The nineteenth of "Boston Post's" "Famous Cats of New England" profiles the talented and very well-groomed Leo:
The cat who gets his face washed dally with a face cloth; whose golden-brown coat is carefully brushed and combed dally, and who dons a rubber rain blanket whenever he goes out in the rain—that's Leo; who was bom in Rhode Island. Just at present Leo is stopping in Roxbury, for his mistress, Mrs. E. Wescott, corning to Boston to study voice culture, brought Leo along to enjoy the cultural advantages of Boston.
Next year, in all probability, Leo will go with his missy on a tour of the West. Since his birth, 14 years ago in Little Rhody, Leo has travelled extensively; having been in five states. To have killed barn rats in five states is a boast which Leo feels few other New England cats could make good on. This he has done--not only this, but mastered all sorts of begging; rolling over and being a dead cat tricks, and he feels it reflects especial credit upon him because when he first came to his mistress he was a very wee, lost, sick kitten.
Leo went from being a lost and sick kitten to one pampered family-member, and he was still going strong at fourteen. An old-time rescue-cat!
ReplyDeleteI find it hard to reconcile the barn rat killing, with the "wearing a rubber rain blanket" every time he goes out in the rain. Surprising that an overprotective monkey-mom would let him anywhere near barn rats. I can just see him in a little orange hunting vest, and some booties to keep the cow poop off his feet.
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