Black Panther

I went shopping for some storm and flood essentials--potato chips, cookies, marshmallows for rice krispy treats. When I returned home, I was surprised to see Black Panther chilling on my windowsill. There was a lull in the heavy rainstorms that had poured hard all morning. Now it was a light drizzle. It was the perfect time to snap some quick shots while he was resting. He usually avoids the camera, like a fugitive on the run. Every time I try to take his picture, he walks away, and I'm left with a blurry mess. And it was just as hard trying to take fotos of him this time.

But I got a few, far away shots of the elusive character.

Black panther is a most unique and fascinating cat. First of all, he isn't a stray. He is my upstairs neighbors, the Vet and his wife's pet cat. Though, he was actually born a stray, right under the hood of my car while I was gone for a few weeks! Imagine my surprise when I come home in a taxi and am greeted by my neighbors, telling me about kittens nesting in my car engine!

Well, first thing I did was pop the hood. There, we found three kittens! And they had managed to unplug my headlights connection from the electrical system. Their mother, a stray we were familiar with, was calm as we picked up the kittens.

In the end, the mother, a black tiger stripped cat, and her white kitten with orange and black patches was taken in by the Old Bird, my next door neighbor. And when she passed away, her daughter took the mother cat and the grown patches cat to her home. Her children loved taking care of the pair of cats when they visited their grandmother once a week.

The black and white tuxedo kitten was taken by an upstairs neighbor, a Law Enforcement agent. He had a large white dog that was very friendly. The dog was very protective and comforting to the new kitten. A year later, the neighbor was reassigned to another city south. He moved with his dog and cat and fiance to their new home south.

The black kitten was taken in by the Vet and his wife. He is the most adventurous of the bunch. He likes climbing the big post oak tree in front of the building, chasing squirrels and birds. And unlike other cats, he likes the water! I've seen him enjoy a dip in the kids pool. I suspect he's got some Maine Coon genes in him. While other cats seek dry cover during the rain, he saunters in the drizzle as if it were a comforting experience. And true to form, when I got home, he was perched on my windowsill, just a foot away from the falling rain, perfectly at ease.

Though he is a very well cared for and beloved pet, Black Panther retains a lot of his stray qualities, preferring the outdoors and hanging out with other strays. Ever since he was old enough to be let out to explore, he became a regular fixture on my windowsill and porch. I've had to get another food bowl for him, since he often shows up when I feed the strays. He knows where to get a free meal! I know his owners spoil him and feed him well, but he seems to enjoy coming around my place for mealtime, and it makes me smile to see him join the other cats and play or sleep on my porch. He's a very friendly and curious cat. And I like seeing him relax and rest on my windowsill.

He knows he's welcomed anytime. Gorgeous, isn't he? I'll try to get closeups soon!