One night about two weeks ago as I was going out late in the dark to put out the food I leave for the 'possums and raccoons I am lucky enough to live around, I saw a shadow whip from the bushes and under a car, flitting so fast I wasn't sure what it was; or if it was anything more than the shadow of a branch, tossed by the wind, caused by the moon.

But I stood very still and watched the shadows under the car and one shifted and moved and I saw a long skinny tail before it was tucked around a body and I knew. There was a shadow cat in my yard, hiding in my bushes, called there by what I don't know; the presence of the cats who live with me, the aura of my home, the love in my heart?

I went on around the building and deposited the wild creature food and returned. The shadow was no longer under the car, but I knew it was not far. I prepared a bowl of food and returned to the bushes and the Shadow, faster than I could see or blink, was out of the bushes and under the car. I shook the bowl, to get him used to the sound of food, and placed it under the bush and left. I watched from the door as the Shadow, moving from shadow to shadow, seeking protection from his own kind, approached the bowl and settled down to eat, and I went in so as not to disturb his meal.

Since then, most nights, the Shadow is there, waiting for the food. He disappears, anonymous in the crowd of moonlit shadows, when I approach with the food, but when I have withdrawn about 10 feet he will come back out and crouch by the bowl, but he won't start eating until I have gone. On nights when he is not there, at least not that I can see, I just leave the bowl; knowing he will come later and if not him, some other hungry creature will eat the food that I leave like an offering to a kindly god that never existed.

When I go out with the food I croon, "purdy, purdy, kit cat, kit cat" because you cannot call shadows with the loud, fast "kitty, kitty" that I use to call the cats who live with me. You must call shadows soft and low, like a lullaby, crooning the call, calming the spirit.

Oh, Shadow, you are so fearful and you are so lost. You never knew my Daddy, but I did; and he was the master shadow charmer and I learned from him well. Someday you will eat when I am there and someday you will let me stroke your body; and even if you never do I will always leave the food and always call you, softly in the night.

The thought of the shadow cat eating the food that I put out makes me feel warm and relaxed, like listening to Bob Seger sing, or floating in the ocean, or falling asleep after sex with someone I wanted, even if it's only for one night, especially if it's only for one night.

I have heard of moon shadows and I have seen moon shadows, but now I know that one feels a heart shadow.

"Kindness to an animal will bring its own reward."