An October Campfire Tale

 A stylized black cat wearing a pointed witch’s hat sits in front of a circular star‑filled background, with a broom angled behind it. The illustration is monochrome with fine line details, giving it a mystical Halloween feel. A small campfire made of stacked wooden logs burns brightly on a rocky riverbank at dusk, with orange flames and sparks rising into the twilight sky. The river reflects the firelight, and trees line both sides of the water in the background.

🎃 Things That Go Bump in the Night

 

🌙 An October Campfire Tale

Gather close… because the nights are long, the shadows are deep, and the tale I’m about to tell is true.

When the lights go out and the world settles into silence, my apartment becomes a place of mystery. A place of whispers. A place where things move… unseen.

I didn’t always believe in the supernatural. But then came the nights — the long, cold October nights — when the darkness thudded, rattled, tapped, wailed, and shook with sounds no human could explain.

Let me tell you what happens here… after midnight.

 A person sleeps peacefully under a blanket patterned with softly glowing paw prints in a dim blue‑lit bedroom. A rocking chair and small table sit near a window in the background, adding to the quiet nighttime atmosphere🛏️ The Footsteps Across the Bed

It often begins around 3 a.m., when the quiet is deepest. You’re asleep, warm under the blankets, when something suddenly runs across your body. Not a gentle step or a cautious pause — a full sprint from ribcage to hip, fast enough to jolt you awake with a shock of fear. You freeze, unsure whether to move, because whatever it is comes back for another lap. And then another. In the darkness, something has decided you’re the racetrack.

🪵 The Thud From Above

Just when you think the room has settled, a heavy thud drops from the top of the armoire — a fall no creature should survive. The sound echoes through the apartment like a ghost crashing through the ceiling. You stare into the blackness, waiting for the next sign that you’re not alone. It never keeps you waiting long.

A black cat perches on the edge of a wooden nightstand beside a digital alarm clock glowing red with the time 12:03. A lamp with a beige shade sits in the background, and the dim lighting gives the scene a quiet, late‑night atmosphere.

 

👁️ The Silhouette on the HeadboardA fluffy cat with glowing yellow eyes sits perched on the back of a wooden chair in a dim blue‑lit room. Softly glowing blue paw prints trail across the surface below, adding a mystical nighttime feel to the scene.

Sometimes the fear comes not from sound, but from stillness. You open your eyes and see a shape perched above you — a dark, unmoving figure sitting on the headboard, staring down with glowing eyes. It doesn’t blink or shift. It simply watches, a shadow with intent, and for a moment your breath catches in your throat.

An orange cat with glowing yellow eyes lies on a misty hallway floor beside a black cat, both illuminated by cool blue light streaming from a window at the end of the corridor. Faint glowing paw prints trail across the floor toward them, adding a supernatural feel to the scene.🐾 The Wrestling in the Dark

Then the quiet breaks with a sudden burst of chaos — a low bump followed by a rolling thud, then the unmistakable sound of something bouncing off the floor. The noises come in quick succession, each one sharper than the last, as if two unseen forces are locked in a frantic struggle just beyond your line of sight. You lie there, listening to the scuffle move across the room, the thumps and scrapes blending into a strange rhythm that sounds like poltergeists battling for territory in the shadows.

🪑 The Rocking Chair That Moves on Its Own

The next moment is worse. The rocking chair begins to move. Slowly at first, creaking back and forth in the darkness. No wind. No footsteps. No explanation. Just the chair rocking on its own, as if something has brushed past it. You stare at it, wide‑eyed, knowing full well that chairs do not move without help. And yet… it rocks.

A wooden rocking chair sits motionless in a dim blue‑lit bedroom beside a small nightstand with a faint candle glow. Shadows fall across the floor and bed, creating a quiet, mysterious atmosphere that suggests the chair may have just rocked on its own.

👻 The Banshee Wail in the Night A ghostly figure cloaked in a flowing hooded robe emerges from swirling mist, its skeletal hands outstretched with faint lightning‑like energy. The face is hidden in shadow, creating a haunting, banshee‑like presence against a dark, smoky background.

Just when the room settles into uneasy silence, a sound rises from the shadows — a long, echoing meow that doesn’t sound like a meow at all. It begins softly, then grows louder, stretching into a mournful cry that could only be described as a banshee wail. It echoes through the apartment like a spirit mourning something lost centuries ago. Then it stops, abruptly, as if whatever made the sound has slipped back into the walls.

🔔 The Tap Tap Tap at the Glass

From the slider door comes a soft tapping. Tap. Tap. Tap. Like fingers on the glass. Like someone trying to get in. You hold your breath and listen, hoping it stops. It doesn’t.

🎱 The Bones‑Rattling TrackballA plastic skeleton with glowing blue eyes sits on a dark wooden chest surrounded by cobwebs, with a small lantern glowing beside it and mist drifting across the floor, creating an eerie Halloween scene.

