The Cats of University Heights: Johnny

The series exits from hiatus, during which my family changed residences in the neighborhood. It’s catchup time! We resume with a Coon-like beauty who reminds me of our long-lost Kuma. But the nose, and his distinctive scar, are missing. I nickname the pretty feline Season, for no particular reason.

We encountered each other, from a distance, on Oct. 11, 2017, as I walked from Park Blvd. The cat traipsed up a hill as I approached but stopped long enough for 10 fast portraits shot with iPhone 7 Plus. The Featured Image is a close-crop, meant to give illusion of being in the wild. Vitals: f/2.8, ISO 20, 1/1030 sec, 6.6mm; 11:34 a.m. PDT. 

On a sad footnote, yesterday I saw on the Nextdoor social network that one of the neighborhood’s fixture felines, Booger, who was featured in March 2017, is gone. He was companion, in the same yard—a designated “Wildlife Habitat”—as Ash and Sebastian. Someone spotted him off the 163 entrance ramp, where he presumably was struck by a car. 🙁 My wife and I would often see him, and the other two furballs, when walking to the Washington Street bridge.

Editor’s Note, Nov. 1, 2018: At the request of a neighbor who cares for and fosters UH cats, I removed a second photo. Her reasons make sense to me.

Editor’s Note, Feb. 28, 2021: This is late-coming. More than a year ago, the kitty’s caretaker told me that she calls him Johnny. He is the last living neighborhood feral that she cares for. Johnny and his dad were long-time companions before the senior passed away, which left the son moping and mourning for many weeks.

She had recently taken Johnny to the vet, who removed nine teeth. I see the cat regularly, and how street-living is catching up with him; he is slower-moving than our first meeting, for example. I used Leica Q2 to capture the two additional portraits—Nov. 23, 2020 and Feb. 13, 2021, respectively. Vitals, aperture manually set for both: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/125 sec, 28mm; 9:45 p.m. PST. The other: f/4, ISO 100, 1/400 sec, 28mm; 9:41 a.m.

Update, Nov. 4, 2021: A few weeks ago, I spoke with Johnny’s caretaker. She decided to take him inside, which situation he didn’t much like. But he adjusted and is content being loved indoors rather than being a lonely elder cat living on the street.

Previously: ScruffyRoly PolyWooSkullBiscuitThe ColonelWhite,  Chipper, 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, Fang, Bruce, Siamese, Pounce,  Tortie, HaikuFraidy,  PesoDaniel TigerDuskStrideDaintySpry,  Tabby, Betty Too, Still, LeviShadow,  Sophie, WinkFerals, MommaCharlie, Tux, Cool, Benny, Jellicle, Itchy Valentino, Goldie, Nine, Amanda, Siesta, ChaCho, Charlie, Too, Mika, Crystal, Seeker, MittensDancer, Smokey, Monkey, and Captain Blackbeard.