My Earliest Memories of My Humans.

By Leo

I missed my Mummy and my brother and sister very much, Mummy had been out a few times but always come back, I think she'd been to the house next door as she told me there was a lady there who gave her nice things to eat but she was never gone long and I had my brother and sister for company ,until the day a lady came and took them all away. I was left behind, as the lady I was living with ,told me her daughter s friend wanted a ginger kitten like me.

I never saw my brother and sister again, though of course I didn t know that at the time and I waited and waited for them to back and play with me

I was lonely and scared as I had no one to play with and I missed snuggling up with my Mummy and drinking her milk . I'd given up hope of seeing Mummy again but about a week later she came to see me. She looked very strange as a large patch of her fur had been shaved off and she smelled funny like disinfectant, but she let me have some of her milk. The human lady was angry and chased Mummy away saying she didn't want to see her again, but Mummy promised me she'd come and see me when she could and for the next few weeks, she sneaked in to see me nearly every day. She told me, she lived in the house next door now, with a lady who liked cats. The lady had wanted to have her for a long time but couldn't look after the kittens as her Mother was ill,, so she'd insisted my Mummy have an operation so she wouldn t have any more kittens before she came to live with her.

One day I decided to follow my Mummy when she left and watched her go into a house very like my own. I was too afraid to follow her and waited outside for several days, until one day the door opened and a lady called to me.

Come in ! I guess you re looking for your Mummy !

I ran inside at once and Mummy was so pleased to see me that she washed me from head to toe and then let me drink some of her milk ,which I still enjoyed, though the kind lady gave me some tasty food.

I then had a surprise as I found out that I had a big sister called Josephine !I wanted to make friends with her but she was very angry that I'd come, as she liked having Mummy all to herself and she growled every time she saw me and said rude things which I was glad the human lady didn't understand.

I overhead the human lady, whose name was Rose, talking to another lady who looked very ill.

I know I don't want any more cats. She said But it seems a shame not to let this baby spend time with his Mum as she obviously is thrilled to see him. It won't be for long as Donna s friend is having him ,as she wants some company in her new flat.

I didn't like the sound of that very much as I'd heard flats were small with no long hallways and stairs to run round and no big garden to play in And now I'd found Mummy again, I didn t want to leave her, even though she was always washing my ears even when they were clean !

Rose seemed to like me and played with me and cuddled me. She called me Baby as she said it was no good giving me a name as I was only staying for a short time .She looked sad when she said that, I thought.

Josephine continued to make me feel very unwelcome, but Rose's other cat, Ginger was like a big brother to me and showed me all the best places in the house and even let me share his favourite chair. He liked playing games with too and I felt I'd miss him almost as much as Mummy and Rose when I had to leave .I was dreading the day as I was happy here.

Then one day Rose came in and announced to the other lady, who by that time, I realised was her own Mummy.

I've just seen the neighbour and she asked me to contact the Cat's Protection League as her daughter s friend has changed her mind about the kitten. But I said I'd keep him !

How I purred for joy as did my Mummy and Ginger. Josephine growled and went off to sulk as she d been counting the days till I left .

Rose picked me up and cuddled me and I purred to show her how happy I was and promised I d always be her special cat and try and make her happy. I knew she was sad As her mother was now too ill to leave her room and she would carry me upstairs to see her, but I only wanted to be with Rose. I heard her telling her that I needed a name as I wouldn't be a baby for much longer.

Then one night, I heard her tell her Mother I've found the perfect name, Leo as he s tawny like a miniature lion and such a little cat needs a short name !

I'm still a little cat though I'm now five years old and I kept my promise to be Rose's special cat as I always come to her if she needs me and sit on her lap and sleep on her bed, with my Mummy Queenie, who still washes my ears !

I'm so glad I went to look for my Mummy in the house next door.