My Smokey Joe came to me in a similar fashion. About eight years ago, he was spotted eating out of the burn barrel at Hardscrabble Ranch. In those days, before the family shredded itself, someone was always home. We noticed the furry, scrawny scrap of a cat stealing chicken bones and such, and started putting food out. A week later, he came to the name Smokey(because we found him in the burn barrel, and he's dark grey), and we got him fixed and took him in.
He was cool, for a month or so, then we began to wonder if he was actually a cat. His claws are disproportionately long for his paw size, and never quite retract like most cats. His teeth are also freakishly large, the canines at least, and his jaw opens to a noticeably wider angle than other housecats. He also knows full well how to use the weapons Big Mama gave him, causing us to wonder if nature had anything to do with it. His Eminent Demonic Smokiness has charged packs of wild dogs and coyotes alike, faced down and seriously injured a full grown chow, and killed a quite large great horned owl, which made the mistake of swooping in on ol Smokey while he hunted mice with the motion light. The whole family saw it happen from the front porch. The owl swooped in and caught hold of nothing but fur, Big Smoke twisted around and morphed into a buzzsaw running in reverse. The two came back to earth caterwallin like all the demons in ****, feathers and fur flying everywhere. Most cats would take off like a shot at the first chance, but Smokey hung to that bird like a pit bull, all four paws going for broke. Mom said later she thought he wouldn't stop till he hit the dirt and caught traction.
Smokey Joe had eight little superficial scratches on his back, from where the talons just missed him and caught fur, and a little bitty cartoon tough guy wedge out of his ear. He's no cat, he's a demon Lord trapped in feline form after battle with some forgotten god, as punishment. Living with him can be quite a challenge at times, like when he wants to sit in your lap, but not otherwise be touched...
He's the boss, no other human being would put up with the amount of abuse that cat dishes out, I've just been beaten.