Meet “Bubby”, my pumpkin spice. For a stray cat, life is really tough, and often leaves them scarred – inside out. You’ll often see them skitter past, and hide under cars, or jump onto walls at the mere sight of people. Then there are the aggressive cats that hiss and swipe at you.

Adopting street thug cats isn’t preferable due to the multitude of physical and behavioral issues they come with – This much is true. But else is true? That there are exceptions to the rule.

Bubby was that exception. We met as two broken souls, full of pain and anger. While I was trying to move on, he was observing a curious part of his new territory – my doorstop. He observed an abundance of food, noise, and cats at this doorstop. It was also a portal through which man, cat, and dog seemed to float in and out of.

Initially, Bubby did the good ole dine and dash, without a single glance. One day, he noticed me sitting at the doorstop, and approached his dish cautiously. Strange sounds, he wondered  at my cooing. However, he slowly began to accept my animated presence at the doorstop.

Being a mother of multiple rescues, it became apparent that he needed a heap of warmth and security, so we played a patient game of chess together – always watching each other. And then it happened, we had bonded.

Once bonded, always connected. Slowly, I learned to be patient, as he learned to sheath the claws. We had our skirmishes, but I didn’t budge – It was a message from me to him that I am not leaving.