City Kitty

Meet City Kitty. She lives under a building in downtown Sarasota and has been cared for by an employee for years. Usually, City Kitty is shy and it's a rarity to see her. But, recently, I've spotted her several times. Word on the street is that an opossum moved in to her dry, warm space under the building and now she's forced into the elements (sun, rain, wind) when the pointy-faced marsupial decides he wants to be there. I was surprised to hear an opossum lives downtown, so I did some research and learned the following: (1) opossums are short lived -- just 2-4 years; and (2) their predators include cats. Either City Kitty needs to get a bit more aggressive or wait it out. (Too bad there isn't an opossum relocation program.)

Wednesday Doorway: Tropical Cat

The bright colors prompted me to pause for a moment during a neighborhood walk and take in this doorway. And that's when I noticed the smokey feline peering through the vegetation protecting the area like a tropical jungle cat. I'm still not sure what to make of it all. Especially when you toss the cat carrier into the mix.

Cat Walk

There's something about seeing a cat at a park going for a walk on a leash that is just so cute.  This is Lovey, an 18 pound feline who thinks he's a canine.  (Yes, a boy cat named Lovey who acts like a dog!)  Lovey was raised with dogs and loves to go for walks and hunt.  His fur is as soft as cotton and he keeps his whites very white.   I met him and his owners at Red Bug Slough in Sarasota, where he was prowling around the children's play area.  I'm told he also enjoys hitting the park trail.

Cat Tale

Sometimes the story behind the photo is as interesting as the picture itself -- or more so.  Driving home from work last night, I stopped at Rosemary Court to snap a few shots.  (After posting this photo recently, a few kind souls requested more pics of the area.)  The sunlight was conducive so I set out, Canon in hand, clickety-clacking along the worn brick pathway. Trying to capture the sunshine glimmering on some nearby azaleas, I crouched low then shimmied near a concrete wall.  That's when I heard the rustling of a thick black snake slithering over dried leaves and grass about three inches from me.   Since I was almost at eye level with it, I got a really good (albeit quick) look.  And,  being the non-reptile loving person that I am, I nearly tumbled out of my Etienne Aigner sling backs leaping to my feet.  Spinning around, I found myself face to face with a yellow-eyed black cat which had materialized from the shadows of a palm tree and desperately wanted to make friends in the 90 degree heat.  What could I do...but memorialize the moment (especially when the feline flopped down and posed for me).  Turns out this one (unnamed) is the friendliest of the three black cats which have called Rosemary Court home for quite some time.  The groundskeeper says the snakes (yes, plural!) appeared recently.  Duly noted for my next photo shoot there.