I found these two pictures of Smokey:
The morning after the attack:
A few days later:
Talk about wild and wooly, here are a couple of pictures of Buddy. I first saw Buddy about five years ago. I live in the country and am surrounded by woods on all sides. I saw a white cat a couple hundred yards deep into the woods. To make a long story short, I observed him for about two years before I finally found him eating cat food I had been setting out during that time. Within a year he was eating close enough for me to reach out and touch, but ... for several months, if my hand came within distance, he would strike and often open me up good. I was sliced open way more than once. Eventually I devised a trap for him out of a hamster cage and caught him. He nearly tore the cage apart. But I got him to the vet and he was neutered and received some tooth work. When I got him home I tried to keep him locked in a room, but he tore through the screen of one of my windows.
A few months later I saw him eating the cat food again, so I gave another try. It required several weeks, but finally I was able to touch him, and even though he would strike, it was with a lot less ferocity than before.
Well, to shorten the story even more, take a look at the pics. I fill a feeder twice a week, and get a few minutes to visit with my friend. Eventually, I shall bring him back inside and complete the transformation. But as you can see, I can now touch and stroke him without fear of losing a hand. Better than that, recently, he arched his back and I could hear purring. I reached down and picked him up. He put his face up to mine and then it happened. He butted my face with his! Oh, sweet joy!
I took these pics at about 5:30 am. It was very cold, the lens kept fogging up, and Buddy wouldn't stay still, so the pics are a little fuzzy.
There was a day when that hand would have been like raw meat. That is Prince in the background. He and Buddy have become, well ..., "buddies."
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