Pete, just walked in.

by Dan Adamczyk

This cat chose my home. Standing gazing out the window I heard a distinct "meowww". That cat must be darn close I thought, sounds like it is in the room with me. The second meow told me I was right. The cat was right behind me.

A rather skinny tabby cat was confidently padding his way towards me. He was not the bit bothered about how I might react to his uninvited visit, just walked up and started rubbing himself against my legs.

I stared down at him for a while before deciding that he did not seem to be covered with fleas or anything, and that he was friendly enough to risk stooping down to give him a stroke, I sort of believed all cats scratched. Sure enough, he enjoyed handling.

I took him through to the kitchen where I had left the door open to get a little air blowing through, he had obviously taken the open door to be an open invite. Thinking he may be hungry, he was a skinny runt, I opened a can of mackerel which he did not need any persuasion to consume. This was followed up by a plate of milk.

He had no collar, no tag, but I was sure he must have belonged to somebody and I had been sucker enough to feed somebody's pet. Out the door, door locked up, cat forgotten about. Until the next day, he was back just sitting out there. Don't open the door my senses told me, the cat will be in for more food. Door opened, cat has been here since.

Good cat. Found out he is a he, called him Pete, sort of suits him. I think he has been "done." never smells and doesn't get into fights. He goes out for a spell when he wants, but seems to prefer being crashed out inside. I got him a box which he uses now and then but mostly goes outside, never any accidents. Not quite so much the skinny runt now, he eats most anything I put in front of him.

Good cat, good pet, good that he chose my home to walk into.