Cross Eyed Cats

I live in a 3 rise condominum in Chicago's West Loop. The area is changing dramatically day to day, with the status quo previously of Ada Homes Projects and Italian communities side by side, being turned upside down with the influx of middle class suburbia looking for a second home.

For myself and my roommates, it afforded a better habitat than most while going to school, with an excellent view of the city and plenty of space. Located right near a field, it benefits our desire to be outdoors often.

In fact, there are only a few things I could honestly gripe about regarding my present living situation and the one that stands out in my mind right now, which I cannot shake, is that damn cat downstairs.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like cats. I might even love cats. When they aren't shedding on everything, they are amazing animals. Intelligent and intuitive, they can be your best friend or worst enemy. That individual potential makes them far superior to their canine partners in domestication.

Dogs are seen as smart, much like dolphins, because when you tell them to do something, you can actually get them to do it. I consider cats intelligent, simply because they don't. They tell you to fuck off. That is an intelligent animal.

Unfortunately, this downstairs cat is ruining all the regal charm a cat should possess. Day after day, I come home to find him on the sill of the double back window staring out, through the screen, taking note of my arrival.

This cat takes note through a strange lopsided look, as it tries to make me out, failing recognition between its severely cross eyed vision. And this is why I can't stand to come home to see this cat day after day. He is ruining my perception of cats all together. He stupidly turns his head to the side, this way and that, attempting to take me in. He has yet to show the fabled perception I believe all cats to have. He is ruining my schema.

I have since run experiments on this cat, while it sat on its perch and have come to only one endearing conclusion. (No, I have not since found the cat adorable). After running similar tests to what the optometrist would run on me, I found that it is very aware that it is cross eyed, which is more than I could say for a dog of a similar disposition.

The fact that it knows it is not seeing as it desires to, is its only saving grace.

Damn that cat.