I have a new neighbor since last week. It’s a little gray kitten. It has made the flower pot outside my door his home. Everyday when I go out or come back from work I see it sleeping there. He opens his eyes and looks at me annoyed as if the keys’ chiming woke him up. He is not like those other cats in the neighborhood that when they see me they run away. No, this one has invaded my territory and doesn’t show any sign of being scared of my, almost, two meters.

I have never trusted cats. They have this haughty attitude that no other animal has. Maybe because they can always scavenge for their food, because they don’t really need to be petted (unless they are lazy cats). They don’t need a person around. They can be wild and feel fine chasing mice. I do wonder though if this big population of stray cats in Miami Beach would chase or fight the raccoon or possum population that inhabit these neighborhoods. I often hear at night some cat fights, but would these skinny cats show their scratching and street fighting techniques to a smelly possum? I bet not.

Cucho, must have escaped from that life and prefers the commodity of the flower pot on a second floor, far away of the hazards of the streets. Yes, I’ve christianized the cat and now his name is Cucho. I guess he doesn’t care. He used to hang out with the cats from the first floor, who might as well be his siblings. It’s the Top Cat gang but I prefer the Spanish names where Top Cat is Don Gato, Benny the Ball is Benito Bodoque (I think this name is genius), Fancy Fancy is Panza (yes, like Sancho Panza), Spook is Espanto (same name as one of the best Spanish bands today), Brain is Demostenes (yes, as the Greek statesman) and Choo Choo is Cucho, as my neighbor. All the gang have quite big banquets everyday thanks to an Argentinean lady that lives in the first floor. Milk and wishkas are served generously in some aluminum bowls just next to our mailboxes. What a life! is this Cat Heaven? Only Josephine could know.

I’m not sure how true is the folklore that cats don’t need to bath. That they just lick themselves clean and that’s it. That doesn’t sound very hygienic to me.  So far he hasn’t done any mess or got all muddy after this week’s pour. I’ll give you my flower pot, but let me tell you kitty, I don’t expect you to be a bathing beauty but if we are going to live so close to each other, let’s keep it friendly (and clean).

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Listen
Bathing Beauty & Sir Cecil Savoy – Let’s Keep it Friendly