Gypsy - the Stray Cat Who Came to Stay

I already had two cats at the time that Gypsy came into my life. It would have been sensible to have given her some food and sent her on her way. I was going through a divorce at the time and feeling overwhelmed and unwanted.

How could I turn away a cat who was in a much worse situation than I was? I had a roof over my head and plenty of food to eat, so Gypsy was invited into my house.

First I had to entice her from under the bush where she crouched in the alley. A neighbor had spotted her there and called out, "Hey, there's a cat over here." Then he noticed her stubby tail and scruffy looks and said warningly, "it's a wild cat."

Blaze Cat Eyes Postcard by naturegirl7

I called, "here, kitty, kitty." She didn't run, but she didn't come out from the safety of the scrubby bush. From her small size and shape, I was sure she was a domestic cat and not a wildcat, though the colors of her coat and the stub of a tail looked a little like a bobcat. The fact that she hadn't bolted, told me that at some time she had been a pet. A feral cat would have been long gone.

Despite the length of time she must have been on the street and any mistreatment she had suffered, she still remembered the food and comfort of a home with humans. I was able to lure her out with a dish of cat food. Once she had eaten, she trusted me enough to be taken into the house.

Because she had been living a rambling life, the name "Gypsy" came to my mind. Her many-patterned coat also reminded me of the colorful clothes a gypsy might wear. In addition, she had a somewhat wild, untamed look to her that seemed similar to the unconventional look of a gypsy.

Spanish Gypsy Girls by voodoomama

Gypsy spent the first few months looking for good hiding places around the house. When visitors came, she disappeared under the sofa, behind the drapes or down the stairs to the basement.

Peek-a-Boo Cat by kalliope94041

(Gypsy didn't have this much white on her throat, but the pose and fearful look are just right.)

These cats have the look of my Gypsy.

Mousepad, Calico cat by paraviews



Tabby Cat Photograph Card by AllyJCat
Browse other Tabby Cards


Tabby cat postcard by Junglegeorge

Gypsy finally gained confidence that she was loved and had found a safe haven. She often curled up on my lap as I read a book.