 I'm fond of quoting a nursery rhyme to Tom. It goes: Tom, Tom, the Pipers son, stole a pig and away he run. Tom, the boy in the nursery rhyme, apparently ate the pig! but Wikipedia claims it was maybe a pie! an apple one at that. Getting back to Tom the cat. He hasn't eaten a pig at all, not that he wouldn't have done so when he first arrived. Tom was in a kind of a state. He was found living in the drain of some friends. They already had two cats, one of which named 'Fluffy' was the gatekeeper, top security guard for the front and back yards. Their other cat is called Tiger. This always makes me giggle as Tiger is the sweetest cat you could meet. Fluffy had been seen hanging around the front locked gates and then it came to light that Tom had been living in the drain nearest and was sneaking in to find food. Oops! security guard, top cat, saw red.... and black and white! and Tom Tom the Pipers son was sent packing! back to the drain, cold, hungry, confused but knowing his place. As luck would have it, the friends had security cameras and Tom appeared on their screen, not quite a celebrity, but nevertheless seen slinking under the gate at night like some kind of cat burglar wearing his black mask. Tom knew that both cats got to be put in lockup at that time so he hid under the house where he cried and the sound came in through the floor to the upstairs residents. After discussing this dilemma, we agreed they should leave him some food and shortly afterwards a trap. Tom, Tom, the Pipers Son, was duly caught and delivered to us. He was not desexed or chipped and was a fully matured young male who had some war wounds but otherwise was in good condition. Perhaps he was lost but I suspect he may have been dumped. He was timid, very anxious about food, a little defensive and gave me a nip twice just to let me know not to try any funny business. We were not sure how he would react to other cats but once released from his crate I saw Simba, that big ginger boofhead, walk up to him, stand in front of him, puffed up to full height and put one giant paw against Tom's chest and push. Kind of like, 'this is my pad, I'm the boss here..' Luckily for Simba, Tom backed off and hid under a small table. I have never seen Simba argue with anyone. Simba is here while his eye issue is sorted. He's a really lovely natured boy. Yesterday Simba met our new boy Reilly. Under supervision, they tapped noses and then Simba lowered his head to give a small friendly head butt to Reilly and Reilly grabbed him around the neck with his claws. Yeah, Reilly is what you might call a cat with a problem, loves people, expects the other cats to know about his gunslinging reputation in this new town and want to challenge him to a duel. In the exercise yard we call the verandah, Reilly has his constitutional on his own now. Tom though, is quite affectionate with people and submissive with other cats. They in turn don't mind him at all. He has become fond of the outdoor enclosures and there has been no trouble, even with 'prefects' like Cherie when he ventures out there. He just calmly waits until she lets him pass her., After being brought back recently from a trial adoption due to a sudden interstate employment transfer, Tom will soon be looking for a home of his own. He needs a quiet home, a patient human to provide the stability he has lacked from his unsettled past. Tom Tom the Pipers son wants to settle down. Below photos are of Reilly (top) and Simba.  
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