Honestly, I do try to keep Buster in the house, but he wants out every
now and then. He generally just wants to use the shrubbery for his
litterbox, and then comes back and lies down on the air conditioner in
the window.

From time to time, I check to see if he wants in, but he usually just
wants to sit outside and keep an eye on the perimeter.

It has often been Buster's habit to guard the food bowl from other
cats. Dulce Mae and Spot are welcome, but he tries to fight with the
fluffy orange cat and the fluffy black cat (maybe he just doesn't like
all that fluffiness?). He goes into yowl and threaten mode, making the
other cats take a submissive posture, often chasing them off and
staring them down if they run away.

Well, tonight, Buster was lying on the air conditioner again. I looked
outside, and saw the fluffy black cat, calmly eating from the food
bowl. Buster was just watching. He wasn't bothering the other cat at
all.

Knowing how Buster has behaved in the past, I opened the door to bring
Buster in. That was the moment he chose to protect the bowl - he
yowled at, and began to chase away the fluffy black cat.

It was almost like "Nobody is watching, so go ahead and eat. But the
minute my people notice, I'm going to have to play rough."

Weird. Is Buster just a generous cat, who thinks I'll be upset if I
see another cat out there? Or was he just taking a break from his
guard duties (grin)?

Hugs and Purrs,
Mark