If you have a story to tell that celebrates the life of a beloved pet, we'd like to share it with others. As funeral professionals, we are educated to understand that by sharing the life story of your pet, you not only get to honor its life and preserve the memories, but you yourself will receive much therapeutic benefit. Thus, we offer this service to our entire community at no charge. Please take a few minutes to share photos and Create your own Pet Tale to tell other pet lovers about your companion, or page through our memory album below to read some of the tales shared by others.

Leo: A Cat Beyond Compare
Leo the Lion-Hearted
- August 12, 2009

I brought Leo home as a nine-week old kitten, as a natural companion for his twin brother Oscar, whom I had adopted from a friend the week before. I quickly realized, however, that while Leo and Oscar looked exactly alike, Leo's personality was all his own. Leo was an alpha cat, a fearless leader, a skilled hunter, a daring explorer, and the most loving and affectionate cat I have ever known.

Although he spent much of his time taking long, luxurious naps in various locations around the house, Leo packed his waking hours with adventure and excitement. He was a great jumper and climber, and could easily jump four feet in the air and into a kitchen cabinet, sticking the landing every time. Leo loved to hunt big bugs, and especially enjoyed moth season. Leo would let me lift him up high above my head so that he could get at moths on the ceiling, and would bat his front paws at them while I held him tight at the waist. Many moths met their tragic end as a result of our joint hunting technique. In addition to his supreme feline jumping and hunting abilities, Leo had many dog-like qualities, and enjoyed playing fetch with various toys.

Leo also had excellent problem-solving abilities. Last Spring he figured out how to use his paws and claws to lift the floor heating register covers, and once he had removed a cover he would crawl down into a heating duct as though it were a hidden cave that needed exploration. Fearing for Leo's safety (and relieved that he hadn't mastered this trick in the winter when the furnace was on), I placed large rocks on top of the floor registers, figuring that would put an end to the heating duct exploration, but I underestimated Leo's tenacity and ingenuity. While I was at work, Leo perfected the art of throwing his entire body weight against the rocks in order to move them out of his way, once again lifted the register cover out of the floor, and proceeded back down into the heating duct. This time, however, he managed to claw a nice big hole into the duct, and ended up in the crawlspace beneath the house. He then found his way through the crawlspace and into the basement, which is where I found him when I got home, patiently sitting on the top basement step, awaiting my return.

Leo was extraordinarily friendly, and enjoyed greeting all visitors to “our home” at the door, where he would quickly begin sniffing their hands and shoes. If the guest was a woman with a purse, Leo would stick his entire head into the bag to determine its contents - sometimes pulling out items that he knew were obviously toys for him to play with - things like hair elastics and grocery receipts. Leo particularly liked guests with short hair, as he enjoyed jumping up on the sofa back behind these guests and running his paws through their hair. I frequently had to explain to Leo that most people did *not* enjoy this type of head massage, no matter how well-intentioned it may have been.

Leo was very sympathetic around people who were sick or injured, and would gently pat my face with his paws when I had a sinus infection. He would also give me a firm head-butt when I was upset, and I knew that he was saying come on Mom, it's not that bad, whatever it is ... I'm here for you. He liked to sleep in the bed with me, sometimes putting his head up on the other pillow and stretching out like a person. Occasionally I would awake to find that Leo had fallen asleep in the crook of my arm, like a baby. Leo also like to look me in the eye, and would jump up on high shelves and window sills when necessary to accomplish this. He needed a lot of love and affection, and would get in my face, purring madly, until he received the hugs and cuddling that he required. Leo generally liked to be on the scene and would sometimes perch on the edge of the bathroom sink while I washed my face and brushed my teeth.

Leo was a wonderful brother to Oscar, and led Oscar on many adventures around the house. Leo's personal grooming habits were not the best, and Oscar (who is a fastidious groomer with beautiful, gleaming fur) would often give Leo a bath after he had finished with his own. Although they occasionally fought, as brothers will - wrestling on the floor over some perceived slight or disrespect - Oscar and Leo also enjoyed cuddling together for naps and hunting insects in a tag-team fashion not often seen among cats.

Leo - Oscar and I miss you terribly. I used to tell you that when they made you, they broke the mold, you were a cat beyond compare. Oscar and I agree that the house is awfully quiet without you around, and we wish that you were here with us, creating excitement and bringing us joy. But we are certain that you are off having a good time somewhere, spreading the love and also watching over us. You are gone from our sight, but never forgotten. We will always love you.