The Return of Mystery Cat

The first time I saw mystery cat was two years ago in January, only a few short weeks after losing my sweet baby girl kitty. It was about 10 P.M. I was going out to put Safina kitty to bed in her luxurious apartment above the garage (it really is nice up there:). On the trail just in front of the garage was a cat.

I thought it was Safina for just a second, until he meowed and came trotting up to me. A gorgeous young tom cat. He had a short thick coat of silver grey, with a pretty tabby pattern and two white socks. But what really shone was his personality. He was the sweetest thing, with a tiny meow but big love. Rubbing all over my legs and when I bent down he hopped in my lap and arched against me, so sweet.

I walked him up to the horse barn where Sweetie's bed sat empty and her feed dishes stacked in the corner. I filled them and sat with him trying to convince him to stay and be a barn cat. He was lovey dovey with me but in the morning he was gone.

I didn't see him again for over a year.

Last October I was going for a late night snack about 11 P.M. When I looked out the front window I saw a cat walk past the car in the front yard. I grabbed the flashlight and hurried out. Walking down toward the orchard I was shocked to see Mystery Cat! Same gorgeous coat and sweet little voice, same friendliness, it was as if no time passed at all. I spent about 15 minutes with him before going in. It wasn't so hard to leave him this time, I had my little Izzy waiting.

Three nights ago at midnight I looked out the front window and saw the silhouette of a cat sitting about 5 feet from the front door. I opened the door and he trotted up happy as can be. A little chunkier, but the same guy.

Now dubbed Mystery Cat, I spent a few minutes with him thinking of all the mysteries our pets, especially the rescued ones keep from us. His owners have no idea about me, just as I have no idea of where my declawed longhair kitty came from before I found her in the woods 9 years ago.

Even though I'll probably never know the answers, it makes me appreciate the time I do have with the cats, horses and chickens.