I had an unexpected visitor today...

I had decided to take a couple of days off, from doing needed projects/etc., after my friends returned to the states- since, I was worn out from all the unpacking. I was upstairs in my new 'entertainment' room knitting and watching old USA tv show re-runs on a VHS tape from a few years ago...

AND, I suddenly looked towards the door and saw a grey tabby cat slinking through the doorway. I do not own a cat. My house rental agreement states: No pets

I recognized the cat immediately- it belonged to someone in the neighborhood. I have had a black, tortise colored, and this grey and white tabby cat in my yard off and on since I moved in. None of these cats will get close to me. As a matter of fact, if they even see me .. they run away... It's almost like: "Oh, no! She saw us, we'd better get out of the yard!"

This particular cat had been in my yard off and on all week stalking the butterflies, jumping up after them, and just having a good time watching the butterflies flitter about.

About a week ago, I was on the balcony re-potting some flowers and he noticed me. This cat, stopped and stared at me then stared at the butterflies... and you could see that he was thinking.. "Ok, if I go now- I won't get to watch the butterflies, she's up there on the balcony.. I think I'll be safe." He stayed out there the entire hour that I was on the balcony doing various projects.

Now, I'm thinking.. it is bad enough to try to get a cat out of the house.. if you know you can pick it up.. am I going to be able to capture or otherwise 'herd' this cat out of the house? After all this house is 3 stories and all the doors to all the rooms are open and we're on the third floor. I sat my knitting down and walked quietly to the hallway and of course he/she scutted towards the stairs. He was frightened and on the verge of freaking out (never good for the human trying to capture a cat to take it outside). I was able to corner him/her and picked the cat up. He/she remained as calm as she/he could under the circumstances and let me carry him to the balcony. He had gotten in the house from the standing open living room door that leads to the balcony. There is no air-conditioning in Germany and I leave this door open for any breeze that wants to enter my house.

I placed the cat gently on the floor of the balcony. He/she decided that I was now his/her newest best friend and proceeded to give me the cat 'leg hug' using the figure eight pattern.

So, I sat down on the steps and petted him/her for awhile. Then, I decided to go inside to get my camera- because, I had been meaning to take photos of the butterflies and now was a good time to take photos of both the butterflies and my newest house guest.

Here are some photos. As always, click on the photos for a larger and clearer view.

(I guess that this means that I can no longer leave the door standing open- unless I want company.)










"I wonder if she'll give me some milk the next time? Or some tuna?"