As you may recall, Scamper has taken to coming in on cold nights and parking under the couch. She generally sleeps there all night, although on occasion, we hear her banging on the door to be let out. Last night, she came in about 8 or so and began wandering around with us sitting right there in the living room. Since she still claims that we’re out to eat her for dinner, she rarely walks freely about when we’re both in the living room. Once in a while if I’m sitting in the easy chair and am very quiet, she’ll wander a bit before settling down. Sometimes she’ll even play, but only near the door where she can escape if I make any threatening–or non-threatening–moves.

Last night, she sauntered right past us and went into the master bedroom. Just like Junior does. We waited. What could she be doing in there? Eventually one of us got up from the chair and out she came. She then sat in the middle of the living room, watching us with her cat eyes. She brushed her fur a bit and then turned and went back into the bedroom. This time, she stayed in there longer. I got up and went to the kitchen, but even that noise did not worry her enough to scamper out.

After ten minutes or so, maybe longer, she wandered back out, went to the kitchen and then settled behind the couch. We still do not know what she was doing in there. She refused to say. We think she’s picking a spot to sleep. After we’re all tucked in, we suspect she explores the house thoroughly and quite possibly hangs out in the bedroom with Junior.

It’s very strange to watch a feral cat set rules for her environment. The rules change from day to day. We never know if we’re going to see Scamper the Wary and Scared for her Life or Scamper the I Can Go Anywhere and Do.

One thing is constant: She never answers questions. She just looks at us with those intelligent cat eyes, daring us to guess what she is thinking. Now and then, those eyes laugh. But mostly, they just stare, unblinking and mysterious.