For some reason, one of the most common ice-breaking questions to ask someone has always been: are you a dog person or a cat purr-son? Pun intended. This question, though seemingly simple, has been known to occasionally elicit extreme reactions depending on who you are talking to. But whether you chose dog, cat or both, hopefully this story will bring you some light-hearted fun for the week.
During the past two weeks, I got to meet second-year Abby Smith’s furry companion, a Siberian cat named Leo. When asked what her favorite thing about her pet was, Smith responded with the fact that his personality is “bold and brash.” Yet, hilariously, when asked what her least favorite thing about him was, the answer stayed the same. Apparently, his best traits can sometimes turn into his worst, which seems to be a common dichotomy amongst cats. Luckily, none of his traits have cost him any of his nine lives as of yet (that we know of, anyway).
Leo’s favorite toys include the fishing pole and the mouse, and it is hiss-terical to watch him play with them—especially when he gets the zoomies. If you have ever had a cat, you know what we mean. They quite literally zoom from one end of the room to the other, sometimes for no reason other than random bouts of the need for speed.
With the attitude of many cats, Leo also enjoys looking down on other people from on top of his throne. Well, okay, the “throne” is just a very tall cat tree in the corner of the living room, but the way he spreads out across it and stares intently at people gives the impression of a king overlooking his kingdom. A cat ruler basking in the light of his subjects’ affection.
“We call him Leo because in Greek it means lion, and he very much fits the name,” Smith told me.
Sorry, Simba, I think we have a new lion king on campus.
As with most cats, Leo has plenty of paw-some quirks to share. When his owner is at school (or even when she’s home, really) he loves squeezing his face and body in between the window blinds. Even when the window is wide open for him to see through, he insists that there must be something magical about the mysterious shades. Well, if there is something odd about them, it’s definitely not visible to the human eye. If we ever figure out how to communicate with animals, we’ll have to ask Leo what was so special about them.
Now for the part that will probably add nine lives to your own life span. After a tiresome but overall normal day of classes and homework, Smith got into bed. Leo, seeing that she was finally resting, climbed onto the pillow above her head, prepared for a full night of sleep and cuddles. No more zoomies for a while, just gentle purrs and the peacefulness of nighttime. I should also mention that this was on Valentine’s Day. It seems like a claw-tastic way to end the day.
The two are still living their best lives here at Elizabethtown College, ready for more cuddles, treats and zoomies.
