Most people know cats are well-acquainted with the concept of “Taking the High Ground.” Ours are no different, but Daphne (so far) is the only one who practices implementing that concept to the extreme.

We located much of our library in the hall at the top of the stairs. This box is, as near as I can tell, the highest spot in the house a cat could reasonably achieve. Unless the attic stairs are pulled down, and if I don’t watch carefully, Daphne will climb those stairs to get into the attic. Daphne is fearless.  Not foolishly so, because she will back away to live to fight another day if Lady is on the warpath, but generally, she’s not afraid of anything.  She’s the most confident cat I’ve ever met.

If Zette is reading, I’m sure she’ll recognize her Buffy cat in this attitude, because, as near as we can tell, our two cats are soul mates.

For what it’s worth, we have twelve foot ceilings, and below that railing visible in the foreground is a drop to a landing about four feet from the first floor, which also has twelve foot ceilings.

Our happy dance episodes for the week involve Ruby who has become eminently approachable if she’s upstairs.  She’ll sit on the ice cream table chair and let us pet her and rub her chin from either side — the hallway or the stairway side.  She even let me pet her twice downstairs this week — a true first. Until recently, the only way we could easily approach her was in the garden window in San Antonio.  We hope she’s learning the chin scratchings and ear rubbings are real nice, and the humans are willing to do that for her.

Rossie is doing well, but still in a holding pattern for approachability development.  She spends a lot of time out from under her dresser and moving around upstairs, so we’re hopeful for her.

Lady has been mostly mellow and affectionate.  Ajax has been clingy. Natasha and Delta are snuggly at night and mind their own business during the day. Tarzan has been learning to enjoy being held.

Sneakers (Sneaky, Squeaky, Squeakers) has been exercising full command of the yard.  We were doing some scaffolding work, and she was supervising our activities. She’s especially suited to the fall season, because she blends into the leaves on the ground.  Can you find the kitty:

Walter and Boomer have been elusive this week (the game camera is out at the ranch recording deer photos), but we have seen Walter twice and Boomer once.