Kenda and Thai Foon, sitting in a tree, and Jackie Chan baby makes three. That was how it was when we finally succeeded in bringing the big black and white tramp in. All summer of 1997 we had slowly won this giant's trust in feeding him at our window. We finally determined that with the cats being used to seeing him at the window he had a good chance of being integrated into the family.

Two Tone, when we first saw him, was starving, literally. He was a shadow of his immensity today. We'd keep catching glimpses of him at the window, trying to get a sniff of Kenda or Thai Foon through the window. One day Diane took him out a can of food, scaring the daylights out of him because she'd actually tried to come near him. But hunger got the better of him, and with Diane watching from the window he came and ate. As the routine continued for the next two months, he'd come closer to her when she set the can down.

One day Diane tentatively petted him while he ate, and he accepted. There was no turning back now. Over two more months he'd come to the window and meow for his food, rubbing against Diane's legs in greeting. Sterling got into the act, going with Diane to take the food out so Two Tone would be used to him as well.

In December, the decision came to bring him in, but alas, nature paused the plan. A great whopping storm of slush came down, and Two Tone wasn't seen for over a week. We thought he was lost. Then one night he suddenly showed up at the window, and we immediately brought him in. Oh what a scared waifling we had taken in. He hid all night and all the next day, finally coming out for food. Then suddenly, he was all purrs.

The other cats have not been happy. Much hissing and spats have resulted in getting them together. Fortunately, he like Jackie was perfectly healthy. Even sadder, we discovered that he was declawed. Someone hadn't wanted him, and had apparently left him behind. Months have gone by and he is steadily finding his place in the household, sitting near them, despite knowing the other cats will probably chase him off. But the spats grow less vehement each day. For now they can tolerate each other in the same room with sufficient personal space between them. Hopes are high.