I’d like to formally introduce you to CJ, swindler extraordinaire. You may recall a couple months ago when I came home to find a cat that looked remarkably like my Westley sitting on my front porch.

It surprised me because I’d left my cat in the house. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was just a doppelgänger and not my boy (who was peacefully napping on his cat tree at the time).

The little stranger tugged at my heartstrings with its pathetic mew and demands for attention. I offered it a scoop of food, which it immediately scarfed down. It made me worry that it had been left behind by one of the neighbors that had recently moved away.

That first night I left the cat alone, hoping it would find its way home. Which I presumed happened because I didn’t see kitty for about a week. When it showed up again one morning I sprang into action. I lured kitty into a cage with some food and drove over to my vet to have it scanned for a microchip.

After a few phone calls, I was able to reunite her with her family which lives down at the end of my block. We had a good chuckle over her antics when I walked CJ back home because even though she acted ravenous around me, she is a well-loved and well-cared for cat. Apparently, she just knew I was a soft touch!

CJ still visits occasionally, though she doesn’t stay long. She is severely disappointed in my lack of concern regarding her “malnourishment”!