Smokey The Charmer

by Jean
(Kingsport, TN)

A neighbor and his children moved out of their mobile home during the night after financial problems. Sadly, they left their tuxedo cat Smokey behind to fend for himself. Fortunately, a couple of my neighbors cared enough to start looking out for him. My neighbor Linda went to the ultimate extent for this sweet little guy: She talked to a local shelter that let her borrow a humane trap and set up an appointment with the University of Tennessee's regional spay and neuter program. They are particularly interested in neutering feral cat for release back into their communities. Linda was able to catch Smokey and took him to Knoxville for his procedure and paid for it herself -- they offer a special reduced rate through the humane society that referred her. Now Smokey is a regular visitor to Linda's front porch and is beginning to show signs of wanting to come inside with her and her cats Millie, Abby and Ginger. Linda made him a cat house (which he still is unsure about) and put it on her front porch. She also got him his very own heated mattress since he won't go in the house yet and she has gone to great trouble to make other shelter for him on her front porch which he thankfully has accepted without hesitation. She is unsure about letting him stay inside with her and "the girls" but I think he will probably bring her around!

He has proven to be a very affectionate and appreciative kitty, Linda says. I told her he recognizes a true friend in her and considers her his human now. He doesn't realize he has been neutered: He just knows Linda has been kinder to him than anyone else ever has.

It is a real treat now to see him roaming around the trailer park and he has become the "park cat", I guess one could say. Linda is one of those angels that rise to the challenge of caring for feral cats. If I can ever get a picture of him I will post it. He is a very handsome fellow: typical tuxedo except his back legs are white from the toes to his "knees".