Duke

I have to be honest.  When I first saw Duke at the feral cat colony I did exactly what I did whenever I first spotted a new cat.  I prayed he was just passing through and would go back to his real home so I didn't have to go through the process of trapping, neutering and returning him, and I liked my group just the size it was.  He never did end up going home, not sure if he was dumped there or not. But he made his presence known.  He was a fat orange and white cat, that terrified the little black kitties and tuxedos whenever he had the opportunity.  I ended up having to feed them separately or he would attack them whenever he had the chance. I hoped neutering him would calm him down but he was just the same, when I released him.  Despite his temperament with the other kitties, he did sort of like people, at least somewhat, till he would scratch you out of the blue for no reason at all.  I had a strange feeling he wasn't feral at all, and felt a profound sense of sadness that he was lost between two worlds, too unpredictable to be a housecat, and way too territorial to exist peacefully in any colony.  He was a loner, I could relate.  About a month ago I brought Duke home with the intent of having him live in my garage, so he was safe but didn't continue to attack the neighborhood cats.  He's been in a large crate for labrador sized dogs about a month, too nervous to come out, yet loved to be pet.  Gone was his careless scratching, and while I don't know how he is with other pets, I've noticed he really enjoys being pet and human company.  He's afraid to be loose in the house as he is still unfamiliar with the indoor environment but today he moved himself into our downstairs bathroom, where I have the opportunity to be closer to him.  I don't know what his future holds as he is FIV positive, not a death sentence by any means but if he continues to be aggressive towards other cats he'd have to live alone, but I am so glad I took the risk and brought this fellow home.  I feel I am teaching him he is worthy of love and deserves a good life, a life he probably would never have the chance to experience if someone didn't take a chance on him.