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Original poster

The weirdest thing- what to do?

69 replies

Alakazam8 · 17/10/2022 09:29

So at 6.45 this morning, so still dark for context. I opened my bedroom window to let the cat out. He likes to go out and sit on a flat roof. I left the window open and blind open whilst I tidied around in bedroom.
I caught sight of a flashing in the window and looked out to see someone standing opposite my window taking pictures. He had taken at least 6 in quick succession.

I shouted down saying ‘what are you doing’ (not thinking first thing in the morning). He shouted up that he was just taking photos of the cat. I then shouted ‘well don’t do that’ and the cat came in so I slammed the window shut and he moved off.
It has left me a bit shook up and wondering if it is something and nothing or if you would be worried about it?

OP posts:
Colderthanever · 17/10/2022 09:34

If he was photographing the cat then I’d not be concerned.

were you naked or something? If so then if he was photographing you then yes be worried

Original poster
Alakazam8 · 17/10/2022 09:37

No not naked, fully dressed! ! And he said he was photographing the cat. It just really struck me as weird. Maybe I’m overthinking….

OP posts:
FairlyIncognito · 17/10/2022 09:39

I would just keep an eye on it and check they aren’t looking in regularly as hopefully it’s just as he said . Do you know anything about this neighbour?

FanTaill · 17/10/2022 09:45

There’s someone round here who takes photos of local cats just minding their own business and posts them on Instagram. I’m not sure about it personally as a few are taken through windows (ie of a cat looking out of their house or snoozing on a windowsill) but lots of people love it.

If you search location+cats then it turns out quite a few people do this for their area.

GlassOuijan · 17/10/2022 09:45

Colderthanever · 17/10/2022 09:34

If he was photographing the cat then I’d not be concerned.

were you naked or something? If so then if he was photographing you then yes be worried

But why is he even there, at 6.45, camera/phone in hand, anticipating a cat appearing? It's like he'd been waiting for it, after watching the property or something.

Is there any reason anyone would object to your cat going out and being on the flat roof, OP?

Kendodd · 17/10/2022 09:49

I think we need more context.
It sounds like the bedroom window is first floor dorma? Facing garden or street?
Where exactly was the photographer?

HumourReplacementTherapy · 17/10/2022 09:50

If he was in you back garden then you have a point.
If he was on the pavement then I don't think you do. He's just taking a picture of the cat

Kendodd · 17/10/2022 09:51

Also, lights on in your bedroom, curtains open or closed.

SoupDragon · 17/10/2022 09:52

GlassOuijan · 17/10/2022 09:45

But why is he even there, at 6.45, camera/phone in hand, anticipating a cat appearing? It's like he'd been waiting for it, after watching the property or something.

Is there any reason anyone would object to your cat going out and being on the flat roof, OP?

Show quote history

Well, he could just have been walking past and thought "that cat looks exactly like Mr Fluffy McFluffles!" and taken photos with his phone.

It's not like the old days when you needed an actual separate camera.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 17/10/2022 09:52

GlassOuijan · 17/10/2022 09:45

But why is he even there, at 6.45, camera/phone in hand, anticipating a cat appearing? It's like he'd been waiting for it, after watching the property or something.

Is there any reason anyone would object to your cat going out and being on the flat roof, OP?

Show quote history

Or he was walking by and saw a cat and took a photo

Original poster
Alakazam8 · 17/10/2022 09:53

Hi the window is first floor, not dormer but has a flat roof over the porch. He had walked out of his way around a corner to take the pics judging by the way he walked off. Don’t think I’d be that worried if it had been daytime. I’d like to see photos of different cats online so understand that. I don’t know that he was a neighbour- not someone I recognised.

OP posts:
PeekabooAtTheZoo · 17/10/2022 09:54

Whatever he was doing, he had no respect for your privacy. Anyway what grown man has never seen a cat before to the extent of needing to wait at a window at stupid-o-clock when it’s not very light to photograph it? Never mind the obvious issue of taking photos of other people’s windows.

Creepy stalkerish behaviour but total amateur if he didn’t know how to turn off his flash.

Original poster
Alakazam8 · 17/10/2022 09:57

Still dark, not light at all, bedroom lights off, I don’t like them on in morning, blinds open so could see inside. Think he was probably just taking pics of cat but still struck me as strange at that time in morning. Not just one quick photo either, he took at least 6 maybe more.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 17/10/2022 09:57

Anyway what grown man has never seen a cat before to the extent of needing to wait at a window at stupid-o-clock when it’s not very light to photograph it?

where does it say he was waiting at the window? As far as I can see the only male waiting at a window was the cat waiting to go out.

Georgeskitchen · 17/10/2022 09:58

Sounds a bit iffy. Cats on flat roofs is not something out of the ordinary, unless it was a leopard or a tiger, then it would be worthy of a photo 😀

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 17/10/2022 09:58

SoupDragon · 17/10/2022 09:52

Well, he could just have been walking past and thought "that cat looks exactly like Mr Fluffy McFluffles!" and taken photos with his phone.

It's not like the old days when you needed an actual separate camera.

Show quote history

I don’t think she was surprised at the ability of the modern mobile phone to take photos so much as the speed cats move going in/out, that his phone was in his hand, not his pocket, unlocked and with the camera app open in time to snap in low light what must have been quite a poor cat photo op?

Why are so many posters going to such great lengths to defend this dodgy behaviour from a poor menz? Internalised misogyny?

Original poster
Alakazam8 · 17/10/2022 10:01

Cat was out pootling about on windowsill/roof but still to get a phone out and take so many pics is a bit strange, or not?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 17/10/2022 10:02

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 17/10/2022 09:58

I don’t think she was surprised at the ability of the modern mobile phone to take photos so much as the speed cats move going in/out, that his phone was in his hand, not his pocket, unlocked and with the camera app open in time to snap in low light what must have been quite a poor cat photo op?

Why are so many posters going to such great lengths to defend this dodgy behaviour from a poor menz? Internalised misogyny?

Show quote history

The cat likes to sit on the roof. Sitting is usually stationary isn't it?

why are people going to such great lengths to make out that this man is a pervert for taking photos of a cat? It's ridiculous.

Original poster
Alakazam8 · 17/10/2022 10:04

I was suggesting anything about him being a pervert I just thought it was odd and thought I’d see what others thought.

OP posts:
OldWivesTale · 17/10/2022 10:04

Not strange at all. You're really making a big drama out of nothing. I take pictures of dogs all the time. And I've even got a section in my phone of "dogs on balconies" from when I go abroad - because they always look so cute and I send them to my daughter.

Rosehugger · 17/10/2022 10:07

I agree, OP, weird, creepy fucker. Your response was very measured.

HighlandPony · 17/10/2022 10:10

Maybe he was. Some folk really seem to like that stuff. Our local paper runs a theme every week for local amateur photographers and readers vote for a winner and the winner gets £20. you get pics of all sorts of shite like pictures of lines of folks washing or pictures of a beer bottle in a gravestone or squirrels climbing the war memorial and folk actually vote for this crap to win

CuriousCatfish · 17/10/2022 10:12

I'd be proud my cat was so photogenic and not give it much thought. I often take photos of random cats.

pinkycatmum · 17/10/2022 10:12

This would make me feel very uncomfortable. But maybe he was just taking a picture of the cat. I love cats (see username) so if I saw a cute one I might take a picture. Just keep an eye out.

Wafflesnsniffles · 17/10/2022 10:13

Thats really weird. Whats the point of taking photos of cats when its dark?!