Have I told you? Recently, I have begun to have a nightly visitor. Yes, you read that right. Somebody in my neighbourhood visits me every night after I have fallen asleep. He either watches me while I sleep, or he will enter my room through my open window and share my bed. At times, he will explore my room in silence.

I don’t know when it started; I suspect it began after I stroked him at the lift landing area last month. One evening, when I returned from work, I saw this beautiful black and white cat sitting at the lift landing swishing his tail. He started mewing when he saw me, so I talked to him and stroked him a bit. (What? It was just a few words!)

He followed me to my door, but I didn’t let him in. I did give him water though. I think that was my undoing.

Now he visits me every night, through my open window beside the corridor (I didn’t know cats can jump that high!). The first time I discovered his presence was when my alarm clock went off. I opened my eyes and saw him doing his catwalk on my desk. He looked at me calmly after I did a little scream, strolled to my window, turned to make eye contact one last time, and leapt out onto the corridor in one fluid motion. Now that’s a cat that’s schooled in theatrics!

While I don’t mind cats outdoors, I don’t want them in my house, and most certainly not on my bed! Some people think that cats are cleaner than dogs. I don’t think that’s true. Cats clean themselves by licking their fur. Now which do you think is cleaner? Fur with unseen dried saliva or dried fur cleaned with shampoo that has been rinsed out?

Some friends have suggested that I sleep with the air-conditioner running and keep my window shut. Well, I can’t. My poor nose would keep me awake all night. Others have suggested that I use the fan in place of the air-conditioner, with shut windows. Well… same difference.

At least he doesn’t defecate in my room. I’m thankful for that. I just hope he doesn’t think so highly of me as to leave dead rats or cockroaches on my doorstep as an offering. I think I will freak out.

Hmm… I think I ought to stop petting animals that don’t belong to me.

Advertisement