Wander Cat Cola

吾輩は彷徨い猫である

Have you heard of Natsume Soseki’s “I am a Cat”? It’s a novel written from the perspective of a grandiloquent (yes that’s a word) and critical cat observing and commenting on the actions of humans in the drastically changing society of Japan in the early 20th century. I think about this book a lot. City cats are really placed in the middle of our society and have to navigate all of our eccentricities. What do we look like to others? How different is everyone’s interpretation of the world and how are our actions perceived by others? And what on earth does this have to do with craft cola!?

The book is part of the inspiration for the Wander Cat name and mascot. The text below is a work of fiction I wrote sparked from that inspiration. You can skip to the bottom for some craft cola updates if you’d like.

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I am a wandering cat. As yet I have no name.

I’ve spent the majority of my life walking the streets observing humans and their behaviors. I had always thought them to be odd and selfish in many ways. A regular activity of mine is to examine humans in their shelter through the glass observation portals in their walls. They place these all throughout their domicile in a manner that is most perplexing to me. I much prefer the safety and practicality of fully covered burrows. Humans seem to lack the sense that we cats have abundantly.

Today is yet another day where I must go out and patrol the city in search of food while monitoring the movement of these humans. I start from a path that runs through the center of the city and is lined with trees. The humans patrol this area frequently but never at such speeds or with machinery that threatens my patrol. From this protected lane I can wander into side paths that lead me to many homes.

I jump up on an iron fence and look into the first portal I see. I’ve looked into this portal for years. Inside I see the same elaborate food preparation room I always see. It’s much more spectacular than any other I have seen in the area and part of me just likes to watch it glitter in the day’s light. All the machinery and tools are perfect and grand. Beautiful bottles lined on shelves on the wall refract light so splendidly. But the most curious thing is I’ve never seen a human using anything in here. I’ve seen them sitting and eating at the table, but it’s with food brought from someone who I know doesn’t live here. I find it most peculiar.

I jump down, satisfied that nothing has changed. Change frightens me.

While patrolling on to the next house, I come across another cat I see frequently around these parts. Her name is Berry and she’s clearly a well fed and strong cat. Black and white with the most interesting pattern around her nose. I try to respect her patrol but today she’s decided to approach me.

“Good afternoon,” Berry says.

“Indeed it is.” I say, trying to cut the conversation short.

“What is your business around these parts today?” she asks me.

“I’m just observing the humans who live around here. I find them to be quite odd and selfish.”

“Well I don’t find them to be selfish at all! I too walk these parts as much as you and the humans let me into their homes and feed me quite well. I have a human of my own, mind you, and while I’ll admit they’re odd in many ways, I wouldn’t say selfish.”

I scoff at Berry’s naïveté. When I was still a kitten a group of humans took me and my littermates and abandoned us on the side of a large path with massive machines traveling at unfathomable speeds. There was little food around but I managed to get myself onto the back of one of those machines. When this moving machine finally arrived in the city I now reside in, the humans attacked me and made me go away. I lost my littermates and I’ve been trying to find food on my own ever since.

“Well I have observed them and their actions much more than you. I see them fighting and I hear the terrible things they say about their neighbors. Humans don’t have the sensibilities us cats do.”

“That may be true,” Berry replies, “but isn’t that all the more reason to have pity on them? And besides, they do feed me and offer me shelter. Have you ever thought about living with a human?”

“I’ve no need,” I retort. “I’m perfectly capable of fending for myself and I find their lifestyle ridiculous. I must work hard and secure my own resources. What is there to gain by trusting a human?”

“Life is a gift, my friend, and it’s best shared with others. One day you will have to ask yourself if you are happy with how you spent that gift. I’ve found joy in extending trust and kindness to humans and I would wish the same for you. There is much to gain in doing so, but there is even more to lose if we don’t.”

I pause for a moment. I had never considered that life may be a gift and I certainly don’t follow Berry’s logic in how trusting humans would satisfy the question of whether or not I honored that gift.

“That’s great for you, Berry, but I am a wandering cat and I know my place. Have a nice day.”

“Until next time!” She says with a stretch and walks toward the benches where a couple of humans sit.

—

Night has come and I find myself on a street where lights are beginning to turn on inside the human domiciles. I find one home and jump up on the wooden fence and look into the portal. There, I see what appears to be a mother and father with a young child sitting on a comfortable looking plush seat that fits all three of them. In the reflection of the glass portal I see myself and this image is lined up in such a way that almost looks as though I’m seated alongside them. It’s a silly image - what would I be doing there? They seem to be looking at a moving picture on the wall but it’s wholly uninteresting to me. The family comes back into focus for me and I see the young boy notice me. Startled, I jump down and run back to the safety of the city’s main walking path.

—

As I continue walking I spot a human girl pushing a cart down the path. It’s decorated with signs that indicate she sells cups of some liquid through the boxes stored inside the cart. She notices me and her mouth raises up at the ends. Confused, I pause and stare at her. She moves the cart so that it’s standing on the dirt and then kneels down and extends her hand toward me. I’m cautious, but Berry’s words keep repeating in my head. Humans have tried this move before but it held no power over me. Why do I feel compelled to learn more?

As I approach her hand she keeps it still until I am able to smell it for a little bit of time. There are no bad smells and nothing that warns me of danger. She then moves her hand slowly and starts petting me. I can’t remember when I was last petted. The only memory I could recall was being groomed by my mother. I let her continue for a bit and then she pulls away her hand. I can hear her asking me if I have a place to call home. I don’t know how to communicate to her that I am just a wandering cat, so I sit down and keep looking at her. She picks me up and places me in a little basket on the side of the cart. I have no interest in protesting. I’ve never experienced being carted like this on the path and I want to see where she takes me.

She brings me to what I assume is her personal domicile and lets me roam. I’m still a bit nervous but curiosity has taken over me. It’s late and I spent the day on a long patrol, so I’d really just like to sleep. I find a safe spot under one of those large cushioned seats humans seem to be fond of.

—

That morning, I emerge from under the seat and am hit by a magnificent beam of sunlight piercing through one of the glass portals that adorn the house. It’s warm and comforting - somehow more comforting than the sun I’m used to outside. I walk up to the portal and look outside. From behind, I can hear the girl approaching me. She starts petting me. I feel safe, and somehow, convinced that this really is a gift.

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August has been a busy month and it isn’t over! I vended at The Vegan Nite Market in Beverly (cherry cola was super popular!) and sold drinks at Yume Wo Katare multiple times this month. That was my first market, by the way. I had a whole booth and table and everything. Soon, I will do a pop-up at New Leaf Espresso. It’s a worker owned cooperative espresso bar, which is a business model I appreciate greatly. There are so many fantastic businesses out there run by people who care about their craft and are open to collaboration. If it’s the first time you’ve ever heard about any of these businesses, I’m glad I could be the one to introduce you to them.

Wander Cat wanders on,