Strasbourg’s cats live on steep rooftops,
rest on high windowsills,
sleep on chimney tops,
stalk pigeons on ridgelines, and enter and exit their homes via high rooftop windows.
They notice, eventually, the biped with telephoto, and I could see it shocked them, to be watched so quietly, so intently, like they watch everything.
Lucky felines. No bipedal landlubbing for these cool-cats.
They much prefer looking down on mere humans.
Of course, some poor cats have yet to claim their rooftop-aeries,
and have to settle for schlepping down-low with humans.
Cheers to you from all the cool cats~
Purrfect fab photos! Meowza!
The 🐆🐆 and I thank you, and wonder who you are. We all like the mystery.
They are beautiful and a delight to watch.
I had so much fun watching these 😻😻 and they had the best 😻 life!
🙂
I’m glad they look happy and in good health. I love taking pictures of cats too when I travel. Really enjoy this post. Thanks Cindy!
These were definitely cosseted 😻😻!
Some very cool cats indeed Cindy. 🙂
The rooftop ones definitely agree with you!
Great photos. My cat would be envious of those on the rooftops.
I think all 😻😻 would be very jealous!
You know me and cats, Cindy
One of the many reasons I like you……. 😻
Oh. I’m blushing here. 🙂
=^._.^=
Oh.. they are so cute! I just love them.
I love 😻 lovers!!
🙂
I’ll be down with the schlepping cats, Cindy. I’m scared to death of heights. Great photos!
They will be so grateful you are there…….as long as you feed them! 😻
What a bunch of beautiful kitties. Have you seen the French animated film “Une Vie De Chat”? The English title is “A Cat in Paris”. It’s really a fun film.
I have not seen it, but thanks for the tip, I will watch it on youtube. It’s great to hear from you! I was thinking about you yesterday, wondering how you are. 😻
I’m plugging along.
I hope that is good……. <3
It’s good.
Great news!
All beautys 🙂
They think you have excellent taste! 😻
🙂 🙂
Oh, Cindy, I adore cats, and these are the most gorgeous photos 💜
All 😻😻 are incredibly cool! Hugs to you Tina~
These cats are marvellous! They look right at home on the rooftops.
They were right at home. It was the pigeons who looked nervous!
Fun post, Cindy. I did not notice the cats when I was in Strasbourg!
I love European rooftops, and I have found all sorts of interesting things going on up there! 😉
Lovely cats! In India, people prefer to have pet dogs.
I didn’t know that.
My friend, the first picture is absolutely stunning. The purple pipe and the purple reflection in the fur are breathtakingly beautiful.
You are such a lovely friend. 😽
Great shots, and so cute. But then I like cats. <3
I like 😽😽 too!
Love them, just love them,
Of course you do, which is why I love you! 🐈
I was recently in Strasbourg for a day! Such a gorgeous city. Maybe I saw some of ces chats. 🙂
Isn’t it a beautiful city. Next to Prague, it is one of my most favorites. So happy you were there!
Amazing photos, the look of them!😻
They are cat-tastic! 🐈
Thank you from the cat lovers, and our masters! 🙂 <3
Exactly!!! 🐈🐈
Merci mon amie! <3
😽😽
that calico is a beauty!
I love calicos. So Gorgeous. There are two different calicos here, one on the roof, one on the ground, but you can’t really tell unless you see the photos side by side.
Those are some lovely looking cats, Cindy. What an interesting view they must have.
Leslie
Humans are just another potential target! 🐈
🙂
Very cool cats!
The 🐈🐈 agree with you!
My goodness! I have never seen cats do this. How fascinating and great pictures!
🐈🐈 are secretive critters. They were shocked when they saw me watching them!
I love all cats, but I especially like the second one because of her coloring. (Calico cats are almost always female.)
Reblogged this on Manx, Tabby and Tortie: my life with cats and commented:
Reblog of Cindy Knoke’s “Les chats de Strasbourg”. Her photographs are amazing and her subjects engaging!
I love 🐈🐈 lovers and I am thrilled everytime I see a calico and I saw two in Strasbourg! Cheers to you and thank you too~
Cindy, I love this so very much.
Of course you do, you love all creatures great and small and I love you for it!
Pingback: From: Cindy Knoke…gorgeous felines | Rethinking Life
The grey cat is a real beauty.
