The Cats of University Heights: Peso

I am a pitiful Southern Californian resident—for not speaking, or reading, a word of Spanish. Fortunately, Google gave my linguistic handicap a little boost yesterday evening, when encountering the large-pawed beast who is our featured feline this cool Caturday. Walking down Monroe from Park Blvd. towards Texas Street, I heard a furball meowing on the other side of a tall hedge at Georgia. I rounded the corner and peaked inside. The beastie came running out on the sidewalk to greet me.

The number of owned street cats without collars surprises me, but this friendly brute was an exception. As he rolled around for pats, I looked at his tag, which gave a phone number followed by “Gracias” on one side and “Mellamo Peso” on the other. I may be ditz-for-non-English-language brain but nevertheless recognize “Thank You”. But the other, I assumed was a first and last name, or perhaps a nickname. I whipped out iPhone 7 Plus and Googled “Mellamo”, only to discover that it means “my name is”. That caused me to resume petting with one hand and lifting the tag with the other; maybe I misread, because who calls their cat Peso? Crazy thing, makes sense. He is one big boy, and the name translates to “weight” (or so says Google). He is Maine Coon size but leaner. 

I shot about a half-dozen portraits. The Featured Image is a crop of the original (directly above) and demonstrates the amazing detail that the Leica Q‘s 28mm Summilux lens and 24-megapixel full-frame sensor captures. BTW, what appears like a hostile pose isn’t. Peso merely meows as he turns towards me. Vitals, shutter speed manually set: f/3.5, ISO 100, 1/250 sec, 28mm; 6:15 p.m. PDT.

Peso is such a handsome cat, another photo is mandatory. Vitals, shutter manually set: f/4.5, ISO 100, 1/250 sec, 28mm; 6:12 p.m. PDT.

Further down Monroe, near Alabama Street, previously featured Bruce (real name) sat on the lawn close to the sidewalk waiting for his master to return home from her workday. The pose, which I cropped and edited, is too cute not to publish (here and to update the May 10th post). Vitals, shutter manually set: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/250 sec, 28mm; 6:23 p.m. PDT.

Blasts from the past: ScruffyRoly PolyWooSkullBiscuitThe ColonelWhiteChipper,  Frisky, Stretch, Needy, Farfisa, Mates, Hunter, Pee-PeeBlue, Blue Too, Bonded PairPatience, Fess, Jumper, Frenemy, Looker, Cozy, Scout, Lurks, Skit, Mini, Betty, Black and White, Stalker, Bell, Chill, Sammy, Scratch, Poser, Star, Grey and White, Watcher, Herman, Comet, RomanWillow, Chub, NImbus, Watson, Lilo, Kit, Pepe, Twilight, Sebastian, Spot, Booger, Ash, Veruca, Riley, Mellow, Bonde, Flower, Glass, Black, BeBe, FangBruceSiamesePounceTortie, Haiku, and Fraidy.