Strider

I love this picture of Strider.  Smeagol and Strider are feeling much better and their Mom is cautiously optimistic.  Cautiously, because they felt much better once before, then got sick again.  They have finished up their medicines, but are still on a special diet for a while.  Here's hoping that they recover fully very soon.  Strider was adopted in April of 2004.  He introduced himself in a rather unique way.  He came walking out of the woods behind the house and saw Smeagol sitting in the window.  Strider leaped up on the window screen and hung there until the Mom opened the door, then he ran off a little ways.  Being very smart, the Mom had treats with her and Strider came back for the treats and some petting, then ran off a ways again.  The Mom came back with food, because Strider was very skinny and looked hungry.  Strider came back for the food, ate and ran off again.  He kept up this eat and run for a few days, then let himself be caught.  Of course, this meant a trip to the vet, but he checked out OK and got his shots, but was mistaken for a girl kitty.  That mistake didn't persist for long, as Strider is not nearly as floofy as Brainball, who had the same problem.  Strider got his name for the way he just came walking out of the woods, which reminded the Mom and Dad of the character in Lord of the Rings.  Strider and Smeagol hissed and growled at each other for a few days, then discovered the joys of playing together.  They have been fast friends ever since.  Nobody knows for sure how old Strider is, but he shows every indication of being the same age as Smeagol, six years old.  Strider loves playing with toys and wrestling with Smeagol and playing Thundering Herd of Elephants with Smeagol.  He also loves biting his Mom's toes through the bedclothes and when she comes out of the shower.  He also likes talking to Gizmo through the window.  There is one thing that he likes to do which drives his Mom and Dad nuts.  Strider likes to dart out the door.  He has never really run away, but the possibility worries his Mom and Dad.  He once led his Mom on a merry chase.  He ran out the door and headed straight for the bad road.  His Mom was right behind him and managed to head him away from the road, but then Strider ran toward the woods.  He teased and teased his Mom by running off a ways, then letting her get close to him and running off again.  He finally let her catch him in a parking lot on the other side of the woods.  He purred in the Mom's arms all the way back to the house.  The Mom and Dad surmise that Strider used to live in a house nearby, but was abandoned and, every once in a while, he tries to find where he used to live; or he remembers living in the woods and gets the urge to visit.

                           Strider likes to take off to the trees.
                           He does it mostly his Mom to tease.
                                 He plays hide-and-seek
                                 'Til she starts to freak,
                           Then he lets her catch him and purrs to please.