Photography: Backyard Visitors, Mariam My Feline Friend (#1)

We have a cat that has been visiting us almost daily.  She has been in our neighborhood for over a year now.  From what we can tell, she is a homeless cat that was abandoned.  She visits us almost daily if we are home and somehow, if she smells that we are cooking chicken – she is at the door immediately.  She is a lovely, sweet cat.  The only problem is that because she was abandoned or maybe even abused, she isn’t very trusting.  It is only recently that she has felt safe enough to let me pet her – and even then, only very little.  She is always on guard.  A single noise will have her jump ten feet into the air.  I bought her a few cat toys and she doesn’t pay them any attention.  It’s like she doesn’t know what they are for.    She is sweet though.  I know that she is going through a lot.  Being able to pet her is a big accomplishment.  In the beginning, she wouldn’t come near me because she was afraid that I would hurt her.  I absolutely adore this beautiful lady, whom I have called Mariam.