@johnbishop, @colleenyoung, and all...john, is that the precious, beautiful kitty who loves to sun on your rock wall, watching the world go around with beautiful, huge eyes and with a serious attitude?????

I hurt in my heart, seeing 'outside cats' roaming around. I live in the city, in a condo. When I first moved here, about 30 years ago -WOW! That's a long time....there were probably a dozen cats roaming the property, eating at several different places. They were hit by cars, chased by huge dogs-especially a large shepherd/pitbull mix who chased them and killed several. He and I were friends, the dog, until that happened. I couldn't look at him without a feeling of horror that his owners were allowing him to get out and kill. The horror that we had so many stray kitties to kill and who were suffering outside.

So, when I became president of the condo board we focused on finding homes for all the cats. I got traps from our Humane Society, caught several, had them spayed/neutered, and some found really good homes. We have owls in the woods behind us, hawks, and other birds of prey, and lots of dogs, leashed. . So, by finding homes and slowing the repopulation, we solved a very bad problem.

Wish your neighbor would let you own the cat, who's really yours anyway. Kitty seems very much at home with you.

I have Samantha you've heard me mention. She adopted me several years ago, while my precious white poodle was still with me, Sophia. Since Sophia died, Samantha stepped up and is now my comforter and guardian angel. She was around my place in the bushes popping her head up, watching me... so adorable. I began to feed her, then she had a litter of 5 on my patio, in a pot. I had 6 cats all at once. Guess that settled the discussion about adoption...my fiance and I helped her care for them, he shortly died in a car accident, so I found them all homes and Samantha moved in.

She now has cat towers and scratchers in every room. She has upstairs and downstairs food. 2 litter boxes I can't keep clean daily as she likes. She owns the patio, goes out daily to sun, and watches her bird friends, I have 7 feeders, 2 baths, and a fountain. A pretty good feathered friend population that seems to accept Samantha. I am so thankful for her joining my life. She was there after Sophia died. She comforted me after my fiance died. and she recently saved my life after sinus surgery when I was bleeding heavily while lying asleep on my back. She howled and licked my arm and cheek and woke me up to the emergency. I went to the ED, was treated, and home to give her extra treats. Yes, I'm thankful. For Samantha, the joy and peace and love she gives. My guardian angel.

Thankful for all my Connect Friends. What a surprise gift from Mayo. You have helped me heal in many ways. I'm not alone anymore. I have folks who care about me and say so. And, I have a plethora of folks I can care about and hopefully at some point help a bit.

Thank you, Colleen, for this opportunity to say 'Happy Thanksgiving to you all!' and I love you.
Blessings on this special day. elizabeth