Then, from somewhere in the darkness, comes a sharp, hollow clatter — a sound that doesn’t belong in a quiet room. It starts with a single knock, then another, each one echoing with an unsettling rhythm. The object rolls, rattles, and spins across the floor with a noise disturbingly similar to bones knocking together, the kind of sound you’d expect from a skeleton dragging itself across an attic floor.

You lie there, frozen, listening as the eerie clatter continues, growing louder and more insistent. The darkness seems to pulse with each rattle, and for a moment you’re convinced something ancient has awakened and begun to move through the room.

Only when the sound finally stops do you realize the truth: it was the trackball.

🌋 The Bed‑Shaking Earthquake

And finally, the worst of all: the bed begins to shake. A tremor. A rumble. A tiny earthquake centered directly beneath you. The frame shudders, the mattress trembles, and the darkness vibrates with unseen energy. You clutch the blankets, certain the spirits have come for you at last.

🎃 The Reveal: Monsters Made of Fur

And then… a shape emerges from the shadows. Small. Furry. Round. Followed by another shape — slightly larger, equally furry, equally chaotic.

The monsters of the night step into view.

Not ghosts nor demons. Not spirits or ghouls. 

Just cats.

Banner, perched proudly on the headboard like a gargoyle. Balboa, fresh off his armoire death‑drop, ready for round two.

All the bumps, thuds, taps, rattles, wails, shakes, and terrors of the night? Just two tiny, furry agents of chaos living their best lives between midnight and dawn.

 An orange cat and a black cat walk side by side down a softly lit carpeted hallway with their tails raised, heading toward a sunlit room at the far end, creating a peaceful and cozy morning scene.

🐈 Final Thoughts

So yes — things go bump in the night in my home. But the only spirits haunting this place are covered in fur.

 

Another Year Another Trauma

 

Banner, a fluffy orange long-haired cat, and Balboa, a sleek black short-haired cat, sit side by side on a wooden table in front of a television while waiting before a veterinary visit. Banner looks slightly downward, while Balboa faces the camera with bright yellow eyes.Another Annual Trauma

Well, we had our annual vet visit today.

Banner and Balboa are both 6 years old now, which makes them 42 in human years according to the cat age chart on Chewy. You’d think by now this would be routine. Well, Banner is okay with it, but not our little black diva, Balboa.

I administered the 2 ml dose of Gabapentin two hours before the vet arrived. I switched to a mobile vet years ago to avoid stressing out the little creatures and, truth be told, myself. Balboa destroys pet carriers and would never tolerate sitting in a waiting room at a vet’s office.

Our mobile vet is awesome. I highly recommend Ross Veterinary House Calls. Dr. Ross has all the patience in the world, and believe me, she needs it with Balboa.

Meet The Drama Queen

Last year, 2 ml was the right dosage. Balboa was mildly stressed but still survived the trauma of getting weighed, poked and prodded, having his teeth checked, getting his shots, and suffering the final indignity of a nail trim.

This year was a different story.

He’s put on a little weight, so we may need to increase his dosage next year.

I gave him his medicine, and while he wasn’t a happy camper, he calmed down fairly quickly. When Dr. Ross arrived, he was asleep on my bed, so I picked him up and confined him to the bathroom. Dr. Ross suggested we do his exam first so he wouldn’t have to stay cooped up for long.

Balboa, appearing sleepy and sedated after medication, is curled up on a stack of folded towels placed on an upholstered ottoman. The black cat is resting indoors under soft lighting, illustrating Balboa's groggy state before leaving for the veterinary visit.

That’s when things went south.

We opened the bathroom door to find Banner standing guard by the tub. I have no idea how he got there. He definitely wasn’t in the bathroom when I put Balboa inside. He must have slipped in as I was closing the door.

So first we had to get Banner out of the bathroom, which is tiny, to give Dr. Ross and her assistant room to work with Balboa. Meanwhile, Balboa was trying to make his escape right over Banner.

Chaos ensued.

Finally, I got Banner out and we quickly closed the door. It started with a few small, pitiful meows but quickly escalated to growls and then full-on cat screaming.

I knew exactly what was happening in there and there was absolutely no reason for the drama.

Banner was beside himself. The louder Balboa screamed, the harder Banner tried to get back into the bathroom to rescue him.

Eventually, Dr. Ross and her assistant emerged, followed by a very annoyed cat. They managed to give him his shots,Balboa's official response to the vet: puffed fur, arched back, unsheathed claws, and a look that says 'absolutely not.'" check his teeth, and complete most of the exam. They did not get a weight, and they only managed to clip the nails on one paw.

Balboa made one circuit through the living room and headed straight for his safe place behind the headboard. Once he’s back there, nobody is getting him out.

Banner’s Turn

But now Banner was all worked up.

Our usually calm and cooperative orange buddy was having his own little meltdown. In his case, it showed up as a racing heart. Dr. Ross said Banner’s heart rate was actually higher than Balboa’s.

