My dad’s home is deep in the woods, but that doesn't stop the occasional feral cat from finding its way there. Dad keeps several bird feeders well-stocked, and the abundance of birds inevitably attracts predators.

About two years ago, a small orange tabby appeared. While it spent most of its time hunting mice, it would occasionally turn its attention to the birds. The cat would sit motionless under a feeder for hours. Then, if a bird dared to venture too close, the tabby would launch itself through the air like an uncoiled spring. Dad enjoys watching this drama. The birds know the cat is there; they usually keep their distance. But sometimes– it is a stark reminder of the circle of life.

When the cat first arrived, it was extremely skittish. Dad could watch it through the window. It would bolt the moment he opened the door. He decided to try and tame it. Every day, he put out a bowl of food, first placing it near the bird feeder. Over a period of weeks, he moved the bowl progressively closer to the back door. Eventually, he could stand near the bowl as the cat ate, and finally, he could touch it. It began to trust him, though it would still flee from anyone else.

Dad continued feeding the cat through the fall and winter. It gets brutally cold here, with many nights dipping to zero degrees Fahrenheit, yet the cat survived. It grew fat and fluffy in the autumn and somehow endured the harsh winter nights.

Last summer, the cat vanished for a few weeks only to return with a litter of kittens. In the month that followed, the kittens disappeared one by one, until a single orange tabby remained. This kitten grew large over the summer, becoming fat and fluffy itself by the fall. The two cats would hang around Dad's home, hunting mice and the occasional bird.

Then, just before Christmas, the mother cat vanished again. We hoped for the best but feared the worst. Life in the wild can be unforgiving.

A few days ago, Dad opened the door to a rarely used shed, and there she was. She somehow became trapped in the shed. She had lost a great deal of weight and fur. She was mewing weakly. Yet somehow she had survived for days without food or water in the freezing cold.

Dad immediately gave her kibble and warm water. He built a makeshift den for her near a basement window—a place that was sheltered and warm.

In the following days she recovered. Dad continues to feed her a little extra meat and kibble. With each passing day she seems healthier and more content.