As A New Year Approaches We Would Like To Say...

♥ Leo & His Human

Leo's First Year Mixbook

So, last year I decided to make a Mixbook to commemorate Leo's first year in his fur-ever home.

It wasn't until I began working on his year two Mixbook that I realized I could share the Mixbooks I create. Cool!

Leo's second Mixbook will be similar in that it is a place to keep some of the photos I take of him and anything else of note worth remembering. But, for now, enjoy this trip down memory lane...

FUR-EVER HOME: LEO'S FIRST YEAR 2011-2012

| Start your own Photo Books | Create custom Christmas Cards

— E & L

Happy Purr-thday, Leo Cat!

It's October 7th, and you know what that means!

What? You don't know what that means?

Well, it means it's LEO'S BIRTHDAY, of course, silly!

His 2nd Birthday, to be exact. And so I must exclaim:

HAPPY PURR-THDAY, DUDER!

For birthday numero dos, Leo got a cool mousey toy, which is more of a jingle ball with a mouse face, but he thinks it's pretty neat-o. However, the best present this year was his new bed! 

Isn't that pretty fancy-pants???

I brought it home, removed the tags and plopped it on the floor next to my desk. He immediately went to it, sniffed briefly and then curled up and snoozed—as shown above. Score for the Human!

This evening he has been extra silly, so I think he knows it's a special day. Although, at the moment, he is a calm sentry lying in the doorway threshold. 

Happy Birthday Number Two, Little Boy. You go ahead and enjoy a relaxing evening on your special day. You sure continue to bring this Human so much joy, and I love you to pieces!

— E & L

Cozy Kitty

Leo has developed an affinity for throw blankets, just like his human...

"Okay, you got your shot. Can I please take my nap now?"

Curled up amongst the freshly-laundered throw blankets.

I guess he was cold...

"Yeah, I'm getting ready for another nap. What's your point?"

Leo Cat just continues to be such a wonderful companion. He always brings a smile to my face, a giggle in my throat and a warmth in my heart. Even when he's naughty I just can't stay mad at him... he ends up doing something ridiculously silly before I know it, and there I am laughing at him again.

Isn't that right, Leo?

"Huh? Oh...Zzzzz..."

Yep, you guessed it. It's nap time again!

That's okay. As long as he's snuggled up by me so I can kiss his little nose and take lots of cute pictures. 

— E & L

Feline Affection

I've mentioned this before, but Leo is such a kisser.

No, really. I mean he will lick you like a dog would.

I'll come home, scoop him up in my arms and there he goes, straight for my nose.

*lick, lick, lick*

*kiss, kiss, kiss*

"Oh yes, thank you for the nose kisses," I'll say, "I love you, too, Dude."

Recently I read that cats who lick may do so because they associate it with what feels good to them. When they were itty bitty kitties, their mothers would lick and groom them as a show of affection. In turn, cats lick us to show their affection toward us. It felt nice to them when they were babies with mom, so it must feel good to us, too. Plus, when we pet them it gives them that same sensation.

Actually, that's rather sweet, isn't it?

Just like we grow up with hugs and kisses from loved ones, our kitties grew up with kisses, too.

So, when I scoop up Leo into a big hug and smooch his head—like I was taught—he purrs and licks my nose in affection back—like he was taught.

I guess it's true; love knows no barriers.

— E & L

To Our Fallen Heroes

Leo has begged me all day to type out his message to our fallen heroes.

So, here it is:

Happy Mewmorial Day!

I know. He's a kitty, cut him some slack.

What we are trying to say is: Thank you to all of our service men and women—especially those who have given the ultimate sacrifice—for protecting the country, its people and all of the things those people hold most dear... including silly kitties.

— E & L

That Special Bond

I had a bit of a revelation today.

