Will Riker Invades
Dan and I always referred to him as "Gracie's Boyfriend", because he was always coming around to court her. She was resolutely unimpressed. It was Dan who first decided this brawny, gray, rough-and-tumble tomcat needed a name, and chose to call him after the Enterprise's most loathed first officer of all time. "Kind of studly...kind of ugly...but not without a certain roguish charm." The name stuck.
Will has been hanging out at our house for years, and has always been friendly enough. Enjoys being petted, but was never a nuisance. Recently, Warren and I have come to believe that whoever has been taking care of him has disappeared in some fashion or other, because a few weeks ago he started spending ALL his time on our front porch (to Annie's great displeasure), and meowed most desperately for our attention whenever either of us would show up.
He seemed hungry, even though he looked very well fed. We would pet him, and just walk away, with no offering of kitty morsels. This did not seem to satisfy him.
Soon after, I noticed Annie's food was disappearing from her bowl in the kitchen at a MUCH more rapid rate than usual. I wondered if we had a sneak thief on our hands, but thought no... it's just not like him.
My mind was changed for me when I caught him red-handed (red-whiskered?) casually helping himself to a meal one evening.
I tried barring the kitty door, but Annie would have no such restrictions on her freedom. So I started putting a small bowl of food by the front door when I came home from work in the morning, and soon he developed the habit of being there to greet me with a smile every day in chop-licking anticipation.
It seems he is a gentleman after all, and never intrudes on our home unless I neglect to give him his daily handout at the front door. If I forget, his scruffy form is certain to be seen lurking silently into the kitchen whenever he thinks we might not be watching.
It also seems we have a new cat in the family.
Will has been hanging out at our house for years, and has always been friendly enough. Enjoys being petted, but was never a nuisance. Recently, Warren and I have come to believe that whoever has been taking care of him has disappeared in some fashion or other, because a few weeks ago he started spending ALL his time on our front porch (to Annie's great displeasure), and meowed most desperately for our attention whenever either of us would show up.
He seemed hungry, even though he looked very well fed. We would pet him, and just walk away, with no offering of kitty morsels. This did not seem to satisfy him.
Soon after, I noticed Annie's food was disappearing from her bowl in the kitchen at a MUCH more rapid rate than usual. I wondered if we had a sneak thief on our hands, but thought no... it's just not like him.
My mind was changed for me when I caught him red-handed (red-whiskered?) casually helping himself to a meal one evening.
I tried barring the kitty door, but Annie would have no such restrictions on her freedom. So I started putting a small bowl of food by the front door when I came home from work in the morning, and soon he developed the habit of being there to greet me with a smile every day in chop-licking anticipation.
It seems he is a gentleman after all, and never intrudes on our home unless I neglect to give him his daily handout at the front door. If I forget, his scruffy form is certain to be seen lurking silently into the kitchen whenever he thinks we might not be watching.
It also seems we have a new cat in the family.