Laura J. Davis

Spring has sprung and with it comes the patter of little feet. Lots of little feet - and I'm not talking babies. To date, I have about five stray cats, possibly more, roaming my yard. One has been consistently living on my back deck, in a dog house I put out a while ago as a refuge from the rain and snow. She was the same cat who had a baby last summer. Unfortunately, her little one hasn't been around. I don't know what happened to him. I'm hoping some kind soul adopted him.

Tonight, I heard a meow that sounded like hello. So, I said hello back.That was at 10:00 pm. It is now 1:00 am and that cat is still sitting outside my window saying hello! At 11:30 I couldn't take it anymore and went outside to make sure this "hello" wasn't a cry for help. It wasn't. He did want to be picked up however, and if it hadn't happened to me I never would have believed it, but the cat started to suckle my shirt! Not only that, he started to knead my shoulder at the same time, purring all the while. I felt like a surrogate mother!

I'm on to him though. I know that is one of the many tricks the cats in this neighbourhood do, to get me to adopt them. This lucky kitty is well on its way to finding a new home. Unfortunately, it won't be mine, as my husband has vowed to leave if I bring another cat into the house. I asked him how long he would be gone, but he didn't take that very well. So, it looks like I will be catching another cat tomorrow and taking him to the pound. Unless someone out there is looking for a new pet. He's a tuxedo cat, with perfect markings, a little black nose and .... no? Oh, well...I wonder if I could sneak him into the house without my husband noticing.