I stepped outside yesterday and saw our resident lady cat Larenti grabbing a bite to eat.  Unlike so many times before, however, she ran a short distance away when I stepped through the door.  I must have scared her.

So I stood where I was and watched her return to the meal.  Slowly and suspiciously, she started eating again, yet she kept her eyes on me the whole time.  If I moved, she jumped back to a safe distance.  If I stood too close, she wouldn’t eat.  This was all very unusual.

And then it occurred to me.  This was not the same cat.  Sure, this one looked a lot like the female cat I’ve been feeding and befriending, but this one was different.  First, the tabby stripes were slightly more pronounced and the general color of its fur seemed more brown to her grey.  Second, unless she began magically regenerating body parts, her normally clipped ear was now fully intact.

I’ve always been aware of the large number of cats living in this area.  I’ve equally been aware of the diversity in the population.  What I hadn’t been aware of until yesterday was that I may have been seeing two cats who are almost identical while assuming they were the same cat I’ve been feeding.  The new visitor is skittish and not nearly as trusting as her highness, and, as I said, its coat is slightly different from hers.  Nevertheless, in quick glances and passing views, it’s likely I’ve confused one for the other on more than one occasion.

Suffice it to say I gave the feline plenty of room to eat and talked quietly to it while it did so.  After a healthy meal, it went on about its business.  I’ll keep an eye out for this new neighbor and will try to grab a photo or two in addition to identifying its sex (if it wouldn’t mind lifting its lush tail long enough to make that possible).