Templeton and Scout in 2005

Our cat Templeton sleeping on a wooden heating grate

The Great White Belly

Templeton loved his belly rubs. And with his great soft white belly I couldn't resist giving them.

Sometimes I'd surprise him, he'd be sleeping and roll over to let off some heat, and I'd gently start to rub his belly. Sometimes he'd make kneading motions into the air with his paws, sometimes he'd wrap his arms around mine, always accompanied by that wonderful purr.

Sometimes, though, he'd use his belly to his advantage. The first time Templeton came to live with me was when I was still in school in Virginia but my wife had already moved out to Oregon. Templeton stayed with me for a few months and kept me company while I finished up my dissertation. I'd be working at my desk and out of the corner of my eye, I'd see him walking in my direction. He'd suddenly stop and flop down on his back, exposing his white belly to the world. He'd watch me and wait for his belly rub. If I didn't get up, he'd hop up, move a few feet closer, and then flop down again and wait for his belly rub.

I never tested how many times he was willing to get up and move closer, even if I managed to resist the first siren's call he'd usually draw me in by the second or third time.

This comes from just before Christmas 2005, just before that awful night when Templeton swallowed a sewing needle. The wooden grate he's sleeping on has a warm air vent just below it, so it became a favorite location of the cats our first winter here in Portland. Scout discovered the wonders of the grate first, but Templeton quickly learned from her experience.

Our cat sitting beside one of our picture windows

Upgrade

This is one of the last pictures I took with my Canon 10D before upgrading to the 20D. It certainly wasn't my last picture with the 10D, not even close, as I like to shoot with two cameras in the field and the 10D has soldiered on as my second camera.

Templeton didn't care either way.

Our cat Scout yawns while resting on the hardwood floor

The Yawn

I purchased the Canon 20D two days before leaving for Japan. I didn't want to find myself in Tokyo without some familiarity with the camera, so that evening I turned my attention to the models at hand before making a quick trip in the rain to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge the following morning. Fortunately, my models never grew bored posing for me, as you can tell from Scout's rapt attention.

Our cat Scout resting beside a wooden heating grate

Tidy

Scout is a tidy sleeper. Templeton is a sprawler, body stretched or curled, legs all akimbo. Not Scout. This is one of her favorite places to sleep, some of the others including her mystery spots in the unseen parts of the basement, my wife's side of the bed, or where she sleeps every night: curled up on my chest.

This was one of the first pictures I took after purchasing the Canon 20D SLR.

Our cats Templeton and Scout sleeping in the living room, Templeton in his Amazon box and Scout on the wooden heating vent

Perspective

The cats resting in their favorite places, Templeton in his Amazon box and Scout by the heater vent. In later years after Templeton died, we bought a cat tree for the new cats to play on. Sometimes I feel a little guilty that we never bought one for him since he did enjoy high perches, but then I remember how much he enjoyed his simple Amazon box. And, of course, or laps.

Our cat Templeton sits on the top of the table on our porch

King of All I Survey

Templeton loved his outside time and if he wasn't exploring the sights and smells of the backyard, he'd usually sprawl out in the grass for a catnap. But he also liked being in high places and couldn't resist the occasional climb to higher elevations to survey the kingdom. This was especially true if I was enjoying a bowl of cereal at the table, he'd wait until I was distracted and then the sounds of slurping would bring me back to attention, Templeton face down and going to town on the milk.

Oh how I loved you little one.

Blooming Irises

Scout sitting in front of the purple irises that used to grow beside the porch. I eventually moved them since we needed to walk where they grew, but at least they provided a nice colorful backdrop for a portrait of Scout.

Our cat Scout sits near a patch of catnip

Struggling Catnip

Scout sniffs the trellis where the clematis will eventually grow. The catnip in front of her was one of her favorite spots in the yard. It grew pretty well when Templeton was the only one eating it, but once Scout acquired a taste for its pleasures, it never grew much above the height it's at now. It eventually died completely when some of the neighborhood cats completely smothered it, but once I blocked off their access a few years later by sealing off the bottom of the fence, a couple of volunteer catnip plants immediately took root and grew strong and tall.

Our cats Templeton and Scout wrestling over a scratching pad

Peace, Love, & Understanding

My wife picked up a new scratching mat which had some catnip in it. I was deeply touched by how readily the two cats were willing to share it.

Nirvana

While both cats enjoy sleeping, Templeton takes it to another level. I hope someday to reach the level of nirvana that he seems to enjoy whenever he's sleeping near (or on) someone he loves.

Our cat Templeton yawning while sleeping in my chair

Glad To See You Too

Templeton reacts to being awakened from his sleep by the click-clack of a camera shutter. Cats look like such vicious creatures when they yawn — while it may look like he's about to attack, it was really just a brief yawn before returning to dreamland.

	The Yawn I purchased the Canon 20D two days before leaving for Japan. I didn't want to find myself in Tokyo without some familiarity with the camera, so that evening I turned my attention to the models at hand before making a quick trip in the rain to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge the following morning. Fortunately, my models never grew bored posing for me, as you can tell from Scout's rapt attention.
	Tidy Scout is a tidy sleeper. Templeton is a sprawler, body stretched or curled, legs all akimbo. Not Scout. This is one of her favorite places to sleep, some of the others including her mystery spots in the unseen parts of the basement, my wife's side of the bed, or where she sleeps every night: curled up on my chest. This was one of the first pictures I took after purchasing the Canon 20D SLR.
	Perspective The cats resting in their favorite places, Templeton in his Amazon box and Scout by the heater vent. In later years after Templeton died, we bought a cat tree for the new cats to play on. Sometimes I feel a little guilty that we never bought one for him since he did enjoy high perches, but then I remember how much he enjoyed his simple Amazon box. And, of course, or laps.
	King of All I Survey Templeton loved his outside time and if he wasn't exploring the sights and smells of the backyard, he'd usually sprawl out in the grass for a catnap. But he also liked being in high places and couldn't resist the occasional climb to higher elevations to survey the kingdom. This was especially true if I was enjoying a bowl of cereal at the table, he'd wait until I was distracted and then the sounds of slurping would bring me back to attention, Templeton face down and going to town on the milk. Oh how I loved you little one.

	Peace, Love, & Understanding My wife picked up a new scratching mat which had some catnip in it. I was deeply touched by how readily the two cats were willing to share it.
	Nirvana While both cats enjoy sleeping, Templeton takes it to another level. I hope someday to reach the level of nirvana that he seems to enjoy whenever he's sleeping near (or on) someone he loves.
	Glad To See You Too Templeton reacts to being awakened from his sleep by the click-clack of a camera shutter. Cats look like such vicious creatures when they yawn — while it may look like he's about to attack, it was really just a brief yawn before returning to dreamland.