Last night around 9:00 our neighbor’s cat Noah showed up. Noah has been their family cat for years- a strictly indoor, well fed ginger tom who is very affectionate and people dependent. A few weeks ago, they discovered that their youngest child is severely allergic to cats. They found a home for one cat, but Noah appears to have been just shoved outside.

I’ve returned him to them a few times, but now that they’ve gone on an extended vacation he’s fending for himself, obviously without food since he’s over here eating everything we’ve been leaving out for Lissy. He’s also been meowing to come in and get affection.

Last night I let him in, fed him, loved on him. He walked around yowling- totally distraught. I left the backdoor open so he could come and go as he pleased, even though I know I can’t keep him around because of my allergies.

I was a little concerned that Lissy wouldn’t come back if she saw Noah there. She is very territorial.

Well, I shouldn’t have worried because at about 10:30 I’m in the bathtub and guess who waltzes in looking like she’d lost a fight with a burr bush? Lissy. Of course I jumped out dripping wet and ran to hug her. She was very hungry, and a mess, but home and acting like nothing had happened.

Now I just need to figure out what to do about Noah. The kids let him in again this morning, and then played with him so much he was very happy to go back outside again. Still, something needs to be done with that situation.

Lissy, on the other hand, has been sleeping off her adventure in her bed on my computer desk. Occasionally she gets up to sleep on the couch or my scrapbooking counter if that is where I happen to be, so I think for all her nonchalance, she is quiet gald to be back. We have many theories as to where she’s been all this time, the most likely is that she hitched a ride to Disneyland for a few days. This photo from my friend Zarah may prove that. She seems quite elegant in the teacups, wouldn’t you say?