Several years ago, a kind, caring samaritan built cat homes (for all stray cats) in the woods in back of the local shopping area. There are dumpsters on the premises for food discarded by restaurants and food stores. Animal-caring people added to the food supply. Actually, this was a win/win situation for the area. No longer a need for rat poison here!
On New Years Eve, in 1989, Florence and my son Gregg went to do some last minute grocery shopping. The night was cold and damp with sleet and rain. People were rushing to shop before the store closed. There, in front of the store, was a spotted, grey cat meowing to get anyone's attention. A closer look showed his eye to be injured (the tear duct was destroyed). He looked thin, wet, dirty and so sad.
His cry for help touched their hearts. One more furry person in our home would be no problem. Naturally, they brought the poor thing home. We called him "Raunchy" because he was so beat up and dirty. It turned out that he wasn't spotted and grey as we thought. He was just filthy and gradually turned white as the weeks progressed. His eye still looks sad.
After about a week, we introduced him to his "siblings" (2 dogs, 1 white cat called "The Shmoo", Big Bird (a cockatoo we call "Sweetpea" and about 20 raccoons who visit us every night for Oreo cookies. I had gotten very friendly with them. (This was before the current rabies epidemic.)
After a settling-in period, Shmoo cat and Raunchy cat had their own territory. Klutz and Cathy dogs accepted the new kid in the home but Big Bird found that he couldn't boss around the dumpster cat. They still have disagreements with Big Bird chasing Rannchy out of the room. No one ever gets hurt.
Raunchy has formed an especially close affection for Klutz. They usually go on their morning walk around the yard together.
He appreciates everything we do for him and never stops letting us know it. Cats have a way of saying "Thank you" that is unmistakeable but Raunchy does it with great sincerity. He knows what it was like to be on the streets hungry, dirty and miserable. He loves his adopted home. Understandably, he refuses to go out when it rains or snows. He sits by the window with his stomach on the heating element just watching the birds. He affectionately rubs against all family members including his sometime-friend, Big Bird, but mostly his gentle friend, Klutz.
Raunchy never did learn to like raccoons. He hisses at them when they make their nightly visits. They were probably fierce competitors when he lived near the dumpster.
As I look back, I don't know who was the lucky one! We may have given Raunchy shelter, but he's given us so much more. Our lives have been enriched with his warm displays of affection and appreciation that no words could ever say.