I had fed a cat for 2 1/2 years and then he disappeared last summer. He's the one that bit me and clawed me twice and drew blood. That was so confusing, the first year he never tried to hurt me and wanted me to pet him, which I did. My d-i-l had to fight him to take him to the vet to get a rabies shot. He was terrified of being confined.

When he bit me I had picked up his food dish and he may have thought I was taking it away. I was going to fill it. Well, he was missing last summer until last night. I heard two cats talking and I didn't want a fight. I looked out and there laid a cat that looked just like the missing cat. But the new stray that I have fed since late last summer doesn't like anyone here. The old cat was laying down and stayed there. The newer cat got to about an inch within the other's nose. I finally opened the door and they scattered but not far. The old cat must be sick or hurt for him to be laying down on the concrete and it's so cold.

I have no experience with feral cats but I refuse to let an animal starve when I can feed it. I just ordered another bird feeder heater to make a large thick plastic water bowl to keep water for the cats. This same heater keeps the bird bath free of ice in the single digits we are having. It was knocked over last night and I fixed it today. The old cat that went missing last summer always would get on my concrete bird bath to get a drink but it is ice. I don't have a heater in it because it leaks. I don't know where he has been for about 8 months but he must consider this his home to come back. I just wish they would all get along.