I appreciate the purrs. Things are better now and unfortunately since it
involved work and compensation I can't discuss it. But Sam could use the
purrs until we get him situated.

Julie

Thanks Polonca. I think Sam has found his onetruehome with us. We'll at
least care for him and love him for the rest of his life if he decides
to stay with us.

Julie

lol! I am well trained after all. For the moment we have an outside
cat...for the moment.

His name is Sam and his story is sad.  Sam is a Siamese tabby with
sea-blue, crossed eyes.  Its been awhile since I've looked into crossed
cat eyes.  He has the coloring of a Siamese but has the classic M on the
forehead, bracelets on all four legs and rings on his tail.  He's an
intact Tom with a huge head and big feet.

I've known Sam at least 6 years, although at first Sam didn't have a
name. He was a neighborhood stray who would visit the "All You Can Catch
Cat Buffet" in my backyard (aka bird feeding stations).  He would run
whenever he'd see either myself or my husband.  About 3 years ago our
next door neighbors managed to (tame seems such a wrong word),
domesticate(?) Sam. Whatever the word, he became their cat and they
named him Sam.  He was fed and cared for and even got to sleep inside in
the winter.  I was proud of my neighbors because the wife is allergic to
cats but their daughters wanted a cat and they chose old Sam.  Sam is
not a "pretty" cat. His face shows character, but often times young
girls would rather have a cute kitten than an older intact tom with
character.  

Well, the neighbors moved about 4 weeks ago. Once they adopted Sam I
rarely saw him and since they moved I haven't seen him at all. Until two
nights ago. It appears our neighbors left Sam when they moved.  I drove
up to the house and saw a cat in my backyard. I went back and realized
it must be Sam. I spoke to him and he meowed and stood up. His sides,
just before his hips, are concave and only about 2" wide. This was a
large cat last time I saw him. I hurried into the house and got him a
can of food and some water. He ate the canned food but then chose
scritches over dry food.

I didn't see him yesterday morning but he was back yesterday afternoon
when I got home from work.  I fed him again and went inside to fix our
dinner and feed Hobbes, Selena and Lacey.  After dinner I went outside
and Sam was waiting for me.  He followed me out to the back garden and
we did some weeding together and then later as I sat on the patio and
relaxed he sat at my side and I petted him.

So, we have a fourth cat named Sam. I'll feed him and get some weight on
his body then we'll take him in and get him vetted and neutered and
we'll go from there.  We have at least 4 months before the weather turns
unbearably cold so he'll be all right outside for the moment.  I
suggested to DH yesterday that Sam might be better off at the no-kill
shelter nearby but DH rejected that idea. He said that Sam had been an
outdoor cat for years and years and he wasn't taking him anywhere to be
caged.  

DH is a softy in disguise.  On the first night he came home and found me
in the backyard sitting on the ground with Sam lying next to me pressed
against my leg.  DH said, "We can't take in another cat, Julie. He's not
coming in". I agreed, at the moment not having the energy to try to
integrate another cat into the household.  We walked into the house and
the first thing DH said to the three cats waiting at the door, "We have
another cat coming in, kitties, get ready".  Then later in the evening I
was showing him a greeting card I had bought that was "From All of Us"
type card and I mentioned, "Of course all of us is you, me, Hobbes,
Selena and Lacey" and DH said, "And Sam, don't forget Sam".  So Sam can
be a part of our family if he'd like. He's a sweet cat and only wants to
be petted and loved. He'll make a fine addition to our family.

Julie

That post should have had a beverage warning. :-)

Purrs for Julie.

Exactly. lol!
Julie

Thank you, Krista.
Julie