Mr. Cat let me pet him today! [View all]

[Ocelot II]

I've been feeding this guy for almost a year, and now he basically lives on my front porch, where he has a heated chair, food and water bowls and a little shelter. He's been pretty skittish, and it took months before he decided to talk to me. At first he was greeting me with a hesitant little "Eep?" but soon he got louder and more vocal, and now his greeting is a rather imperious "Yow! Yow!" But he wouldn't let me touch him, even though he would take bits of chicken from my fingers. Today we had a breakthrough, though. I put food in his bowl, and he came right up and started eating like he always does, not afraid to start chowing while I'm still dishing out his dinner. This time I very hesitantly touched the back of his head, and he didn't pull away, so I kept stroking his back while he ate. It didn't seem to bother him at all. I'm so excited! Maybe someday I can get him to purr...