Yes! She is and quite smart too~ 🐈
Cats are my favorite animals and these are gorgeous. Thanks so much for sharing!
I <3 🐈🐈 lovers!
I used to be a cat lover and had a few before I got married and had kids, but now I just admire them from afar. Thanks for sharing as I love their looks and personality.
I do too. They are so regal. Cheers to you Antionette and have a wonderful weekend~ 🐈
Yes, it was and I hope it was the same for you my friend.
<3 <3
Cats on the high wire! What fun they must have up there!
Serious fun. It is like their kingdom up there and they even have pigeons to stalk. I loved watching them go in and out their bipeds windows!
You have captured the reincarnation of so many of my dearly departed gods & goddesses. I’m so happy to see once again my beloved Boris who is alive & well in your top shot. He hasn’t changed at all during his sojourn in the upper world. And my dearest Guido in your last shot. And who knew that my Sophie & Coco are here with me now, yet their doppelgangers are prowling the rooftops of Strasbourg.
We are their humble servants.
We are indeed their humble servants! The top cat, looks exactly like my beloved Truman and seemed just as smart. 🐈🐈
Have a wonderful time in Strasbourg – the photos are incredibly beautiful!!!… Oh my God, i´m having a cats crash <3 <3 and being nostalgic over our holidays in Strasbourg, a couple of years ago… 🙂 Many greets and bright, warm sunny days!!
Holidays in Strasbourg! I am imagining the Christmas Markets and hot mulled wine! Heaven~
🐈🐈
I think they’re taking over… Should we be worried? 😉
Nah, I think they will rule justly from on high and they have a big advantage over humans, they don’t tweet!
😽😽
I’m such a sucker for cats! GREAT photos – that long haired is just gorgeous!
I had a cat that looked exactly like her so I was instantly smitten! 😽😽
Cool cats indeed!
They agree with you!
We are not cat people, but these felines are adorable. They have this sort of mischievous look. Hehehe!
All cats have this look when on high, like they are always considering whether or not to pounce on creatures below!
Wow, cool rooftop cats
Lucy would bark her head off at them, but they would just ignore her up there!
As a cat lover, this is beyond my fave post. This post is on its own special. TY, Cindy!
No wonder you and I get along so! <3 😽😽
https://superduque777.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/ella-tigre.jpg?w=950
Now that is what I call the king of the cats! Love the artwork. 😽😽
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bitea1_2NT0/UQw-MjHQ7YI/AAAAAAAAFOU/IKEzizZR2tg/s640/hada+circulo+agua.gif
🐱
Cheers! 🙂 xo
😽😽
Thanks for sharing some very cool cats on roofs in Strasbourg!
Love it Cindy 💛
They were so much fun to watch and to share with fellow 😽 lovers!
Hey Cindy,
I heard whispers on the grapevine (and a notification in my in-box!) suggesting that you had several photos to share and so I nipped across the puddle to see them for myself. And I am so pleased I did. As a cat-lover I adore them all…although I fancy I fell into the green eyes of the last cat and am not certain I’ve yet come back out 🙂
The first image I viewed in a separate widow and relished its textural quality, the sharpness diminishes to leave a sumptuous wash of grainy colours that had me fooled into thinking it were a painting: perhaps a watercolour or mixed media. It’s quite beautiful, thought provoking as well in as much that it reminds about the translucent quality of colour.
I put together a line or two as a thank you for the post…
For the felidae free to just live and be,
who choose to dwell most precariously
in charming rooftop domesticity,
high above Strasbourg’s fair City.
~
Sharing all but the fall of any fool
without fur or feline sway who strays,
else seeks to stay and linger longer
lazily gazing through summer’s soft hazing
across steep tiles towards steeples rising,
it’s inspiring.
~
From our throne our rooftop home we Calico,
we come and go at the whim of our pleasure,
our leisure measure of our notoriety and fame,
although some remain in disdain of our elevated plane,
thinking our aloofness a loftiness and not pedigree,
but we rise above such foolishness and fancy,
feeling it fashioned by those without thrones,
those without sunlight igniting calico stone,
or those without a Calico warming cold bones.
~
So when you next see a Calico pedigree,
a felidae of unimpeachable high class.
Observe soft paws pause compose and pose,
watch as a cool cat exudes gravitas.
