After a few weeks of this, May opened the door for Maurice and let him inside.

"I tried to find out if any of the neighbors knew where he came from, and the vet scanned him for a chip, but his story remains a mystery," May said.

Maurice didn't allow much petting at first, but acted as though he accepted this new life right away.

"He sleeps indoors, sometimes on the bed, and hangs out with [our two cats], Fifi and Muggsy, in their safe, enclosed backyard," May said. "He seems so satisfied being with us."

Since his rescue, Maurice has completely transformed. His fur has grown thick and shiny, and he's no longer searching for his next meal.

"It's so gratifying knowing that one of these formerly homeless kitties is safe," May said. "I'm spending as much time as I can with him during what I think of as his ‘transitional' phase — as he learns to be tame and to trust us."