But first, a little history:

Growing up we were never allowed any pets. No dogs, no cats, no hamsters. My parents did have a beagle dog when my eldest brother was little, but he was extremely naughty. Ultimately, he ran away and, needless to say, my parents weren't too upset when they couldn't find him. Now, when I went to the Penny Carnival with my family when I was little, I won a goldfish. "Penny" lasted for a little while, until she decided to jump ship one day, as it were. Then I won "Silver" and "Gold" at another summer carnival. Wow, two fish! Well, Gold ate Silver (he was tinier), and then, just like her like-colored predecessor, she abandoned ship with, well, abandon. In fact, we couldn't even find her until one day she was found behind the radiator. Um, yeah...

Anyway, besides that naughty dog and my ill-fated goldfish, no pets for us. My Grandmother had a cat and dogs, and my Aunt had an English Springer Spaniel named Charlie. Also, my best friend had dogs and cats, so I was able to surround myself with animal love, without the hassle of trying to guilt-trip my parents into getting us a puppy.

Because I was able to be around animals and the people who cared for them, I have always been a little jealous of the beautiful bond that forms between them. I never really thought I would have that.

Which leads to my revelation...

I do have that bond now.

My Dude and I have bonded sooo much. He even knows my routine now, and when I get home from work there he is waiting at the door.

"Meeeewwww!" He'll screech.

"Hey, Dude!" I'll say as I scoop him up for what I have dubbed "a proper greeting." I scoop him up into my arms and give him a hug, he purrs happily and then licks my nose. It's all very sweet.

And there is rarely any fear or hesitation that I feel around him. I know I can grab his head in my hands and kiss his furry little noggin, or rub him all over, or grab his foot, and he is not going to bite me or scratch me. He trusts me, and I trust him too. Now, that doesn't mean I'm going to sit there and annoy him, because then he might, and I wouldn't blame him!

No, it's just... a friendship.

A camaraderie.

We enjoy being with each other, and we're comfortable and happy when we are.

It's not so bad having a kitty as a best friend.

Nope, not bad at all.

— E & L

Boredom Killed the Cat

The Dude in his favorite snoozing chair.

My poor Duder.

I can't help but feel like he is bored out of his wits during the day. I mean, no one is home until after five o'clock, and you can only stare out the window or bat around your mousey toy so many times.

Of course, this may just be me worrying too much. He is probably purrfectly content to snooze in the afternoon sun.

I do know that he seems to be extra needy lately as far as affection and food goes. Leo is supposed to be on a diet, and now he cries for food and treats. He also follows me around, rubs on my leg and mews at me.

"Hey, Human! Down here! Remember how soft and sweet I am? Pet me, pet me!"

Although, I have to say, it is awfully sweet to be loved by the fluffy guy so much. And I love when he greets me at the door when I get home from work. Sometimes he's just there, other times I open the door, shout, "Duder, I'm home!" and here comes the jingle, jingle, jingle of his collar as he runs to see me. Unless he is snoozing in his new favorite green chair, then he simply lifts his head up and looks at me in acknowledgment.

"Oh, good, you're home," he'll say lazily.

::strrreeeetch::

Then the constant mewing begins and does not end until he gets his dinner.

Spoiled rotten little thing.

I hope he will get used to the schedule and being in a new place, then he won't be quite so needy.

Or, I'll just need to get another kitty or dog to keep him company...

Yeah, I'm not so sure he'd go for that. Maybe if I mention it he'll quite his silly mewing and moping in the hopes that I'll change my mind.

Hmmm...

— E & L

Finally Coming to a Screeching Halt

Skid Marks in Snow via DreamsTime

*SCREEEEEECH*

Whew, okay, we're back!

Well, you may have noticed that it has been waaay too long since I have written a witty post, or given an update.

Let me come up with a really good excuse 'splain...

Between the holidays, work, vet visits and moving—yep, moving!—things have been ever-so-slightly hectic for myself and Leonidas.

I know, LAME-O! But, there it is.

