Every rescue carries an endearing story of how it came into the lives of its adoptive family. Once when I was telling my veterinarian how the particular cat on her exam table came to be here, her uninterested voice simply said, "There will always be cats." I remember thinking to myself that her heart definitely hardened since the period in her life when she entered the field of animal care.
Yes there will always be cats, and if we join the ranks who look the other way, "out of sight, out of mind", then that particular cat will most likely soon no longer be anyone's concern. Statistically it will become a victim of the ways of the wild and perish without anyone to mourn it's loss.
We've always had one too many cats, yet once you're set up for cats, it's like eating potato chips and you make room for one more. We don't go looking for more ways of tying ourselves down with responsibility or debt, but if a little lost soul seeks our doorstep over that of another, he must have sensed something to override his fear.
That is exactly what happened with the little girl in the pictures. My husband had a business luncheon at a restaurant in a busy area whirling with traffic. It was raining and miserable outside and as the group exited the building a skinny little cat was seen wandering around the parking lot. With the work day not yet over, everyone had things to do and places to be, therefore a stray cat was seen but not really seen (if you know what I mean).
Except for my husband.
This little cat must have picked up on the empathetic energies from this man, therefore followed him to his car, and just sat there. What was he to do? He had to get back to work but his heart couldn't just leave her there in the rain with the odds very great that she wouldn't survive the day without getting hit by a car. Looking around, wondering where she could have come from, he did what every good husband does. He called his wife and asked what to do.
By the time he came home, he picked up on three things that made this cat special.
1. She came to him and let him pick her up without fear.
2. She sat on his lap the entire hour car ride home.
3. It became obvious that this cat couldn't hear a thing.
How a deaf cat crossed those busy roads just shows how sharp are the survival skills and senses of our animal friends.
The restaurant was called Bones Grill, so we named her Bonesy. As can be seen by these pictures she didn't remain skin and bones for very long.
The fact that Bonesy had something wrong with her was picked up on immediately by the other cats. The animal world doesn't take kindly to a weakness, therefore Bonesy had to toughen up quick to gain acceptance amidst her new household. There was plenty of scowling and head bopping but since she acted indifferent to it all without fear or backing down, peace ensued pretty quickly.
Bonesy is a very loving little girl and being she doesn't get spooked by sudden noises as do most cats, she is at total peace with the world. 
A special needs pet has plenty to teach us about making the best with the cards dealt out by the life we were given. This cat has shown us how to enjoy the warmth of the sun, the smell of the wind, the joy it brings a person to greet him cheerfully at the door.
Very important and most difficult for we busy humans, is allowing ourselves the time to relax in someone's arms with no where to be but in the moment at hand.
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