So, I bought a house with someone around 12 years ago. A sweet little tuxedo kitty with a funny moustache saunters over into the garage one day, and I take to calling him "Adolf". For obvious reasons, I quickly decide a name change is in order, and decide on calling him Charlie (Chaplin) instead. Cliche', I know...but this was before I even had my own cats, so it seemed pretty novel for me at the time (as it turned out, after visiting his humans - he lived just two houses down - I found out his real name is actually Charlie). Charlie was little more than an occasional visitor at this point.
Life is funny and all that, and in less than a year I'm in the house by myself, and Charlie doesn't come around as much...but there is a gaggle of strays that comes around and likes food and attention. Charlie has his own home, and all is well, presumably.
A few years after that, I move into an apartment, and the house becomes my rental property, now inhabited by the ex-gf that had moved out (long, crazy story). Luckily we're on good terms, and though my cast of strays have moved on, she has her own strays that she has taken in herself (one is Chance, who you will find elsewhere on the site).
Charlie starts coming around again, and after talking to his human, apparently he was one of her children's pets, and she had since moved out. I got the vibe that Charlie wasn't really wanted anymore, and was kept around mostly out of habit. He spent a lot of nights in my garage. Hung out by the steps. But Charlie was moody...he'd rub up against you, but reaching down to pet him was a crapshoot...at best you'd get a few seconds of stroking - and then claws and teeth everywhere.
Within the last year, things have changed. Charlie will hop up on the car hood at times after you arrive, to rub his head on your chin...to nuzzle into your neck...to give your nose and chin little love bites (that part is still a bit scary!). I don't get over to the house that much, so it's still quite a shock to see how far Charlie has come. I'm told that he spends most nights in my garage, and my ex gives him a wet breakfast every morning. Methinks Charlie has a new home - a loving home - where he can express his love with trust.
I stopped over this weekend, and Charlie surprised us once again by spending a good 15 minutes in my lap, purring and rubbing and nuzzling away. He's a good boy. Love you, Charlie.
Life is funny and all that, and in less than a year I'm in the house by myself, and Charlie doesn't come around as much...but there is a gaggle of strays that comes around and likes food and attention. Charlie has his own home, and all is well, presumably.
A few years after that, I move into an apartment, and the house becomes my rental property, now inhabited by the ex-gf that had moved out (long, crazy story). Luckily we're on good terms, and though my cast of strays have moved on, she has her own strays that she has taken in herself (one is Chance, who you will find elsewhere on the site).
Charlie starts coming around again, and after talking to his human, apparently he was one of her children's pets, and she had since moved out. I got the vibe that Charlie wasn't really wanted anymore, and was kept around mostly out of habit. He spent a lot of nights in my garage. Hung out by the steps. But Charlie was moody...he'd rub up against you, but reaching down to pet him was a crapshoot...at best you'd get a few seconds of stroking - and then claws and teeth everywhere.
Within the last year, things have changed. Charlie will hop up on the car hood at times after you arrive, to rub his head on your chin...to nuzzle into your neck...to give your nose and chin little love bites (that part is still a bit scary!). I don't get over to the house that much, so it's still quite a shock to see how far Charlie has come. I'm told that he spends most nights in my garage, and my ex gives him a wet breakfast every morning. Methinks Charlie has a new home - a loving home - where he can express his love with trust.
I stopped over this weekend, and Charlie surprised us once again by spending a good 15 minutes in my lap, purring and rubbing and nuzzling away. He's a good boy. Love you, Charlie.
