It was 3:47am. Murdercat was asleep. The human was not. One of them was comfortable.
THE END. (The human was 23 minutes late to work. Murdercat had no recollection of the evening. The pillow is under new management.)
MURDERCAT
Episode 14: "The Feather Wand Incident"
The human had purchased a 'Premium Interactive Cat Toy.' The instructions promised 'hours of joyful engagement.'
Seven minutes had passed. The human kept waving. Murdercat had discovered something interesting about the wall.
Then one feather drifted just... wrong.
The engagement became... extremely thorough.
Elapsed playtime: 4 seconds.
THE END. (The toy was rated for 'all cats.' Murdercat disputed this classification. Feather remnants were found in four rooms. Replacement feathers have since been ordered. Murdercat was unavailable for comment.)
MURDERCAT
Episode 15: "The Great Outdoor Expedition"
The human had purchased a 'Cat Adventure Harness.' The box said it was 'perfect for curious outdoor explorers.'
Murdercat became liquid. This is a scientifically documented defense mechanism.
After nine minutes, the harness was on. Murdercat had not moved in the direction of the door.
Outside, Murdercat discovered the ground. The ground was unacceptable. The entire concept of 'outside' was unacceptable.
A neighbourhood squirrel witnessed the scene. Then slowly backed away. This was the worst day of Murdercat's life.
THE END. (The expedition lasted four minutes and eleven metres. The squirrel has not returned. Murdercat refused to acknowledge the harness for a further six hours. It is still on.)
MURDERCAT
Episode 16: "The Automatic Feeder Incident"
6:38 PM. Feeding time: 7:00 PM. Murdercat had located the feeder. The feeder had not yet located the problem.
Structural analysis confirmed: kibble was in there. Right there. This was a personal insult.
Manual override was attempted. The feeder noted the request. The feeder did not care.
Escalation protocols were engaged. Murdercat occupied the feeder and declared a state of emergency. Terms: food, now.
At 6:59 PM and 59 seconds, a silent understanding was achieved. Mostly by one party.
THE END. (The meal was consumed at 7:04 PM, following a mandatory four-minute dignity interval. The feeder has been placed on a formal warning. It will not be forgiven for the 22 minutes. It knows what it did.)
MURDERCAT
Episode 17: "The Wall Corner Renovation"
The human had invested $47 in a premium deluxe scratching post. Murdercat performed the assessment.
The assessment concluded in 0.4 seconds. The verdict: structurally adequate. Stylistically unacceptable.
An alternative surface had been identified. Location: corner of the south wall. Status: suspiciously intact.
The renovation commenced at 2:47 PM. No permit had been obtained. No permit was considered.
This was the best day of Murdercat's life. (Up from a three-way tie with the keyboard incident and the plant.)
THE END. (The scratching post was relocated to the garage on day four. It serves exclusively as a napping platform. The wall has been filed under "home improvements." Murdercat has identified three additional corners.)
MURDERCAT
Episode 18: “The Threshold Calculation”
Tuesday. 4:22 PM. The human had returned with groceries. Both hands were visibly occupied.
Murdercat had completed the tactical assessment in 1.4 seconds. The window was open.
Freedom was one step away. One. Single. Step.
Outside smelled of wind. Rain. Birds. Grass. The Unknown. The analysis concluded in 0.3 seconds.
The verdict was delivered at maximum zoomie velocity.
THE END. (The front door was open for 31 seconds. Murdercat retreated to the master bedroom closet. Six subsequent zoomie laps were completed. Outside has been reclassified as Unacceptable Territory pending further review.)
MURDERCAT
Episode 19: "The Vitality Assessment"
2:47 AM. The human had been motionless for 4 hours and 23 minutes. Standard protocol required a vitality assessment.
Phase 1 — Proximity. Phase 2 — Olfactory Analysis. Phase 3 — Structural Integrity Test. All phases were mandatory.
Phase 2 complete. The human smelled alive. Possibly. The data was inconclusive. Phase 3 was therefore mandatory.
The bite was precisely calibrated. Not enough to break skin. Enough to acquire data. Enough to determine next steps.
The human was, in fact, not dead. Disappointing, from a logistical standpoint.
THE END. (Owner's nose status: intact. Bite force applied: precisely calibrated. Edibility status: reclassified as PENDING. Murdercat returned to the foot of the bed at 2:53 AM. Surveillance resumed. Next assessment: whenever necessary.)
MURDERCAT
Episode 20: "The Contraband Extraction"
The treats were kept in the bifold cupboard. Second shelf. Left side. Murdercat had noted this on day one. Today was day one of the operation.
The mechanism was primitive. One swift batting motion at the lower edge. The door swung open with no resistance whatsoever. As Murdercat had expected.
Target acquired. The bag was heavier than projected. Murdercat recalculated. Paws adapted. The extraction would proceed regardless.
Phase 4: Transport. The bag was not silent. It crinkled loudly with every step. Murdercat noted this for future operations. Murdercat did not stop.
The location was secure. Concealment: optimal. The bag, however, was not going to open itself. Murdercat committed to the process.
THE END. (Bag status: destroyed. Treats status: redistributed internally. Owner's investigation: ongoing. Murdercat's location: classified. A second bag exists in the pantry. Murdercat is aware. An operational timeline has been established.)
MURDERCAT
Episode 21: "The Sustained Vocalization"
The appointment was confirmed. The carrier was loaded. The meowing began before the door was closed.
The car moved. The meowing did not stop. The human adjusted the mirror. This was a mistake.
MEOW.
Seven minutes elapsed. "It’s okay" was said. Murdercat meowed. "Good boy" was said. Murdercat meowed. "Almost there" was said. Murdercat meowed.
The human reached back. Murdercat assessed the situation. Murdercat continued meowing.
THE END. (The vocalization had commenced at 9:14am. It had not ceased at any point during the journey. At the destination, the vocalization continued. The vet’s assessment: “Lungs: exceptional. Disposition: unimpressed.” The drive home would also feature meowing. Murdercat had no comment. Murdercat was busy meowing.)