So, I find myself in a new apartment. Technically I've had it since the end of February, but this weekend marks the first time Leo and I have stayed there full time.

Let's back up a little bit.

Leo's first vet visit! I was a little nervous about the visit. Oh, not the visit itself, but more-so the whole car ride over there. Little Leo had only been in the car once before—when he was on his way to his fur-ever home. Needless to say, that was many moons ago! I borrowed a carrier, and brought it out the day before so he could investigate it, play in it and see it was NOT the enemy.

He did just that.

The next day I said, "Okay, Leo, time to go buh-byes!"

Naturally, he stared at me inquisitively.

"Buh-byes???" He asked wearily.

But, he scooted his cute, little derriere into the carrier with no problem. I hefted him into the back seat, cooed at him and off we went.

I don't know what it was, but the poor Duder was pretty darn nervous on the ride to the vet. He cried, and mewed and panted. I murmured at him reassuringly, and before we knew it I was hefting him out of the backseat and into the office.

We were able to be seen almost right away, which was awesome. The tech and I got Leo out of his carrier, and let him make a beeline for an open cabinet door. According to the tech, that is what all of the kitties do. So, he hid in there until he was forcibly removed by the tech again.

He let her pick him up. He let her weigh him on the scale. He let her take his *ahem* temperature. He let her give him two shots. He even let her take a stool sample for testing. He let her do all of this without a single peep. No protesting, no wriggling.

When the vet himself came in for a final evaluation, Leo was still cordial. Doc gave him a clean bill of health, minus that he wants him to lose a little bit of weight... whoops! Too much love. ::smiles::

Overall, Leo did awesome at the vet!

Leo got back into his carrier, I paid the bill and received a great welcome bag with goodies inside—what a nice touch!

Back into the car we went. This time, not a peep from the Dude. I had to head over to the apartment office to hand in some final documents, which meant leaving Leo in the car briefly. When I got back he was almost asleep! He stayed that way the entire drive back home. I chalked it up to the shots at the time, but when I put Leo back into that carrier to bring he and I to our new home, he took it like a champ! No crying, no mewing, no panting. He just curled up and relaxed. What a good traveler!

Oh yeah, I think Leo's going to be just fine in the new place.

So, the new apartment...

When I got there with Leo, I set the carrier down and opened its door.

And waited.

He was slow to come out at first, but once he did he was juuust fine. Poking his nose around and getting into everything.

After a little while he came over to me and asked, "Mama, what is this place?"

"It's home, buddy," I responded.

And after all of the unpacking, organizing and setting up—and having my Duder there through it all—it really is home now.

So, as you can see, we may have been a little absent, but it sure hasn't been boring.

More updates in the near future!

— E & L

Meowy Christmas and a Happy Mew Year!

Holy moly! Leo and I have been so busy these past couple of months. Between birthdays and holidays, we are worn out!

But, we did want to take a moment to let everyone know that:

We wish you all a very Meowy Christmas,
and the happiest of Mew Years.
*ahem* Leo wrote that himself.

I should mention, December 18th marked the one-year anniversary of Leo's adoption day! Sick, little "Jinx" has turned out to be the best Christmas gift ever.

This year, we had a lovely Christmas...even a white one! That is pretty rare here in North Texas. So, we snuggled in for the day, and Leo Cat thoroughly enjoyed spending his day either playing in the paper, bags and boxes on the floor, or curled up contently on the couch next to me as I vegged out.

Pretty purrfect, actually. Wouldn't you say, Leo?

"What? Oh, yes, pawsitively!"
::leaps into a pile of crinkled paper::

Silly kitty. All of the mousey and fishy toys in the world, and he still prefers the left over wrapping paper.

That's okay. He's very easy to shop for.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

— E & L

Love Your Pets offers id tags to protect your pet!
Our pet tags are the lowest prices you'll find anywhere.

Random Cute Kittyness

Here is your cute Leo picture of the day:

You're welcome.