~
Thank you for sharing your wonderful photographs. I imagine you must have accumulated a vast library of images whilst out and about on your travels. No doubt all those memories will return in abundance once again when you are home reviewing your pictorial memories and selecting the best of them for our enjoyment. Thank you in anticipation of the next post 🙂
Hoping all is well with one and all and life a peach on a beach. Take good care.
Namaste 🙂
DN
You are so brilliant! You captured their essence so stunningly. I love the start and finish, and all the in-betweens:
“For the felidae free to just live and be,
who choose to dwell most precariously
in charming rooftop domesticity,
high above Strasbourg’s fair City.”
And:
“So when you next see a Calico pedigree,
a felidae of unimpeachable high class.
Observe soft paws pause compose and pose,
watch as a cool cat exudes gravitas.”
Your talent is awe inspiring and this is wonderful!
Hey Cindy 🙂
Your photographs lead my cat-like curiosity to discovering new places where my imagination follows flows and flowers. It is then that you leave me to sit quietly alone gazing out through the eye of your camera onto doorsteps and rooftops chimney pots and archways in search of fluff and fur-ball 🙂 If not for your detailed and descriptive photographs there would be no poem. It’s why I visit: to always be charmed and enchanted by sights I’ve never seen, and besides your energy and enthusiasm are infectious and the ‘Cool Cats of Strasbourg’ are just way to cool for school to have missed out on 🙂
I wonder what your artful lens will reveal for our appreciation, enjoyment and inspiration next time? 🙂 We shall just have to wait and see.
Thank you for kind comment on the poem, a thank you for the enjoyment of being here.
Wishing you brightest blessings for the week ahead Cindy. Take care of one and all as you undoubtedly always do.
Namaste 🙂
DN
What beauties and fearless, too. <3 Great captures, Cindy – that must be one long lens!
Gets me up close and personal and I think the critters sense it! 😺
beautiful cats in Strasbourg. did they speak french?
Please note that I have nominated you for the “ONE LOVELY BLOG AWARD.” Go check and follow the steps which will guide you what to do next. I wish you Good Luck !
Well, cats of course don’t bother with inferior bipedal languages, they expect all bipeds to learn their verbal and non-verbal language. And pretty much every biped learns, even those who don’t like felines, must learn, at least the rudiments of their verbal and non-verbal cat language, in order to nicely pass the cats they meet on the street. 🐆🐆
Thank you so much for your kindness. It made my night~ <3
Your photography is always wonderful Cindy, but there’s something really special about the colour, composition, and framing in the first photo, and the third to fifth photos – the ones on the roof. They are all quite special.
Alison
Well, special from you Alison, is pretty big. Your photography and your writing, just consistently blows me away. You are one of the reasons I am lucky to blog. I get to talk with you.
<3 back at you Cindy
There is something bewitching about cats that have captured the imagination of authors.
Nice photos Cindy.☺
It is because they master the art of living with us, but remaining separate, which is pure genius.
Wow…courageous kitties! Our older cat stays on the garage roof most of the time when she is outside. She loves to look down on us when we walk by. She is to be a house cat…but that makes her so very unhappy. She is now 11 years old…so we let her make up her own mind! 😉 Your photography captured the cat’s attitude to perfection. They are unique!
Your cat sounds lucky! We can’t have cats at The Holler because of the coyote packs, but if the cat hung out inside and on the roof, it would work. 😸
Los gatos son altivos y libres y, a su manera, son muy cariñosos. ¡Me encantan los gatos! Muy buenas fotos. Un abrazo, Cindy <3 <3 <3
Abrazos y besos mi amiga amable! 😸
Such sweet photos; I love that you notice the cats, high and low.
My husband and I have inborn cat geiger counters! I am always buying deli meat for stray cats in all sorts of countries. It’s wonderful to hear from you and I hope all is well with you! 😸
🙂 You sound like my sister….when she visits me cats just appear from nowhere. Cats I have never seen before start peering in my windows to talk to her. It’s extraordinary.
My husband is just like this. He speaks fluent 🐱!
