The Cats of University Heights: Roadie

According to Herbie, The Love Bug‘s owner, several “communal” cats live along Panorama, which circles round to Adams Ave. at both ends. Several neighbors put out food for them; the tiger tabby that I encountered on April 15, 2018 is among their members.

Herbie’s caretaker couldn’t give me a name for the female shorthair, who may have none. But she’s a long-time fixture, as are several others along a street where coyotes climb out of the canyon hunting for food (yikes, like cats). I dub this mature madam: Roadie, because she hung out between two cars and the sidewalk long enough for me to slowly approach and capture eight shots over two minutes. 

The Featured Image, taken with Leica M10 and Summarit-M 1:2.4/50 lens, is the last of the portraits. Vitals: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/250 sec, 50mm; 1:56 p.m. PDT. Seconds later, Roadie crossed the street and slipped into a garage with cracked-open door.

Update, Jan. 16, 2020: Today, Herbie’s owner told me that Roadie is gone, and now only one community cat remains along that stretch of Panorama Drive. Eight years is how long the woman helped care for the feral tabby, who started losing weight and became quite thin and feeble before vanishing.

I honor her memory with an additional photo, captured, using Leica Q, on Jan. 30, 2019. Vitals: f/4, ISO 100, 1/250 sec, 28mm; 9:49 a.m. PST. Interestingly, I observed the weight loss and noted so in the Flickr caption:

When watching this tabby cross Panorama, nearby our first meeting 10 months earlier, I thought it to be a new kitty for the series. The animal looked considerably thinner than the one profiled in April 2018. But when examining the photos, markings match. This is indeed the beastie that I nicknamed Roadie. Several residents along the street, which borders a canyon, have told me about the community cats cared for there. It’s a tough life, even in mild San Diego, for these outdoor felines. And I wonder why Roadie is skinnier now.

It is my understanding that Roadie had no other name than the one I gave her for this series. May she Rest In Peace.

From the cat archives: 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,  PounceTortie, HaikuFraidy, PesoDaniel TigerDuskStrideDainty,  Spry,Tabby, Betty Too, Still, Levi, Shadow,  SophieWinkFerals, MommaCharlie, Tux, Cool, Benny, Jellicle, Itchy Valentino, Goldie, Nine, Amanda, Siesta, ChaCho, Charlie, Too, Mika, Crystal, Seeker, MittensDancer, Smokey, Monkey, Captain Blackbeard, Season, Maven, Tink, Chunk, Curious, Hanoi, Bella, Tarry, Guido, Maxine, Mr. Kitty, Peohe, Panda, Frankie, Sunshine, Twain, Willow, Too, Brawn, Reddy, Burglar, Laramie, Lupe, Bright, Tom, Charm, Buddies, Boss, Ohana, Seer, Fresh, Token, Lola, Carl, Bramble, Finny, Cal, Tipsy, Zander, Mew, Penny, Charlie (the Third), Bob, Apple, Persepolis, Sebastian, Too, Holiday, Snow, Desire, Luci, Torbie, E.T., Bushy, Cali, Precious, Gracie, STAR, Sky, Amble, Aylin, Lucky, and Herbie, The Love Bug.