Meet Stubby Legs. We named him Stubby Legs to distinguish him from Gray Cat - the cat next door. Instead of calling them Gray Cat 1 and Gray Cat 2, we opted for Stubby Legs, because he/she has adorable short legs. We are not sure if it's a boy or a girl since we can't get that close, but to keep it simple I will refer to it as a "he" from now on. We've seen Stubby Legs off an on for a few years, mostly just running away. Then in early November, I saw him under the bird feeder eating the stale bread cubes that I had put out for the larger birds (and Mr. Raccoon). Then he was sniffing around in the seeds and suet that the messy birds had dropped and was trying to eat it. I figured he must be really hungry, so I took a handful of dry food out. He immediately dashed away, but then later when I looked out the window I saw that he had ventured back and had practically inhaled the dry food.
And so it began. He now shows up for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He used to run about 15 feet away when I came out to give him his food, but now he usually just goes a couple feet away and then sits and looks at me like the above photo, while I set his food down. I am afraid that he doesn't hear well and possibly this is why he is so skittish. If you can't tell the difference between someone baby talking you and someone yelling at you, I imagine you learn to mistrust.
We got frightfully cold this week, down into the single digits. I bought a little pet barn and added some insulation for it and put it next to a spot by the house where he goes when it rains. It looks like a cat has slept in it, but of course I don't know if it was him.
If it was summer, I could wait it out. I would put his food down and sit there until he ventured forward, but since it's cold, I hurry and put the food down, say a few encouraging words, and then head back in. We don't really know if he belongs to any one, but we don't think so because of how crazy skittish he is. I guess we just keep feeding him and hope we can win him over, or at the very least, just keep him fed.
Kyle says
Test comment!! From Chrome. Not at home.
Shelly says
Aawww..... Stubby Legs is adorable! He's so lucky to have you care for him. I bet you'll win his trust in time! 🙂
Barbara says
Looks like Stubby Legs likes to be photographed, too. Win-win.
(The wine sounds wonderful, wish my daughter was still here to taste it.)
Ann says
You are so good to care for Stubby Legs. A sad thought that he has run away and his family are bereft. My sister adopted a street cat she called Jack the Lad. Okay, he actually adopted my sister because that's how cats operate. Now he spends most days curled up on the duvet snoozing. He's an old boy but at least the last years of his life are dry, safe and comfortable.
Pam Greer says
I think Stubby Legs is adopting us the way Jack the Lad adopted your sister.
Cheryl says
What a lovely heart you have Pam. I hope the cat stays around long enought to fully trust you. He is so beautiful.
Pam Greer says
Me too. I hope it warms up soon, so I hang out there with him to work on the trust some more.
Esme says
He is a doll. You are soon going to have a new cat.
Pam Greer says
I hope so!
Joy says
Such a lovely, happy, tear-jerker of a story! He is lucky to have found you. Great photo.
Pam Greer says
I hope I can get him to trust me more! I love seeing Patch on Facebook!
Lynda Bergman says
Awwww, he's beautiful! It's so sweet that you care about him. I bet he does go in that little house. One of these days, I bet he is going to let you touch him. Stay warm! Lynda
Pam Greer says
I'm going to keep trying!