Callie is, obviously, calico. She is about 2. My neighbors 2 little kids brought her to me one day and said they found her in their yard. I asked them if they could keep her and was told they were moving, so no. I think they had gotten her and when they found out they ‘had’ to move, knew they couldn’t take her with them and knew I had cats so played on my sympathy, probably knowing I couldn’t resist her.

August 16, 2019.  A week ago, Callie was in the back of my neighbors truck eating on some pork bones while my neighbor was here.  When he left, he didn’t check the back to be sure none of my cats were in there.  So Callie took a ride to his place about a mile and a half a way.  When my neighbor came back, he told me I lost one of my cats.  Jerk – no HE lost one of my cats.  My first thought was, one got hit by a car so I freaked out.  Finally heard the truth.  I was not happy. I went right up there hoping I could find her but no luck.  Went a few more time.  Still no luck.  I kept telling my neighbor he better find her.  Well, today he showed him and first thing he asked me was Do I Love Him?  I asked why?  Asked a few more times until I finally realized he had found out where Callie was.  She was at the next place south of his farm.  I went right up there.  Took a while coax her out but she finally did because she recognized my voice.  She is now home.  Happy to be home.  And will not be going outside for a few days.  Happy ending!!!!

Originally, his name was Smokey but I found I liked Mokey better. He’s all gray and a nice cat. He likes to be outside most of the time and never goes far. I got him from a friend who lived in an apartment building. Mokey originally belonged to another tenant at the apartment but she passed away, so another tenant took him in. Thant tenant had to move and couldn’t take him with her, so he became ‘homeless’ and was just wondering around the apartment building. That’s when my friend started feeding him but couldn’t take him in because he already had 2 cats, which was the limit. So he called me and now Mokey lives here. He loves to walk on my roof.

She belongs to my ex sister in law who moved to an apartment last fall. She had 3 cats but could only have two at the apartment. So……. Mama Callie came here, with the intention of her owner finding her a permanent home. I have a feeling this is now her permanent home. She’s a nice cat. She is more a tortoise color calico. Of course, good old Itty Bitty and Toby don’t like her and gives her a hard time whenever they can. But I’ve started letting her out and she loves it. Never goes far, either. Sometimes she ‘asks’ to come in but will always peek in first to she if her ‘enemies’ are close by. If so, then she won’t come in. If she doesn’t see them, then she scoots in – preferably to the computer room or back bedroom where the food and water is, and she knows she is safe.

Showed up next door as a kitten a couple summers ago. Eventually made his way here. He loves to lay on the floor in front of your feet as you are walking or lay in front of the fridge door or back door, just to give me a hard time. Very nice cat now.

Showed up here one day. Sweet cat when he gets use to you. He loves to curl up beside me to sleep. He use to get into fights with another cat and come home with huge sores on sides of face. Maddie would always ‘nurse’ his wounds by licking them. Someone in the neighborhood must have gotten him fixed because he never fights any more. And he never leaves here anymore.

Gypsy showed up here 2 winters ago. Was staying in the doghouse I had on the back porch. Would be here for a couple days, then disappear for awhile. Showed up again and this time I brought her in. But would always meow to go out. Never saw her using the litter box or any place else in the house. So I would let her out. Then be gone for a couple days each time. With it being cold out, had no idea where she was going. After a month or so, my neighbor across the street messaged me if I had seen her cat. After her describing the cat, I knew it was the same one. I did let her know she was coming over here a lot. The neighbor said she is allergic to cats so the cats she has, they were kept in the garage. Well, evidently Gypsy decided she likes it here better so this is where she stays now. Very sweet cat. Loves to cuddle and sleep with me. I named her Gypsy because of how she would disappear and show up again, like a vagabond.

Mustachio showed up in October as a stray. I’m assuming he is a boy but haven’t been able to check for sure. He was very scared at first. Started putting food and water on back porch for him. My cats weren’t too sure of him at first, of course. But they never really fought, just did a lot of hissing. Eventually, that stop. But they would just stare at each other. I leave my storm window up far enough and my main door open far enough so my cats can go in and out. Finally, I saw Mustachio in the house sleeping on the recliner. Of course, when he heard me he ran out the door. He finally started coming in more so I put food and water on the floor at the end of the couch where he preferred to stay. Finally, he let me start petting his head. I would just talk to him calmly. He finally warmed up more but still doesn’t like to be petted on his belly and tail. He has a lot of mattes in his fur but at this point there’s no way I could brush him. He has finally started eating in the kitchen where I feed the other cats. He does meow rather loudly when he wants out and the door is shut. I’m thinking of calling the Kzoo Cat Cafe in Kalamazoo to see if they would take him in. They get them vet checked, fixed if needed, shots, mattes removed, etc. Then, if he’s in good health, they try to get him adopted. Adoption fees are not cheap but that’s usually a good thing. If someone is willing to spend that kind of money, they would make a good pet parent.

January 24, 2022: I guess it wasn’t meant for Mustachio to stick around. I haven’t seen him in a week or so. Either he found his way home or something bad happened to him. Oh well, it’s not the first time when strays show up then leave and I never see them again. It was nice knowing you Mustachio.