Contemplative

Sometimes he's a jerk 1

Yesterday, Smokey met Sammo, the next door neighbor cat. It started out cute. Smokey and I were outside enjoying the sunny but cool morning when Sammo appeared in the window. She looked down at Smokey and mewed, and to my surprise Smokey headed up the steps to take a closer look (or smell?). In previous instances, Smokey had ignored her. This time he sat down and turned his head toward Sammo whenever she meowed at him.

Then Sammo's owner got the idea to bring her out so that Smokey and Sammo could meet cat to cat. Since Smokey seemed receptive this time, I agreed we could try it. Now, Sammo is a big scaredy cat. She barely makes it out of the front door, she's so afraid of the outdoors. But when she saw Smokey, she was curious enough to move forward and sniff.

And that's when Smokey hissed at her and walked away. Sometimes Smokey is such a jerk.

Fat baby

Can't be trusted

He lulled me into a sense of security before he did it.

For several weeks, we had been pleasantly enjoying the outdoors together. Smokey wandering the lush greenness in front of our apartment and me knitting and watching him from the stairs.

Then one day, he did it. At first, I did not feel any need for alarm as I watched him saunter down the path towards the sidewalk. When he had done so in the past, it was to stalk a bird in one of the trees or to tussle in the bushes along the building. This time he walked straight for the cars parked in the street. Before I knew it, he had slipped underneath and disappeared from sight.

I called to him, for in the last week or so he had obediently responded to his name, but this time he turned away from me every time. Damn cat. He wouldn't even respond when I shook his favorite treats. I had to pull out a treat to lure him out.

Smokey was banned from going outdoors for several days. Would he know I was punishing him for trying to go under the car?

When I finally let him out again, he did it again. Well, he tried to. I had been wondering if I was too harsh on him. Maybe it was okay for cats to go under cars. Would it do any harm if he just wanted to lounge?

The test came sooner than I expected. That day, a car pulled into a parking spot just in front of us. I thought, if Smokey decides to go under a car today and he picks the hot car I will ban him from going under cars.

Smokey headed for the hot car. That was a stupid move, Smokey. I grabbed him before he could slip under and might have saved his skin and fur from being singed. Or maybe I just kept him from enjoying a nice warm spot.

A neighbor later pointed out that there could be other things lurking under a car. We have a significant bit of wildlife with the pockets of nature nearby and who knows what feral cats might be around. He could also accidentally snag himself on a car part.

Luckily, after I banned him from going outside for another week, Smokey has not tried to go under any more cars. Does he now know the boundaries, or is he just trying to lull me into a sense of security again? Either way, I'm keeping my eagle eyes on him.

Ladies love me

Smokey's favorite Christmas guest came back for a visit and reported that she had been instructed to take photos with Smokey.

"Yeah, the ladies love me. They all want my picture."

ETA: We met our pet sitters the other day and apparently the two ladies fought over who would get to be Smokey's primary sitter after meeting him. "I can't help but be popular with the ladies," Smokey sighed.

Head butt

Sleeping cat ballet

It's surprising how graceful a fat cat can look while sleeping comfortably. 

Loaf of cat

 With apologies for the bad photo from my phone.

Ecstasy

There is something the tree drops that attracts Smokey. Whatever it is, it seems just as potent as catnip because he started rubbing himself in it and getting it all stuck to his fur. 

 "Hm, I smell more over there."

I guess he just wanted to wear the plant matter on his fur.