Our Smokey Robinson

Meet Smokey, one of our resident stray cats that was neutered last year when we had our fundraiser. He has become quite the favorite of mine and my neighbor's as he has grown very affectionate and loving over the past few months. My neighbor Betty, who also helps with the feeding of our community strays, named him Smokey Robinson, but we just call him Smokey for short.

He must be part Persian because he's got the softest fur. His coat feels like Middi's underbelly fur all over. He's very sweet, yet still very timid and jumpy. He's also very playful since he's still young and I suspect feels lonely ever since his sister and Boots have been gone. I gave him some cat toys to play with that Middi doesn't use and I can hear him jingling the bells out on the front porch.

Betty, my neighbor, and I have fallen for him and we both love him very much. He comes and visits me by my front door and I go out to pet him and scratch his belly after he falls down and rolls around all over the place.

When Gizzy's having one of his long snoozes, I allow him in, only he doesn't stay but a few seconds. As soon as he realizes the door has closed behind him, he feels trapped and wants out.

I think he and Middi could become good friends if only my Gizzy wasn't such a stinker - besides we have that two pets only limit at the apartments and I live right across from the darn office. Besides, some of my neighbors would rat me out eventually and I can't risk losing my home, so I just do what I can and pray he'll be safe...and again, if anyone wants a sweetheart of a cat, he's neutered and very loveable.