🙂 🙂 🙂
They are lovely! <3
They admire your excellent taste. 😸
😀
I’m feline so pawsome just looking at these gorgeous cats! ₍˄·͈༝·͈˄₍˄·͈༝·͈˄ヽ(=^‥^=)丿˄·͈༝·͈˄₎˄·͈༝·͈˄₎
(^._.^) <3
Gorgeous shots Cindy!! I have 5 rescued strays they stay strictly inside..I’d freak if they were out! 😵 Keep up the awesome work!👍👍
Yes, where I live cats cannot go outside due to coyotes. These roofcats have an ideal life, free to come and go with the rooftops as their kingdom and perfectly safe~
I love cats! And agree with Albert Schweitzer when he said, “There are two means of refuge from the misery of life – music and cats.”
Laughing! So true! (^._.^)ﾉ
How many did you bring home? 🙂
It is the strays that I always badly want to bring home, but The Holler has several active packs of very hungry coyotes that would make their life far too brief. 🐈
Great photos, Cindy! Looks like most of these felines are well fed, too!
Thankfully, I didn’t need to go to the corner deli for chicken slices……
Cindy, those are some pretty cool cats! I have never owned a cat; I’ve always been a dog person. The 5th cat down is my favorite because of the variety of color!
She is gorgeous isn’t she, and definitely in charge! 🐈
Yes! I hear that about cats. I’ve never owned one.
😻
Cats of many colors!!
Gorgeous calicos! 🐱
Reblogged this on Random Ramblings; Myriad Musings and commented:
Some lovely photographs of roof-dwelling cats, courtesy of Cindy!
😎
The 🐱🐱 and I are grateful for your friendship! <3
In jungles, various animals reside at different levels of the canopy. Maybe this is like the urban jungle idea… some cats on roof ridges, some on chimney tops, some in window’s…
-Oscar
Works for me, but more importantly, seems to work very well for them! 🐱
Hi! Beautiful shots again… I wanted to give you a heads up that you are my 365 Daily Challenge “Recommended Blogger” to know tomorrow (Monday) when I release my post in the late morning / early afternoon. I’ll link back to this page and tell everyone about your amazing photography. Thanks for sharing!
Oh my! Thank you. I will definitely check it out and I very much appreciate your thoughtfulness~ 🐱
Schweitzer had it right, ya know. …..and each cat, no matter where they live, has its own personality. …and lord help the human that tries to change it ! Ha ! Loved the pics, Cuz. Hugs !
Hope your 🐱 is doing well cuz!
She’s doing great, Cuz. Rules the house like a queen. You’re not near any of those wildlfires are you? 🙂
Nice glaring (of cats) and:-
“Pardon me boy is that the cat that chewed your chew toy,
Track 29, got to be there on time”.
:-D.
Wow! You are a musical encyclopedia….but Chattanoogo Choo Choo is quite impressive!
Ta. A little fun to brighten the day. 😀
It did just that!
Ms. Biped, I think you’re a cool cat. Fun post.
Thank you. This is why it is good to have great friends! 🐱
The grey one looks like it’s eaten all the pigeons by itself 🙀.
Great photos, makes me want to roam 😊
I think it may be all fur and no substance……there are people like that, I have heard!!! 😉 😉 🐱
Hahaha 😄
Absolutely wonderful photos !!!
Thank you for sharing …………….
Thank you more for your 🐱 appreciation!
The fifth cat looks like my old cat, Pepper. He had a big fluffy tail, like a Maine Coon.
I had a cat who looked like him too. Love Main Coons! 🐈
A great tribute to cats, Cindy, and their high-living lifestyle.:) –Curt
They always are above us, even when on the ground!! 🐈
Fun… such is the life of a cat. 🙂
How fun! They are so cute too.
The 🐈🐈 and I thank you!
Had to show T. He loves these.
Awww, makes me happy to know! Hug him for me~ 🐈
Amazing photos, as usual. Cats never seemed so special! And I also loved the roofs!
These are lucky French chats! 🐈
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
The cool cats of Strasbourg from Cindy Knoke
You are a very cool 🐈 Patricia! Thank you~
Such adorable pictures… <3
Ah, thank you very much & cheers to you! 🐈
They are lovely! These photos are so sweet, Cindy. 🙂 <3
Aww, the kitty-kats and I thank you Amy~ 😻
Some gorgeous cat portraits – love being allowed in to some of their lives.
They were a tad incensed at my intrusion but I ignored this…… 😻
Haha…cats…- and sometimes even dogs – really show what they think😉
Haha yes…they really can show you what they think😉
They are not shy about their disdain!
