Lovely Leo

[Weebie's Mom]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful story. Both of you were so lucky to find one another and he was a big beautiful guy!

[angelchampy]

I too had a leukemia positive cat. You would never know he had it until he started getting sick all the time from his immune system being suppressed by the leukemia. And you're right, nobody would take him. He, too, was a stray and I thought he would be better off someplace that knew about this disease. I was wrong. I'm glad nobody would accept him b/c then I kept him and he gave me such great joy. Unfortunately, he was only with me 2 years after being diagnosed. I'm glad you had the chance to enjoy Leo for as long as you did. They are special babies. I'm glad Leo was finally brought in and given the love he deserved. Thank you for being kind enough to keep him and give him a life of love. Congrats on COTD Leo boy.

[catlady1945]

I'm happy that Leo found a great home. He is a beautiful cat.

[SadButGrateful]

RIP Leo, you were, and are, a very lovely soul!

[nsweezie]

This story touched me so much- Leo you were a beautiful cat inside and out.

[catlover11]

First - to SadButGrateful - that photo is so special - I'm sure I'm not the only one who got tears in their eyes. Thanks for putting it up.

Leo is so lucky to have had you to care for him. We can't forget that stray cats are the result of people of the "human" race being irresponsible and cruel. No stray cat deserves to spend their life on the street, and even worse, end up with a fatal disease. Given the numbers of cats who are NOT being sterilized for one reason for another, the number of unwanted cats who are being born and the number who are being left at shelters and rescues compared to the number being adopted - add to that the lack of donations from the public (a lot of whom are causing the problem in the first place so will obviously not give a nickel) it is really next to impossible for a shelter or rescue to take in a cat with Leukemia or FIV as they will rarely get adopted and they just don't have the money for the vet bills that are sure to follow. I have a friend who has 7 cats with FIV because they were dumped on our shelter - we average one cat with FIV adoption per year but we take in many more than that because we test our cats before adoption. Like you, if I were to take in a cat and then find out they had Leukemia I would go the distance, as I have with my cats who have had renal failure and cancer. Luckily there are many people who would do the same, but not nearly enough. Bless you for helping Leo and being his forever home - giving him the love he and all other felines deserve.

[AvaJoy]

Dear Leo, you were so gorgeous and brave. Over the years I have had the pleasure of rescueing 2 kitties that were FeLV+, and they lived about as long as you did. Eventually, it takes it's toll. They were both so special and I can relate to the bond you shared with your devoted guardian and how heartbreaking it is to say goodbye. May you celebrate your COTD honour at Rainbow Bridge with the others that have gone before, and I hope my Meeshe and Muskrat tip you off to where the best catnip grows!