Birthday Boy!

There's cake!

Niptini drinks for those who are old enough

And Songs!

To paraphrase my very first blog post: On Saturday, March 26^th, 2011, I fell in love all over again. That’s when I met the new man in my life. His name is Leo. Leo the Chinese Lion. And he is absolutely the mostly cuddly, sweet, fluffy, snugglishious grey kitty I’’ve ever seen!

Five months later, and I still feel the same way. And I’m still beyond grateful to Chrystal, first, for rescuing my baby, and second for allowing me to adopt him. It was a two day trip, eight hours each way, to pick up Leo and I cannot think of any trip I was more glad to make!

The kitten I’d fallen in love with on Chrystal’s blog, Daily Dose of Dogs (aka Cats With Your Coffee), was then almost seven months old. I was expecting a teenage sized kitty. Not a tiny kitten, but not full grown. Was I ever shocked when I first laid eyes on him! He was a big boy! Bigger already than my petite Star.

Chrystal left us in our van with Leo in her carrier so we could transfer him to our carrier. I opened the carrier and peeked in. He was huddled in the back. He wasn’t cowering, but he wasn’t walking out on his own either.

From Chrystal's carrier

To my cage (after a little while in my carrier)

I reached in and pulled him out and he melted right into my arms. You have no idea how much I wanted to just sit there and cuddle him. He didn’t struggle, he seemed happy to be in my arms. But Chrystal was waiting, so I reluctantly moved him into our carrier and gave hers back to her.

If you’ve ever met Chrystal, you might feel like hugging the stuffing out of her like I do. I don’t think I could do what she does, what she goes through. She’s so special, caring for the poor neglected, sick, abandoned, feral, misused and/or tossed away animals.

This amazing woman took time out of her extremely busy schedule to drive over three hours to meet us and entrust Leo to our care. I just love her, how could I not? She rescued my baby and his five sisters from a feral life of fear and mistrust and most probably it would have been a short life devoid of love.

When he was a feral kitten, Chrystal and her family caught him and his sisters and tamed them. They caught their mother too, but she was too feral, too wild, to tame so she was neutered and released. It was over the course of a few days that they got all six of the kittens and the mom. Leo was caught on the first day. The look on his little face in the cage just got me. I wanted him from the minute I saw his first picture. I thought I was just being silly. Getting another kitty wasn’t even on my radar. But oh that face!

Leo on the first day at Chrystals (and possibly Glitter?)

And those paws! How can you not love those big old paws? And then they named him. Wow, that was kind of perfect. I wrote about it in one of my early posts. That my gramma, who I adored and lost, and I were Leo’s and we joked about being the Leo club because we were both born under that sign and love kitties.

I find myself wanting to tell the story again of why I got him and how and everything from all those months ago, but I’ve already said most of it in other posts, and seriously, it would get realllllly long winded! So let me just reiterate that I’m thrilled that I got my big little boy and that I’m oh so grateful to Chrystal for everything!

They didn't know it then, but these two little sweeties had new homes to go to in the future!

Homes with mommies who would love them sooooo much!

There's only one more thing that would make their lives perfect..

So now Leo’s a year old! And boy is he even bigger than he was when we got him! He’s settled in so well. Yes, it’s still touchy between him and Star, but he honestly doesn’t care. He goes where he wants and just ignores her when she goes all Hissyface.

He is the biggest snuggler. He curls with me whenever he can, and when he sleeps near by, he has to have at least one paw touching me. He’s my heart kitty. He’s my boy. And today, he’s my birthday boy!

I gave him a present a day early because I wanted to post some pictures of him with it. If you’ve been reading many of my posts, you know how he loves feathers. And that he’s nibbled the feathers off of every toy that came with a feather. So guess what he got??

FEDDER BALL!!!!!

I got you fedder ball! *chomp*

I see you there fedder ball, don't think yous hiding from me

Watch me pretend to ignore you, fedder ball.. Lulin' you into a false sense of security

..Den I pounces!! Mwahaha!

Soon as I catch my breath, fedder ball, I's gonna pounce you again!

One more Birthday plea. Leo and Trixie's sisters are still looking for their forever homes. Please please look them over, and the other kitties waiting in the cathouse, and take one or two for yourself. Just like us, you will never regret it!

Happy Birthday Leo the Chinese Lion! I loves you!!