A to Z Challenge: Cunning Cheetah Candids

Another A to Z day, another pet. Today, I'm going to talk about my pet Cheetah. No, I don't actually have a pet cheetah. But I do have a pet cat, named Cheetah!

Cheetah is the smallest kitty in the littler, but she is by no means a runt. She is one of the fastest, highest jumping kitties I've ever seen, hence the name Cheetah. She's also adorable. How can anyone resist such a sweet little face?

But watch out! When she has a running start, she will shoot through the air at chest-high level. She looks like she is literally "flying" for a moment, like some sort of flying monkey. And then, she latches onto a tree, and gracefully pulls herself up to the top, quickly and effortlessly. It's almost like one continuous motion. She has the Michael Jackson moonwalk skills of tree climbing.

I just wish I could catch all of this on camera, but she's too fast. Even when my phone or camera is ready, she'll be unexpectedly flying through the air before I have a chance to raise it. All I can hope for are the candids I have included here, of her resting.

Cheetah isn't really a snuggler. She enjoys some good scratching behind the ear and petting once in awhile, but she doesn't like to be held. She would rather jump and climb to the top of a tree than be picked up. But once in awhile, if I pick her up when she's in the right mood, she'll glance up at me with those pretty little eyes with a look of satisfaction. Then she'll close her eyes, and luxuriate in behind-the-ear scratches.

I did not consider myself lucky when I first found the littler of stray kittens in my backyard, but now I see things differently. Every single one of these kitties is beautiful and amazing in their own ways. I am, in fact, very lucky to have found them. They are, in turn, lucky to have found me.


Edit: I was able to snap a new, super cute photo of her climbing in my pear tree: