photo by Professor BattyThe other night I noticed a cat sitting watching me from across the street as I left a friends house. This seemingly innocuous event got me thinking. If I wanted to closely observe humanity unnoticed, but remain mobile how would I disguise my cameras/probes (or possibly myself)? The answer to that questions was staring me in the face, swishing its tail side to side. Feral cats are everywhere and almost no one notices them, making them the perfect disguise for a research probe.

First, from a physical standpoint cats are an ideal base to build an observation platform around. Their near supernatural agility means that the probe can be given the speed and maneuverability needed to evade capture without looking suspicious. A cat’s size would also allow ample room for the equipment needed on a remote probe (especially if using advanced alien technology). The probe’s power system could even be based on or supplemented by a bacteria based biologic power generation system that lets the probe “feed” on pet food left out for outdoor animals. In addition cats are omnipresent and largely look the same regardless of where in the world you go, meaning one probe could be used virtually anywhere on Earth without drawing any attention to itself.

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