Papa -- He's now adopted!

Meet Papa!

Papa is no longer up for adoption, but I wanted to share his story along with the others.  

Papa has been a resident of my back yard since 2019.  Aptly named for being the Dad to two litters that found their way into my yard, I eventually learned that he once had a home, but his owner died and Papa was left to fend for himself. According to neighbors, prior to coming to my yard, he had been a stray in the neighborhood for about 5 or 6 years, and he has the scars to prove that life has been difficult.  

Trapping Papa was easy -- he was hungry and eager for food. Earning his trust was a different story. After he was neutered and released to my yard, it took about 9 months before he would allow me to get close enough to touch him. 

As with the others, one morning during mealtime, he came close enough for me to pet his back. He stopped eating for a moment, and then started to softly purr -- almost like he was remembering an old feeling. From that point forward, he opened his heart, and now he welcomes love and affection every time it comes his way.

Papa is now a permanent resident of my home, and while he is still an outdoor/indoor guy, he loves coming into sleep at night and curl up on the couch.  Once he learned how to play, his goofy little personality just busted through, and that has been a joy to witness.  His favorite things are his feather wand and a good piece of string, and he thoroughly enjoys the cat trees I have in the house. When he is outside, he is all-business, as he -- and the rest -- are often on alert to any changes in the yard. However, once a toy appears, he is ready to play at a moments notice. 

Papa has come to play an important role in my home, as one of the other outdoor cats, Peter John, is going blind.  They are best buds, and as Peter John has been losing his sight, Papa is taking on the role of his "Seeing-Eye Cat."  While Peter John is inside more and more, when he does venture out on the porch or in the back yard, Papa is always by side.  If you see one, the other is close by, and when they are in the house, they are always together. It is really very special to see the bond that they have.

With the life Papa has had, I feel so blessed and honored to be able to give him a good life, and I am glad to be able to give him a forever home.