People come and go at a homeless shelter; it's the nature of the place. But a recent arrival at Na-Me-Res, an aboriginal men's shelter in Toronto, has made her presence felt in a big way.

A stray, charcoal-gray cat landed at Na-Me-Res a while back, and soon became part of the scene. The shelter residents called the cat Smudgey in honour of the aboriginal smudging ceremony and they began to take care of her. They collected money from the residents and staff and used the proceeds to buy cat food and kitty litter.

If you're thinking Smudgey is a distraction for the guys at Na-Me-Res, you would be wrong. This cat has provided opportunities to practice conflict resolution and tending to the needs of others.

Despite their personal differences, two men in particular have risen to the occasion. Tim loves cats. Kris hates them. But both men have poured their hearts and souls into taking care of Smudgey... and they have received much in return.

Documentary produced by Rosie Fernandez, edited by Erin Noel. It originally aired in 2015.