Hi Cataholic and Minnie! My cats and I are new to PetTalk, but your story reminded me so much of how I met my tabby lady, Lynnseed Enigma (Lynn for short )!! I found Lynn as a kitten when she was in a storm sewer during a rain storm. She was soaking wet and crying but refused to come out so I had to get someone to help me pry off the manhole cover so I could throw a towel over her and drag her out. She never bit or scratched, she just went completely limp and buried her head in the towel. She stayed that way all the way to the vet's office...... When she got home she met my other two kitties and then immediately shoved herself in behind the washing machine and refused to come out. I put her food next to the washer and went in to talk to her every day. Gradually she started showing up around the house and eating out of the other cat's bowls...

That was eleven years ago (hard to believe!) and she's still very shy....I am only allowed to pet her when I'm in the bathroom (there must be something soothing about tile...?) but she will come and sit in the living room near us and roll around on the floor by herself and purr and purr so loudly we can hear her all the way over on the couch. I guess she'll always be my "special" kitty but she's healthy and happy and she has lent her paw to raising several other stray kittens that have passed through our house on their way to their forever homes.

PS She has given me a bit of a reputation though - only two other people have ever seen her (besides the vet) so people are starting to tease me that she doesn't really exist.