On a Hillside Planted with Brambles

Posted on April 18, 2007 in Cats

We followed up another sighting tonight. A Bulgarian gentleman who lives in a condominium complex where we received previous reports said that he’d seen her on the prowl. The call came just as Lynn came home from a technical professional society meeting. She found me grabbing all the catfood, the treats, a flashlight, and the pet carrier for the run down the hill.

When we got there, we spread out over a hillside planted with local brambles and a few parking lots where she might have been hiding under a car. I scrambled on my hands and knees shining the light. Then I crossed the hillside, noticing tiny pinecones and a scarlet flower shaped something like a honeysuckle. But no tracks or scat.

“We know there’s a black cat down here,” I said to Lynn. I would just like to confirm that it is ours. I pointed out an area that we had not yet postered — no harm in increasing the number of eyes on the watch.

The Bulgarian took an interest because he once owned a black cat. He reported that she was muscular and in good health if very timid. She’s started a regular track around the complex, it seems. All we have to do is be there for the appearance — if only she kept to a clock.

I remain cautious: this may be a different cat. Not until I have caught and examined it for a certain mark will I be sure that we caught her. If she lets us get that close.

For the record, the icon does not depict Virginia Mew, but Fiona Phosphor the Rotund. It just came up.