[jdandy]

Keke was Marlene's cat. Someone had abandoned him at about 6 weeks old and we found him under my tool shed meowing one morning. Marlene instantly fell in love with it. He will be two years old this July. Since Marlene passed away I have inherited Keke. He is slowly warming up to me and me to him. He's an outside cat during the day and spends his nights closed in a shed where his bed, food, water, and cat box are located. I let him out every morning about 8:30, and by about 7:00 in the evening he is ready to go inside. Keke is independent and not that big on being petted. He will let me pet him in the morning when I first let him out, and sometimes just before he goes in, but the rest of the time he will scamper off if I try to get a pet in when he is near.

I like having him around as an outside cat, but no way will he get to come inside my home. I can't tolerate fur and the general destruction that's common with all inside pets. I don't blame an animal for doing what comes naturally, but they can do it outside. The good thing is Keke likes being outside. He chases and catches lizards, crickets, and butterflies. He tries to catch squirrels but he isn't fast enough. He hides in the bushes hoping to catch a bird but I haven't seen him succeed yet. He has caught a number of little field mice. By the end of the day he is ready to go in the shed for the night. He likes to nap during the day up on the deck. So far we are getting along just fine.