— E & L

There's a First for Everything... Including Birthdays!

Please Note: There is no way on God's green
Earth that I could ever get a hat on Leo.
So, please accept this cute picture as a substitute.

*ahem*

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEO CAT!!!

One year ago today, a little, orange fur-ball was born. Two months later, he would be a sick kitten, and up for death row. Until one Sunday in December, when two humans would take pity on the little guy and bring him to what would become his fur-ever home.

So, happy first birthday, buddy. I wasn't convinced about you at first, but I sure do love you, and can't imagine life without you.
______________________________________

This morning, I picked him up, gave him a big hug and said, "Happy birthday, Duder!"

"What's 'purrthday,' mama?" Leo asked with confusion.

I explained that it was the very first day that he came into this world, and that we humans like to celebrate that special day every year.

He wasn't too terribly convinced about all this, that is, until he received some cool presents and some tasty, new treats. He loves everything! He immediately rastled with his new crinkle mouse. Then he pounced on his new tweeting bird. Ate a few nummy treats.

And then, then I slipped the ring of his new bouncy mouse around the curled leg of the table.

Woohoo! That sure is fun to pounce on and rastle with! However, that darn cognitive thinking took over again, and he realized that he should be getting rid of the string. So, he began biting on it. But, then he also realized that all he needed to do was simply slide the ring off of the table leg. He sure came close to getting it off of there! I wonder just how long that toy is going to last?!

After all of that morning excitement, the birthday boy is currently enjoying a well-earned nap. Later tonight he'll be getting cuddled with and loved on even more, so he better rest up!

Happy Birthday, Little Duder Boy!

— E & L

What's In A Name?

"What do you mean
she's come up with another name???"

Most of the time, especially when I am talking about him to other people, I refer to my orange fur-ball of a kitty as Leo.

So?

So, "Leo" is actually a nickname... it is short for Leonidas. Which brings me to my real point: this isn't his only nickname.

Ohhh, no siree!

Little Leonidas has many names that have sprung from my mouth over the last nine months.

Let's see how many I can remember, shall we?

• Duder
• Chaton
• Squeaker
• Squeakie
• Squeaks
• Snoozer
• Mewser
• Big Stretcher
• Kittywampus
• Ferocious Tiger-Cat/Tiger-Kitty
• Mr. Fuzzy Cheeks
• Fluffers

Well, there is a sampling. And, to top it all off, I am determined to keep adding more and more "middle" names to his so that he has a ridiculously long name. You know, kind of like Dumbledore (Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore)? Only, even more ridiculous, if possible.

So far, he only has three:

Leonidas Viggo Baggins

Leonidas is after the Spartan king, Leonidas.

Viggo is after Viggo Mortensen who, according to the LOTR extras, used to headbutt his costars all of the time. Well, Leo sure likes to headbutt, and so I thought Viggo would be an appropriate extra name.

And Baggins. Well, Baggins is obviously a Lord of the Rings reference, and it is so I can say, "Of course he does, he's a Baggins!"

I'm only slightly obsessed, okay? Slightly...

Leo is turning into Leo: The Cat of 1,000 Names.

And oh, yes, "Brian" will make it in there somewhere...

— E & L

Leo: The Next Tight Rope Walker, or the Next Right Fielder? You Decide...

Beds are the best!

Leo Kitty is a curious and smart little thing. His ancestors were probably the ones that inspired the old adage, "curiosity killed the cat."

But, like I said, he is also incredibly intelligent. I mean, he has figured out how to open the door!

At night I put him in his "bedroom" where his food, water, bed, litter box and some toys are, and shut the door. Just because I want to keep him out of trouble while I try to get some sleep. Anyway, when he was still smaller, he quickly figured out that all he had to do was jump up, grab the handle and that door would open.

I still remember the first time he did it. There was a loud noise, and then all of a sudden I hear this little kitty squeak.

