I don't know where "Ol Tom" came from. All I know is I was introduced to him several months ago by Derby (our Golden Retriever who loves to make a meal from a cat) who had him "treed" in the backyard.

We are so used to stray cats showing up here we just sort of take it in stride. Currently we feed quite a number of cats. Tom hung out here for quite a while. He took care of my mouse problem in the fur shed, and followed me around like a dog. If I bent over to do something, and he was around he would jump on my back and sit on my shoulder until I eventually brushed him off.

I last saw Tom after his fight with a coyote. He was headed out across a field, beaten and battered. I assume he went off to die. No amount of calling would make him turn around and come back.

Cats are funny that way. Like the Native American warriors in the past, knowing they are dying, they go off to do so alone, and with dignity.

Thinking of Tom brought to mind a number of other cats that have gone through my life. Keep in mind I hate cats, they are the most useless critter in the world to a dog man like me, but there have been a few that have captured my heart, to include the two I have in the house now.

In Alaska, a friend of mine gave me Hagler (named after the boxer, Marvin Hagler). Now Hagler thought he was the motor in the car. That car could not start, nor go anywhere without him, or at least he thought so. He would get up on my shoulders and ride there as long as the car was going.

Ever try to get through rush hour traffic with a steady purr in your ear? Try combining that with horns honking and country music some time. Yep, Hagler loved country music. If you put anything else on the radio he would change the stations on you, until he found something he liked listening to. My step daughter (Brook) reminds me of him quite a bit. She constantly changes radio stations, listening to her "favorite song" which is anything dealing with cowboys, I think!

Then there was Kemo. Kemo is Hawaiian for Lizard. Someone gave him to us while I was stationed in Hawaii. He came to us a kitten, and was a great watch cat. In fact, he was more likely to bite you than a dog would. Temperamental as all get out, and like Hagler, he was as black as coal.

I am not sure what happened to Hagler, we ended up giving him away prior to leaving Alaska, but "MOO" came home with us from the island and from what I hear met his "waterloo" at the end of someone's gun a few months back.

Then there is "Momma Cat." That is all I call her because she is constantly raising a litter (for Derby to do away with), or about to have a litter. She constantly tries to get in the house, and obviously was someone's house cat at one time or another. I imagine she got out one night, got in the family way, and somebody decided to drop her. By the way, we currently have a litter of kittens to give away thanks to her, so if you know of anyone who wants one just give us a holler. Otherwise, they (on their own) will eventually become "Derby Toys."

Out of Momma Cat came Idgy, one of two inside cats we have. Idgy thinks she owns the house and will fight you to prove it. She boxes with Dusty (my step son), and will let you know real quick if she is not pleased with something. One morning Kathy was painting (she is quite an artist) and Idgy decided to play with the brushes. Kathy hollered at her, and Idgy smacked Kathy as if to say, "Who do you think you are hollering at me?"

Then there is "Wheezer." She is a calico that I rescued from a highway several months back. She was just a kitten when I brought her here, and growing up amongst dogs, she thinks she is one. You can call her like a dog and she comes, she will lick your hand, and rather than swat at you with a paw, she will bite or lick your hand to get attention. Most of all, she doesn't like cats.

Now that is my kind of cat.