While walking along 30th Street in North Park, today, I came upon a San Diego police cruiser coming to a parked stop. As an officer climbed out of the vehicle, I coincidentally spied a white cat in the grassy courtyard of a connected-cottage complex. I thought to take a quick photo, but the cop approached and I chose otherwise.

He opened the gate and entered the same property! I couldn’t resist, pulling out Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and turning back. I peaked through the fence expecting to see space where was the beastie. But no, the white was still there, and the policeman stood a short distance away knocking on someone’s door. This was no scaredy cat!

While walking together today, my wife and I came upon Mr. Frankie, enjoying some sun with his owner. But they weren’t alone! Housemate Mickey was outside with them. She is two years old and joined the family at four months. By the way, Mr. Frankie just celebrated his fourth birthday.

I used Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to capture the Featured Image and companion. Vitals: f/4.9, ISO 64, 1/120 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 3:46 p.m. PDT. Second shot: f/2.4, ISO 50, 1/2900 sec, 70mm (film equivalent); 3:45 p.m.

The problem with black pusses is identification. Is this shorthair Noire, who has consistently appeared in a nearby property? In more than a year of walking this stretch of Mississippi Street, I have never seen any kitty on these premises—until this May 1, 2023 sighting.

I used Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra‘s 10x optical zoom to capture the Featured Image. Vitals: f/4.9, ISO 50, 1/250 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 4:39 p.m. PDT. Does this cat look like a mouser to you? The beastie does to me—hence the nickname.

As my wife and I walked along Cleveland Avenue today, I spotted a tan shorthair on the other side of the street. We crossed and were greeted by an affectionately friendly feline that I hadn’t seen before. From behind us, a man coming along with a leashed dog, said: “That’s Cuddles”. A community cat.

By day, Cuddles hangs around where we met him; one of the neighbors put out a bed for him. At night he goes to parallel Maryland to his semi-permanent home, where there is a collection of other cats he doesn’t mix well with. I know them. Our long lost mixed-Maine Coon Kuma used to visit them.

Today, while walking in the neighborhood of Hillcrest, along University Avenue, not far from Eli’s, I came upon a tabby wearing a GPS collar. He moved with assurance, not bothered by my following and unsuccessfully taking a good photo (I got plenty of his back). As he moseyed into a parking lot, someone called “Oliver” to him and said “That’s my cat” to me.

His owner had one of those meshy cat carriers that are often worn on the back. She is former military, from Portland, Ore., and lives here—having once been stationed in San Diego. The thirty-nine-year old was refreshingly friendly, particularly considering current American society’s stereotypes of animosity and division: Woman of color and aging white male are supposed to be enemies of gender and race.

From the door we go to the window: Different resident owners and different wonderous pets. In August 2019, we met Misty, during her last days living in an apartment listed for rent. Same flat, on Jan. 21, 2023, a seemingly scowling tabby looks onto the world where he (or she) cannot go. That’s lucky, too, because it’s pup season and more coyotes hunt the neighborhood streets than is typical. These are dangerous nights (and days) for any of the scrawny scavengers’ potential prey. This situation also partially explains why so many of our recent profiles are indoor kitties.

The Featured Image comes from Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Vitals: f/4.9, ISO 40, 1/900 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 3:16 p.m. PST. For perceived manner and fur coloration that reminds me of a brush, this fine feline earns nickname Bristle.

The 10x zoom camera capability is considerably improved on Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra compared to its predecessor. Look at the Featured Image for confirmation and realization the benefit of having the equivalent of a telephoto lens in your pocket. Vitals: f/4.9, ISO 50, 1/240 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 10:49 a.m. PST.

How did this moment come to be? Our car came out of the repair shop today; my wife and I walked to fetch it. But we arrived a tad early and stretched out the time by going down a side street, which I won’t name because of the amount of detail the portrait reveals (the homeowner’s privacy should be respected). Suffice to say that we had ventured a few blocks beyond the neighborhood boundary into North Park, which is why this fine furball, who earns nickname Cotton, joins the esteemed honorary contingent.

Happy Caturday. We celebrate with a portrait that I couldn’t capture if still using iPhone 13 Pro. But Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra‘s 10x zoom lens delivers better than my expectation. Granted, pixel-peeping reveals mushy details—but, hey, I would have nothing otherwise.

I captured the Featured Image late morning, along an undisclosed street East of and parallel to Park Blvd. Vitals: f/4.9, ISO 40, 1/850 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 10:13 a.m. PST. The ginger is our one-hundred-seventh feline found looking out window or door.