My Pal, Toby

About thirteen years ago, Toby, our cat, waltzed into our lives.

He was a stray cat who was wandering from house to house taking whatever handouts people offered. After about three weeks of this routine, we figured he needed a good home, so we claimed him.

Soon after, we saw a notice for him in a local pet food store. We called the number and found out that the woman was actually looking for a home for him. She had moved back with her father and his step-son had allergies to cats. Golfball, as he was called then, was not allowed in the house. After seeing his sister flattened by a truck, he took off.

His transition into our home was difficult. When we brought him in, it was like he had been fired from a slingshot. He bounced off the walls and scurried around in fear. We basically ignored him and waited for him to settle down.

Our dog and cat didn’t know what to make of him. Actually, he and Sarah, the dog, got along just fine. It was with our female cat, Timmie, that he had problems. Immediately, he decided he had to show this meek and mild feline who was boss. It eventually got so that we had an upstairs cat and a downstairs cat.

As the years went by, the two cats tolerated each other. When we moved to our new home in St. Marys, the relationship did not become friendly, but it was civil. Neither cat had a claim to the new territory, so they agreed not to fight with each other.

For many years, Toby was a resident of our home, but he wasn’t very warm towards us. We loved him anyway.

Then a funny thing happened. One day he suddenly started becoming affectionate with us. He reached out for our companionship. It seemed we had finally broken through the years of mistrust.

Perhaps you may have people in your life who are a bit like our Toby. Maybe some experience has made them bitter about something. Perhaps they stay at a distance. Love them anyway.

Toby has gotten to the point where he is a real suck. He is certainly part of our family. When people come to our door, he is usually there to greet them. You talk to him; he talks back.

Just like ice, apply a bit of warmth to any creature and it will eventually melt.