Neighbourhood cats

A year or so ago I read Takashi Hiraide's The Guest Cat, a work of fiction featuring a cat that brings joy to the lives of two people living together. With all of the cats in my neighbourhood, I sometimes feel as if I am living that book: being able to look out the window and see cats. Today, I gazed out the window and noticed two cats together. After being together for a few moments, one cat swiftly ran away, as if the other had asserted dominance and frightened the other cat.

A few days ago, I was walking and I came up behind a cat who was following the same path; the cat was walking somewhat quickly, as if it had to be somewhere. The cat then retreated into the bushes as a person with a dog started to walk down the path.

I may have mentioned this before on my blog, but if not, I saw a cat lying on its back, rolling around a few weeks ago. The kind of roll that a cat only does when it is really content. When I got close to the cat, it stood up and stared, as if guarding its territory. I smiled. I keep thinking about that moment.

Seeing cats on the streets brings me joy. I wonder what they are doing with their days. Do they have routines? Or are they all following each moment and doing their own thing? I will never quite know, but I do know one thing: I will keep my eyes peeled, eager to follow the story of the neighbourhood cats.