirit I like to see in a watchcat.

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.