Cat Saving

This is just too funny!
Ranger, our adopted stray cat, was actually left behind after a friend's sister-in-law moved and he didn't show up to get collected. Here's pictures of him with his previous owner. And there's pictures of him that we took below. Our pictures are a few years old. Hmm... I'll see if I can find newer ones.
Anyway, Ethan would routinely go for "cat walks" around our old apartment neighborhood. He befriended all of the local cats and would carry treats in his pockets. He learned their names, if they had collars, and give them names if they didn't. He lured Ranger back to our house once and we fed him. He was so skinny and skittery. He coat was dull and he looked all scared; but boy did he want the chow. We left food outside a couple times and then when there wasn't food he made noise at the door. So we let him in. Big mistake. He figured out how to really make noise (since our door wasn't a tight shut, but moved a little even when locked) by ramming himself against it. In the dead of night. Just for food. Dang adorable cat. He seemed all big and ferocious.. till you started petting him. Then he's a big teddy bear. We started lugging him around when he got up on counters or was in the way. He didn't mind at all. And so, since he knew how to get in and out, and he had food and water, he spent more and more time with us. He became our cat. He never clawed the furniture, or peed anywhere. And we did not have a litterbox then. We only got one later for Chewy's kittens. Then he used it. But as long as we didn't have one, he just made noise and lots of it to be let out. Thus Ethan was the Door Opener. "Mew, mew. Meow. MEOW." Then jump on the humans, and MOW MEOW RAR louder. Huh. And the whole time, Ethan thinks its all endearing. Well.

So we have a couple we know over for dinner a few weeks ago. They knew we had him but hadn't really seen him up close and personal. And they think they recognize him. Turns out the sis-in-law and bro had lived in an apartment building next to ours but moved and couldn't find him when they had to leave. Left behind, the real saga.

So we're comparing phots. Spots and such. He wasn't fixed when we found him, so that happened a year or so after we got him. Didn't seem to phase him much. He might spend more time indoors. But how would I know? We have a cat door now so I'm not privy to most of his comings and goings.
Its so cool to know he wasn't a complete stray; he had a home but just got lost. I like knowing his story.