Now for my last acquisition- -another charcoal gray (a tom) that had turned up at my great-aunt's apartment. She already has two cats, and didn't want another, so he wasn't allowed in--but that didn't stop him from begging. He was able, luckily, to scrounge enough food to live, but was starved for affection. He would visit me outside my window at night when I stayed over to help out my great-aunt (she's in bad health and sometimes needs a sitter at night).

He seemed so gentle and loveable, that when talk around the apartment complex turned to taking him off and dumping him somewhere, my heart began to bleed. Then I noticed him limping,and that was it. I decided I had a new cat. I went out that very night and brought him in, so that we could go to the vet's office the next morning.

When I got him inside, I discovered why such a sweet kitty had been caught homeless. He was covered with small sores and patches of baldness. I thought it must be mange, so he spent the night in the bathroom.

Luckily, it turned out to be nothing but allergies, which were cleared up with one shot. Now, over a month later, Joe is a happy and healthy friend of mine.