This is why you don’t walk carelessly through the savanna — there may be big cats lurking.

Here, though, the only ones likely to be in danger are Chloe and Dusty. Dusty is up near the street, barely visible. Smokey just happened to decide, quite by coincidence, to plop himself down close enough that Chloe and Dusty — especially Dusty — could see him. As soon as Smokey heard me coming he turned around in all innocence to face away from the other cats.

Smokey is an affectionate cat, but, as I have mentioned before, he makes Dusty’s life hell. Sometimes he chases Dusty and sometimes he just sits and watches him. He’s well practiced at the art of intimidation.