Lovely furballs my friend. 🙂 xx
Le 😻😻 agree with you!
🙂
What a gorgeous collection of both cats and rooftops, Cindy!
Awww, thank you & cheers too!
I am in awe of your brilliant blog post takes on things, Cindy! <3 I have a question: do you think of a topic first and then take photos for it or do you take the photos and then think of a theme once you've looked through all your photos?
Love this one on cats!
You are very kind. Thank you! I do both, but usually the photos determine the post, as was the case with the cats on the roof. But also, sometimes, I want to express something, so I find photos to help with this. Thank you for asking and have a wonderful week~ <3
And thank *you* for answering! Hope your week is lovely, too! x
<3 <3
Pingback: Calling all Cat Lovers! | The Novel: UnHoly Pursuit: Devil on my Trail
‘Like’ – yet I’m not even particularly a cat person! RH
Well, then, I am especially pleased you enjoyed these guys!
I knew I would like Alsace! 🐱
I have more to post on this beautiful region, so stay tuned!
I am fixated about my one Alsatian ancestor – he married the American native ancestor, Mourning Dawn.
I can see why you are fixated, that is fascinating history.
Cool cats! They really know where they want to be, don’t they. 🙂
Yeah, smart cats. I bet we both could be with them~ <3
Easily! 🙂
So many gorgeous – and strong – cats. They all seem to be quite some characters!
There is such strength, isn’t there, in domestic cats? They utilize our food, and even come to trust us, and some seem to actually love us, in a cat version of love, but it is always clear, they will at least attempt to live in a human world without us.
We can never rob them of their independence, is is what they are.
And that makes them so special.
I had no idea that Strasbourg was inflicted in that way 🙂 Lovely shots!
Lucky Strasbourg. I wish such infliction right now on The Holler rooves.
Oh, yes, Cindy. They are definitely cool cats and quite fearless. I bet the high-fliers are very independent, whereas the house cats are more amenable to human company!! Great shots, as always. I love how some cities are more “cat” cities and others are more “dog” cities. Paris is definitely a cat city.
Yes! So true.
Alll the area around the Bretagne coast of France is pure dog, for example.
The doggies clean under your tables while you are eating in restaurants, and do the restaurant circuit looking for more! They walk you home, either in case you get lost, or more because they want to know where you are temporarily staying.
They even pee on Mount San Michelle!
Oh, beeauuuutiful, Cindy! Love these kitty pictures. I must say, though, seeing them up so high makes me a nervous wreck! I’m always afraid they might fall! Have a fabulous weekend, my friend!
They see so sure footed. I never saw one so much as stumble! Cheers to you my friend & thanks for stopping by~ <3
Great cat portraits Cindy– you see things that most visitors don’t think to notice! Loved it! hugs!
That’s because I’m just a tad odd……. 😉 😉
ha ha ha!! I would say more insightful than odd! (i like your cats!) xox
<3 <3
So many felines and so many beautiful kinds of felines! Amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Karen
Thank you more for appreciating the 🐈🐈!
Such fabulous photos of exquisite cats! As a cat lover and caregiver to a sanctuary of 25 once-feral cats, I love your astute observation of felines—you have truly captured their essence.
What an honor from someone as knowledgeable about 🐈🐈 as you and sincere thank yous for taking care of these once feral sweeties! 😻😻
Me and the crew thank you for your comments!
<3 <3
Do you speak French? I speak it, not fluently though. I’m still working on it 😛 J’aime chats!!!!!
I don’t. I wish I did. Spanish and a bit of German, but they get rusty with lack of practice.
Oh, I speak some German! I also know a little Spanish. I learn as many languages as I can 😀 Hallo, Cindy. Ich beginne gerade Deutsch zu lernen. Hola, Cindy. Estoy aprendiendo espanol, pero estoy haciendo algo complejo antes de esto. 😛
Deutsch ist schwieriger für mich zu lernen. Sobald ich gut lerne, verlassen wir Deutschland.
Espanol is mas facil por mi, porque yo hablo espanol cada dia donde yo vivo! <3
<3 <3
They are quite marvelous, Cindy. Thank you for these little felines.^x^
very nice; i love kitties, but they just stare at me….they like the food i give them….