I always knew our little drama queen was faking.

Banner, a long-haired orange cat with a thick fluffy coat, sits perched on the edge of a dark wooden surface, staring directly at the camera with alert golden eyes. The softly lit indoor setting and Banner's upright posture create the impression of a patient supervisor waiting for a turn to beginBanner wasn’t especially cooperative about getting his nails trimmed either, but the rest of his exam went well. He had actually lost a little weight. Maybe that’s because Balboa keeps stealing his food.

Unlike his brother, Banner didn’t hold a grudge. As soon as he was freed, he forgave Dr. Ross and stretched out right beside her.

We chatted for a few minutes and I paid the bill. Then I walked Dr. Ross and her assistant to the door.

The Miracle Recovery

When I turned around, there was Balboa.

Friendly. Calm. Completely recovered.

I knew he was faking.

He’s spent the afternoon sleeping off both the medication and his imagined trauma in his kitty condo.

Balboa, a black cat, rests inside a cream-colored carpeted kitty condo after a veterinary visit, lying at the entrance with bright eyes visible in the soft natural light.

So that’s it for another year.

Thank goodness it’s over.

Orange tabby cat and black cat walk side by side down a carpeted hallway, both with tails held high.

Honestly, I think the annual vet visit takes more out of me than it does them.


 

Welcome to Daylight Kitty Time

 Daylight Kitty Time

November 1 is only a couple of weeks away, and I can’t help wondering what will become of my sleep when the clocks fall back… but I don’t think I’ll be getting it this year.

Banner and Balboa have been in rare form for the past 2–3 weeks. Maybe it’s the cooler nights. Maybe it’s their internal chaos clocks. I’m really not sure. All I do know is that around 4 AM every night, Balboa decides it’s time to make biscuits on my stomach. That would be fine — adorable, even — except after a few swishes he reaches for my face. He especially loves to put his paw in my mouth. It’s very hard to sleep when you’re fighting off tiny, sharp claws aimed directly at your lips.

And then there’s Banner.

My bladder insists on a bathroom trip around 5 AM. I tiptoe in, trying not to disturb the pile of fur on the floor, but inevitably he follows… and hops into the bathtub. And refuses to get out. Fine. Stay there. But as soon as I leave to go back to bed, the crying starts — a steady little meow‑meow‑meow that echoes down the hallway.

Back I go to escort him out of the bathroom and close the door. I tell him it’s still night, still sleepy‑time. Right? Right??

Just as I’m drifting off again, the serenade starts up again. At that point I give up. And I wonder why my Fitbit thinks I had a poor night’s sleep.

 

WMEO 9 Spotlight: Felines Who Left Pawprints on Our Hearts

An orange cat and a black cat sit behind the WMEO 9 news desk like anchors, with a microphone and papers in front of them and a fall foliage newsroom backdrop behind the desk.

📰 WMEO Cultural Moment: “Cats Who Changed the Internet”

We Meow- You Listen

Felines Who Left Pawprints on Our Hearts deserve a moment of recognition, and WMEO 9 is proud to share a special cultural segment honoring the cats who shaped online culture. From Cole and Marmalade to Lil Bub and Grumpy Cat, these beloved companions changed the digital world with their charm, courage, and connection to millions.

Banner: “Today, WMEO takes a moment to celebrate the cats who shaped the internet — the ones who made us laugh, comforted millions, and left pawprints on our hearts.”

Balboa: “And they paved the way for all of us newsroom cats who followed.”

Banner: “Lil Bub’s sweetness… Grumpy Cat’s legendary frown… Morris the finicky cat… Oreo… and Cole — the brave, bright soul who stood beside Marmalade for years.”

Balboa: “Cole fought the Big C with more courage than most humans. And he still inspires people. Deborah wears his shirts all the time.”

Banner: “And now Marmalade joins the great ones. A good cat. A beloved cat. A cat whose presence made the world feel kinder.”

Balboa (lightening the tone): “And he had better camera presence than Banner. Just saying.”

Banner (giving him a look): “Balboa…”

Balboa (shrugs): “What? It’s true.”

Banner (closing): “We honor them not with sadness, but with gratitude. Their legacy lives on in every whisker that appears on a screen.”

This has been a WMEO Special Report

 

A Halloween Caution

Black cat sitting in a pumpkin patch

Halloween brings spooky stories, ghostly wanderings, and old superstitions. But black cats are not evil. They are loving companions and symbols of good luck.

Sadly, black cats are often the last to be adopted from shelters. And during this season, some people target free‑roaming black cats. It’s cruel and heartbreaking.

A sleek black cat lounges on a dark wooden mantel in front of a fireplace, front paws stretched out as he gazes calmly to the side. A TV and small digital clock sit behind him, with a blue wall and plants adding a cozy backdrop.

Please keep your black cats indoors and safe. They deserve protection, love, and a world that sees their beauty — not outdated fear.