Simeon Joins the Family, by Kitty

A huge Snowshoe Siamese, orange and white, joined the crowd of cats in Mama M's carport one afternoon without invitation. He was excitable and ready for a fight. Unfortunately, he chose Tiger as his opponent. Poor Tiger began to look dogeared; he was never able to win bouts with Simeon.

Mama M borrowed a trap from the Humane Society, put cat food inside, and, bam, Simeon took the bait. While Simeon ate, Mama M locked the door. She then put the trap with Simeon inside into the trunk of her car and drove directly to the Humane Society shelter. Simeon was accepted, and Mama M returned home happy that Tiger would finally be safe.

A couple of weeks later, someone from the Humane Society called Mama M and told her that a lady wanted to adopt Simeon, who by that time had been neutered. "He's really a nice cat now," the caller said. "Will you give permission for him to be adopted?"

"OK," Mama M replied, "but not in MY neighborhood."

However, it wasn't two weeks before Simeon appeared in Mama M's carport again, eating out of the cat bowls with Little Bit and family. At first horrified, Mama M discovered that, yes, Simeon was a nice cat now, gentler, no longer a bully or a fighter. He purred when petted, loved to rub against Mama M's legs, and looked after the smaller cats.

Soon he was allowed in the house, where he became a constant companion to a black-and-white longhair named Masque, due to the shades around her eyes and over her head between her ears. Simeon also found his way into Mama M's lap.