One day she emerged from the greenery separating our house from our neighbor's backyard, this tiny grey and white cat with a distinctive voice. She was wary at first, running back into the vines at the sound of a human step. But day by day, she grew to trust us, eating the food we placed by her hiding place. We named her Ivy, and she was with us for too short a time. Not a kitten, but a small, fully grown cat (according to Dr. Winters who examined her) who was spayed and previously loved. As the days went on, Ivy took her place in our garden, sleeping in the sun, greeting us with her distinctive croak. She was one of the finest cats we had ever known. We were grateful to have shared her life. We miss her every day.