Hi, my name is Woods, but let me tell you, I would never have chosen that one. I'm no Brer Rabbit and I'm no mountain man, either. I hate the woods. I don't know how I got there, but luckily, my nose got me out. The only bears I ever dreamed of meeting were teddies. I was born a lover boy. All I ever wanted was a cozy home with people who loved me inside and out (plenty of food, cuddle time, and kind words). I really wanted that with all my heart. I still don't know what happened to wreck my plan to have a good forever guardian. Before I knew it, I was outdoors for a long, long time, all by myself and totally lost, trying to find my way out of some hideously thorny woods. There was no food unless I caught it myself, definitely no sweet cuddles, and instead of kind words, fights with the local wild creatures. (Even the rabbits have too many teeth. I think they're from some other planet). Well, I did the best I could. I tried not to think of food sacks or cans. I drank from puddles or whatever waterway I stumbled on. I missed more meals than Jenny Craig in a POW camp. It was murder. I tried to pretend I was a Marine, but that didn't help much, especially as I got thinner and thinner, weaker and weaker, and had to try to keep marching with an infected mouth and a bum leg. I don't mind telling you that I said a couple of intense prayers. And then one evening, just as I was seriously thinking of giving up, I smelled the incredible aromas of a human outdoor dinner party!!! WOW!!! I rose from the near dead. Nothing else mattered but those tantalizing smells that spelled F-O-O-D. Food with no teeth attached that would fight back. Food for the easy taking—if only I could win the humans to my side, make them see something extremely pitiable. That shouldn't be hard, I felt. I mean, just look at me! And it wasn't. I'd been led to a briar patch right at the edge of the forest next to Spaymart! And the humans who were setting up their supper as the sun went down were ready to eat!! I waited until just the right moment. Plates were full, forks were raised, mouths were just opening in happy hope, when I opened my aching one as LOUD as I could and popped my head through those brambles. I thought I was the spitting image of the MGM lion, but the poor humans acted as if I were a Yeti. But only for a moment. Afterall, they were the Spaymart action heroes! They had worked awfully hard all that day changing litter boxes, cleaning and filling food and water bowls, medicating, and giving the kitty residents plenty of TLC. Immediately, they enticed me (it sure didn't take much, just a bite to eat) out of the woods and into their arms, where immediately I filled my horribly empty tummy and then got medical treatment for a badly abscessed leg and an inflamed mouth. Gosh it was nice. And it still is. Even the sad part of my story, that I have contracted FIV through the hardships I've gone through, can't get me down. I'm still with those wonderful people at Spaymart in Picayune. I'm recovering quite nicely; I especially love dinner time (and always will) and I feel duty bound to howl a little if I feels the least bit ignored. I want SO much to love people and to find that one person or family that I can live with and love for always. I guess I'm just desperately hoping my luck has really changed. If you could possibly adopt me, I'd make it up to you in every way I can think of. I'd have to be the only cat in your home, though, or if you have a wonderfully warm heart, maybe I would be sharing that home with another FIV positive cat? I'm a very handsome gray and white tabby DSH fellow with stripes, 8 years old and hoping... If you like my pictures below, please call my Spaymart friends to ask about me? You can reach them at: 601-749-0268. You can also email at: spaymart@hughes.net or FAX: 601-709-0268. Please make my dream of you come true? love, Woods