A scrawny gray tabby started appearing at the edge of our woods to scavenge through the compost pile. Over the years I have successfully befriended several cats dumped in our neighborhood.  All but a few I handed over to a no-kill center. That was my plan with this cat.

 I quickly found out that this cat was feral and not even close to letting me get near him, but I persisted. After almost two years of placing food in the woods and having my hand swatted each time I attempted to pet him, I made my first contact - my finger and his nose touched - and then he swatted my hand. I was so excited!

It took another six months to coax him into the house, to my other four cats' dismay. I know I had made another great stride towards domestication when one evening TomTom (the name we gave him) rubbed up against my leg. Soon after that he let me brush and hold him. Now he follows me and my husband around the house expecting to be picked up and held.

We now have five cats.