A Bernal Heights resident recently spotted a very vocal, very affectionate cat making the rounds in the neighborhood, meowing loudly every night like he's running for District Supervisor. No collar. No chip, either — the finder actually tracked down a microchip reader and came up empty. The cat, however, appears well-fed and socialized, which suggests he might have a home somewhere and simply enjoys freelancing.

The internet, predictably, had opinions. "Congratulations on your new cat!" one SF resident declared, summarizing the unwritten law that in San Francisco, if a cat chooses you, the paperwork is already filed. Another local urged patience: "He has a home, easy to tell from how well he looks. Two days is not long — please do not stop trying to find the owner."

Fair point. Not every wandering cat is homeless. Some are just entrepreneurial. But the lack of a microchip does make things murkier. And here's a small libertarian aside: microchipping your pet is one of the cheapest, most effective forms of personal responsibility a pet owner can practice. It costs about $50 and saves everyone — including your cat — a lot of confusion.

We genuinely hope this little guy finds his way home if he has one. And if he doesn't? Well, Bernal Heights has a pretty solid track record of taking care of its own. The neighborhood already handles coyote coexistence, off-leash dog diplomacy on Bernal Hill, and the occasional rogue raccoon. One chatty orange cat is well within operational capacity.

If you recognize this feline politician, reach out to your Bernal Heights neighbors. And if you're a pet owner anywhere in SF — chip your animals, people. It's cheaper than a single parking ticket, and infinitely more useful.