Leo arrived at Lort Smith in April 2020. The 13-year-old ginger boy had fractured his hind tibia (one of the two bones in the lower back leg), and his humans could no longer afford his treatment. Putting Leo to sleep, they thought, was their only option.
Fortunately, they brought Leo to Lort Smith, a place of compassion and rehabilitation, with a strong philosophy on euthanasia. Our vets assessed Leo and decided he could be saved, rehabilitated and go on to live a meaningful life with a new human companion.
A lot of care
Leo had countless scans, surgery, treatments, fostering and physio. During this time, he was checked for hypothyroidism, a heart murmur and dementia, and had a myriad of other tests. Leo endured countless anaesthetics, pain medication and arthritis medication, as well as recoveries. Lort Smith and his foster carers never gave up on him.
A very vocal boy, Leo turned out to be mostly deaf, hearing only at the extreme ends of the sound spectrum. This didn't hold back his personality. Constantly chatting, and talking through his wisdom and experiences, became his hallmark, in the ward, in the cattery and with his foster carers.
A "rock star" for his work-from-home foster parents, he was the subject of an online Zoom quiz in a large multinational organisation, and the star of many a Facebook post, email conversation and Teams call. At first confined to a cage, he made up for the lack of space with his very loud meows. He was well known for "big chats" with the vet nursing and volunteer team at the hospital, and midnight chats with his foster carers, Paula, Craig and adopted cat Chow.
He has brought sunshine into my life.
Janine
Finding the right person
About seven months after he arrived at Lort Smith, Leo was ready to face his brave new world. But how to rehome this very special boy with his idiosyncrasies? He was not for everyone.
The universe conspired, as it so often does, with the sad loss of Janine's ginger boy of 19 years, Kitty. His loss left an unimaginable broken heart, and a profound grief that made every single day a challenge for Janine.
"Understanding the grief and feeling sad too, Paula checked in with me almost every day, and we continued our months of updates on Leo's progress," remembers Janine. "Something inside me wanted to help Leo, yet I didn't want to disrespect the memory of Kitty either."
So, with respect for the loss of Kitty, after a few weeks of getting ready, Janine and Leo had a date, and the human–animal bond could not have been stronger. Janine and Leo hit the jackpot!
Janine remembers a poem that resonated at the time:
"Sending you a whisper from heaven… I'm at peace with my purrs… please open your home and heart to another cat who needs your love and home."
When he arrived at Janine's home, Leo could sense the presence of the departed King Kitty, but he soon established his own territory, and took on the princely title he now carries. With routines to try and settle into – first breakfast, second breakfast, light lunch, early supper and dinner, complete with in-between naps, supervised walks outside, brushes and drinking magic shower water – it was inevitable: Leo couldn't be happier.
"He has brought sunshine into my life and it feels wonderful watching him in the courtyard, negotiate the stairs and enjoy life especially after his injuries and rehabilitation. No more setting the morning alarm, Leo meows when it's time to get up. I am so blessed to have Leo in my life to shower him with care and love," says Janine. "Lort Smith and Leo's foster family – Paula, Craig and Chow, are miracle workers and so kind hearted for saving Leo – they've given him a new life."
"It takes a village," Leo's foster family added. "And we are so grateful to have the opportunity to rehabilitate animals that deserve a second chance and bring their humans such joy."
If not for the care and compassion of Lort Smith, and the donors who make our essential care and treatment possible, Leo might never have had a second chance, and be living as a retired and treasured prince today!
Contributing writers: Paula and Janine.