Tucker

We moved into our current apartment at the first of this year. Pretty much since day one there has been an orange cat wandering around the apartment complex. I would always stop and call to it and it usually came running and meowing. I have a soft spot for orange cats, as my first pet growing up was an orange cat named Gus. I had always wanted to take this stray in, but the apartment rules state that we are only allowed two pets, which we have, Sawyer the chocolate lab and a black cat called Kat (yes, really).

Days and months went by and the orange fellow was still prowling about outside. Everyone that lives here knew about the orange cat and most would stop to rub his head if they saw him, but he was still homeless. I have a hunch that people left food out for him because he never seemed to be too thin.

By this time our puppy, Sawyer, had broken a different apartment rule. He reached the 50lb weight limit for apartment pets and left it in the dust. We were nervous for a while, but nobody said anything and we pretty much quit worrying. I kept seeing the orange cat outside and finally began thinking that since I'm already breaking the rules I might as well go all out. The next time I saw my kitty friend hanging around close to the apartment I scooped him up and brought him inside. He had a nice big snack from the cat dish and then darted back outside. This continued for several days. I would see him hanging around outside the window or laying under cars trying to find a cool spot in this awful heat and I would bring him in for an hour or two.

Finally, one day as I was coming back with the mail I saw him drinking from a drainage pipe. I decided that this little fellow definitely deserved better, so I brought him in again and he has been with us since. I have named him Tucker and he is fitting in well. The dog, Sawyer, likes him especially well. Never before has he encountered a cat that will do anything besides hiss and growl at him. Tucker rubs on his face and allows Sawyer to lick on his ears. Tucker has even commandeered Sawyer's bed. Somehow that little cat manages to stretch himself out to take up the entirety of that great big dog bed.

Our lease is up in a few months, so in the meantime we will be harboring our little lawbreakers and keeping them out of sight.