"Mew," he said as he sauntered into the bedroom.

"Leo! Did you let yourself out???" I was aghast. Surely not...

I put him back in there. A few minutes later, here he comes.

"Mew."

That is some serious cognitive thinking!

So, lately Little Leo has been a fan of the bed. He loves to snooze on there during the day, and he also thinks it is a prime playing spot.

The headboard and footboard have this open, metalwork design. Recently, Leo has been putting one little, kitty paw on the railing. Then the other. Then he puts one of his back feet on there, then attempts the last one. But, he quickly realizes that is pretty unstable, so he sticks to the two feet. I'm still convinced he'll figure it out one of these days. He's like a circus kitty or something! I tell him he can be whatever he wants when he grows up, but he always responds the same way:

"I'm going to be a pawsitively ferocious Tiger Cat when I grow up!"

Sure you are, buddy.

Anyway, we even have a new game that involves the bed and the railing:

I grab one of his toys, usually a mousey toy or his "Cute Kitty" heart from his Auntie Jean. And Leo crouches behind the rail. I toss the toy into the air toward the bed, and Leo leaps up to catch it! He will then rastle with it for a few moments, then walk away so I can pick it up and start the game all over again.

We will also play through the railing. I will toss the toy up to him while he has an arm through a hole in the railing, and he'll snatch the toy!

It's actually a lot of fun for both of us. He is a really good catcher! He has quick reflexes and jumps up, nice and tall, and catches the toy right out of the air. He could be an outfielder! Catching that ball, getting the out and winning the game!

::fake crowd cheers::

He'll never go for that.

He'd rather be playing "tiger in the grass."

::purrRawr!::

— E & L

Boulevard of Broken Tails

One of Leo's eccentricities that he has had since the time we brought him to his fur-ever home is his "broken tail."

No, it's not really broken, and to my knowledge never has been.

But ever since he was a little guy he has held his tail in a bent-over fashion. In fact, when we first got him this was the only way he held his tail. Which, of course, led me to ask him if he had a broken tail.

In all honesty I was a little worried that he wasn't able to hold his tail straight up at all. But, my fears were set aside rather quickly once he began to have a normal cat/tail relationship.

Now he swishes it around. Thumps it on the floor and window sill. Holds it high when he's curious. Wiggles just the tip when he's annoyed (his "rattle snake tail").

However, at times he still walks around with that crooked tail.

I like to think that when he holds it this way he is in a completely happy state. Not a care in the world for that little kitty.

That is, until he sees that bug...

::Twitch, twitch, twitch::

Oh yes, you will be his...

— E & L

Read All About It!

Remember that Cutest Cat Contest I told you about?

Leo didn't win.

No, not even a mention. We are pretty bummed out about that one, but now we know we can't rely on our Facebook friends to come through. How many cute kid/cute pet contests have I clicked on???

I digress...

Little Leo may not have won the photo contest, but it seems his place may be in the written word.

You may recall that P & C was featured in a special online newspaper not too long ago.

Well, I returned from my two-week vacation yesterday to find out that Leo was chosen to be the Pet of the Month in the local Living Magazine. How cool is that? You can see the Pet of the Month section, as well as the rest of the issue here. 

Leo and I are very happy to have been chosen. Although, when I told him, it took a little while to sink in.

"Leo! We're in a magazine that is printed and distributed throughout Texas!"

"Oh? Really? That's... ::ZzzZzz::," replied Leo.

Apparently he was a little tuckered out. In fact, both Leo and my fella were literally snoring away as I worked on my computer last night.

But, this morning Leo was so excited. He came into my room, rubbed all over me and licked my nose.

"I'm famous!"

I smiled and answered, "PAWSitively."

One of the nice ladies at the magazine is going to mail me a few copies. I can't wait to see it and physically feel it in my hands.

The news certainly made my day after a long, twenty-four hour train ride back to Texas.

