Sunday, February 13, 2011

I Heart My Watch Cat

Sure, he looks sweet. Benign, even. But see the sign? Not the heart--that's a trap. I'm talking about the one that says "Protection One." That's this kitty's middle name and I don't take these things lightly.

He's a feline chameleon, and don't think he doesn't know it. He could hang out on a higher step where he'd show up against the house. But down by the gravel he blends in. Approach and your leg is a mere grab away from his claws.

The mailman won't come near our house if Boz is on the porch. Little does he know.

24 comments:

Dina said...

A watch cat, really? Who was his trainer? Does an intruder get a warning hiss at least?

Vanda said...

He looks ferocious.

Jean Spitzer said...

Really? He looks mild.

Petrea Burchard said...

I can't be certain. I didn't test it. Plus I had a dog with me.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Yes, fierce! but can he stop a cat burglar?

Anonymous said...

Remind me never to hike Echo on a Sunday. But I digress.

I know Boz is Mr. Perfect, but I'd be really tired of dogs if I were a mail carrier. Albert thinks he's ALL that because every day he chases that mailman away.

Petrea Burchard said...

PA, remind me to tell you the story of the watch-cat, Mao, who foiled a burglar.

Hiker, we were going to do Echo but I refuse to go there on weekends. Maybe Henninger? A lot of sun but the road is wider.
And I don't blame the mail man. There's a reason they're trained to avoid dogs.

Pascal Jim said...

My friend, a male mailman always carried dog biscuits. Kept the dogs off balance...
Squeaker, our male cat is also a watch cat...we call him The Investigator....

Anonymous said...

There were some guys working on the house behind my backyard. And sometimes I'd be working in my "office" and hear them talking to Al. They were so sweet to Al. And then I'd go outside and see that Albert had lined up all his toys against the back fence, in single file. Really -- ball, rawhide donut, ball, ball, ball, squeaky doll.

Susan Campisi said...

It took me a couple of looks at the photo before I saw the cat. I love the expression on that face.

My mailman gave Tommy a treat the other day and made a friend for life.

J.J. in L.A. said...

That is one mean looking cat! lol!

Petrea Burchard said...

PJ, Squeaker sounds like a bold individual.

Al? They knew his name? Or did Albert just think they were talking to him? Such a great image, Albert arranging his toys. "Please play with me."
We walked up to Henninger, by the way. Crowded, but on a weekend much more do-able than Echo because of the wide road. But really exposed, sun-wise.

Susan, your mailman must be a dog person. Otherwise I think non-dog people wouldn't have tried that.

J.J., do you really think he looks mean or are you funnin' me? I think he looks kind of sweet.

Virginia said...

Love the chat!

Margaret said...

I've seen cats like this. They totally challenge poor Scout, whose on a leash so she can't even prove how tough she is.

Margaret said...

By the way, my mailman is totally cool with Scout.

John Sandel said...

Watch cats are high maintenance—they get wound up & spring at you. Plus you have to check them every minute for ticks.

Ms M said...

Looks like a cat with attitude for sure. But he may be "accepting" if a person approaches him with deference (and no dog). :)

Petrea Burchard said...

Funny, J.

I feel bad. I took a picture of this cat sunning himself. Then I fabricated a scenario about him. He may be the sweetest cat on the planet and I've sullied his reputation.

Still, I did not approach.

Speedway said...

Years ago, I used to have a cat that didn't like one of my male acquaintances. Whenever he came to visit, the cat would either sit on the table facing the man to stare at him, or lie down with a paw on the man's hand. The cat was correct - that man was not to be trusted.

That same cat would sometimes "go Lassie" on me, mewing and running back and forth from me to the window when he saw something he thought unusual. One time it was for one of the neighbor dogs stealing and running away with a bowl of cat food.

My sister now has a cat that is protective, "intervening" whenever she thinks a visitor's actions are suspicious by wrapping its forelegs around the visitor's arm. It's a warning, because she has back-up from her pal, the dog.

alex said...

funny, my neighbors all have cats with names like Brinks, Post, and Protection One too.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hee hee. Watch out for cats who demand scratch for protection.

Gina said...

When I was a baby we had a cat rather uncreatively named "Calico". She would sleep under my crib and leap out and attack if anyone but my mother or father tried to pick me up.

Our house was burglarized recently and our current cat just hid under the bed. I could have used a "Watch Cat".

Petrea Burchard said...

No kidding, Gina.

Maybe now I should tell you about Mao, a big cat who belonged to a friend of mine. I once had Mao feeding duties for a weekend and had to carry a baseball bat and wear cowboy boots to carry them out.

My friend and I were once across the street from her house when we saw a man enter her place from the side door. I reached for the phone to call the police. She said, "Don't bother." In less than a minute, the man was running out of the house with Mao chasing him.

That was one mean cat.

TheChieftess said...

I love the story about Mao!!! No watch cats here...Cleo the Bimbo kitty picks someone who's visiting and becomes his best friend...yep, she prefers men!!! And Sadie is the closest to a watch cat as her nick name is Osama Bin Kat...but she hides under the bed when strangers come...and only brings out her Osama side when the Chief and I are trying to sleep...usually late at night or veeeerrrrry early in the morning!!!! Ms Daisy on the other hand, will just lick and smile...ah well...good thing the Chief's the Chief!!!