~ The Cats of Westdale ~

Westdale, the area of Hamilton that I currently call home, has an usually high proportion of dogs and cats...and squirrels! I've never seen so many dog walkers. It's like being in "101 Dalmations" and watching all the owners that have similar features to their furry friends.

The dogs at least seem normal. Quite well behaved, well groomed, and bark from time to time at passers-by. The cats however, are somewhat of a phenomenon.

Out of my six or so encounters with out-door cats, I have been approached by 4 felines in the most familiar and unreserved way. The first time, this black cat with gleaming green eyes had just crossed my path. Now I've never been superstitious, but it got my spider senses tingling all the same. Then, it approached me at a frightening speed, and proceeded to purr and figure-eight up against my legs. When I froze wondering if it had rabies or something, examining for froth around the mouth from my 5-foot advantage, it started these weird sort of hops that contacted its head with the palm of my hand. A "self-pat" of sorts. Perplexed but convinced that this cat did not have rabies, I gave it a light pat on the head and tried to walk on. It followed me for 20 feet and then went back to its house.

Weird! Another time I was walking to work and the very same thing happens with a tortoise-shell. And again on another occasion. Then, just tonight, I was checking the mailbox of the house where my roommates and I are house-sitting, and out of nowhere, this striped grey tabby flies onto the front door-step and meows, rubbing up against my pant-leg. I had a hard time getting into the house without it following me in.

So, my unprecedented encounters beg the question: Is there something in the water here that only expresses itself in cats, or do I have a huge sign around my pants that says, "Come to me kittens of Westdale!"