Those of you who are fans of Japanese animation–or have gotten too close to a fan–are, no doubt, familiar with the catbus:
Allow me to introduce you to a somewhat–actually, significantly–more sedate form of transportation: the cattrain.
This is what happens when the lead engine gets hooked up the wrong way around: no one goes anywhere.
The end of the year is traditionally a time for reflection.
Watanuki isn’t generally one for such introspection, but he’s been known to lapse into the occasional contemplative mood.
Note not just the furrowed (and furry) brow, but also the elegantly crossed paws symbolizing deep thought.
Granted, in his case, it’s likely to be thoughts of mischief and/or thuggery.
But at least he’s thinking, rather than doing.
You may have heard that it’s been wet in California lately. I’m here to confirm that the rumors are true.
We’ve had rainfall of biblical proportions*.
* Overstatement. It hasn’t rained continuously for forty days and forty nights (though it does feel like it). But there have been record-setting quantities of precipitation, and I suspect that more than a few residents of the Bay Area wish they had built arks.
Yesterday was the worst so far. Not in the quantity so much as in the special effects department. There was just a tiny bit of thunder and lightning* to go along with the rain and hail.
* Understatement. Multiple thunderstorms with massive, multi-second, literally house-shaking rolls of thunder.
We’ve been fortunate (picture me knocking on wood at this point). No flooding (other than a leak in the garage roof, directly over the spot where our phone line comes in), the foundations are still solid, the storm drains in our area are keeping up with the precipitation, and we haven’t lost power.
But I can say with no fear of contradiction that Bay Area felines aren’t used to thunder and don’t have a clue what to do about it.
Hiding seems to be a popular choice. Sachiko and Lefty disappeared into the master bedroom closet the first time the house shook and didn’t reappear until nearly dinnertime. Emeraldas vanished into an undisclosed location and wasn’t seen until this morning.
G’aw curled up in the Rose Cottage in the back yard, tucked his ears under his stomach and appeared to sleep through the afternoon storm.
‘Nuki, self-proclaimed master of the universe, slunk into my office making pitiful meepling noises and required a good fifteen minutes of snuggles before he calmed down enough to sink a couple of claws into my leg.
Kokoro’s been around long enough to have seen and heard it all; she woke up when the thunder hit, looked around, and went back to napping. Smart lady.
To be fair, Bay Area humans aren’t all that great with thunder either. My reaction has been to hold my breath, waiting for the lights to go out. Hypoxia was a real risk.
Reports say we’ve got at least another week of rain. Here’s hoping it doesn’t include thunder.
I know I just said, or at least strongly implied, that I wasn’t going to post pictures of cats on the bed. But this one is unusual enough to be an exception.
Most often, if there are three cats on the bed at the same time, it’s either Watanuki, Yuki, and Lefty (The Big Bruiser Boys Brigade)–in which case they’re all on separate corners–or it’s Yuki, Lefty, and Emeraldas snuggled up together.
Behold the variance.
I interrupted some serial grooming here: ‘Nuki was washing Yuki’s neck, while Yuki was cleaning Em’s ears. Important work, no question, so it’s not surprising that Em stalked off shortly after the picture was taken, muttering darkly about impertinent bipeds who can’t mind their own business.
Of course, she did come back about half an hour later–after ‘Nuki had migrated to the foot of the bed–and began grooming Yuki herself. But her point had been made.
I’m not sure how they wound up like this. Less than half an hour earlier, all four cats were snuggled together–the weather has definitely turned colder, and feline snuggling levels have gone way, way up.
Did Em get stroppy? Maybe, though I didn’t hear any feline politics.
It’s probably not a “she who smelt it, dealt it” situation: none of the cats seems particularly bothered when someone emits an unpleasant odor.
It can’t have been a male bonding ritual, because nobody had a drum.
Just one of those “you’re a hoomin, you wouldn’t understand” things, I suppose.
You know, I don’t think this needs any commentary. Enjoy Mr. Knuckles in all his pink-toed-and-tongued glory.
In which Emeraldas takes a break from grooming herself…
…to groom her floofy paramour…
…much to his surprise (and trepidation).
Meanwhile, Watanuki can’t resist…
…the chance to photobomb.
Watanuki can be–often is–an asshole of epic proportions. He’s earned the nickname “Thugbutt” many times over. He’ll slap anyone he thinks isn’t paying him enough attention. Or paying him too much attention. Stealing “his” food*. Sitting in his spot.
* Never mind that the food is served in common bowls.
But then again, when the moon is in the seventh house andstars align, he’ll drift into Friendly Fellow territory.
Snuggles with the panther? Sure, why not? Pose for a picture? Might as well.
The mood swings do keep the bipeds guessing.
But BFFs? No. Sooner or later, the thug always reappears.
Ooki Brothers Security wishes to make it clear that they are serious
and sober
Fine, upstanding servants of the public good–or whoever’s paying them in gooshy fud–at all times.
Don’t believe a word of it. Off duty, they’re quite happy to indulge in a catnip binge, groom themselves or each other in public, or just generally act like the goofballs they really are.
But don’t take my word for it. Photographic evidence exists.
And will haunt them forever.
While Kokoro, Sachiko, and Emeraldas are occasionally found chilling on the bed, most often it’s the boys’ hangout.
(Left to right: Watanuki, Lefty, Yuki)
Every so often, though, there’s an interloper.
The nameless stuffed black cat usually serves as Maggie’s back rest, but sometimes sprawls at the foot of the bed.
The boys don’t seem to mind. Maybe because the stuffed cat fits with their color scheme?
Koi Scribblings 