Serval at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo

A photo posted by @photoquist on Dec 12, 2014 at 4:22am PST

This is a serval at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo. Handlers had it out on a leash exploring part of the zoo. They will use the animals in shows and educational programs, and I presume the walk aimed to get the animal used to the leash, and to having people around. These cats live wild in Africa, and they can leap 15 feet in the air to snag an unsuspecting bird.

This one appears to have a potential meal in sight. Shot taken with a Canon 7D Mark II with an EF 200-400mm f/4 USM lens.

Lucy

A photo posted by @photoquist on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:21am PST

This is Lucy, a Florida panther at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo. She was found abandoned as a cub and raised in captivity. She will talk to you, almost like a chirp. And when you are lucky, she will sit still long enough for you to get a good shot. Taken with a Canon 7D Mark II and 300mm f/2.8 lens.

Hear Me Roar!

OK, so maybe that's a yawn interrupting the purring. But still.

A photo posted by @photoquist on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:50am PST

Taken with a Canon 7D Mark II (yes, the one just out!) and 70-200 f/2.8 lens.

The Kitten One Week In

The kitten has stayed a week now and seems to like everything about his new home except for having his claws trimmed. He tolerated it well the first time, but not as much today. I waver on whether to keep him, but need to decide and act fast. It will be much easier to find him another home when he's in this adorable kitten phase. He really is a joyous ball of purring fun.

A photo posted by @photoquist on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:48am PST

A photo posted by @photoquist on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:17am PST

So This Walked Into My Life

Saturday morning I sit on the couch when I hear a high-pitched cat scream coming from near the front door outside my house. I walk out to check on it, and I see this guy.

Taken with #Sony A77 with 85mm f/1.4 lens.

A photo posted by @photoquist on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:37am PST

Photo taken with a Sony A77 with an 85mm f/1.4 prime lens.

So now I have a new feline roommate, which the incumbent feline roommates hate. He did not have a microchip, and has not been neutered, but he's people-friendly and barely fussed when I trimmed his claws.

He showed up at my door Saturday morning. Taken with Sony A77 with 85mm f/1.4

A photo posted by @photoquist on Nov 11, 2014 at 2:27pm PDT

Photo taken with a Sony A77 with an 85mm f/1.4 prime lens.

A photo posted by @photoquist on Jul 7, 2014 at 4:22am PDT

One of the unhappy incumbents

Photo taken with Fujifilm X-T1 with 28-50mm f/2.8 lens.