Tag: cats

Photo by Joe WilcoxSep 10, 20228:23 pm

The Meowers of Bark Boulevard

Hurricane Kay brought nominal relief, on Sept. 8, 2022, as it skirted along the Pacific coastline of Baja California and San Diego County. Cloud cover made muggy air and peak temperature of 32.7 Celsius (91 F) more tolerable. My wife and I took advantage, setting out on a mid-morning walk. While trudging down a side alley perpendicular to Mississippi Street, we came upon a mural that I hadn’t seen before.

We had passed by Bark Boulevard, which fronts El Cajon Blvd, often enough. The family-owned business provides doggy daycare and overnight boarding services—hence the name. So I was surprised to see some homage to cats, along the back.

Photo by Joe WilcoxSep 4, 20229:03 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Retro

This morning, I saw someone walking a small dog—until my wife corrected: “No, that’s a cat!” Seconds later, a second kitty appeared—the ever-frolicking Mittens, who energetically engaged the other, which welcomed the play.

Retro (real name) is well-acquainted with Mittens, who has grown into quite the stunning shorthair, since joining the series in March 2022. The two often engage through a window, making something special today’s prancing about.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 31, 20228:53 pm

The Cats of University Heights: August

The month ends with a namesake. Not knowing whether she was adopting a male or female kitten, the caretaker chose something gender-neutral—later learning she had a she. For our series, the putty’s portrait languished nearly seven months for the arrival of today, when August could appear in August.

I used iPhone 13 Pro to capture the Featured Image on Feb. 3, 2022. Vitals: f/2.8, ISO 80, 1/120 sec, 77mm; 12:05 p.m. PST. August is the ninety-first Alabama Street cat between boundaries Adams and Lincoln. She also is the one-hundred-first feline found behind either window or door.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 28, 20228:48 pm

Tabby Trio

Sometimes the moment passes too quickly. As I walked by her residence on Monroe Street, the owner of Apple came out to walk the dog—one or more of the three cats usually follows along. As we chatted, each feline found a stone upon which to sit. What composition! I pulled around Leica Q2 and knelt down to shoot the Featured Image.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 25, 20229:06 pm

The Gardener and Her Friend

A neighbor looks on Ash, one of the “Cats of University Heights“, who has come for some affection. He isn’t her kitty, but she knows him well. The homeowners, husband and wife, keep a beautiful butterfly garden, about which Monarchs are commonplace. Perhaps you recall the chalked “caterpillar crossing” on their sidewalk, a few months back.

The Featured Image is memorable for timing: Jan. 20, 2020. Days later, China locked down Wuhan to combat what would come to be called SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2) that manifests as disease COVID-19. The photo marks a moment of normalcy before a global response closed businesses and ordered citizens to shelter in place. Who could guess what would be?

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 24, 202210:07 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Lanky

In the alley behind Alabama, but clearly living opposite off of Florida, a tabby waited next to a fence on Aug. 16, 2022. She approached and passed, more disturbed by my pulling out iPhone 13 Pro than interested in visiting me. Some kitties are attention-seekers; not this one.

The Featured Image captures the first sighting and the companion going by to the apartment building where she presumably lives. Vitals: f/2.8, ISO 32, 1/255 sec, 77mm; 9:47 a.m. PDT. The other is same but 1/99 sec.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 17, 20228:51 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Forest

This tabby quite possibly no longer lives in the neighborhood, but its caretaker does—and that’s reason enough to share this long-overlooked putty, which is the one-hundredth presented behind either window or door.

I used Leica Q to capture the Featured Image on April 28, 2018. Vitals, aperture and shutter speed manually set: f/1.7, ISO 100, 1/250 sec, 28mm; 7:11 p.m. PDT, which was 18 minutes before sunset.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 13, 20229:52 pm

Someone Saved Bruce

A few days ago, I happened upon the owner of Bruce, Guido, and Little as she walked dog Apple—and two of the tabbies trailed along, as they so often do. She had a frightening tale to tell me. The previous week, someone started to relentlessly pound on her apartment door when she, unfortunately, was showering. She got out of the water quick as she could, all while the banging continued nonstop. The front door opened to an anxious neighbor warning something bad happened to Bruce.

He and Guido had been curled up on the property, towards the back nearby the fence. Some guy walking a dog let it get close to the cats. Suddenly, somewhat unsteady being apparently inebriated, he tripped, which lengthened the leash’s reach—allowing the dog to advance on Bruce, grab him by head and shoulder, and thrash him about the way a canine might one of those stupid plush toys.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 6, 20229:25 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Meegels

The ninety-ninth feline found behind glass or screen resides in the same house as Lucy, assuming that she is still alive. The tabby was nine years old when appearing in the series four years ago. The newcomer prefers window to door, where Lucy would hang out.

I used iPhone 13 Pro to capture the Featured Image on July 2, 2022. Vitals: f/2.8, ISO 32, 1/673 sec, 77mm; 2:59 p.m. PDT. We need a nickname. How about Muffin? Oh, and happy Caturday!

Photo by Joe WilcoxJul 29, 20228:37 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Sneaky

As we walked along Mississippi Street, my wife heard meows behind bushes. I stopped to explore, which prompted the source to go camouflage—and revealed why the kitty beckoned but stopped short of coming out for pats: He (or she) watched birdies.

I pulled out iPhone 13 Pro and captured six shots, and that many is uncharacteristic of my shooting style. But the animal kept looking sideways towards birdsong, presenting obscured profiles. While in two others the tabby’s full face is visible, I chose for the Featured Image cuter expression—even if partially hidden. Vitals: f/2.8, ISO 125, 1/99 sec, 77mm; 6:07 p.m. PDT, July 20, 2022.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJul 23, 20228:40 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Twinkle

We unofficially celebrate Caturday with a basking black seen late this afternoon along Maryland Street. Because kids and kitties live in the somewhat identifiable home, cross-street is withheld to protect residents’ privacy.

I used iPhone 13 Pro to capture the Featured Image. Vitals: f/2.8, ISO 40, 1/99 sec, 77mm; 4:46 p.m. PDT. At least one other feline belongs to the family. I saw the longhair a few months ago but failed to get a portrait.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJul 18, 202212:05 am

The Cats of University Heights: Jabba

Had I passed by this alley window seconds later, the black and white in the foreground would have been out of sight. Only companion Solo would be seen and added to the series alone. Cat-prowling, like so many others things in life, is all about timing.

I used iPhone 13 Pro to capture the Featured Image on May 4, 2022. Vitals: f/2.8, ISO 32, 1/2597 sec, 77mm; 9:54 a.m. PDT. Since Star Wars fans regard as special the date—because “May the Force be with you”—I feel inclined to assign an appropriately silly nickname. How about Jabba, who this shorthair looks nothing like, which is my point. May the Fourth and may the Force? Seriously, people?