Finding Leo

Last Saturday morning I met my Fiancé for breakfast, after I finished eating my Pancakes I look at him and asked, “How is kitten doing?” He asked me “are you done eating?” I looked confused and said “yeah…” He then proceeds to tell me that the back door was left open and Leo got out.  I immediately began to cry, and freak out! My two-year-old kitten was out in the woods, cold, hungry, and alone.

I told my fiancé I was going to his place to find the cat, ran out of the restaurant, and cried the whole way home. I spent the whole day bawling my eyes out and walking around the neighborhood shaking a can of treats and calling his name. (It was beyond pathetic looking.)  Over the next two days he hadn’t returned. I posted his picture all over Facebook, added him to the Indy lost pet website, and even put up flyers around the complex.

For the most part people were super helpful and encouraging about us finding our baby, most people shared about their kitty’s who came back after a few days, and that they were alright! However,  I ran into my fair share of rude people who didn’t seem to be as nice about it. As we walked around hanging flyers there was a guy who tried to be nice and say “Yeah my cat got out a while ago, then a few weeks later I found him dead in a bush by my front door.” ARE YOU KIDDING ME! That was beyond what I wanted to hear, and it was super insensitive.  The next day I got home from checking the Animal control shelter and when I returned noticed all the flyers I posted were all ripped off the doors. I initially thought it was the complex, but the flyers in the other section of the complex were still in tact. So someone deliberately went around and ripped all my LOST kitten flyers down. That was incredibly rude.

I know it seems crazy that I was so freaked out about a cat, but I put so much love into this creature. He really is a part of our family, and like my child. I love him SOOO much, it was painful not to know where he was, if he was safe, or if he was alive. Not knowing was worse than putting him down due to old age or sickness. At least when I put down previous pets I knew where they were and had that feeling of closure.

Regardless of the jerks out there I had quite the support system from Facebook friends, even those who I don’t talk with much. They shared my posts to get the word out and gave me encouraging words and helped me keep hope. I couldn’t thank them enough for everything they have done over those few days. I also want to give a huge thank you to our friend Rachael who brought us some no kill traps to help corner our baby and keep him from running off after he came home. We put the traps up Saturday and filled them with cat food. Monday morning at 4am he returned and my heart filled with SOOO MUCH JOY!

Heartwarming words from Facebook! :) 

He returned a little lighter, very hungry, and with some sneezes and itchy eyes. I took him to the vet Wednesday and got him all fixed up with some shots, and medicine for his leaky eye. Although he is not a fan of the medicine he as been super cuddly since he came home, and extremely loving.  I would never wish the feeling of losing a pet on anyone. I honestly don’t understand how parents deal with kidnapped children, or runaways! I cried every single day, and felt pain in my heart, but I also prayed… It may not be how everyone deals with similar situations, but it was important and worked for me.

If you ever lose a pet be sure to post about it with local shelters, and check local animal control centers. I didn’t give up a single day, and he finally came home. I couldn’t be happier to have him back, and although I appreciated him before, I appreciate him 100 times more now.

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