My Mother was really “The Cat Lady”. After she retired, she volunteered with organizations to trap feral cats and have them seen by a vet, spayed or neutered and given shots. Her home was often filled with 5 or 6 cages occupied by these feral cats while they were waiting to go to the vet, or while recuperating before being released again. She also fed a lot of cats outside. You’d often see several lounging in the sunshine on her deck after having their belly’s full.

About 14 years ago, on a cold, snowy day, she came to visit me. She noticed a very pregnant cat outside and coaxed her in with a plate of yummy cat food. After eating, the mama cat went into my laundry room and hid behind my water heater. We continued to leave food and water available for her in the laundry room but did not see her again for some time.

A few days later, my teenage sons heard soft little mewing coming from the wall. They knew the kittens had been born. While we did not see the kittens for a few weeks, they were able to determine that there were three of them. They named them before they saw them. They named one little girl Sugaree after a Grateful Dead song.

Mama Cat eventually went back outside. We found homes for two of the cats and kept Sugaree. I loved her and knew she would become my cat. Over the course of these 14 years, she and I have lived in many places, with people and alone. We’ve also had other cats at times. She’s always been a loner where other cats are involved, but she loves her human (me). She will spend hours perched on my leg, and sleeps on my head at night.

Once again, she and I are living alone and loving it. I’m very happy to have my little feline companion and I hope to have her for many more years.