Not Cat went in ahead of me when I unlocked the garden gate. He looked to the left and stopped. He stared. His neck extended. He looked back to me. I followed quickly and looked too, hope rising in my chest. Sonny.
He has been missing for more than two weeks, a long time for him. I thought he might be dead, but as one of the only unneutered Toms around, I guess he’s been busy fathering kittens. Goodness how’s how far he’s roamed.
He’s lost some weight too.
Not Cat rolled onto his back in submission, and I cooed. Sonny ignored Not Cat but watched me, amber eyes unblinking. I walked round to the compost with the dead tulips. Both cats following me.
Sonny had to wait a few more minutes before I brought him some food. He must have been very hungry. This feral boy started eating with my hand less than two inches from his nose.
Maybe this year he will trust me enough to let me touch him. It is very good to have him back.
Isobel (and Cat)'s Blog 
It’s always nice to see an old friend…….!
Pam & Sam
I was only talking about him last night, and thinking that we had seen the last of him. It made my day to see him. Also, he should put a stop to Minstrel’s plans for garden domination!
Well it sounds like you are ‘home’, so I expect he will, when it suits him! I can see how it would have made your day. I’d be feeling the same.
He has several homes keeping an eye out for him, but as he gets older it is harder for him to climb the walls of the other gardens. He looks too healthy to be a feral, so I hope he continues to escape Council culls.
We feed two feral cats. Both are fixed as we caught them and released them when they were youngish.
The two that were not fixed have disappeared. I thought you might enjoy seeing one of them. This one will let me photograph him but not too close. The other one is more elusive with a long fluffy coat and no tail.
http://rutheh.com/2010/02/16/feral-cat-in-the-snow/
http://rutheh.com/2010/04/08/feral-cat-in-catnip-study-of-greens/
Thanks, Ruth. She looks a character. I especially like the one in the snow where she is bear-cub round.
No sign of Sonny this morning, but Minstrel appeared when I let Not Cat out. I feel sorry for him as he isn’t well looked after, but he did a proprietary poo while I watched yesterday which is not good. Neither Cat nor Sonny, nor Sonny’s predecessor Buster, ever did that. Makes Minstrel hard to love.
Makes me smile this morning Isobel! I am so happy Sonny is back and you gave him food to fill his tummy!