In Honour of Leonard

Leonard went missing 9.11.11. We've been looking everywhere. He would never leave us. He was very special. We named him Leonard because when we were trying out names he absolutely loved it. I called out 'Leonard' and he came running through the house. He ran right up me, touched noses and rubbed his face all over mine. We joked that it was Latin for Cat Nerd. He was a very short-haired Velvet Grey kitten all eyes and ears.

When Leonard was about 8 months old he started bringing a big Tom home. We had first seen him in the spring but he was very timid and unapproachable. Well, one June day Leonard came strolling in, lied down next to the food and nodded toward it. Then the Tom came and ate. Leonard was his only friend. I had to keep perfectly still when he came or he'd run away. As I watched him come again and again I noticed he was sick. On the vets' advice we humanely trapped him. Got him his vax and nuetered. Tony was in the process of going blind. He had chlamydia in his eyes. We caught it just in time. Tony can see because of Leonard. They were best friends. Leonard is our hero. But now he's gone. We know something has happened to him because he would never, ever leave Tony, Pansy, Linus, hid Dad and me. We're all heartsick. He just turned 2 three days before he went missing. Tony is inconsolable.
I had a sighting at an area golf course. I saw the cat on the green. I cried out Leonard's name and the cat came running to me. It wasn't him. But, it makes me believe that Leonard is a name cats love. It would be an honour to Leonard's memory if people would name their cat's after him, especially the Velvet Greys. Leonard and I were head over heels for each other. He loved and groomed his siblings. Was popular with everyone, humans and cats alike. And... he is Tony's best friend. The star of our home. Our hero. We miss him...