I am a big fan of repurposing. Take that thing and use it another way. Even when buying something new, I look first for multi-purpose uses. What else can this thang be used for?
But I don’t know about this! I see the rationale, though, and can’t argue with it. One of my neighbors repurposed his Halloween decorations for Christmas. The Featured Image and companion tell the story.
Not every first photo is a winner. This one is more of a loser but nevertheless is worthy enough to be the Featured Image. The companion capture is much better, albeit still somewhat lacking. Both pics come from Pixel 10 Pro XL, which replaces the still functional and charming Pixel 2 XL. But, alas, Google stopped supporting the smartphone at Android 11 (current version is 16).
For today’s morning walk, I left behind Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for chance to get a first shot with the Pixel. Opportunity presented on Arizona Street, which is one block beyond the neighborhood boundary. Hence, the honorary designation. My wife spotted the blackie that paid little attention to us as it stalked birdies.
Meet the last remaining member of a small community cat colony. The oldest two, an abandoned bonded pair living in the alley for at least six years, are absent. Floyd found his way to foster care about a year ago for health reasons. He was adopted earlier this month.
Jingle was left behind with Pops, who was also recently adopted, a sadly emotional debonding. Turns out that Floyd’s new owner would like a second cat, which could be Jingle. Problem: He hasn’t been seen since November 8. One possible reason: The property that the cats claimed as territory is in the early stages of a disruptive renovation, following the death of the homeowner.
We briefly step back from the backlog and present the one-hundred-fortieth feline found behind door or window. Nickname Brim, this handsome kitty lives somewhere along Panorama Drive. Date: Oct. 19, 2025.
The Featured Image comes from Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 80, 1/2000, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 10:08 a.m. PDT.
This fine feline doesn’t dress up for Halloween. His black coat and witchy allure are already perfect—and his name is appropriate for the day of cosplaying: Batman. Well, it’s on his collar tag.
I first encountered Batman at 8:52 p.m. PDT on Sept. 23, 2025. But he was so engaging and seeking of pats that I couldn’t get a full-face view; night shot required him to be still, too. I encountered him once more around two days later in late afternoon.
Cue the music. I had a Twilight Zone moment today. While walking into PetSmart, I heard the cashier tell a customer about weekend festivities. The store will welcome self-described pet parents to celebrate Halloween. There will be “treat stations set up throughout the store”, the checker said. Oh, and of course, humans are encouraged to bring their animal(s) dressed in costume. Seriously? What alternate universe have I unexpectedly entered?
Trick or treat will be Sunday, that’s Oct. 26, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Don’t have a costume for fido or frisky? No problem, PetSmart sells them. Treats are free (I presume), assuming your animal is smart enough to find any. The trick is for those beasts unable to sniff out any, I guess.
The many bargains of Costco are sometimes perplexing; the item carried and what someone would pay for it. Look no further than the Featured Image. Who pays $600—on sale—for a cat litter box? You tell me. If that’s you, no offense intended, but I would really like to know why?
This post’s title tells you what I wouldn’t do. There’s no robotic in the Wilcox household. Plastic bag and a pooper scooper, and either my wife or I keeps our kitties’ litter box nice and tidy. Someone else will pay big for convenience and because their animal is more than a pet. It’s a member of the family, and he, she, or they is (or are) the parent(s).
This series started exactly nine years ago—Oct. 17, 2016, with a kitty nicknamed Scruffy. Living in a dog neighborhood, I expected to wrap up in about a month. How many cats could there be? Nearly a decade later, there are 613 profiles, including this one, and a backlog of photographed but unpublished kitties.
The problem with procrastinating posting putties: I don’t recall shooting some of their portraits, and I must look closely to ensure the animal hasn’t already been published. Oh, my aching aged memory.
According to Sperling’s Best Places, San Diego “has a mild and pleasant Mediterranean climate…The summers are warm and dry, with temperatures usually reaching the mid-70s Fahrenheit (25 Celsius)”. Rainfall: About 12 inches annually. Such an environment practically preserves Volkswagen cars and minivans, which are spared the otherwise audacious expansion of rust.
Hence, old Volkswagen Beetle and minivan sightings are not uncommon. But black ragtop and red body? With two aged mutts that look like they could be as old or older than the vehicle?
Another Caturday night and I ain’t got nobody—but a tabby tat from the series‘ enormous backlog. I used Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra to capture the Featured Image on April 28, 2024. That wasn’t the first time I saw the tabby or anytime sense. I merely present the best portrait from the selection. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 32, 1/250 sec, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 2:03 p.m. PDT.
The putty-tat, nicknamed Buster for no particular reason, is the one-hundred-thirty-ninth feline found behind door or window among the 612 profiles, including this one.
Meet the one-hundred-thirty-eighth feline found behind door or window, since the series‘ start in October 2016. Have you ever eaten Oreo Double Stuff cookies? If so, you understand the kitty’s nickname.
I used Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to shoot the Featured Image on July 3, 2025. Yep, we break away from the backlog and will continue to do so occasionally. Next cat will be one long waiting in the queue.
I believe, but have yet to confirm, that this fine feline is the oldest in the current backlog. The Featured Image and companion come from Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra on March 13, 2024. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 32, 1/640 sec, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 2:29 p.m. PDT. The other: f/2.4, ISO 50, 1/1000 sec, 70mm (film equivalent); 2:29 p.m.
Among the 610 profiles (including this one) in this series, only 35 are from outside University Heights: AI, Boo, Buddies, Charmer, Chill, Coal, Comber, Cotton, Envy, Esther, Fancy, Floofy, Guapo, Liberty, Lonesome, Jade, Kello, Mona, Moophie, Mousy, Mystic, Ninja, Oliver, Too, Promise, Queenie, Pussyfoot, Rascal, Raven, Sammy, Shakey, Tag and Tig, Tempest, Timber, Tom and Jerry, and Tula.