Little vampire cat

Just in time for Halloween.

Confucius cat

Your laptop is my pillow

Um. Hi, Smokey. You sure look comfortable plonked down on my keyboard. 

"You are right, I am very comfortable. What a nice pillow."

Can you walk a cat? Part 5: Off and on the leash

I mentioned in the last post that I take Smokey out for walks on the leash, so I figured since the cat is out of the bag (hur hur), I better update our walking adventures.

In the previous installment, I stated my intent to walk Smokey off the leash. I did it, but I don't think I'll do it again. While Smokey can sometimes be like a dog, coming when called, he is still a cat and prone to ignore his caretakers when he chooses.

The first walk started blissfully enough. It was a beautiful afternoon and Smokey did not hesitate as he stepped out the door in his harness. I let go of the leash as he nosed into the bushes outside the door so he could wander in. But then he decided he wanted to go to the parking lot. And under cars. I hung out with him for a while, trying not to look suspicious. Eventually I had to drag him out from under the car. He grudgingly returned to the grass but started to growl from deep in his belly. That was when I realized that I better pick him up and go home before he decided he wasn't going to put up with me anymore and run off by himself.

The second walk also started out well. I kept him on the leash this time and he was okay with it. We wandered outside for quite a while when people started coming home from work. By this walk I knew that Smokey usually lays low and otherwise ignores people walking by, but there were too many for him to handle calmly. Every time one would look like he/she was walking toward him, he would dart away. Thank goodness I had him on the leash or I would have lost him. I resolved never to let him off the leash after this experience.

Since the two walks above, Smokey and I have had some decent walks. In fact, I have some pictures to share in the next post. Stay tuned!

On his own two legs

I took Smokey to the vet today. The vet was amazed when at one point Smokey sat up on the counter and stood on his two hind legs.

"He does some cool stuff!" the vet marveled.

One day I will catch Smokey on his hind legs on camera.

The first time I took Smokey to the vet, the other vets and vet assistants came to ogle at him because he's such a handsome jowly cat.*

This guy, he always attracts a crowd.

Oh, and about the visit to the vet, not to worry that Smokey is not well. Apparently cats are very good at vomiting, especially after they eat grass. No more grass for Smokey during our leash walks.

Also we have to feed him much less food. The poor thing gained 1.5 pounds because we love him too much.

*In case you're wondering how Smokey has such cool jowls, it's because he was neutered some time after he reached sexual maturity. I read somewhere that his jowls could mean that there are little Smokeys running around somewhere.

Surveying his kingdom

Innocent

When dogs do something wrong or embarrassing, you can tell by their face or body language. Cats have no such sense of shame or remorse. Or maybe they eventually learn it?

Smokey did not scratch much when he arrived, so I assumed that we would not have to worry about him ruining our furniture. I bought him one of those long cardboard scratchers just in case. Then on a whim I bought him a sisal mat scratcher. He liked it very much compared to the cardboard scratcher. It was kind of like his place mat. Wherever we left it on the floor, he would lounge on it, he loved it so much. 

But then one day I caught him. There he lay sprawled on his side against the bottom of the couch. His paws stretched forth and began to scratch. 

No! Bad Smokey! 

He looked up at me. "What?" 

Nevertheless, he stopped for the moment I was staring at him. Then the moment I looked away, the scratching sound began again. 

SMOKEY! 

Again, the blank look on his face. 

The above exchange happened intermittently over the next few weeks, with me trying to remedy his desire to scratch elongated by shoving the cardboard scratcher on its side against the bottom of the couch. No dice. He even started on the arm of the couch. Then he really began to freak me out when he decided once that scratching the door frame would be a good idea. I immediately ran out and bought a tall vertical scratcher. He loves it, so I thought problem solved.

Yet today there I found him, again, on his side, at the bottom of the couch...and the scratching sound restarted. 

BAD SMOKEY! 

This time, his paws shrunk back and he stared up at me inquisitively. Was that a twinkle of shame I spied or did he put on a mask of remorse just to appease me? 

Overexposed

"Ugh, you and your damn flash." 

"I'm so glad that is over."

On a separate note, I showed these photos to someone and she said Smokey looks smug. I agree.

Take me with you

Turns out Smokey prefers jumping into luggage instead of boxes.

"Is there a problem?"

"What? I can't go with you?"

We tried to get him out of the luggage so my other half could pack for his business trip, but Smokey came back.

"I like luggages."

Digging corners

Smokey entered this box without my coaxing. We conclude he is not a jumper. 

Lomofied

I'm still learning the best settings for the camera for each situation. This photo originally came out poorly, but thanks to post-processing, it's actually more than acceptable!

Can you walk a cat? Part 4: Afraid of the light

We have mostly been training Smokey to walk at night. One afternoon I decided to take Smokey outside fully intending to let go of the leash and let him wander freely. He was more accepting of the harness this time but was a bit confused about why we were going out. He was hesitant just going out the apartment door. We walked slowly down the hall and I pushed the outer door to the outside. The outside light hit his face but he suddenly stopped in his tracks and shrunk back. I looked down at him then to what he was looking at. A woman had come into sight and was walking towards the building across the way. We stood there some minutes in silence until she disappeared into the building. "Come on, Smokey," I said, shaking the leash. He didn't even look at me and shot back to the apartment door.

Guess he prefers the cover of night.