So, the stray female cat I've been nurturing back to health, and feeding regularly,

[Flaxbee]

thanks me after I feed her and go back inside the house by sort of warbling/yowling as she leaves the porch.

She is such a sweetheart, poor scared baby.

I call her Gigi. She's been around for a while, at least since we moved in here Jan. 2010, and the neighbors used to feed her regularly when the weather was bad. We live in a rural area, lots of fields, lots of mice, she didn't visit the neighbors much in the spring and summer when food is easy to find.

Anyway, neighbors adopted a German shepherd that had been left at our local dump, and the dog is a sweetheart, but barks at Gigi so she quit going to their house and I started to put food out for her when the snow started to fall here.

She'd be by every once in a while. I then put out a covered makeshift bed on our covered porch (with a blankie for her), and she'd start to wait for us there to come home from work because she knew I'd feed her when we got in.

Then, poor baby, she showed up one night really scratched up; she'd been in a hell of a fight, injured front paw, injured back paw, and just a sliced up face (though her eyes weren't hurt, thankfully). I happen to have several courses of Clavamox (broad spectrum feline antibiotic) in pill form for my cats in case they need meds, so I ground up one pill a day for her for 14 days and she is SO much better, sweet girl.

But she's very skittish. I think she may have once been someone's pet; I do think she is spayed (the stray male cat around here seems thoroughly uninterested in her and she hasn't gone into heat yet this year), but she is now so distrustful of humans I can't get within 5 feet of her.

But - she knows I'll feed her and won't harass her.

And every night when she's done with dinner (and I'm back in the house) I can hear her do her little warbling / yowling vocalization as she leaves. I like to think she's saying "thanks" as she heads off to do her other kitty business... :)

Anyway. That's my Sunday evening story. There are so many creatures in need and if I could, I'd feed and care for each and every one. But if I can help her, and make a difference in her life and health, I feel like I've at least done something for the strays - I have adopted 6 stray cats who still live with me, and they're fat and happy. Everyone deserves to be full and healthy and happy.

[madmom]

1. aww..thank you for being there for her...

:hug:

[Flaxbee]

3. she is this sweet little bundle of white fur with gray saddle and gray ears

I know it's ridiculous, but I feel so good when she gets her dinner! And then warbles off on her merry way.

[emilyg]

2. You are a sweetheart.

[Flaxbee]

4. thanks. there are a lot of sweethearts around this place, caring for

animals.

Gigi had just warbled her goodbye a few minutes before I wrote this post -- and I was so worried about her after the fight she was in; I'm so relieved she has healed.

[emilyg]

8. I started out feeding

strays that showed up at my door. Then found a colony at the nursing home where my step-dad was. If you look - you'll find hungry ones. I always have cat food in my car.

[snagglepuss]

5. Thank you for being such a loving and caring person. It feels really good

to hear stories like this. :hug:

[Flaxbee]

6. I feel the same way when I read DUers' stories about caring for

creatures -- and so I figured I'd contribute my own. Boosts my faith in humankind when I read about others trying to help, too. :hug:

[kimi]

7. Aw, that's sweet!

Thanks for sharing!

I have a guy I feed now, who I call "Yowler". He kinda does the same thing, he makes some noise when he shows up, then as he leaves will yowl a bit, then sit down and wash his face. I worry, though, cause I'm moving soon, and need to make provisions for him quickly.

Thanks for taking care of this girl. Yes, indeed, all living critters deserve to be full, healthy and happy!

[hedgehog]

9. Thank you for lifting my spirits!

[stuntcat]

10. aww "thanks!"

she is making those noises at you probably! I bet she'll chill out someday, it could take a long time though. She's lucky to be watched out for!

I've taken in two ferals, after I t-n-r'ed them, one is a lover and one won't let me near her, she's real cute though :loveya:

[applegrove]

11. Great story. Someone rescued one of my cats from being abandoned and I can't thank them so I'll have

to thank someone like you....thank you!!