WHEN PETS BECOME FAMILY MEMBERS

Buddy Cat Was A Free Agent With No Fixed Address

So what does he want now, a key to the house?

Author’s photo of Buddy cat — who is making himself at home!

“So, what does he want now, a key to the house?” Michael asked as he watched Buddy make biscuits before sinking into the sofa and drifting into his mid-morning nap.

“He sure has come a long way over the past six months,” I said softly, not wanting to disturb the cantankerous yellow tabby who had finally settled into the household after a traumatic beginning.

Do you remember this yellow-fellow, Buddy cat?

Sure you do. I’ve written a number of stories about this vagabond who hung around our house for almost a year and finally decided to come in one weekend to check out the accommodations.

Buddy was not thrilled about the two resident cats — Bella and Bernie — but other than that, he found things to his liking—three squares daily with in-between munchies, clean litter boxes, ample snoozing spots, and toys galore.

Buddy was still a free agent, though. His address was not yet fixed, and he wanted to spend part of the day outside catching mice and terrorizing squirrels.

In the evening, he’d return for dinner and some entertainment. He would then bunk down for a…