Operation: New Resident
Suspect: "Vinnie" (Vincent van Gogh Kitty)
Species: Tabby cat
Status: New household resident – unvetted
Arrived: Sunday, April 12, 2026
Method of entry: Suspicious tote bag
Threat level: Unknown. Hissed twice. Touched noses once.
Case status: 🔍 Under active surveillance
Sunday, April 12, 2026: The Suspicious Tote
≈1:30pm: Some people came over. A suspicious tote bag appeared in my kitchen. I investigated. 🔎
I continued investigating…
1:59 pm: Another suspicious tote bag of sorts appeared, this time in my living room. It has screens like the one I climb by my back door. And there's something already in it...I investigated. It hissed at me.
2:00pm: The hissing did not deter me from my investigation. I made my way to the front of the suspicious item for more sniff tests.
2:01pm: I stuck my head into the suspicious tote. There's a cat in there. We touched noses. I'm not sure how I felt about that, so I continued my sniff tests along the outer perimeter.
2:06pm: My humans discovered the suspicious tote is empty. They found the contents in the bottom house of my cat tree. I'm not sure how I felt about this.
Surveillance image: Subject located. Hiding in my cat tree house. I'm not sure how I felt about this. 🔍
2:07pm: The suspicious tote had been moved to the office, across from my cat tree. Then, the suspicious cat came out of my cat tree house and into the tote. He stayed there.
2:10pm: The suspicious cat poked his head out of the tote and hissed at my human. I'm not sure how I felt about this. I wasn't in the room.
2:20pm: I posted up outside of the suspicious tote. I watched. I waited.
2:25pm: I resumed my perimeter sniff tests. Since it was moved to a different room, there may be different scents. There's also a couple of food dishes next to the tote. I investigated those, too.
2:29pm: Sniff tests ongoing. The suspicious cat poked his head out of the tote and looked at me.
Surveillance image: Optimal observation distance established. I watched. I waited. 🔍
2:30pm: He's still poking his head out the front, completely still, staring at me.
Surveillance image: Subject made visual contact. Neither of us moved. Several seconds passed. 🔍
2:33pm: The suspicious cat retreated back into the tote. I slowly made my way to the front for a better view and continued my surveillance.
2:41pm: I posted up on the other side of the carrier. I continued my surveillance for several minutes.
Surveillance image: Repositioned to the other side for a different angle. Thorough. 🔍
2:44pm: I resumed my post at the front of the tote and continued my surveillance for another several minutes.
Surveillance image: Resumed post at the front. Surveillance is a marathon, not a sprint. 🔍
2:50pm: I resumed my sniff tests along the outer perimeter of the tote. I poked my head in again. And sniffed. For several seconds. I lifted a paw as I considered joining him in the tote, but the look on his face changed my mind. Very suspect. Sniff tests resumed.
2:55pm: I distanced myself and posted up on the left front side of the tote. I stayed there for several minutes before conducting more sniff tests.
Surveillance image: Strategic retreat. Still watching. Always watching. 🔍
3:37pm: I'm repositioned outside of the front of the tote again. But Vinnie isn’t in there. He found a spot to hide behind the mirror, only peeking his head out to hiss.
Surveillance image: The tote: empty. The suspect: relocated. Surveillance: ongoing. 🔍
3:38pm: I tried to assume my surveillance position, but my human kicked me out of the office to give the suspicious cat "some space" - whatever that means. So, I posted outside the office door to continue my surveillance. I remained in position for several minutes.
Surveillance image: Removed from the premises. I adapted. The door does not deter me. 🔍
Final Notes for the Day:
Vinnie stayed hidden behind the mirror for the rest of the day. I was eventually allowed back in the office, where I continued my surveillance from a safe distance. Case status: ongoing.🔎