He used to sire a lot of kittens around the neighborhood until I got him trapped and neutered and even after that he'd hiss and paw swat cats that got close to him. He doesn't live here but he shows up most days for a meal or two. This morning a couple of cats from out back rubbed up against Sad Face with their tails up in peace and the old brawling tom just groaned without hissing and paw swatting anybody. He lets me pet him since we go way back and I've always fed him and treated him kindly but even after neutering he was never friendly with other cats. Just last week he shared a platter of good food with his ex-wife Nasty Mom.

Nasty Mom used to lurk in the background when I laid out food and only came to eat once I went inside the house. Now she'll eat while I'm still nearby. Yesterday morning when I got out of the car from my 6:15 ShopRite muffin run the usual bunch of cats were at my side door waiting for me to serve breakfast. Nasty Mom was across the street staring at me. No cars were coming so I waved to her and said, "C'mon, I got EATS!" and she came over on a quick trot after checking the street for cars. She knows I like her a little bit.

Yay!

Next time...photos

I had to do the blood-and-pee lab thing this morning at 7:30 at the East Meadow VA Clinic for a Cat Scan next week. I fed the outside cats well by 7 a.m. and off I went. I made my appointment and was done in ten minutes. On the way back I stopped off at ShopRite for a muffin and some other stuff.

After my breakfast I stepped outside to bring in the empty cat platters. Sitting on the hood of the wife's car was Sad Face. He had missed the 7 a.m. feeding and I could tell by the way he was looking at me that he was hungry. I left a platter in place and called him over. I went inside and brought out a can of Friskies Chicken & Tuna for him. He ate heartily. I don't normally serve individual cats but I do make an exception for Sad Face:

He looks very good! Handsome guy too. Must be where Ginger and the other tri(?) got their coloring!