But we also had her checked out by a vet before we let her into the house with our other cat, in case she had a contagious disease. We’d lost a cat to FIP years earlier and didn’t want to risk anything like that again.

I hope that helps. I think a vet, or your local shelter, humane society, or cat rescue organization, can give you the best advice for handling a stray.

Emily thanks you. She’s a girly-girl who likes to roll in baby powder or anything else perfumed she can find.

My guess is that she had a kind owner when she was young, and something happened to that person, after which she got stuck with a cruel or disturbed one for a while. But it’s anyone’s guess. I sometimes wonder if she ran away, choosing homelessness over cruel treatment. She’s an indoor cat now, but every now and then she slips outside, maybe to ensure she has an escape route if needed. Gentleness works wonders with her, as well as sitting facing us when she’s on a lap, so she can see what the human is up to.

Emily would agree. There’s no finicky cat in this house. She’ll eat dog food as readily as her own.

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, cats are purely carnivorous, while dogs are omnivorous and require less protein and fat. I haven’t tried to tell our pets that. Each is sure the other gets better food.

I too, have a cat who was abused by a previous owner. Constant love and attention has helped heal some of her wounds. It tears me to pieces to think that there are people out there who abuse animals.