Sometimes my cats will suddenly perk up their heads, run to the window or patio door and stare out at the air.

I go to see what's out there and there's absolutely nothing, no cat, no squirrel, no mouse, no bird, no leaf. One night, they ran to the patio door and just sat there, completely silent, motionless, staring out at the patio. Even though I suspected there wouldn't be anything out there, I went to the door and turned the light on and there, sitting right inside the gate, was a cat that looked EXACTLY like my previous cat Boots! It took my breath away! I just stared at that cat. I couldn't believe it. Then I thought I'd get some food for the cat but he looked too healthy to be a stray. I thought he must be someone's housecat. So the four of us just stood there staring at each other. I finally went back to the couch and eventually my cats left the patio door and went back to doing their cat things.

I don't know where that cat came from and I've never seen him again, but I still think about it from time to time.