I brought Palmer home from the SPCA in the winter of 2011. My neighbors and friends, Tim and Corene, have always helped out with my furry friends, taking care of them when I travel, etc.
Although I wanted to protect Palmer (AKA the PomPom) by making him an indoor cat it was clear from the start that he would have nothing of it. He is a wild walk-around cat. He loves to roam and hunt and do dare-devil stunts like run straight up the trunk of a tree or leap precariously between rooftops. He also likes to break into homes and sleep in other houses. Like Tim and Corene’s. Every night.
PomPom spends most days snoozing in our house. At about 4:30 every afternoon, he moves to the courtyard, longingly stares at the gate, and waits for Tim to come home. He follows Tim wherever he goes. When he catches his prey, he drops the dead carcass at their door, not ours. At some point along the way, it dawned on me that PomPom had fallen in love with Tim and Corene.
The behind PomPom’s Twitter feed (@PalmerCatSF), Tim and Corene have also taught him to jump through a hoop. Yes. The cat does tricks (for them).
If you love someone, set them free. I love the PomPom and he loves me just a little less than my neighbors. What can one do?