his notification of presence/request for attention meows have a lot more complaint tone in them these days; he’s seeking my attention more often without any particular goal in mind; when he sleeps he’s trying to get in my sight, in protected locations, AND totally balled up; twice I noticed him going out the window to the part of the lawn where Leo would meow for him, just meowing there for a while and coming back in pissy

The family that Leo was from moved away this week, and I can tell Badger misses him.  :(

I’ve seen Badger play-wrestling with Leo in the backyard and it’s kinda like human grappling, they stare each other down until one puts their forearm on the others shoulder and tries to roll them

I saw a new addition to the cat neighborhood, a Persian or more practical version thereof who was meowing outside our window, and might have seen one more

All of which is to say, I think Badger might be rising in the local cat community as a scrapper, which is weird to think about, and he’s been pissier at home, more hissy, including this thing where he’ll weave back and forth in a doorway and swipe and hiss if you go thru and/or turn back

He just jumped up on the chair by where I sit and let me pet him purring for 15sec before turning hissing and bitey again, which honestly he never did before like 3 mos ago, not full-strength but different from when he play-bats, and in response I pinned him down by the shoulderblades while staring in his eyes for 15 sec

If I know him he’ll be distant for a day, really lovey for a day, a little testy for a day, then settle in a bit lower-key

I think he’s on the outs with Leo and doesn’t want to go outside, so Badger has been infuriatingly needy since 8AM today

At first Badger’s friend Leo would run away if I looked out the window at him in the yard, then he would just freeze but run if I got closer; his comfort distance has been slowly closing since then, lately he’d jumped up to my windowsill a few times and as of this week he’s coming inside to unoccupied rooms

Dunno how I feel about that; I guess I’m vaguely flattered but for one I think Badger comes inside to not have to deal with him sometimes, and for two I think he’s started using the litterbox that Badger gave up on when he started going outside, and the fuck I’m gonna start scooping shit to maintain a public cat restroom

This is Badger with Leo, his closest cat friend, who comes into the yard and meows for him to come out.

Badger & Leo

kontextmaschine:

kontextmaschine:

Cats that have shown up in my yard since Badger moved in, and the names I gave them

Leo - a Maine Coon-looking guy with a big white mane. First one to show up, he and Badger get along. I’ve been told he lives with an old guy on the block and used to hang out with another old-timer’s cat until the cat and then the man died.

Kevin - a grey cat that would show up when Badger & Leo hang out and wait nervously nearby as if waiting to be invited. Reminded me of a guy named Kevin.

Creamsicle - a fat orange tabby, Badger came retreating thru the window once all tense and I looked out and he was there. I went to kick him out and he didn’t retreat at all at my approach; I picked him up and he was docile so I tried introducing the two; when he got close enough he hissed and clawed at Badger so I yelled at him and dumped him out of the yard.

Luna - all-black cat I’ve only seen once, sheltering in a stand of bamboo

Alright, you want pics, here’s a later meeting with Creamsicle where there was a bit of hissing but they ultimately agreed to hang out in proximity studiously ignoring each other

Just went to take a leak and when I looked out the window Leo was staring straight at me with Kevin? Luna? could be the same cat in different light?s nose up his butt

By the time I got my camera up Leo sauntered aside looking embarrassed and then Badger came by like “hey guys what’s up?”

kontextmaschine:

Cats that have shown up in my yard since Badger moved in, and the names I gave them

Leo - a Maine Coon-looking guy with a big white mane. First one to show up, he and Badger get along. I’ve been told he lives with an old guy on the block and used to hang out with another old-timer’s cat until the cat and then the man died.

Kevin - a grey cat that would show up when Badger & Leo hang out and wait nervously nearby as if waiting to be invited. Reminded me of a guy named Kevin.

Creamsicle - a fat orange tabby, Badger came retreating thru the window once all tense and I looked out and he was there. I went to kick him out and he didn’t retreat at all at my approach; I picked him up and he was docile so I tried introducing the two; when he got close enough he hissed and clawed at Badger so I yelled at him and dumped him out of the yard.

Luna - all-black cat I’ve only seen once, sheltering in a stand of bamboo

Alright, you want pics, here’s a later meeting with Creamsicle where there was a bit of hissing but they ultimately agreed to hang out in proximity studiously ignoring each other

Cats that have shown up in my yard since Badger moved in, and the names I gave them

Leo - a Maine Coon-looking guy with a big white mane. First one to show up, he and Badger get along. I’ve been told he lives with an old guy on the block and used to hang out with another old-timer’s cat until the cat and then the man died. Kevin - a grey cat that would show up when Badger & Leo hang out and wait nervously nearby as if waiting to be invited. Reminded me of a guy named Kevin. Creamsicle - a fat orange tabby, Badger came retreating thru the window once all tense and I looked out and he was there. I went to kick him out and he didn’t retreat at all at my approach; I picked him up and he was docile so I tried introducing the two; when he got close enough he hissed and clawed at Badger so I yelled at him and dumped him out of the yard. Luna - all-black cat I’ve only seen once, sheltering in a stand of bamboo