Tag: Cats of University Heights

Photo by Joe WilcoxOct 17, 202610:00 am

The Cats of University Heights: Cutter

Today marks the tenth anniversary of this series, which I hadn’t planned on going beyond 30 days. How many cats could there possibly be in a neighborhood dominated by dogs? Six-hundred-forty-eight profiles later, including this one, partly answers that question.

The project started during a period of eyesight recovery following cataracts surgery in both eyes and ongoing treatment for my retinas, which suffered from Macular Edema. My retinas are long ago healed, and implants replaced my clouded natural lenses. Practice became permanent, and the feline street shooting continued. I sit on substantive backlog of unpublished kitties that need attention.

Photo by Joe WilcoxSep 6, 20269:41 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Choppy

On Sept. 4, 2026, I stopped to chat with one of my neighbors as she walked her dog on leash and pushed a mesh carrier carrying a cat. Choppy is his given name.

I used Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra to capture the Featured Image. Vitals: f/1.4, ISO 25, 1/359 sec, 23mm; 6:47 p.m. PDT,

Photo by Joe WilcoxSep 3, 202610:17 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Gingersnap

This cat is where it needs to be: indoors. Two phenomena are playing out across Nextdoor this year: The overwhelming increase in missing cat posts and, similarly, the number of coyote sightings. Interestingly, this cottage […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxJul 2, 202611:03 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Pango

One-eyed Warrior and this blackie playfully chased one another on May 22, 2026. I have seen neither since. Both stopped and rested under the same car. They could easily be a bonded pair, for there was no territorial tension between them,

I used Nikon Zf and NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens to capture the Featured Image. Vitals: f/8, ISO 100, 1/500 sec, 400mm; 9:58 a.m. PDT. Nickname: Pango, which is Māori for black.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJun 27, 20269:11 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Jolie

Happy Caturday! I held back this kitty, thinking that the Featured Image was Donuts, because of fur markings, size, and location seen. But on closer inspection, they are different animals.

The portrait comes from Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, on April 1, 2026. Vitals: f/2.9, ISO 25, 1/135 sec; 7:44 a.m. PDT. Nickname: Jolie, which is French for Pretty.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJun 14, 20269:40 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Gingerbread

This fine feline is the eighty-sixth found behind door or window. I spotted him on June 12, 2026, during an early morning walk, and used Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra to shoot the Featured Image.

Vitals: f/2.9, ISO 25, 1/2000 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 8:17 a.m. PDT. Nickname: Gingerbread.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJun 1, 202610:30 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Cosmo

Meet the one-hundred twelfth kitty—out 642 profiled, including this one—seen on Alabama between boundaries Adams and Lincoln. Cosmo is the eighty-fifth feline found behind door or window.

The Featured Image comes from Samsung Galaxy s25 Ultra. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 125, 1/100 sec, 230mm; 6:28 p.m. EDT. Cosmo is companion to Comet, whom we shared yesterday.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 31, 20269:05 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Comet, Too

We reach into the more recent backlog for two in a row. First up: Comet, and, yes, that is his real name. He is the one-hundred eleventh kitty—out 641 profiled, including this one—seen on Alabama between boundaries Adams and Lincoln. Why so many? Population density. The street has more multi-unit dwellings than single-family homes.

The Featured Image comes from Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 32, 1/120 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 3:53 p.m. PDT, Oct. 9, 2025. Composed as shot.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 26, 20268:10 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Scotty

I don’t doubt that this kitty’s owners call it something other than my choice of nickname. How could I resist for the series‘ first Scottish Fold, and what a looker it is, too.

The Featured Image comes from Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, today. Vitals: f/2.9, ISO 25, 1/294 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 12:39 p.m. PDT. Scotty is the eighty-fourth feline found behind door or window out of 640 profiles, including this one.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 21, 20269:13 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Darling

Stop a moment and reminisce with me. This series started a decade ago and arrives at its 639th profile, including this one. This kitty is from the more recent backlog (yes, others wait in yet a longer queue). I used Nikon Zf and NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens to capture the Featured Image on April 8, 2025.

My guess on location: The cottages at Meade and Louisiana. Vitals: f/6.3, ISO 400, 1/500 sec, 200mm; 12:21 p.m. PDT. This is a close-crop that removes sunlit areas, which also explains composition choice. Drumroll. Nickname: Darling, for no particular reason.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 17, 20268:34 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Fab

I really should bang out all the felines languishing in the backlog. I expect to not recall some of the oldest beasties and where they were photographed. But I am at a loss about some of the more recent kitties, like this one from Aug. 26, 2025. The Featured Image comes from Nikon Zf and NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens, and there is no companion captures from Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which would have provided location information.

Vitals: f/8, ISO 250, 1/250 sec, 84mm; 10:04 a.m. PDT. Composed as captured. For plaid fabric collar, which might be GPS, this tabby earns nickname Fab.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 2, 20269:37 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Oren

We reach a little ways into the backlog to Aug. 11, 2025 for an unusual putty-tat. Look at those ears, which inspired the nickname, Oren, translated from the Dutch. Oren is the eighty-third cat found behind door or window, since the series‘ start 10 years ago.

I used Nikon Zf and NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens to capture the Featured Image, which is close-cropped. f/8, ISO 560, 1/400 sec, 400mm; 3:01 p.m. PDT.