Thursday, March 31, 2016

Throw Back Thursday

Since Leo just had his birthday, I thought I'd share something from the first week of blogging about him. Specifically, about why I got him!

This is from April 19, 2011
It was called:

So Why Leo?
Surely there have to be many gray kitties much closer to home, no? Yes, there probably are. But I wasn’t looking for a kitty, remember, gray or otherwise. Star, supposedly, is happy being an only kitty. Although I did wonder if the attacks she’d been leveling on weren’t because she was lonely. My mother had a cat that attacked her ankles in sneak blitz attacks when he did not have a furry friend. She lost many cats, we assumed runaways, until it was discovered that foxes had moved in closer due to new housing in the area.
You see, when I was a kid, we had woods on three sides of us and a field across the street. Now there are houses where the fields were and a few more in the woods. Anyway, between foxes and chicken hawks, she had a problem. Her current kitty, Sir Moose-a-lot Roadkill Goodyear Thunderbottom, is not allowed out at night and that seems to have solved the issue. But I digress.

Star’s attacks on me might have been a cry for furry friendship, or it might have just been her cranky personality getting crankier as she gets older. But it made me think that a new kitty might be the solution. I still have that hope. The attacks on me have stopped anyway. And Leo’s too fast for her to lay a paw on really. I have high hopes that they will be cuddling someday, though I concede that it might take a little more time.

So you know that I fell in love with that furry gray face when Chrystal first showed the little feral kittens she was catching. The fact that he was gray was only one factor. A huge one, but coupled with another huge one. And that huge one was his name. Someone asked, I think on Chrystal’s blog, if I was going to keep his name. I have to! His name told me that he was mine.

My gramma, the one who got my first gray kitten, Misty, was the sweetest, most wonderful woman on earth. She and I were very close. Though we don’t believe in astrology, we both have the same astrological sign. Leo. A cat. Which we thought was perfect since we were cat people. I stayed with her a lot and we played cards a lot. With a deck of cards with a Leo on them that we joked only Leo’s could play with! We even made a show of changing decks when my grampa would join us for a hand or two.

I loved that woman more than anything, and I lost her about a year and a half ago. It left a huge hole in my life that I still struggle with. And then one day, a gray cat that looks like my gramma’s cat, and looks like my cat, shows up with THAT name.. Well, I’m not superstitious, but I have to think maybe there’s something to it. Did she find him for me? I don’t know. It would be nice to think so wouldn’t it?

So Why Leo? Because he’s got a name that reminds me of a special bond with my special gramma. Because he looks like her kitty. Because he looks like my kitty. Because he was scared when he showed up. Because I understand scared. Because everything added up to him being the perfect cat for me.



Thought you might want to see Moose
aka Sir Moose-a-lot Roadkill Goodyear Thunderbottom



My mother's cat. He's sporting a shirt sized for 18 month olds.


Can't go out at night, Moosey, predators!


And my sweet Leo!
Mom, I need more toys!

10 comments:

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

Thank you for sharing the story of how Leo came into your life. :)

Katie Isabella said...

Love you Leo and your story. I remember when your mommy brought you home but it was wonderful reading your story again as I didn't recall it all. XXXOOO and Mommy, thank you for this story and the pictures.

Hannah and Lucy said...

Please don't say you want even more toys Leo you've got enough to last you until you're given even more!
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

Summer said...

Clearly, Leo was meant to be with you!

Eastside Cats said...

Angel and Chuck are Leos too; they were in utero when my father passed, so that's why we named her Angel...

The Island Cats said...

We love the story of how Leo was gotted.

Gigi said...

Awww, Leo! We were happy to hear the story of how you became a celestial kitty. We still miss the Beauteous Star sometimes, and we like to think of her up in the Land beyond the Bridge, playing ankle biteys with Mr. Teeth & Clarkie! XOXO

Savannah's Paw Tracks said...

Leo, my Russian Blue buddy, your Mom was so fortunate to find you. And you, got a fab loving home

pilch92 said...

You know when the right kitty comes along. And Leo was the one.

Cathy Keisha said...

That's a great story and a great reason for inviting Leo to move in with you. As far as he and Star cuddling? HAH!