The first weekend I was here, I was sitting in my room, at the window, smoking my pipe. I saw a cat outside. All black, good size. Probably wild.

Since then, I’ve seen him occasionally. When it’s nice and warm, he sometimes sits on the little knoll in front of my window. And once in awhile I see him running somewhere else.

Tonight, I stepped out of my room to get a snack in the kitchen, and the door to the hallway was propped open. These hallways are inside the building, but they are unheated, the outside doors are left open, and it’s pretty much “the outside”.

I wondered if the open door was intentional or not (Sometimes you can accidently snag it on the throw rug in front). Before I was able to ask one of my flatmates, however, I saw the cat in our flat. He saw me, and tensed up.

This was my chance! I made a little clucking sound and rubbed my fingers together. He ran up. I petted for about five minutes. Choice! Solid cat, well-fed. Jumps into my lap, purrs.

I went into the kitchen to ask if the door should be open. He said, “yeah,” and then saw the cat that had followed me. “Oh, the cat is in,” he said, “better put him out.”

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Pff. Anyways, he rounded the cat out, then returned to the kitchen. The cat came back of course. When he did, I cught him and brought him into my room. Spent fifteen minutes, I watched him closely to make sure he wouldn’t start spraying or any other nonsense. He seemed hungry, but I didn’t have anything to give him, and didn’t want my cover blown. I left the window open. Made a few quick motions, he became alarmed. Smart cat. I let him jump out. Perhaps he’ll be able to jump back in someday, although it’s a pretty decent height. In any case, I’ll be sure to have some food on hand for him next time.

I like cats.