Blue Collar

     In heading to the mailbox, I was approached by a cat meowing.  It was a solid light grey tabby.  I noticed right off that it wore a blue collar around its neck.  There hanging on the blue collar was a rabies tag.  It was someone's cat allowed outside for the day.  As I approached the front porch, the cat followed close behind.  It still continued to meow.  I shut the front door.  Upon having entered the house, I immediately grabbed a bag of treats.  Once outside, I poured treats for the cat.  As the cat turned and held tail in the air, I saw a neutered male cat.  Yes, he definitely belonged to someone. 
     When I started feeding strays, a friend said to me, "Do you realize that by feeding strays that you will also be feeding someone else's cat?"  I figured as much, but never really knew for sure.  What I saw was a cat who came to eat.  To me, they all seemed to be strays.  I responded to the friend by saying, "It doesn't matter to me if it's someone's cat or not.  The cat is hungry." 
     It's obvious to me that this cat belonged to someone.  They spent a lot of money to take care of him just to let him run loose in my neighborhood.  This is the first time that I really knew I was feeding someone else's cat.  Since he was not about to be one of my strays, I safely named him, Blue Collar.  It is not every day that he comes to my door.  But he comes often enough for treats.  I feed him and then he goes away.  At first he was scared of me, but now I can rub him.  He is a pretty cat and very healthy.  Someone out there besides me loves him.  My son Kevin commented in saying, "You have spoiled him to treats.  I bet his owner wonders why he's not eating the food at home." 
     As long as Blue Collar comes to my front door, he will not be turned away.  The treats are for him any time.  I do wish though that his owner knew the risk of letting Blue collar outside.  If he were mine, safely inside this beautiful animal would stay.