Really, if I wanted to tame a wild animal, the wild animal would have to choose me, much as Eagle Eye, a one-eyed feral cat, did when I lived on top of a mountain in Arkansas. It's a balancing act, learning how to let them be wild while extending an offer of human contact.

This battle-scarred, torn-eared, skinny-assed tomcat appeared as a passing shadow out of the corner of my eye. After gentle words (making no eye contact) and leaving food on the corner of the brick patio, he accepted my proffered hospitality. Over the course of several weeks, he found himself eating by the front door. After several months, he was taking his meal on the rug inside the open door. Eventually he even allowed himself a few minutes by the fireplace, until our domestic Tommy Cat insisted on his usual place.

The most eloquent possible ending to this story was finding his tired old body at my front door one morning. He had come to let me know not to expect him anymore.