Buster in the doorway

Buster the cat, by the front door

It's been quite awhile since I posted a picture of our cat, Buster.  Here he is, sitting next to the open front door, seemingly lost in thought.  Maybe he is silently reflecting on his long and active life.

Buster had his 17th birthday this past summer, but as you can see, he is in quite good shape for a senior kitty.  He is very alert and healthy, save for some arthritis.  So, he sometimes goes down the stairs one at a time first thing in the morning, and he no longer leaps and jumps -- but he will still chase a toy across the floor.

Good kitty!

The Cat at the End of the Rainbow

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

You probably have heard the legend that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, right?   I'm here to tell you that the legend is false.   I present this photo as proof that there is, in fact, a cat at the end the rainbow.  Look carefully and you will see our cat, Buster, sitting in the corner of our garden, right under the end of the rainbow.

Another legend debunked!

Buster on his Perch

Buster the cat, on duty

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

It's been awhile since I posted a photo of our twelve-year-old cat, Buster.  Here he is on his favorite perch in the garden.  The perch actually is a large flat rock atop the end of a stone wall that my husband built alongside one of the garden paths.  A creature of habit, Buster sits in repose on that perch, surveying the scene, nearly every day from late afternoon until just after sunset.

Buster On Watch

Buster, the cat

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Here's a close-up shot of our cat, Buster, on watch in the garden.   I first introduced Buster back in March, and I mentioned then that he supervises everything that goes on in our garden.  (What goes on inside the house often seems to revolve around the kitty's needs, too, but that's another story.)

What do you suppose Buster is watching so intently?  Stop by again tomorrow, and I'll show you.

Update: Okay, here is what Buster was watching.

Introducing Buster the Cat

Buster, our cat

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii
Follow Buster on Twitter and Pinterest!

Meet our cat, Buster.  Born in Puako, Hawaii in July of 1996, he's a middle aged kitty now, but he has been with us ever since he was weaned.

Buster is one of my favorite photography subjects, but I also have to say, he's a lousy model!  He's a photogenic animal, but it seems that whenever I catch him in an appealing pose, either he looks away just as I press the shutter release, or he decides to just get up and leave while I'm still fiddling with my camera settings.   Getting a decent picture of Buster can be more of a challenge than photographing wild things.

I call him "our" cat, but in fact Buster is devoted to my husband, and they are constant companions.  They especially like to spend time together outdoors in the garden, where Buster supervises every activity.  Unfortunately Buster also seems to think it's necessary to roll in the red dirt at least once a day when he's in the garden.  As a result, his white fur usually has a slightly orange tinge to it.

2010 Update:  Buster, now fourteen years old, is on Twitter, passing along interesting and useful tidbits about cats and other animals, and sometimes chatting with other kitties.  If you are on Twitter and you like animals, follow @BusterSays

2011 Update:  In April of 2011, Buster moved with the family to Colorado.  He did very well on the long plane ride, and settled into his new home without a hitch.  Buster now lives indoors full time; if he misses the garden in Hawaii, he doesn't show it.  At his new house, he enjoys looking out the windows, watching the birds and squirrels that visit the feeders.

2013 Update: Buster is now on Pinterest, too!  If you're on Pinterest and you like kitties and cat art, follow Buster.