And hey, since I wrote the story, does this mean I'm "published?" Ha! 

— E & L

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

This last Saturday I boarded the train that would take me to sweet home, Chicago.

It has been over two years since I have been here, and I am so glad to be back for two weeks. My parents are so happy to have me home for a little while, too, and getting the chance to catch up with my extended family is great.

Last week I got out my suitcase, set it down on the bed and began to investigate the closet to see what I should bring along.

Little Leo immediately made his way onto the bed to investigate this new object.

"See? I fit purr-fectly!"

He sniffed, and peaked, and leaped inside.

Then he curled up and looked at me.

"See? I fit purr-fectly!" he said.

It sure was cute, but it also made me realize that this is the first time that I will really be away from him. I mean more than several hours. And completely out of state. Not just going away for the day and getting back in the evening.

My fella told me yesterday that Leo was acting "weird." Which translated into him seeking attention a lot.

Poor duder!

"You're coming back, right?"

This experience is good for him, though. It shows him that I can go away and he will still be taken care of. Plus, it shows him I can leave, even for an extended amount of time, and come back. I won't abandon him!

Besides, I did tell him where I was going and when I would be back. But, you know kitties: in one fuzzy ear and out the other.

Of course, this may not be the longest I will be away from him. Soon I may need to leave him behind while I go on a personal adventure of sorts.

Intrigued? Yeah, more on that later.

Well, time for me to go enjoy some more time at home. In the meantime, please enjoy this classic:

— E & L

Cute as a Button

As a first-time cat owner, not to mention a self-declared "dog person," I have been surprised by how attached I have become to this little, orange mass of fur.

It's not just how playful he is, or his many sleeping positions, nor is it even his fetishes. These things all endear him to me, and make up his unique personality. But, it is also the little things that I find myself stopping and smiling about.

One thing that I found oh-so-cute from the get-go was listening to him drink water. Um, what? No, really. There is something about that little "lap, lap, lap, lap, lap" that I find so delicate and soothing. Almost like listening to the rain drizzle outside. Plus, at the time I first noticed it, it seemed like such a contrast to his crazy kitten behavior. I still find myself pausing to listen to it.

Then there are those adorable kitty whiskers. I just love those long, white strands. The way they contrast against his orange fur is so cute to me. The fact that they remind me of a walrus or overgrown nose hairs are just pluses.

Lastly, I give you the foot-tuck. As I mentioned, Leo really likes to sleep all spread out. But, when he is just sitting around, he will often tuck his front feet under his body. This is sometimes accompanied by the tail-wrap where he wraps his tail around his body. He becomes a perfect oval. This pose exudes feline satisfaction. I feel that when he sits this way he is telling me he is content with life.

It must be true love when even the simplest of things bring me joy and smiles.

Sorry pups, but perhaps I need to get myself a subscription to Cat Fancy...

— E & L

Poised for GRRReatness

Yesterday was a big day for little Leo. I received an e-mail from the ASPCA, and in it there was a link for their Cutest Cat Photo Contest that they are holding in honor of Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month.

"How purrfect!" he said, "I AM the cutest cat! I've so got this in the bag."

"Okay, okay," I answered, "We'll give it a shot."

So, I have entered him into the contest. You can view his contest page at this link, but here is the photo Leo and I submitted:

What do you think? Winner worthy?

Voting for the contest does not even begin until closer to the end of the month, but he can use all of your votes!

Yesterday I also received an e-mail telling me that my blog post, Let Sleeping CATS Lie, was featured in The WANA112 Daily. The what-what? The WANA112 Daily is a personalized newspaper built from articles, blog posts, videos and photos created by a special group of writers for their group.

You can view the May 30th edition here and see the post from Paws & Consider as well as a post from my other blog, A Chicago Yankee in Texas. How fun to be selected!

That sure was a lot for one day, wasn't it Leo?

Leo?

Oh jeez...

— E & L