Strays
The True Story of a Lost Cat, a Homeless Man, and Their Journey Across America
- 272 pages
- 10 hours of reading
For fans of heartwarming animal stories, this luminous tale will warm your heart and inspire laughter. Michael King, an alcoholic and depressed man living on the streets of Portland, discovers a hurt, starving cat beneath a café table on a rainy night. He names her Tabor and nurses her back to health, leading to her becoming a local celebrity. As winter approaches, they embark on a journey from Oregon to California and Montana, facing blizzards, bears, and rainstorms together. Tabor captivates those they meet, prompting many to help Michael, who becomes a striking figure with Tabor riding on his backpack or walking on a leash. Tabor provides comfort during Michael’s struggles, motivating him to seek sobriety and confront his past traumas and grief over his late partner. Their bond deepens as they travel the West Coast, healing each other’s wounds. However, when Michael takes Tabor to a veterinarian in Montana, he learns she has an identification chip linking her to her original owner in Portland, who has never stopped searching for her. Michael faces a heart-wrenching decision: keep Tabor or return her to her rightful owner, potentially leaving him alone on the streets once more.


