FLASHBACK FRIDAY - LEIA

The mom was so excited to find a couple photos of her first cat last week and has been looking forward to writing this post ever since.

She had recently graduated from college and was working at her first "real" job when one of her coworkers mentioned a kitten had been hanging around her neighborhood for a couple weeks.  No one knew where she came from and no one was interested in taking her in.  Was the mom interested?  She checked with her roommates (who already had a cat) and they didn't mind.  So, sight unseen, she agreed to take her in, and if she was female, her name would be Leah.

The "kitten" was a small female, about 1 year old, loaded with fleas, ear mites, round worms and with an abscess above her right eye.  She was a mess.  Oh, and she was pregnant.  No wonder no one wanted her.

Leia (blue) with her son, Attila (white)

(BTW, bad photography must be genetic, cause my mom took this pic.)

Leah, now spelled Leia at the suggestion of a college buddy who loved Greek mythology and culture, was so grateful for a home.  When the mom got home in the evening, Leia would greet her, wrap her arms around her neck and head bump her.  She snuggled, hugged and purred, followed the mom everywhere and slept on top of her.  It was like puppy love.

Leia was a very quiet cat, she could communicate her feelings without a single meow.  There were a couple things she didn't like.  One was riding in the car.  

The first time in the car, she tried to jump out the window - while the mom was driving the "Roller Coaster" section of the Washington beltway.  The mom frantically rolled the window up.  It was August, the car didn't have AC, and the mom didn't own a carrier.  Leia went to the rear window and took a dump there.  So now it was swelteringly hot and gaggingly nauseating while that fresh pile baked in the hot sun.   But Leia wasn't finished yet.  She then sat on the mom's shoulder and screeched at the top of her lungs directly into the mom's ear until she got home.  It was not a fun ride.

This set the stage for our relationship.  Leia was all sweetness when things were her way, but she let you know in no uncertain terms when she didn't like something.  She was the smartest pet the mom's had.  She had many ways of expressing herself and letting you know where you stood in her world.  She also had a great sense of humor and took pride and joy in getting one over on the mom.  Those stories coming up soon!  We hope you enjoy them.

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The photos above don't do justice to Leia's beauty.  The mom believes she was a Korat.  She knows they are rare, but every description she's read of them fits Leia.  So here are some Korat photos off the web that look like they could have been her.

You could look at her and see her thinking.  She was a rascal who loved to find new ways of whapping someone in the face.  The mom and Robbie were her usual targets.


This photo just melts my heart because it looks so like her.

 Korats have a heart shaped chest and face.

You can see Leia's heart face in my photos;

And she really was this shiny.

She was a busy little cat, weighing only about 7 lbs (about 3 kg).  She got into everything and played favorites.  And she went out of her way to rub your nose in it if you weren't a favorite.

A picture off the web.

Leia in the snow.

Purrs!

We hope you enjoyed reading about our special girl,

but the best stories are yet to come.

Everyone have a great weekend!