ROSIE'S HOME

She is just skin and bones, but she appears to be no worse for wear. Our canvassing paid off...

While doing so last evening, a neighbor in E building said he laid out a little bed and some food and water on Monday night because he'd heard from a neighbor about a missing black cat. On Tuesday morning he checked his patio, and sure enough there lie a little black cat, but she took off as soon as he opened up the patio door. I gave him my phone and apartment numbers, just in case she decided to come back

A couple hours later he was buzzing our door to tell us that his neighbor on the 2nd floor had a stray black cat in his apartment! Sam and I were so excited... we hurried over there, knocked on 210, and there before us was Not Rosie.

But the neighbor did not want this cat, so I consented to taking her. She was a huge, meaty black cat with white belly and neck. She felt pregnant to me.... it was clear she was a very loved and well-fed cat, and I knew someone would be missing her. I figured we could give her shelter and put up signs, maybe even take her to the Dumb Friends League.

As we were leaving their building to go to ours, the Good Samaritan who'd gotten the whole ball rolling told me the little black cat he returned to his porch! At that moment, the fat black cat who'd been such a lover became violent, scratched my arm, struggled and got free. We went over to look at this new black cat, and there before us was Rosie.

She's been too out of her mind with fear to let anyone approach her, but it took just a minute or so of cooing and quietly calling her name before she allowed me to grab her by the scruff of the neck and hold her. I could feel her skeleton through her dirty fur. She was silent on the walk to our building. The only time she made a sound was when we got on the elevator, and then she yowled like I was skinning her. We unlocked our door, put her down, and she was HOME.

Minky was so happy to see Rosie. Minky has not eaten the canned tuna we prepared for Rosie. Rosie spent the night stuck like glue to me, and once her belly was full enough, she took her place under covers and slept.

This morning she is perhaps more docile, and certainly more hungry than usual, but I think she'll be fine. The biggest change is that this once aloof cat now refuses to leave my arms.

I should have made more of an effort to locate this sweet cat. At least with her home I can forgive myself my laissez-faire approach to this wonderful creature's fate. As atonement, I vow to make no disparaging comments about her awful tuna farts.